Blueprint Cohort 1: Key Takeaways and What’s Next

With Blueprint Cohort 1 nearly complete, it’s a good time to reflect on what we’ve achieved and look ahead to where we’re going.

The creators in Cohort 1 set the stage for what’s possible when you publish your work onchain.

Let’s dive into some highlights from our Dune dashboard.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

We saw 347,717 mints and $444,283.36 in revenue from 24,093 collectors spread across Drakula, Zora, and Pods.

Here’s the breakdown per marketplace:

  • Drakula: 98,383 mints, $200,565.81 (76.44 ETH)

  • Zora: 188,001 mints, $148,422.51 (56.56 ETH)

  • Pods: 48,349 mints, $88,797.63 (33.84 ETH)

What stands out here is how creators made use of multiple platforms, taking their content to different audiences without being locked into a single ecosystem.

It’s a clear shift from the constraints of traditional social networks, where algorithms and closed systems dictate who sees your work.

Blueprint gave these creators the chance to explore multiple spaces and maximize their reach.

This approach opened up a lot of opportunities for growth that just wouldn’t happen otherwise. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Week 1 Day 1 kickoff sesh
Week 1 Day 1 kickoff sesh

Mentorship

The mentorship program was the heart of Cohort 1.

We brought in top crypto mentors to give creators the strategic insights they needed to win onchain.

These mentors provide advice and shared actionable strategies that could immediately be applied to each creator’s project.

Here are the six key areas we focused on.

1. Building an Onchain Audience

We guided creators through the process of building an engaged onchain audience.

Beyond simply growing on Warpcast or Lens, we showed them how to keep their audience—represented by their wallet addresses—engaged and active throughout the long-tail of their journey.

The cohort embraced the concept of islands, where each platform serves as a connection point, linking together to form a unified top of funnel with strategies to reach their audience anywhere they are onchain.

2. Reverse Engineering Onchain Distribution

Creators also gained valuable insights into reverse engineering distribution.

Through deliberate practice and by studying certain case studies, they learned how to break down and apply the key elements that drive effective distribution.

The goal was to help them strategically get their work in front of the right people, on the right platforms, at the right time.

3. Achieving Onchain Virality

Mentors then shared the formula for going viral onchain.

Creators learned that virality isn’t random.

It requires a carefully executed strategy.

Cohort 1 hitting #1 on Mint.fun
Cohort 1 hitting #1 on Mint.fun

From choosing the right moment to launch a drop to amplifying the message through community engagement, this knowledge gave them the tools to create viral moments as measured by editions collected.

4. Aligning Incentives with Collectors

Understanding collector behavior is critical.

Creators were taught how to align incentives with their collectors to keep them engaged beyond the initial mint.

We emphasized long-term strategies that reward collectors for staying involved and maintaining a connection with the creator’s work.

5. Organic vs. Paid Mints

We also spent time exploring organic versus paid mints.

Creators learned the value of each approach and when to deploy them for maximum impact.

The ability to generate demand through organic growth while using incentivized mints strategically gave creators a balanced approach to scaling their projects.

6. Raising Money and Campaigning for Grants

Another key area of mentorship was teaching creators how to raise funds and campaign for grants.

We showed them how to build pitch decks to properly promote themselves because, at the end of the day, creators are founders.

Before the end of the cohort, creators had raised over $40,000 to fund their future projects.

This skill set allowed them to take even bigger steps in the development of their work.

Creators Who Led the Charge

Several creators really set the bar high, with 9 out of 10 creators breaking into the 10 ETH Club:

  1. Anthony Azekwoh: 19.44 ETH ($51,135.34)

  2. Dawnia Darkstone: 19.40 ETH ($51,015.96)

  3. Sara Phillips: 19.28 ETH ($50,706.27)

  4. MeetQuack: 18.81 ETH ($49,473.92)

  5. ETH Daily: 18.21 ETH ($47,882.83)

  6. Naomi Metzger: 17.02 ETH ($44,754.41)

  7. Stump Club: 16.94 ETH ($44,543.96)

  8. Blake Finucane: 16.79 ETH ($44,149.84)

  9. Jayden Hills: 14.49 ETH ($38,097.05)

  10. Shavonne Wong: 8.76 ETH ($23,047.96)

The variety of creators and content that found success is what impressed me the most.

