CRYO-6: Operational Framework

Submitted by: Eli Mohamad Team Members: CryoCore

1. Problem CryoDAO is a decentralized organization, with numerous stakeholders directly and indirectly involved in achieving its goals and implementation of organizational activities. A clear operational framework is necessary to guide Members (token holders) in the execution of activities in the most efficient manner possible. This governance proposal aims to establish such an Operational Framework.

2. Solution

2.1 Operational principles

CryoDAO operates under the following principles:

• A) Smart Budgets. We design our budgets with the following in mind: every dollar spent on operations is a dollar we can’t spend on research projects. Funding is allocated based on achieving predetermined milestones and delivering measurable results only (see “Yearly Plans” below). Spending variation of 2% of each community-approved yearly budget requires approval from multiple designated members, reducing fraud risk and ensuring oversight. Variations of above 2% require a community vote.

• B) Decentralization and Member Rewards. We are a DAO, and we encourage Member involvement. We foster a culture of open communication, accountability, and trust within the DAO community. We incentivize efficiency and results by rewarding members and contributors with governance tokens based on their performance.

• C) Efficiency and Accountability. Activities are implemented by Working Groups, each made by individual Members and a community-designated Steward. The Steward is a uniquely qualified individual, as determined and elected by the community yearly, and is ultimately responsible for the achievement of the Working Group’s goals. While individual Members may be responsible for the implementation of the Group’s activities, the Steward remains solely accountable to the community for the Group’s results.

2.2. CryoDAO Bodies

CryoDAO is composed of the following organizational units:

• A) Members A CryoDAO Member is anyone who holds at least one $CRYO token. $CRYO empowers Members to vote on governance proposals.

• B) Working Groups Working groups are squads composed of Members who are tasked by the DAO to perform a set of thematic activities. Working Groups are headed by one single Steward. Initially, the following Working Groups will be operational:

  Dealflow WG (DWG) DWG is tasked with sourcing, evaluating, and proposing projects to be funded by the DAO. DWG, being the body working directly with such projects, DWG operates strictly within a special community-approved operational framework it initially proposes through the governance process and regularly adapts to the needs of the DAO. This framework sets the basis for the following processes:

  • a) sourcing projects,
  • b) peer review of the science,
  • c) funding due diligence,
  • d) financing process,
  • e) project implementation review, continuation and sunset,
  • f) assistance and services the DAO provides to funded projects
  • g) commercialization process

  DWG is led by a single Steward. The DWG Steward coordinates the group’s activities, proposes the initial working framework, and is directly accountable to the DAO Members for the WG’s achievement of its goals set in the WG’s Yearly Plan.

  Awareness WG (AWG) AWG focuses on elevating the profile of CryoDAO through various mediums to ensure sustainable community growth. Members of the Awareness WG create strategies and content to expose CryoDAO to new contributors and community members, popularize the DAO’s work with the general public, and undertake other activities that raise awareness. AWG coordinates and instructs the DAO’s Discord moderators.

  AWG is led by a single Steward. The AWG Steward coordinates the group’s activities, proposes the initial working framework, and is directly accountable to the DAO Members for the WG’s achievement of its goals set in the WG’s Yearly Plan.

  Operations WG (OWG) Operations WG implements all tasks and activities not covered by the DWG and AWG. Instrumental as a support and operations unit to the DAO, OWG is a small group of experienced and carefully sourced professionals with ample experience in project management. OWG:

  • a) manages the DAO treasury as instructed by Members
  • b) administrates the DAO project management and reporting systems, and generates the yearly Community Report
  • c) generates dashboards and other visual reports for the Members (with AWG)
  • d) manages stakeholder relationships (with DWG where applicable)
  • e) devises, designs, and implements all other activities necessary to achieve the DAO’s goals, including managing a specialized group focused on devising tokenomics strategies

  OWG is led by a single Steward. The OWG Steward coordinates the group’s activities, proposes the initial working framework, and is directly accountable to the DAO Members for the WG’s achievement of its goals set in the WG’s Yearly Plan.

