tldr: An opportunity for Gnars to sponsor a skate event alongside the North American Kendama Open (NAKO), the largest kendama competition in North America, hosted by Sweets Kendamas.

Introduction

The North American Kendama Open (NAKO) is the premier kendama competition in North America, hosted by Sweets Kendamas. We currently have a proposal up at Nouns to sponsor the event, and we want to enhance the weekend with a skate event sponsored by Gnars!

Kendama is more than just a toy — it’s a tool for mindfulness, community building, and self-expression. By partnering with Sweets to host a skate event alongside NAKO, Gnars has the opportunity to support the crossover between kendama and extreme sports, aligning with a growing community that values persistence, play, and creative expression.

Building on the success of our collaborations with Mindfulness Through Play and at major events like ETH Denver and the Blockchain Futurist Conference, this Gnars sponsorship will introduce Nouns and Gnars to a wider audience in the kendama community. The partnership will highlight the impact we’ve already had, and demonstrate how technology can support both action sports and community building.

This proposal outlines how a Gnars sponsorship of a NAKO skate event will:

• Introduce attendees to the world of DAOs and blockchain through interactive experiences
• Support the travel and participation of top Sweets Mob pro athletes, elevating the skate event happening alongside NAKO
• Increase visibility for both Gnars and Nouns, tapping into the crossover between kendama and extreme sports

Event Overview

NAKO 2024 will be held in Minneapolis, featuring top kendama players from around the world. Alongside this premier event, we are proposing that Gnars sponsor a skate event, tapping into the natural overlap between the skate and kendama communities.

1. Skate Event

Gnars will sponsor a skate event alongside NAKO 2024, hosted by Ryan Yost, Tom Rohrer, and Sweets Mob pros. The event will feature a best trick competition with prizes, food, and drinks provided by Gnars, ensuring an exciting and engaging experience for participants.

• Ryan, Tom and Sweets Mob pros host a skate jam and best trick competition
• Water, snacks, and prizes provided by Gnars
• Skate event integrates Gnars’ ethos of creativity and accessibility into the NAKO weekend

2. Onboarding Attendees with POAPs and Gnars DAO Tokens

Gnars will collaborate with Nouns to onboard attendees into web3 through hands-on blockchain activations. By distributing POAPs and Gnars, and Kendama DAO tokens, we will give participants a tangible way to explore web3, introducing them to DAOs in a fun, non-intrusive way. I will personally be contributing 10 of my own Gnars to giveaways at the event. This effort will ensure that attendees leave with a deeper understanding of how blockchain can support community building and creativity.

• Attendees receive a POAP upon registration
• Gnars and Kendama DAO token giveaways
• Wallet setup and tutorials

3. Travel Sponsorships for Sweets Mob Pro Athletes

Sponsoring travel and lodging for top athletes from the Sweets Mob ensures that the highest level of talent will be present at the skate event. By supporting these professional athletes, Gnars elevates the quality of the event while demonstrating the collaborative and positive sum nature of the Nouns ecosystem.

• Support travel and lodging for Sweets Mob athletes
• Elevates the quality and prestige of the skate event
• Demonstrates Gnars’ dedication to extreme sports and global talent

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Team

• Kendama DAO
  • Satori
  • Gabriel Klemm - CEO of Sweets Kendamas
  • Joshua Grove - Founder of Mindfulness Through Play, Sweets Kendamas Pro
  • Poox - Designer at Sweets Kendamas
• Ryan Yost - Founder and Director of Skate Camp Midwest
• Tom Rohrer - Gnars sponsored professional skater, creator of Tom's Tutorials

Budget

• Travel Sponsorships: 0.5 ETH
• Food and Drink: 1 ETH
• Prizes: 1 ETH
• Event Manager and Staff: 1 ETH
• Total Ask: 3.5 ETH

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Conclusion

Gnars’ sponsorship of this event alongside NAKO 2024, is a unique opportunity to tap into the natural overlap between kendama and action sports. By supporting top athletes, engaging attendees with interactive web3 activations, and elevating the skate event, Gnars and Nouns will make a lasting impact on a uniquely creative global community. Together, we can onboard a new audience into the Nouns ecosystem while demonstrating how DAOs and blockchain can enhance creativity, community, and play.