Whether they were creating digital art, podcasts, or music, it didn’t matter—the strategies and tools we provided gave them what they needed to win on their terms.

It’s proof that anyone can carve out their space onchain if they approach it with the right strategy and effort.

Engagement Powered by Layer3

One of the key drivers of engagement in this cohort was the Layer3 campaigns, which distributed $403,685.12 in rewards.

We helped our collectors earn $OP, $ONCHAIN, $BONSAI, and $DEGEN, with an average reward of $1.25 per mint.

However, the real focus was on how collectors stayed engaged beyond just claiming their rewards.

For example, 79% of $BONSAI token holders and 85.1% of $ONCHAIN holders kept their tokens after 30 days.

We saw the same 24,093 collectors pick up 347,717 editions across all drops, all the while holding onto their incentives, rather than just claiming rewards and moving on.

The value wasn’t just in the short-term rewards but in the connection between the collectors and the content as seen in the screenshot below.

Farcaster Followers Growth: From 0 to Thousands

One of the most exciting aspects of Blueprint Cohort 1 has been watching how quickly creators grew their audiences on Farcaster.

When we began, each creator started with anywhere between 0 to 100 followers on Farcaster.

By the end of the seven-week program, they had grown their audiences into the thousands.

This growth didn’t happen by accident—it was the result of a focused strategy on what we like to call, “Connecting the Islands” where we use a variety of onchain tools to their full potential.

Let’s break down some standout creators who have really excelled.

Naomi Metzger: An Outlier in the Best Way

One clear standout from the cohort is Naomi Metzger, who far exceeded expectations.

Starting with just 100 followers, Naomi has now grown her Farcaster audience to 16,646 followers, as shown in the growth chart.

She’s proven to be an outlier in the best way possible, thriving on Warpcast through consistent engagement, strategic mints, and building strong connections with her collectors.

https://warpcast.com/v/0x54f08cf2
https://warpcast.com/v/0x54f08cf2

Just a month ago, Farcaster Co-Founder Varun even named her the number one creator on Warpcast as measured by total engagement.

Naomi’s incredible growth is a testament to her hard work and a prime example of what happens when creators fully embrace the insights taught in the Blueprint Accelerator.

Other Notable Performances

While Naomi has been a clear outlier, many other creators have also seen massive growth.

Creators like Jayden Hills and ETH Daily went from near-zero followers to 3,187 and 3,556 followers, respectively.

The Farcaster follower growth chart highlights how all the creators from Stump Club to Blake Finucane have grown their audiences significantly, totaling a growth of 42,223 followers for all creators by the end of the cohort.

Each creator's success story reinforces the impact of the strategies implemented throughout Blueprint.

From building authentic relationships with their audiences to learning how to distribute their content effectively using incentives, these creators have laid the groundwork for long-term growth.

We’re proud to have helped these creators unlock new levels of success on Farcaster, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to leverage their newfound audiences.

Thank you

Cohort 1 came to life thanks to the generous contributions from Zora, Pods, Guild, Bonsai, and Layer3, who provided the capital to fund each creator.

Bringing this vision to reality took an immense effort, and our lean team of four couldn’t have done it alone.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our mentors who gave their time, shared their invaluable experience, and offered their insights with open arms.

We couldn’t have done it without your support.

So, what’s next?

What’s Ahead

With Cohort 1 setting a solid foundation, the focus now shifts to Cohort 2.

We’ve seen what works and have taken detailed notes on what didn’t, preparing us to build on the momentum.

With new collaborators on board and a refined, focused mentorship program, we’re pushing creators to aim higher ↑.

In this next cohort, the focus will be on content volume.

We’re planning to publish around 150 pieces of content onchain over the course of 2.5 months with 10 new creators, while fostering opportunities with our alumni.

The goal is to create an assembly line of publishing quality content onchain, ensuring a steady flow of engagement and growth for the creators involved.

Our goal as the operating team by the end of Blueprint Cohort 1 was to give creators the foundation and know-how to hit the 10 ETH Club - and we achieved just that.

Every creator will receive a custom plaque in the mail celebrating their achievement.

Now with the lessons and experience they gained, they can eventually aim for the 100 ETH Club on their own.

Applications for Cohort 2 will open Monday, October 21, 2024, and we’re excited to see what the next group of creators will accomplish together.

Apply by visiting:

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