STORM Partners Fund 14 Proposals

‍Cardano has built world-class technology. The next challenge is turning that foundation into lasting adoption, across enterprises, builders, startups, and real-world impact.

At STORM Partners, we’ve been walking this path alongside the Cardano community for years. We’ve collaborated with the Cardano Foundation, Intersect, the Constitutional Committee, and Project Catalyst to help shape the governance, compliance, and communications that underpin a strong ecosystem.

Our involvement has always been guided by one principle: translate blockchain’s potential into tangible results for builders, enterprises, and communities.

In Fund 14, we’re extending that commitment with six proposals that together form what we call Cardano’s Growth Engine.

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Why These Four Angles of Growth?

Cardano doesn’t need more theory. It needs coordinated execution across the areas that drive adoption:

• Enterprise Adoption → Large organizations bring credibility, scale, and integration into the global economy.
  
  
• Builder Growth → Technical innovation only matters if builders can reach users and markets.
  
  
• Startup Matchmaking → Founders, investors, and talent must connect for projects to survive beyond early funding.
  
  
• Impact Use Cases → Cardano must prove its value in the real world, where purpose and performance meet.
  
  

Our six Fund 14 proposals map to these four angles, designed to work together as a growth engine rather than as isolated initiatives.

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The Six Proposals

1. Enterprise Support for Cardano Adoption Projects

The Proposal
We help corporates and NGOs overcome regulatory, compliance, and operational barriers so they can integrate Cardano into their workflows.

The Challenge for Cardano
Enterprises want to innovate with blockchain but often get stuck at the first hurdle: licensing requirements, KYC obligations, unclear governance. Without professional support, promising pilots die in the compliance department.

Expected Outcomes

• 3–5 enterprise pilots advanced past compliance hurdles.
  
  
• Playbooks for NGOs and corporates to replicate adoption.
  
  
• Stronger reputation for Cardano as “enterprise-ready.”

Explore the proposal here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-open-ecosystem/enterprise-support-for-cardano-adoption-storm-partners

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2. Enterprise-Focused Events, BD & Partnerships

The Proposal
Curated events in Geneva and beyond, where Cardano projects are put directly in front of enterprise decision-makers. We follow up with structured business development: reports, discovery calls, and connections.

The Challenge for Cardano
Enterprises won’t adopt what they don’t see. Cardano has world-class builders, but without consistent exposure and engagement, it risks being overlooked in favor of louder ecosystems.

Expected Outcomes

• 2–3 high-quality enterprise events.
  
  
• Direct BD pipeline from events into pilots and partnerships.
  
  
• Tangible deals tracked back to Fund 14.

Explore the proposal here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-open-ecosystem/enterprise-events-bd-and-partnerships-storm-partners

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3. The Rainforest Alliance: Blockchain-Enabled Direct Sourcing

The Proposal
Bring one of the world’s most trusted sustainability brands onto Cardano. Using blockchain for transparent sourcing, empowering local forestry communities, and strengthening global impact programs.

The Challenge for Cardano
Impact narratives abound in Web3, but credible real-world deployments are scarce. Cardano has always positioned itself as purpose-driven, this is a chance to prove it at scale.

Expected Outcomes

• A live Cardano-powered sourcing pilot with Rainforest Alliance.
  
  
• Transparent records of community-managed forestry supply chains.
  
  
• Global showcase of Cardano as the blockchain of choice for sustainability.

Explore the Rainforest Alliance proposal here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-use-cases-partners-and-products/rainforest-alliance-blockchain-traceability-pilot

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4. Go-to-Market Acceleration for Cardano Builders

The Proposal
Support builders with clear positioning, market traction strategies, and sustainable user acquisition. Turning code into adoption.

The Challenge for Cardano
Many technically strong teams stall after launch because they lack GTM expertise. Without traction, innovation stays siloed in GitHub instead of reaching users.

Expected Outcomes

• Tailored GTM playbooks for 5–7 builders.
  
  
• Benchmarked metrics on user growth and retention.
  
  
• More Cardano projects crossing the adoption chasm.

Explore the proposal here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-open-ecosystem/gtm-acceleration-for-cardano-builders-storm-partners

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5. Cardano Startup Intelligence Program

The Proposal
A matchmaking platform connecting founders, investors, accelerators, and talent. Turning promising projects into thriving businesses.

The Challenge for Cardano
The ecosystem has capital, ideas, and talent, but they’re fragmented. Without structured matchmaking, startups risk running out of runway before finding the right partners.

Expected Outcomes

• Curated deal flow for investors and accelerators.
  
  
• Better survival rates for early-stage Cardano projects.
  
  
• A living database of the startup ecosystem on Cardano.

Build the Crunchbase of Cardano here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-open-ecosystem/cardano-startup-intelligence-program-storm-partners

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6. TrustSwap Integration & White-Labeled Launchpad

The Proposal
A compliant, full-service token launchpad to attract high-quality projects, grow TVL, and keep launches on Cardano.

The Challenge for Cardano
Builders need capital. Cardano lacks a trusted, compliant launchpad that bridges projects with global investors. Without it, launches, and liquidity, drift to other chains.

Expected Outcomes

• White-labeled launchpad integrated with Cardano.
  
  
• Increased TVL and capital formation on-chain.
  
  
• A reputation for Cardano as a safe, professional launch environment.

Explore the proposal here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/14/cardano-use-cases-partners-and-products/trustswapts-storm-and-mlabs-cardano-ts-integration-wl

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Why STORM Partners?

STORM is not new to Cardano. Over the past years we have:

• Supported governance design with Intersect and the Constitutional Committee.
  
  
• Delivered compliance frameworks for ecosystem participants.
  
  
• Produced communications strategies with the Cardano Foundation and Catalyst projects.
  
  

We bring a rare combination: deep Web3 expertise + professional execution standards. That’s why Cardano leaders have consistently trusted us to handle sensitive, high-impact initiatives.

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Our Commitment

Fund 14 is not a one-off. It’s the continuation of years of partnership. We are committed to showing up as:

• Professional operators who understand both blockchain innovation and enterprise realities.
  
  
• Strategic partners who don’t just build for Cardano, but build with Cardano.
  
  
• Accountable executors who measure results in adoption, not in promises.
  
  

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What’s Next

📅 Community Review is now open
📅 Voting runs Sept 22 – Oct 6

We’ll be sharing more details on each proposal in the days ahead. In the meantime, we invite you to:

• Explore the proposals on IdeaScale.
  
  
• Leave your feedback.
  
  
• Share them within the community.
  
  

Together, let’s build Cardano’s Growth Engine.

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