# The ECOSYSTEM NEEDS your HELP! 🙏🏻 By [Juampi](https://paragraph.com/@jampol-2) · 2023-01-23 --- gitcoin launched their **_‘Alpha round’_** where you can contribute to the future of Web3. **+$1M💰** in the pool and **200 Projects** participating🚀 **How can you participate?** I tell you everything what is Gitcoin? ---------------- Gitcoin is a platform that uses blockchain technology to incentivize open-source software development. It allows developers to earn cryptocurrency for their contributions to open-source projects, and also provides a way for companies and organizations to sponsor specific development tasks. Gitcoin’s goal is to increase participation in open-source development and to provide a sustainable funding model for open-source projects. The novelty is its #QuadraticFunding system Quadraticfunding ---------------- Quadratic Funding is a funding mechanism built on the Ethereum blockchain that aims to match funders and projects in an open-source ecosystem, while also providing an efficient way to discover and fund projects. It allows funders to pledge small amounts of money to a project, and then uses a smart contract to match those pledges with other funders. The smart contract then releases the pledged funds to the project once a certain threshold is reached. This mechanism allows small funders to have a bigger impact on the projects they care about, as well as to discover projects they may not have been aware of. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8196d974a17aa4c0831003d4c6a1f2270643245033b6a4d0e5505a06fd4a671e.gif) Let’s go to the interesting now! -------------------------------- There are 3 rounds to contribute in this #AlphaRound ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/6e923b578e5e00306d4f8aeac4f2b1666dd8a2f565fc0ee4f8f25c6262707754.png) * 🌎 Climate Solutions * 💻Open Source Software * ⚙️Ethereum Infrastructure You will have to go one by one searching on [Gitcoin’s project explorer](https://support.gitcoin.co/gitcoin-knowledge-base/gitcoin-grants-protocol/funder-faq/grants-explorer-guide) till you finde the project you want to contribute. Then add it to your list. 🌎 Climate Solutions 🌎 ----------------------- The Climate Solutions Round features 40 climate projects from GR15 that were invited because they received the most support based on the number of unique contributors, and ten bundled use cases for the remaining GR15 projects working in Renewable Energy, Carbon Markets, Verification Infrastructure, Oceans & Forest, Agriculture, Community Engagement, Creative Works, Climate Research, Climate Advocacy & Activism, and Emerging Markets and Indigenous Communities. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d414fde42c2e2bdd01e991149956e7b72367695d05019aa2b10430188e12060a.png) 💻Open Source Software💻 ------------------------ The Open Source Software Round features 88 grantees invited based on previous funding criteria from GR14 and GR15 outlined in this [governance post](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/discussion-feedback-request-grants-protocol-alpha-round-eligibility/11873?utm_source=gitcoin.co). In addition, grants must meet these requirements: * Be an open-source project with meaningful Github activity in the prior three months demonstrating work completed towards the project’s mission. * Primarily focused on developing on top of or advancing the broader Ethereum and/or Web3 industry. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0cd29cad8298f880fd3ae954214b57790f048b01f02c84812bb84a27796386ab.png) ⚙️Ethereum Infrastructure⚙️ --------------------------- The Ethereum Infrastructure Round features 22 grantees who are building in direct support of the Ethereum ecosystem. This includes areas like core client devs, tooling providers, developer education, and those showcasing the power of critical ecosystem ideas. Additionally, grants are open source if they are software related. _Similar to the OSS round, grants were invited to apply based on the GR14 and GR15 funding criteria outlined in the governance post linked above._ ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/948b4d9d5c7b7a6e835b29b588a3d56a92d20ab0943d348ac19975b9e0694410.png) Next Step --------- Once you have chosen the protocols to which you are going to contribute, you must go to the Dashboard 📋 Here you choose how much $DAI or $ETH (ethereum network) you want to donate to the projects and that’s it!⭐️ ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/31a368d9762b9edcc48a015c1d50e3ab80ab33432f9cd1863966b1bb3322d8c2.png) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/058868d5365e9fdd9be8175a92d9279b25c4a44544ef1d8bc384cb568d284d6c.png) It should be noted that you need to have a **PASSPORT** 🪪 to be able to contribute. The passport serves as a record of humanity to avoid sybil attacks👾 If you don’t have one, go to this link and connect your wallet, it will take you 2m to get yours! **_passport.gitcoin.co/#/_** ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/203821f3c6ad0dfd2d4ecb7ff94d174d9d85ab62aa1c284581d3e70d9eee30b6.png) **CONGRATULATIONS 🎉** You already contributed your grain of sand, which thanks to #QuadraticFunding, is actually a bucket! > _Remember that the ecosystem is built by all of us._ > > _Today for you, tomorrow for me 💪🏻_ If you would like to know what I am personally contributing to, let me know with your #LMCC ❤️ I have one or the other gem out there 💎 [Subscribe](null) --- *Originally published on [Juampi](https://paragraph.com/@jampol-2/the-ecosystem-needs-your-help)*