By Zen, PaNews
For the ETA ecological project, obtaining funding from the Foundation is undoubtedly an affirmation and endorsement of the project. Since the launch of the financial support scheme of the ESF in 2018, EF has been providing financial support for public goods such as open-source projects, educational projects and tools for developers of the ESF through mechanisms such as “ ESP &rdquo。
THE EARLY FUNDING MODEL FOCUSED ON OPEN GRANT SCHEMES, FOCUSING ON SUCH AREAS AS DEVELOPERS ' TOOLS, CORE INFRASTRUCTURE, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OPEN STANDARDS. DURING THIS PHASE, THE EF HAS ALSO BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL THROUGH OPEN FUNDING, WITH A CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF PROJECTS FUNDED. IN 2024 ALONE, ESP PROVIDED NEARLY $3 MILLION IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 105 PROJECTS AND PLANS THROUGH THE OPEN APPLICATION PLATFORM. WHILE ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY COMPONENTS OF THE ETHER WORKSHOP, THE INITIATIVE HAS ALSO NURTURED AND EMPOWERED THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ETHER WORKSHOP DEVELOPERS. THIS FINANCIAL FLOW, TOGETHER WITH THE TIDE OF TALENT, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ECOLOGICAL PROSPERITY OF THE ETHERA。
HOWEVER, WITH ECOLOGICAL EXPANSION, THIS PASSIVE-WAITING FUNDING MODEL HAS ALSO REVEALED LIMITATIONS. EF FUNDING TEAM STAFF IS DOWNSIZED, WHILE THE ECOLOGICAL NEEDS ARE WIDE AND THE TEAM CANNOT FULLY COPE WITH THE SURGE IN APPLICATIONS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF MUCH OF THE EF'S TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES, AND LIMITED ABILITY TO PURSUE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES。
AS THE SCALE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE ECO-SYSTEMS OF THE TAIPEI INCREASE, THE SUPPORT MODALITIES MUST EVOLVE OVER TIME. AS A RESULT, EF BEGAN TO REFLECT ON HOW TO PLAN RESOURCE FLOWS MORE STRATEGICALLY WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC GOODS。
ESP TRANSFORMATION: WISH LIST + REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DUAL DRIVE
IN 2025, THESE PROBLEMS LED TO MAJOR CHANGES IN THE FUNDING STRATEGY OF THE ISF. AT THE END OF AUGUST 2025, THE EF ANNOUNCED THAT ITS ECO-SUPPORT PROGRAMME (ESP) WOULD SUSPEND OPEN FUNDING APPLICATIONS TO REASSESS FUNDING PRIORITIES AND IMPROVE SUPPORT MODALITIES。
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REALIGNMENT IS TO SHIFT ATTENTION TO STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, FROM REACTIVE TO MORE PROACTIVE MODELS, TO MORE CLOSELY SUPPORT THE FOCUS ON THE ECOLOGY OF THE EF AND TO COMPLEMENT THE OVERALL STRATEGY OF THE TEAMS WITHIN EF. IN SHORT, IT IS INVESTING RESOURCES IN PROJECTS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT AND FAR-REACHING FOR ECOLOGY。
After months of preparation, on 3 November 2025, EF officially released the ESP ' s entirely new funding mechanism, centred on the adoption of “ the Wishlist ” and “ the Request for Proposal (RFP) ” and two alternatives to a fully open application. Under the new model, the application for funding remains open to all, provided that the application is based on a pre-defined area of focus or clear questions to be identified by EF. Specifically:
The list of aspirations describes important gaps or areas of opportunity in the horticultural landscape, but does not limit the path to concrete realization. Based on observations of the state of ecology, the EF team proposes a number of broad directions or objectives of high priority, more like the EF's ecological “ wish ” and guidance. This model leaves more freedom and encourages applicants to be creative in meeting these priority needs, around which developers and teams can present their own independent ideas and programmes. EF, on the other hand, is concerned with whether the application is compatible with these broad directions and can have a positive ecological impact。
The modalities for soliciting proposals are more specific and directed. EF will issue a clear question statement or opportunity description inviting applicants to submit a solution to the issue. The model emphasizes measurable deliverables and time constraints and is tailored to those urgent issues identified by EF that require targeted inputs. Each RFP entry typically contains predefined project scope, requirements and expected results, with a fixed application window and project cycle. Just as EF is creating “ test ” application teams hand over corresponding “ responses ” only proposals that meet specific needs and deliver within a time frame can be selected。
The new Wishlist and RFP lists cover a number of key areas, such as cryptography, privacy, application layers, security, community growth, which largely represent the pains and opportunities of current developments in the Taifung。
Founders Lab: Implementation-centred Founder Support Program
While funding mechanisms have shifted to proactive planning, in 2025 EF launched an entirely new initiative focusing on support to enhance project delivery & mdash; — Founders Lab. It is a mentor-driven acceleration plan for the founders of the eco-ecosystems project, with the core idea that translating excellence into reality requires strong implementation and resource integration。
Devconect Argentina will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17&ndash, November 2025, and will be officially designated the first Taifung World Expo (Etheum World’ s Fair). During this period, the Foundations Lab will present for the first time in November 18 & ndash; the 19th will provide 1:1 guidance for the selected ETA team。
The first mentors included prominent entrepreneurs such as Jesse Pollak, head of Coinbase L2 Base, and Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon. Teams involved in the Foundations Lab have the opportunity to go directly to these “ the Unicorn ” and mentors to ask for less of a strategic, technical and operational curve。
Based on official EF presentations and mentors ' background, Founders Lab ' s tutorials focused on the following key themes:
- GTM (Go-To-Market, Market Entry Strategy): Foundations Lab emphasizes helping teams to position products and market strategies, including how to identify target users, develop outreach plans, build competitive advantages, etc。
- Financing: The Foundations Lab mentorship, which includes entrepreneurs who successfully finance and operate large-scale projects, can provide valuable financing guidance to new teams: how to sharpen business plans, approach investors, take advantage of the timing and terms of financing。
- Product and Scaling: Foundations Lab, through mentoring, hands-on delivery of products, user experience optimization, expansion of user groups and technology expansion。
- Network resources and industry insights: “ human connection ” and the ability of entrepreneurial teams to reach the right partners, community resources and sometimes the success of projects. The Foundations Lab will use the EF's extensive ecological network to match the founders of the newcomers. The mentors not only provide experience, but also help teams to connect potential partners, user communities and even investment agencies through their own networks。
Through these powers, the Foundations Lab seeks to fill the gaps in the past EF support model: EF was more of a financial support or stage for demonstration, and now goes even further by increasing teaching methods, outreach networks, and focus on results. This shift meant that the EF began to view the implementation of the founders as a worthwhile & ldquo; public goods & rdquo; As highlighted in the EF ' s New Funding Scheme Bulletin, in addition to funding, EF will provide strong and consistent support to recipients。