Neo has initiated a number of support tracks to grow the Neo ecosystem, offering various types of assistance depending on your project needs, interests, and maturity. Options are available for grassroots developers, start up projects, established businesses, institutions, and everything in between.
If you would benefit from a little help during your journey on the Neo blockchain, simply identify the track below that best describes your current situation. Full details on how to apply can be found by following the relevant links.
A small team with many seed users
A medium sized business
An institution or education platform
A wallet or trading platform with existing users
An established blockchain-based business with substantial ties to the Neo ecosystem
A project operating with a viable revenue model
Teams looking for funding in exchange for equity or tokens
Projects looking to migrate to Neo N3
Teams looking to deploy first-to-market dApps on Neo N3
Developers looking to create early POCs that test Neo N3 capabilities
An experienced development team with advanced blockchain knowledge
Interested in building tools and infrastructure to advance the Neo ecosystem
Able to provide long-term support to your project
Seeking funding to help achieve project goals
Experts in blockchain architecture, distributed systems, applied cryptography, network and storage, or blockchain and internet security.
Self-driven, effective communicators, able to work with a global team.
Developers well versed in open-source development.
Those interested in advancing Neo's core protocol.
Academic institutions or research institutes
Individuals or groups with expert knowledge in specialized fields such as applied cryptography, P2P systems, engineering, economics, governance, etc.
Those looking to advance Neo through applied research
Working in tandem with various partners, the EcoBoost program provides full lifecycle support for high-potential projects.
First announced at Consesus 2019, EcoBoost is a US $100 million initiative designed to grow the Neo ecosystem.
Operated by the Neo Global Development EcoGrowth department, the program works by building up a partner network to provide assistance to Neo-based projects.
EcoBoost partners are leveraged to provide full lifecycle support to Neo projects, based on the individual requirements of each project. For example, media partners can assist with outreach and publicity, exchange partners can help list tokens and stimulate liquidity, and institutional partners can provide industry resources.
EcoBoost partners will benefit from business growth opportunities provided by access to the Neo ecosystem and its global community.
The Neo Global Development EcoGrowth team will work with EcoBoost partners and projects to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for all participants.
Neo EcoFund is an investment fund established by the Neo Foundation. Its goal is to bring diversified help to the Neo ecosystem while creating long-term value and sustainable returns for Neo Foundation.
Neo EcoFund was established in 2018 and has continued to contribute to the expansion and incubation of Neo ecosystem.
The Neo General Grants Program is primarily focused on funding the development of tools and infrastructure for the Neo Blockchain.
The Neo Foundation supports teams that are capable of executing outstanding blockchain software development initiatives that improve the Neo ecosystem.Examples include developer tools such as SDKs, nodes, layer2 protocols, IDE plugins, and infrastructure protocols. We expect teams and deliverables to be adoption driven, developer friendly, and delivered on-time.
The average funding for a project is between $5,000 to $50,000, with the typical maximum funding around $100,000. However, if a project can provide extraordinary value to the Neo ecosystem, additional funding may be possible. Generally, the Neo Foundation decides the funding for a project based on the time, difficulty, importance or priority to the Neo ecosystem and the developer-friendly nature of the project. Most of the projects should be expected to be completed within 6 months.
Grants may be applied for in stages for new projects with complexity, or for existing projects with major new capabilities or upgrades. For existing projects, teams need to complete and deliver on the previous grant as described in their application before receiving additional funds. The Neo Foundation Grants Committee will decide whether to approve the new grant application.
Neo is currently looking for talented developers to take on the following projects.