  C) CryoCore CryoCore is an advisory committee that represents various groups of CryoDAO Members. They are not a “Board of Directors” who direct Stewards, but rather the opposite - CryoCore supports the Stewards. CryoCore is elected by, and accountable to, CryoDAO's Members, who define the scope of CryoCore's executive power over operational decisions and may refine these at any time in a new governance proposal. In that sense, holders of $CRYO are represented in CryoCore, but the Members are the overseeing and superior entity that governs CryoCore through proposals.

  CryoCore, being individuals with significant domain expertise who have greatly contributed to the DAO and have thus earned a significant deal of trust of the DAO Members, does the following:

  • a) meets quarterly with the Stewards and checks achievements against the DAO goals as stated in the WGs’ Yearly Plans
  • b) ensures that CryoDAO is fully regulatory compliant
  • c) instructs OWG in relationships with the DAO legal counsel and any regulatory agencies
  • d) maintains CryoDAO legal entities, including any legal wrappers
  • e) represents CryoDAO at external events as needed, and as instructed by AWG
  • f) spearheads fundraising with OWG; maintains and operates the DAO’s multi-sig
  • g) provides advice and support to WGs as necessary

  The initial members of CryoCore are:

  • Vincent Weisser
  • Kai Micah Mills
  • Dr. Emil Kendziorra
  • Eli Mohamad
  • Alex Dobrin
  • Leonard Boltz

  D) Working Group Stewards Each working group is led by one single Steward. The Steward is a uniquely qualified individual, as determined and elected by the community yearly, and is ultimately responsible for the achievement of the Working Group’s goals. The Steward is directly accountable for WG performance to the DAO Members.

  The Steward recruits WG members from the CryoDAO community, oversees the achievement of the WG’s objectives and holds the WG Members accountable. The Steward designates a person among the WG members who can replace the elected Steward in case of emergency, or in case the elected Steward isn’t able to perform WG duties. The Stewards follow CryoDAO’s community-approved compensation policy in rewarding WG members.

  Stewards execute and make decisions on a day-to-day basis within the bounds empowered by the token holders, and do so based on the principles of transparency and budget efficiency.

2.3. The Strategic Plan, Yearly Plans and Community Reports

2.3.1 DAO Strategic Plan

The Stewards, with assistance from CryoCore, author the DAO Strategic Plan (DSP). The DSP elaborates on the following:

• I. CryoDAO mission and vision
• II. Specific, measurable, achievable/realistic, and time-defined goals, relevant to the mission and vision (membership, projects funded, community matters, etc. )
• III. DAO Budget, financing, and resource allocation

The DSP is updated as needed, and as instructed by the will of the Members. In the absence of a voted-in DSP, CryoCore is tasked with using the Treasury to pay outstanding bills and making sure the DAO stays compliant and in good standing.

2.3.2 WG Yearly Plans (YP) and Community Reports

Each WG operates based on a Yearly Plan its Steward submits to the Members; the community then votes to approve it. The Plan is designed to clearly describe how the WG generates value for CryoDAO:

• I. Specific, measurable, achievable/realistic, and time-defined overarching goals, relevant to the DAO mission and vision
• II. Activities designed to achieve the goals and metrics for accomplishing them
• III. WG budget and resource allocation for the next 12 months

Given the fact the WGs’ work is financed by the DAO, ensuring accountability is of utmost importance. The Steward prepares reports and presents WG achievements to the community openly as necessary, and at the very least quarterly. Reports from the WGs are Community Reports.

Only once the YP is voted in by the community, funding is released from the DAO treasury to the respective WG wallets.

Achievement of the WG’s metrics established in the YP directly affects the WG Members’ compensation.

The Steward has the discretionary right to request an amendment of up to a 2% difference to the WG total budget approved in the YP, and no more than 5% of the total of each budget line. Such amendment must be approved in writing by at least:

• A) the other two Stewards, or
• B) two members of CryoCore
• C) a combination of A and B

Any amendments not conforming to the above necessitate the Steward submits a governance proposal for a community vote.

3. Requested Budget

No budget is requested for the implementation of this proposal.

4. Timeline

This proposal should be executed immediately upon a positive community vote, establishing the WGs.