TIP-083: Contractor Role for Threshold Intern

Purpose

This proposal aims to engage @badc_23 as the Intern for Threshold Network. Given the expanding scope of Threshold’s projects, additional support is crucial for maintaining Threshold’s efficiency and achieving the DAO’s objectives. @Badc_23 offers services at a reduced rate of $55 per hour for a minimum of a guaranteed 15hrs per week, with scope for further hours adhoc, when the guilds require it.

A core colleague, likely @eh_ethan, will liaise to guide and prioritize tasks with further help from IG, MG and TG members to request help from intern when need. A monthly review within IG call would help align and prioritize tasks also. This all should help guilds request for additional and keep track of workload, which provides overall clarity to the process and progress.

Motivation

The intern position is designed to provide additional bandwidth to key DAO members, ensuring timely completion of tasks and enhancing overall productivity. There are a significant number of tasks in which the DAO needs support with, but these task do not warrant costing the DAO $85 or $100 an hour, for this reason, some of these tasks fall between the cracks.

Justification:

• Enhanced Support: Key players within the DAO will benefit from additional support, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives while operational and research tasks are contributed to effectively by the intern.
• Improved Efficiency: The addition of an intern is intended to streamline processes, ensuring milestones are met and deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Cost-Effective Solution: At a rate of $55 per hour, this proposal offers the DAO an opportunity to expand its workforce without the financial commitment of the standard rate.
• Contributor Development: Engaging an intern will provide the DAO with an opportunity to train a dedicated contributor, fostering their growth and enhancing their capabilities for future key roles within the organization.

Scope

The responsibilities will be broken down into two main fronts: Marketing Support and Integration Support.

Marketing Support:

• Content Creation & Social Media Engagement:

• Coordinating with past and upcoming integrations to create DeFi threads, showing users how to use tBTC in various yield opportunities and boost Threshold’s X reach through collaboration with other DAOs.

• Creating weekly updates on the best places to get yield on tBTC & thUSD.

• Coordinating with The Engine media to create more podcasts.

• Assisting the MG on creating tBTC and thUSD campaigns.

• Work with protocols to arrange co-marketing (DeFi threads, AMAs/ Spaces, Blog posts and guests in Threshold community calls).

• Research into tBTC competitors (mBTC, zBTC, SolvBTC).

• Newsletter drafts

• Drafting governance comms & updates and adding to content calendar

• Market & competitor research, as needed

• Telegram, Reddit, and other engagement opportunities — Inserting Threshold and our suite of services into relevant conversations

• Weekly DAO recap

• Tracking External/PR appearances & content:

  • Blogs
  • Podcasts/ AMA
  • Other (external) Threshold related content

• Educational guides and yield opportunities content creation.

• Supporting in Twitter drafted content

Integration Support:

• Integration Research: Supporting the Threshold Growth Coordinator by conducting groundwork on which chain to take tBTC to next, this includes collection of key metrics from chains, creating an ecosystem map for Grants, Oracles, DEX’s, Lending Protocols, dPerps etc.
• tBTC and thUSD yield management: Create an Index of where tBTC and thUSD is active and users can get yield on.
• Listings Management: Updating tBTC and thUSD listings across various platforms.
• Miscellaneous Tasks: Addressing various tasks as needed to support the DAO’s operations that key members do not have the bandwidth to handle and which should not incur high hourly billing rates.
• Co-Marketing coordination
  • Working with protocols to post DeFi yield strats on X for each new protocol integration
  • Setting up AMAs/ Spaces and the Engine podcasts
  • Blog detailing new tBTC integrations
  • Guests on Threshold Community calls

Other DAO Things:

• ChainPatrol monitoring
• Ongoing spot checks that systems and sites are working as intended (connecting wallet, making sure no errors in tools, docs, etc. — recommending enhancements, reporting bugs and errors)
• Ongoing spot checks that third party information is correct (ie Trust wallet no tbtc v2 logo, updating all boardroom mentions to Tally, on relevant cmc, defillama, etc. dashboards, and Web3 directories and insight tools)
• Verify that each Council multisig has the intended signers.

Oversight & Review

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The intern’s performance will be assessed through a quarterly self-reported summary of achievements compared to stated aims in this proposal. Key performance indicators include:

• Strategic Contributions: Effective input and support in research, project management, and strategic initiatives.
• Quality Relationship Building: Establishing and nurturing valuable relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Proactive Engagement: Active participation in significant integration projects of Threshold products across various platforms.
• Quantitative Achievements: Contributing to the minting of significant amounts of tBTC and thUSD because of the additional bandwidth provided to the DAO.

Transfer of Responsibility

Should this proposal be passed, a 4 week transition period will be observed period to allow for a smoother transition for Diddy and the guilds. Once the 4-weeks has passed, Diddy would commence the role.

Recommendation

We recommend that Threshold DAO contract with DiddyK for a 6-month renewable period working a guaranteed 15 hours/week (with potential for hours more when required) at a rate of $55 USD per hour.

Why Diddy

Diddy has proven to be a useful asset within the Threshold community, particularly through his work with thUSD. His contributions are marked by a good attention to detail and here’s why Diddy stands out:

1. Professional Expertise: As an engineer working on one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, Diddy brings a wealth of experience in project management, strategic planning, and problem-solving. These skills are directly transferable to the needs of the Threshold DAO, ensuring a structured and efficient approach to tackling challenges.
2. Proven Dedication: Diddy has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Threshold community through his voluntary research work. His detailed analyses have and will continue to contribute to the development and strategic direction of thUSD.
3. Multifaceted Skill Set: Diddy excels in both technical and strategic domains. His ability to conduct thorough research, coupled with his professional skills in managing complex projects, positions him uniquely to handle diverse tasks within the DAO, from integrations support to marketing initiatives. This kind of support is ideal for an intern role where tasks are likely to be varied.
4. Fresh Perspective: Being relatively new to the Threshold community, Diddy brings a fresh perspective that can drive innovation and new ideas. His rapid learning curve and increasing confidence in contributions demonstrate his potential to bring significant value to the DAO.
5. Recently became a member of the thUSD Steering Committee and such ties will provide great continuity and insight.

References

LUSD research project: https://discord.com/channels/866378471868727316/1209235156552908862/1209587061716295720

CrvUSD research project: https://discord.com/channels/866378471868727316/1209235156552908862/1212795150527504484