Purpose of the Grant
PetPals is a decentralized social platform that connects pet owners locally for socialization, support, and pet-related activities. Pet owners can create profiles, join local groups, organize meetups, and exchange pet care resources within a user-owned and privacy-centric platform.
Who Benefits:
-
Pet Owners: Enables local connections with other pet owners, building support networks and organizing activities.
-
Pets: Promotes socialization and well-being through organized local activities.
-
Communities: Builds a network of pet lovers to share resources and knowledge.
Features of PetPals and Their Benefits to the Pet Community.
- User Profiles for Pet Owners
Each user on PetPals will create a profile that includes details about themselves and their pets. This feature allows pet owners to showcase their pets, list interests (e.g, dog parks, hiking with pets, etc.), and find other local pet lovers with similar interests.
Benefits:
-
Pet-Personalized Profiles: Users can share important information about their pets, such as breed, age, medical conditions, or specific care routines. This enhances the platform’s ability to connect like-minded individuals who may want to exchange advice or offer support for pets with similar needs.
-
Community Building: Owners can engage with others in their area who have pets of the same breed or type, fostering local connections and organizing activities that suit specific pet needs.
- Local Groups and Meetups
The platform will allow users to create or join local groups based on geographic proximity or shared pet interests. Through these groups, pet owners can organize in-person meetups, walks, or playdates for their pets.
Benefits:
-
Pet Socialization: Pets, particularly dogs and cats, benefit greatly from social interactions with other animals. PetPals enables owners to easily find others nearby to organize safe, structured playtime for their pets, improving their pets’ mental and physical well-being.
-
Owner social Support: Pet owners can connect with local groups that offer advice on training, nutrition, grooming, and medical care, creating a support network that reduces isolation and enhances the pet-owning experience.
- Resource Sharing & Pet Care Tips
Users will be able to exchange valuable pet care resources such as recommended veterinarians, grooming services, pet-friendly spaces, and training advice. PetPals will also feature a knowledge-sharing hub where users can ask questions or provide answers related to pet care.
Benefits:
-
Cost-Effective Advice: Instead of relying solely on professional trainers or expensive consultations, users can exchange tips and experiences, reducing the cost of pet care while still ensuring that pets receive proper attention.
-
Shared Knowledge: With pet-related questions answered by peers, owners can discover new techniques for training or health care, which can lead to better-informed decisions about their pets’ needs.
- Event Organization & RSVPs
PetPals will include an event-planning feature that allows users to schedule local meetups, group dog walks, or pet-related social events (e.g., pet fairs, vaccination drives, or rescue/adoption events). Users can RSVP, receive reminders, and track event participation through the platform.
Benefits:
-
Enhanced Socialization: Regular events help pets become more comfortable around other animals and people, which is crucial for behavioral training and reducing anxiety.
-
Community Growth: As events grow in popularity, more pet owners in the area will join, expanding the local pet community and enhancing opportunities for networking, support, and resource-sharing.
- Pet Sitters & Walkers Directory
An additional feature of PetPals will be a directory where pet owners can list themselves as potential pet sitters, walkers, or even hosts for pets needing temporary care.
Benefits:
-
Local Trusted Sitters: Users can find trusted, local pet sitters or walkers within the community, which increases confidence in leaving pets under proper care.
-
Easier Planning for Travel: This feature will be helpful for pet owners who need help with their pets while traveling or working long hours, creating a reliable support system.
- Privacy and Decentralized Data Control
PetPals will utilize decentralized storage (Sia) to ensure that all user data is protected and that pet owners retain full control over their information. This eliminates third-party data control, ensuring user ownership of content and conversations.
Benefits:
-
User Data Ownership: Users maintain full ownership of their data, including their profiles, group activities, and shared resources. This ensures that no personal or pet information can be monetized or used without permission, aligning with the values of user-owned data.
-
Enhanced Privacy: Decentralization provides added protection against hacks or leaks, securing users’ personal information and giving them full control over the sharing of pet-related content.
How the Project Aligns with the Foundation’s Mission:
By utilizing Sia decentralized storage, the project ensures that users maintain ownership and control over their data and connections, reinforcing Sia’s mission of user-owned data. Pet owners will have full control over their profiles and shared content, ensuring privacy and data security.
Are you a resident of any jurisdiction on the list?
NO
Will your payment bank account be located in any jurisdiction on that list?
NO
Open Source Contributions
All code for the PetPals platform will be open-source, ensuring transparency and encouraging collaboration within the developer community. The front-end, back-end implementations will be shared publicly via GitHub, allowing other developers and contributors to build on the project.
https://github.com/Miahkings/Petpals
Timeline, Objectives, and Goals
| Phase | Objective | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Concept & Design | Design the core UI/UX and define features for MVP | Month 1 |
| Phase 2: Front-End Development | Develop user profiles, search functions, and group creation tools | Month 2 |
| Phase 3: Sia Integration | Integrate Sia decentralized storage for user data and content storage | Month 2-3 |
| Phase 4: Back-End Development | Build database, user authentication, and communication tools | Month 3 |
| Phase 5: Testing and MVP Launch | Conduct beta testing with users and address any bugs | End of Month 3 |
Goal: To deliver a working MVP where users can create profiles, connect locally, and start building their pet communities while their data is safely stored on Sia Storage.
Petpal aims to implement this by utilizing S5 and benefit from redsolver’s provided tools
Potential Risks
- User Adoption: As with any new platform, user adoption could be slow. Early beta testers will help gather feedback and build initial interest.
- Technical Challenges: Decentralized storage might create some friction in user experience. We’ll mitigate this with careful UX design to ensure seamless integration.
- Security Concerns: Since user data will be stored on decentralized networks, we will implement strong encryption and user control measures.
Budget and Justification (MVP)
The funds requested will be used to design, build, and deploy a working platform with basic functionalities.
| Category | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| UI/UX Design | $2,000 |
| Front-End Development | $3,000 |
| Back-End Development | $3,500 |
| Sia Integration & Storage | $1,000 |
| Total | $9500 |
Reporting Requirements
We will provide monthly progress reports to the foundation, highlighting completed milestones, challenges, and next steps. These reports will also include metrics on platform usage and feedback from beta users.
[email protected]