Introduction

Introducing ShardStarter

First Decentralized DeFi Engine and Launchpad on Shardeum that provides exceptional growth opportunities for promising projects and priority access for investors

The goal of mass market adoption is widely recognized in the industry, with companies investing millions in advertising and acquisitions to increase their user base. While traditional forms of advertising like sponsoring sports teams and stadiums bring brand awareness, they fail to address the human need for acceptance and belonging in modern culture. This is where sports teams and fans serve as a prime example. Fans, even those who have never played for the team, gather in large numbers to support their team and create a unique culture within their community. This attracts more people who want to be part of the group, leading to continued growth in both members and the strength of the culture. This phenomenon is already evident in NFT communities around Crypto Punks and Bored Ape Yacht Club.

The formation of groups is taking a new direction with the emergence of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). The trend began with NFT communities and it was only a matter of time before DAOs were born out of these communities. The members of these organizations, who all hold NFTs from a specific collection, can now act as a single entity within the crypto world. They can pool resources and function as a large economic unit, giving members access to new opportunities and benefits. This is possible because NFTs foster art, culture, and shared values that attract and bring together like-minded individuals. The first NFT DAOs set the stage for similar projects, such as investment-focused DAOs, where members pool resources and act as a collective agent for investments. The interactions and cooperation among members lead to the development of unique cultures and unified communities. DAOs and decentralized communities play a crucial role in the crypto space due to the values they uphold and their ability to promote and cultivate them.

Investment using Decentralization have made it easier for blockchain startups to raise funds, creating a growing opportunity for early investors. These startups now have their own platforms where individuals can create accounts and qualify for a whitelist. However, the crypto industry can be complex and challenging for both projects and investors. There is a lack of professional guidance to navigate the crypto space, and many projects lack sustainable business models, leaving it up to investors to do their own research by creating accounts on various launchpads. While launchpads can be useful for all projects, they often provide little crypto-specific guidance for the projects they host. New and innovative blockchain projects are frequently launched on various platforms, providing early adopters with the opportunity to gain an advantage, but navigating these challenges requires skill and experience. Investors must be cautious to avoid being scammed by dishonest teams through rug pulls, non-delivery and other fraudulent activities.

ShardStarter's culture of honesty and genuineness aligns with the Shardeum Foundation and Network, and we aim to instill this in every project that goes through our launchpad and our community members. Our main offering is the ShardDAO, with our members being key in spreading the culture of Shardeum. This ensures that every launched dApp understands and contributes to the vision of Shardeum. All ShardStarter stakeholders are dedicated to expanding the Shardeum ecosystem.

Shardeum faces competition from other EVM-based platforms and other smart contract competitors in the market. To stand out, it needs to showcase its superiority both in terms of technology and in creating strong, united communities. Although Ethereum remains dominant in the space, with high costs hindering widespread adoption, it continues to be the number one choice for many due to its widespread use. While Shardeum's technology surpasses Ethereum's, it must focus on nurturing & cultivating a distinct and refined culture to attract more project to launch on Shardeum and retain a loyal userbase.

ShardStarter has a dual focus. The first is to launch top-notch projects that will positively impact the Shardeum network. The second is to prioritize transparency and instill our culture of honesty and genuineness in every project, working towards the vision of connecting web3 and Web2 industries through Shardeum.

We believe that the majority of smart contract platforms are saturated with subpar and short-sighted dApps. These dApps, whether self-launched or deployed through launchpads, fail to enhance the ecosystems they operate in and are often prone to exploits, hacks, and potential harm to users and the chains they reside on. It has taken years of hard work from industry leaders with strong community ties to achieve such results. ShardStarter must live up to this standard by thoroughly vetting every project through our incubator and accelerator and ensuring only the highest quality protocols and mentored teams are launched into the Shardeum ecosystem.