Building on the success of previous cohorts, the Upright team is launching Celo Camp Batch 10 to support initiatives such as MiniPay, CxAI, and Divvi. This program aims to guide high-quality projects through their entrepreneurial journey, helping them build impactful businesses on Celo while connecting them with other founders, protocols, mentors, and funding opportunities.
Upright will collaborate with organizations like Verda Ventures, Prezenti, Celo Africa DAO, Talent Protocol, CeLatam, KohCelo, and Celo Europe DAO to deliver a strong cohort that benefits the entire Celo community.
Key Program Updates
The initiative runs for four months, aligning with Celo Governance Seasons, from March to June 2025. It includes an eight-week virtual accelerator with 8-12 teams, culminating in a final stage for 3-5 teams. A one-day in-person event will provide networking opportunities for graduates.
A shortlist of prioritized use cases and an eligibility questionnaire will be developed based on feedback from CxAI, MiniPay, Divvi, Verda Ventures, the Celo Foundation, and community input.
Focus Areas
MiniPay
The program will support MiniPay’s global expansion by onboarding teams that introduce new use cases in emerging markets. Priority will be given to projects that fill gaps in existing dApps and have broad market potential.
CxAI
This initiative seeks teams developing AI agents that promote inclusive prosperity. Projects should leverage the Celo stack and emerging open-source frameworks to create decentralized AI solutions. Examples include AI-driven smart accounts, autonomous FX trading agents, and AI-powered asset distribution tools.
Divvi
Teams specializing in UX and user acquisition will be encouraged to build products that enhance key metrics of on-chain protocols while utilizing the Divvi framework for transparent value tracking and rewards.
Camp Schedule (March – June 2025)
Planning Phase (1 week)
- Develop curriculum, onboard mentors and partners, and refine the application process.
Application Phase (1.5 months)
- Global outreach to onboard teams through live events, 1:1 meetings, and group pitch sessions.
Celo Camp (8 weeks)
- Virtual accelerator with joint and region-specific sessions.
- Founders receive business and technology guidance tailored to Celo’s features and product roadmap.
- Landmark A: Teams refine product roadmaps, conduct user research, and develop MVPs.
- Landmark B: Teams onboard early adopters, collect feedback, and generate on-chain traction.
Top graduates of Landmark B (up to five teams) will receive a $25K investment from Upright and a fast track to Verda Ventures, Prezenti, and Flori Ventures.
Launchpad Wrap-Up (1 week)
- Selection of winning teams, prize distribution, feedback collection, and promotion of founder stories.
In-Person Event
- A one-day gathering where graduates and contributors can collaborate, attend workshops, and celebrate achievements.
Accelerator Benefits
Participants will gain access to mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities. Benefits include:
- One-on-one guidance from experts at Opera, EchoVC, Borderless Capital, Hashed Emergent, MetaMask, a16z, and others.
- Virtual workshops and networking events.
- Technical support from Celo engineers.
- Access to partner products and services, including AWS, Hubspot, and Tatum.
- Exposure to Celo grants and investors.
Program KPIs
Key metrics to be tracked include:
- Number of projects integrating with MiniPay, CxAI, or Divvi.
- Total Celo on-chain transactions and active user addresses by alumni.
- Funds raised by alumni.
- Number of graduates who successfully integrate with Celo.
- Net Promoter Score (NPS) to measure participant satisfaction.
- Number of active alumni open-source repositories.
Success Metrics
The program aims to achieve:
- At least one high-impact integration per initiative (MiniPay, CxAI, Divvi).
- All graduates demonstrating Celo integration.
- NPS above 60.
- At least 150 globally distributed applicants.
Budget Allocation (March – June 2025)
Upright requests a total of $319,040 cUSD and 202,180 CELO for Season 0.
| Item | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Operations & Marketing | $248,800 |
| Investment in Teams | $125,000 |
| In-Person Event | $25,000 |
Upright is currently seeking feedback from the community and is open to discussing the proposal with stakeholders to ensure a successful cohort for founders and builders in the Celo ecosystem. You can be a part of this here.
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