Infrastructure & Modules | Priority | |
---|---|---|
Developer Environments | Local development environment to speed up development and testing for smart contract as well as any Neo applications. | High |
Node API Service | Tools to provide more stable and scalable API service for all Neo applications. | High |
Application Development Support | Priority | |
---|---|---|
Smart Contract Library | Provide reusable smart contract modules or more secure smart contract templates to simplify smart contract development. | High |
Web IDE | Provide a ready to use online platform/sandbox to write, test, deploy and manage smart contracts. | High |
Tutorials | Any non-interactive or interactive tutorials that teach how to code on Neo, ranging from smart contract to dApp development. | High |
Templates | Templates to help accelerate the development process for either smart contracts or dApps. | High |
Middleware & Application | Priority | |
---|---|---|
Oracle Solution | Oracle solutions built around Neo built-in oracle to provide specific function or feature, like price feed, randomness, bridge, etc. | High |
Lending Protocol | Decentralized lending protocol enables anyone to earn interests by supplying digital assets, also getting loans. | High |
NFT marketplace & issuing platform | NFT marketplace to issue, display and exchange NFT assets on Neo. | High |
Neo is an open source, community driven platform for decentralized applications. From its beginning, Neo has been developed through GitHub open source contributions. Anyone can make contributions to the Neo core code base, including shipping new features, proposing NEPs, submitting patches, improving documentation, etc.
Developers who have made outstanding contributions to the Neo core codebase, after being evaluated by the Neo Foundation, will be offered the opportunity to become Core Developers.
Core Developers are empowered to manage and evolve the Neo core codebase and are deeply involved in Neo's technical and engineering decisions; therefore they are required to participate actively and regularly.
Note that community contributors who become ‘Core Developers’ are not employees of the Neo Foundation (NF) or Neo Global Development (NGD). Core Developers can choose their preferred way of contributing to the Neo protocol. However, we expect that you always do so with good intentions and never with the intention of harm.
Core Developers will gain the following permissions and honors; at the same time, they need to assume corresponding responsibilities:
As a Core Developer, in addition to the opportunity to work on the most cutting-edge technology in the blockchain industry and grow your personal brand, the Neo Foundation also provides financial rewards for contributions to Neo. Generally, the Core Developer Grants adopts a two-part reward model.
Note that all the grants will be paid in equivalent NEO.
To encourage substantial improvements to the Neo protocol layer, the Neo Foundation will evaluate the contributions of PRs merged into the master branch, including:
Evaluation is based on the time estimation, its importance, and priority. The Neo Foundation will distribute the Contribution Reward for the previous quarter at the beginning of each subsequent quarter.
However, if the Core Developer has already received a full-time salary through other existing teams by contributing to the protocol development, he/she will not receive the Contribution Reward.
If you want to become a Core Developer, we suggest that you take the following path:
Learn & Contribute
Contribute to The Neo Project repositories on GitHub and get familiar with the Neo protocol.
Apply
If you feel that you have the qualities we are looking for and are willing to participate deeply in Neo's protocol development and long-term technical roadmap planning, you can send an email to grants@neo.org with attached materials that prove you meet the core developer requirements.
Existing Core Developers can recommend suitable candidates in the Core Developer Meeting for discussion.
Initial Review & Trial Period
Once the application is submitted, the current Core Developer team will review it. If more than half of the Core Developers agree, the applicant will be nominated as a Core Developer Candidate and start a 3-month trial period. During the trial period, the Candidate needs to contribute and prove himself/herself qualified and will receive the Contribution Reward accordingly.
Evaluation
After 3 months, the Neo Foundation will evaluate the Candidate's performance and decide whether to endorse him/her in the role of an official Core Developer. Once the Candidate becomes an official Core Developer, his/her information will be added to the Core Developer list, he/she will get the GitHub write permission and start to receive the Fellowship Reward.
Erik Zhang
张铮文
2015-Present
Fernando Díaz Toledano
SHARGON
2017-Present
Igor M. Coelho
2018-present
Roman Khimov
2021-present
Victor Nazario Coelho
2021-Present
Anna Shaleva
2024-Present
vang1ong7ang
2024-Present
The Neo Foundation will update the list annually at the end of the calendar year based on the evaluation of individual participation and contributions.
Technological innovation is the premise for the continuous growth and development of the blockchain industry. The Neo Foundation is interested in funding universities, research institutes, laboratories, consultancies and researchers to conduct applied research based on the Neo blockchain capabilities and roadmap.
We are looking for pioneering researchers to focus their applied research efforts in areas related to the Neo Foundation's vision and roadmap. In order to provide directional guidance, listed below are some relevant topics that the Neo Foundation is considering in its roadmap over the next 12-24 months. If you believe that we should sponsor applied research in areas related to the Neo that aren't currently in the list, then please feel free to submit a new request addressing the proposal using the Research Application Form.
