[BIP-786] Ecosystem ONsite Proposal Q2 2025

PR with Payload

Another Balancer ONsite edition is in the works!

As a DAO with globally distributed teams, Balancer recognizes the unique challenges (and opportunities) this presents. The ecosystem ONsites aim to address these by fostering genuine connections, enhancing collaboration, and reinforcing our web3 culture.


V3 talks in Bangkok…

TLDR:

  • Balancer OpCo Limited will take 17 contributors from the Balancer ecosystem to off retreat from May 12th to 17th, 2025 in Brazil.
  • Proposal includes flights, accommodations, meals, group activities, swag and meeting room rentals.
  • The request is capped at $35,200.

Summary

Twice a year, the ecosystem rounds-up Balancer DAO contributors and Balancer Labs. It’s a chance to connect, collaborate, and spark innovation in a dynamic environment. These meet-ups foster strong relationships and provide a valuable platform for shaping the future of decentralized finance.

This edition is being planned to take place in the vibrant city of Florianópolis, Brazil, also known as Island of Magic. Trying to balance quality coworking and hack sessions, with bonding activities in an exciting destination, we hope to gather our great minds for an unforgettable experience.

We will be staying at a beachfront hotel and will have a co-working space (only for us) from 1pm to 6pm with a coffee break included. In this space, we will be able to:

  • Work
  • Hold meetings
  • Provide a dedicated environment for hack sessions

The post-retreat will begin after hotel check-out on Friday and continue until Sunday. The idea is to stay in a cozy house, similar to a hacker house, with more relaxed activities, such as:

  • Work together
  • Visiting the TAMAR Project to see sea turtles
  • Dinner in the south of the island
  • Brazilian home-cooked lunch prepared by a chef

Unlike the Bangkok edition, where we focused on the attendance to Devcon as the main event, this edition will follow the “traditional” format of previous locations. After collecting some valuable feedback, we’ve learned our work sessions should be more focused and oriented, so we are keeping the touristic/bonding activities on separate days, which will make for a more productive agenda.

Again we are not using travel agents, so contributors can book their own flights or go through Balancer OpCo. This allows us to make our own plans and move faster.

This proposal seeks to allocate resources for 17 contributors, fostering collaboration and strengthening the Balancer ecosystem. The crew will join a group of 13+ contributors from Balancer Labs, with common expenses split proportionally.

Balancer OpCo will prioritize cost-effectiveness while mindful to ensure a positive experience for contributors traveling a significant distance. This proposal seeks to allocate 35,200 USDC to take 17 contributors to Brazil at $2,070.00/pax. These are initial estimates and we will continue to seek cost savings while ensuring a valuable and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

You can check last edition’s proposal for more info.

Objectives

  1. Drive Balancer Protocol Development: Dedicate focused time and resources to work sessions, hacking, and problem-solving to advance the Balancer Protocol.
  2. Encourage Team Collaboration: Provide opportunities for employees to engage beyond work and facilitate cross-functional interaction by making it easier for people from different areas to exchange ideas and work together.
  3. Celebrate Success & Motivate: Recognize achievements and keep the team motivated toward shared goals.

Pre & Post-Retreat Engagement

Pre-Retreat Virtual Events and Groupchats: Virtual icebreakers and team-building activities to build excitement and connections.

Post-Retreat Follow-Up: Feedback form to learn what we did right, and where we can improve to maintain momentum and connection.

Expected Outcomes

Stronger Team Connections: Better relationships and a greater sense of belonging.

Better Collaboration & Efficiency: Smoother communication across teams, leading to new ideas and improved workflows.

Higher Motivation & Retention: Recognition and support that keep contributors engaged and committed.

Conclusion

Ecosystem ONsites are an investment in what matters most: our community. By bringing people together, we reinforce DAO culture, encourage collaboration, and create space for new ideas to grow.

This edition will be a meaningful experience, especially for onboarding newcomers, and will help push Balancer forward.

Specification

The multisig 0x10A19e7eE7d7F8a52822f6817de8ea18204F2e4f will interact with USDC at 0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48 by writing transfer, passing 0x3B8910F378034FD6E103Df958863e5c684072693 as recipient and the amount 35200 as 35200000000.

Edit Maxis:

  • add payload PR
8 Likes

The Ecosystem ONsites are a crucial part of our DAO coordination, and we are happy to provide all the operational infrastructure at OpCo to support it. Thank you @danimim for all your efforts putting this together.

This is a significantly lower amount from the previous comparable ask in Lisbon. Althought flights might be a little more pricey, we appreciate the energy to source such a great destination taking advantage of lower exchange rate, and at the same time providing a great experience for our contributors.

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https://snapshot.box/#/s:balancer.eth/proposal/0x7fe51934452b44929844a730aa1c4b7c8c99d92c2d3492190a9175cd0680d310

1 Like