The ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab


In Q1 2024, ArbitrumDAO and RnDAO worked together to build a new kind of entrepreneurship program, starting with idea-stage fellowships for builders to dive deep into a collaboration tech problem, and followed by a venture-building program to fast-track the creation of a composable product ecosystem.

The Fellowship ended on April 4th with our Co.Lab Fellowship Demo Day when our Fellows presented the results of their research with an open Q&A.

The Venture selection process is now in its final stages

What is the ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab?

ArbitrumDAO and RnDAO have come together to build a new kind of entrepreneurship program, starting with idea-stage fellowships for builders to dive deep into a problem, and followed by a venture-building program to fast-track the creation of a composable product ecosystem.

The focus is on Collaboration Tech - the combined space of organizational management, community, DAO, and other collaboration tooling for the future of work. A market poised to reach $380bn by 2030 and transform how we address global challenges.

We are offering a 3-month paid fellowship ($2,000/month stipend) to 6 aspiring entrepreneurs for deep research into fundamental challenges in the collaboration space. Additionally, we’ll grant 50k ARB tokens and hands-on support for a selected venture to join RnDAO’s swarm tech product ecosystem.

Why the ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab?

Web3 projects often struggle to deeply understand customer problems and conduct thorough research, resulting in poor user experience and failed products. This is particularly challenging for collaboration-tech ventures, as you need to convince whole groups to try your product, making it even harder to get feedback and find product market fit.

And that’s not the only challenge. Human collaboration is complex, requiring a deep understanding of multiple disciplines to truly invent a better future of work instead of reinventing the wheel. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when you’re all alone.

We have partnered with the Arbitrum DAO's Thank ARB program to create a 3-month paid fellowship to provide best-in-class research skills, mentorship by experts in collaboration tech venture building, and the world's top L2 chain’s experience and resources. Through this fellowship, you’ll be able to deeply understand a customer problem, position yourself as an expert in this specific challenge, and build a network of potential customers, partners, and collaborators. The Fellowship provides you with an ideal launchpad to build a viable collaboration tech venture and transform the future of work.

Click here for the program FAQ

What is on offer through the Arbitrum DAO Co.Lab Fellowship program?

We will choose 6 Fellows who will be awarded a stipend of $2,000 per month

The Fellowship lasts 3 months, during which you will:

  • Define your customer and dive deep to understand their problem, with our rigorous playbook, expert mentoring, and networks to quickly connect you with Web3 thought leaders and potential customers.
  • Strengthen the conceptual foundation of your idea, with the broad context of our existing research and deep expertise in organization design, community building, governance, and more.
  • Refine a compelling story about your idea to the market, with our coaching and critique, having pitched thousands of clients and mentored hundreds of founders.
  • Present at the RnDAO DemoDay, and receive co-marketing from RnDAO and RnDAO’s community to position yourself as an authority on your selected problem. Fellows may also get the opportunity to present alongside Arbitrum during ETH Denver 2024.

Additionally, Fellows will receive priority evaluation to be chosen to receive a further grant of 50,000 ARB tokens and become part of RnDAO’s swarm tech product ecosystem. We also aim to remove distractions and side tasks, so venture teams can dedicate themselves to building a thriving business. You’ll benefit from our support in defining team processes, legal setup and contracts, rewards and compensation systems, governance, and more. We’ll also help you attract talent, meet investors, and connect with customers.

The ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab Application Process

ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab Announced

Mon, 27 Nov 2023

Webinar: Why Co.Lab for ArbitrumDAO?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023

Event: ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab Problem statement workshop

Thu, 7 Dec 2023

Research Fellowships application deadline

Wed, 13 Dec 2023

ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab Research Fellowships Winners announcement

11 Jan 2024

ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab
Venture selection
Venture Pitch Day

28 March 2024

ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab Research Fellowship
Final Demo Day

04 April 2024

ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab
Venture selection
Winner announcement

About Thank ARB

Thank ARB is the comprehensive program developed by Plurality Labs to organize, deliver and eventually decentralize the effective allocation of resources for the Arbitrum DAO.

Thank ARB has built a program based on sensing the needs of the community, responding to and allocating resources to the most important work, and onboarding / upskilling contributors in order for the Arbitrum DAO to build a self-sustaining and thriving contribution ecosystem.

About Arbitrum

Arbitrum is a next-generation Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, designed to expand the capabilities of Ethereum's network by enhancing its speed and scalability while ensuring low transaction costs.

It stands out in the blockchain space for its innovative approach to optimizing decentralized applications (DApps) performance without compromising security. Arbitrum operates as a highly efficient, Ethereum-compatible platform, making it a go-to choice for developers seeking to build and deploy smart contracts and DApps with greater efficiency.

Emphasizing decentralization and user empowerment, Arbitrum is reshaping the landscape of blockchain technology, driving forward a future where advanced scalability and accessibility go hand in hand.

About RnDAO

RnDAO is a research-led venture builder with a mission to empower humane collaboration. We operate as a platform for teams to gather and research organizational challenges, then start ventures together.

Our ventures work as a product ecosystem, composing complex value propositions from modular solutions and collaborating across sales, recruitment, research, and beyond to reduce entrepreneurial risks and inefficiencies, accelerate go-to-market, and compound capabilities.

Together, we operate as a swarm to unleash the next generation of human collaboration. Learn more about us here.

The ArbitrumDAO Co.Lab is a targeted investment into building an anti-fragile, inclusive, and collaborative development ecosystem.
By entrusting this initiative to RnDAO, Arbitrum stands to gain not just immediate solutions, but the foundation for long-term sustainability and impact.

Daniel Ospina

Instigator, RnDAO