The following topics are listed alphabetically.
Consensus algorithm optimization
Cryptography
Distributed infrastructure applications
Economic model optimization
High-level-languages
Interoperability across blockchains
Large-scale enterprise adoption
NeoVM upgrades & optimization
On-chain governance
Privacy
Scalability
Security
Tokenization and circulation of digital assets
The average funding for a research project is around $10,000 to $100,000. However, if the project can provide extraordinary value to the Neo Foundation, additional funding may be possible. Most of the projects should be expected to be completed within 6 months, complex ones no longer than 12 months.
We attach importance to the application of research results, which may bring real - world improvements to the Neo Blockchain. Expected output and results of the applied research include but are not limited to:
If you want to apply for a research grant, please contact the Neo Foundation with the following information:
Research Topic
Please introduce the topic on which you intend to focus your research.
Project Introduction
Please introduce the context of the research topic, its main goal, and the main problems to be solved. Please also indicate the expected results in detail, such as prototype, programmable code, monograph, research report, etc.
Team Introduction
Please introduce the applicant’s background and its team members with past research results. Please also indicate the principal researcher and his/her resume and contact.
Research Roadmap
Please introduce the research plan and its milestones, and indicate its conditions, guarantees, and risks in completing the project. Please also detail the suggested evaluation indicators.
Budget
Please include the requested budget and its usage.
The launch of N3 is a big milestone for Neo and we've prepared something special for the occasion. To encourage developers to start building on Neo N3, we are launching the Early Adoption Program. This program includes a grant sponsorship funding pool totaling US $10 million and will run from June to December 2021.
Early Adoption Program is aimed at accomplishing the following goals:
The Early Adoption program will provide financial support to developers (based on the size of the project, team track record, and vision), along with high priority technical and other support.
Neo is actively seeking out high potential projects for incubation and growth. We are looking forward to working with enthusiastic and driven teams who are committed to exploring and pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology. With your help, we hope to develop new business innovations while implementing novel ideas to achieve the smart economy of tomorrow.
Ideal for individuals or small teams looking to get started on N3. Typically, these types of projects will be early stage or proof-of-concept initiatives. Applications should focus on using N3 in ways that demonstrate new functionality, test the limits of N3 capabilities, or provide practical examples to the wider Neo development community.
Teams that already have a well defined idea or project. Start-up projects are expected to have a clearly defined niche and a sustainable business model. These projects should focus on using Neo N3 to create new business opportunities and provide new applications for Neo ecosystem users. Teams should be prepared to present an existing proof of concept or MVP.
Teams with an established business model looking to integrate or migrate to Neo N3. These projects should already have an existing user base and will be looking to expand or improve their business through Neo integration. Ideally, teams should be able to bring large scale use cases or well known services to the Neo blockchain.
This successful program concluded at the end of 2021. Read about program participants and their achievements below.
GhostMarket is a multi-chain NFT marketplace. GhostMarket allows users to buy or sell NFTs in bulk across various wallets. Through GhostMarket, users can participate in three types of auctions: Classic, Dutch, and reserve.
GhostMarket was the first dApp to launch on the Neo N3 MainNet. To date, GhostMarket has deployed four smart contracts with Neo that allow users to mint and trade NFT in a fully decentralized way. GhostMarket also established a standard regarding NFT royalties on Neo N3. Some other projects in the ecosystem have already begun to adopt this standard.
Neo’s Early Adoption Program has been a great way to attract and onboard new projects, this program has helped exponentially grow the Neo ecosystem by attracting more developers and dApps.”
The iMe Smart Platform application is a messaging platform for iOS and Android users. It is powered by the Telegram API and incorporates blockchain-enabled features such as wallets and DeFi.
The iMe app has more than 5M downloads on Google Play and App Store, more than 800K activated wallets, and about a million active users per day.
“This global initiative is a wonderful opportunity. The strong helping hand of Neo enables developers to improve their products and reach mass adoption faster,” said Borutskiy “The program has facilitated building a strong, international community that supports the growth of all participants’ projects.”
