DAO Owned Business Idea for Self-Sustainability

Background

Unlock Protocol aims to provide accessible, onchain smart contract deployment with a sustainable revenue model. Current revenue is insufficient for long-term sustainability, and the protocol’s governance token is not designed for financial utility. To address this, the DAO seeks to establish an independent, DAO-owned business leveraging Unlock’s core technology for the different subscription tiers but focusing on scalable, creator-centric, or DAO-enabling solutions. In this proposal, the goal is to decide on one idea to move forward with.

Please review the full write-up here.

3 Potential Ideas

David and I came up with three possible ideas. In this vote, please help us choose the option you prefer:

1- UP Launchpad: A DAO-focused launchpad enabling new projects to fundraise, build communities, and manage governance with integrated Unlock Protocol tools and KYC-free onboarding via UP RepID. Users can stake UP tokens for early access, and the platform generates revenue through launch fees and token staking incentives.

2- UP Passport: A dynamic NFT-based membership passport that aggregates users’ DAO memberships, governance activity, and certifications, offering tiered access and privileges across the Unlock ecosystem. Minting and upgrading passports require UP tokens, and the passport aims to simplify onboarding and boost member retention for DAOs.

3- UP Creator HUB: A cross-platform management dashboard for creators to schedule posts, analyze engagement, and monetize content via token-gated memberships and NFTs, integrating both Web2 and Web3 platforms. Premium features are accessed through UP tokens, and the HUB leverages AI-driven insights to optimize content strategies and support creator growth.

Benefits

• Creates a new, sustainable revenue stream beyond protocol fees.
• Increases protocol adoption by targeting high-growth sectors (creator economy, DAO tooling).
• Enhances UP token utility through staking, payments, and platform access.
• Strengthens the DAO’s ecosystem influence via partnerships and integrations.
• Positions Unlock as a leader in DAO infrastructure and creator monetization.

Risks

• Regulatory risks related to token sales and launchpad activities.
• Competition from established platforms (e.g., DAO Maker, Patreon, Substack).
• Possible low adoption if the product does not meet market needs or is too niche.
• UP token value dilution if utility is not compelling or if rewards are not well-designed.
• Significant upfront investment required, especially for the Creator HUB.

Timeline and Implementation

It depends on the business model that is favored by the majority of the community. Overall I see the following timeline:

• Phase 1 (0-3 months): Select and prioritize the most viable idea, form a task force and apply for ecosystem grants.
• Phase 2 (3-6 months): Develop MVP using Unlock’s existing smart contracts. Begin beta testing with partners.
• Phase 3 (6-12 months): Launch public beta, initiate incentive campaigns, and gather feedback for iteration.

Resources

• Financial: $150,000–$400,000 initial investment, depending on the chosen idea (development, audits, marketing, grants).
• Personnel: Core team for product development, marketing, partnership management, and community support.
• Technical: Smart contract developers, UI/UX designers, integration specialists.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with DAOs, creator communities, and blockchain ecosystems (e.g., Base, Optimism, Polygon).