Polychain Monsters is a cross-blockchain, play-to-earn game based on NFTs. Play-to-earn games integrate blockchain-based solutions to create new monetization methods and revenue models for players and game developers.
Sales of Polychain Monsters on the OpenSea NFT marketplace have surpassed US $14 million in trading volume. The Polychain Monsters collection continues to expand via special edition drops through partnerships such as ChainLink, Elrond, and Polygon.
“Joining the N3 Early Adoption program has positioned us to double down on contributing to the smart economy of tomorrow.”
Rentfuse is an NFT-renting protocol layer that enables Neo N3 NFT owners to rent out their assets: Owners can lend NFTs to generate revenue, and borrowers can rent NFTs to use them temporarily.
Since joining the N3 Early Adoption program, Rentfuse has reached thousands of people through Neo social channels and has developed Rentfuse’s core contracts on the N3 blockchain.
“Thank you for believing in us, it is an honor to be able to participate in the Early adoption program. We look forward to see you all on the mainnet!”
TranslateMe is an instant translation service that joined the Neo ecosystem in 2018. The service uses a trustless protocol that leverages machine translation and blockchain technology.
With support from the N3 Early Adoption Program, TranslateMe Network has contracted work with COZ.io and launched its first smart contract on the Neo N3 TestNet.
“Having such a well-known and trusted team assisting us with real use case implementation of blockchain on N3 is a big step forward for TranslateMe, said Ryan Lloyd. “Without this partnership, we would be several months behind in our development. We are very grateful for Neo’s support.”
Defina Finance is a blockchain-based role-playing game (RPG) featuring a play-to-earn system. Players can participate in DeFi yield farming and reap on-chain earnings while enjoying a strategic game with Player Versus Environment (PVE) and Player Versus Player (PVP) modes. Defina also has its own utility and governance token ($FINA) that is used in the Defina ecosystem and beyond.
While participating in the Early Adoption Program, Defina Finance has boosted rewards for the beta period for early players who tested out the game and provided suggestions. Now, the project is entering the mass adoption phase, where token rewards will be distributed more equally to ensure sustainable growth for Defina.
Humswap brings together the worlds of DeFi and NFTs by creating unique NFTs that have potential benefits such as stackable yields, yield multipliers, lower swapping fees, and more.
While participating in the Early Adoption Program, Defina Finance has boosted rewards for the beta period for early players who tested out the game and provided suggestions. Now, the project is entering the mass adoption phase, where token rewards will be distributed more equally to ensure sustainable growth for Defina.
“We would not be where we are without this support,” said Mario Lopez. “We cannot wait to share the great things we’re cooking with you and the rest of the community!”
The NekoHit project focuses on eliminating trust problems between content creators and their sponsors. NekoHit accomplishes this by using blockchain technology to give more control to both parties.
With support from the Neo Early Adoption Program, NekoHit has developed and deployed smart contracts to the Neo N3 MainNet, including smart contracts for NekoHit’s core contract and a token. Now the team is constructing a community DAO token.
“The Early Adoption Program has helped us move to the next level,” said Yannick. “We couldn’t have made it this far without Neo’s support.”
Saffron Finance is a peer-to-peer risk management platform that uses a tranche-based yield aggregation to divide earnings into senior, junior, and fee tranches. Saffron also provides a separate insurance fund that generates yield to depositors.
With the support of the Early Adoption Program, the Saffron team has worked to enable DeFi growth in the Neo ecosystem. Saffron has created a staking contract for NEO and SFI that enables SFI, NEO, and GAS staking. The contract now is live on the Neo N3 TestNet. It has been tested by more than 100 users and is undergoing an audit before launching on the Neo N3 MainNet.
TOTHEMOON UNIVERSE is a Metaverse set on the Moon. TOTHEMOON plays host to a strategic, community-building game powered by NFTs. Players will engage in a new-age society built by Moon Plot Owners and Moon Teams, each with its own governance system.
TOTHEMOON was the first NFT project in the Early Adoption program to sell out an NFT collection.