In this blog post, we have the privilege of delving into an interview with Salem Olaoye, a smart contract developer who built FunDity, a fundraising DApp, during the Web3Africa hackathon in partnership with Bunzz.
Salem takes us on a captivating journey through his experiences at the hackathon, why his team built FunDity, and how Bunzz was used in the development process.
Here are the highlights of our conversation:
Q: Could you introduce yourself?
Salem: My name is Salem Olaoye, and I have been immersed in smart contract development for over a year and a half.
Q: Let’s dive into the dApp you built for the hackathon. Can you provide more details about it?
Salem: The dApp I built is FunDity, a decentralized fundraising platform. FunDity addresses the challenges of transparency and others in raising funds for various entrepreneurship-related projects, startups, and nonprofit organizations. It simplifies the fundraising process by automating the creation of an Ethereum address for each campaign. Through the dApp, users can easily create campaigns, share the campaign address, and seamlessly receive funds. Additionally, it offers transparent tracking of funds within the dApp, ensuring accountability.
Q: Is FunDity similar to GoFundMe?
Salem: Yes, it shares similarities with GoFundMe. FunDity is a blockchain equivalent of GoFundMe.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your dApp?
Salem: The inspiration behind this dApp stemmed from the realization that money plays a crucial role in the lives of many individuals. By simplifying the fundraising process and automating the creation of smart contract-based campaign websites, I aimed to provide newcomers to the web3 space with an accessible platform for creating campaigns and raising funds without the need for complex development or website creation.
Q: I understand that you worked with a team of two. What role did you play, and were you primarily responsible for the backend development?
Salem: Yes, I was primarily responsible for the backend development. I constructed the smart contract, wrote comprehensive tests, and handled the deployment process.
Q: Could you provide insights into the tech stack you used for this project?
Salem: I utilized Solidity and tools such as Ethers.js. Additionally, I incorporated Hardhat to ensure the integrity of certain aspects, and during this project, I found Bunzz to be particularly impressive for efficient smart contract deployment and interaction.
Q: How did you specifically use Bunzz? Was it primarily for smart contract deployment?
Salem: Bunzz played a vital role in creating modules for seamless interaction with the dApp. It streamlined the process of deploying and interacting with our smart contracts, eliminating the need for extensive coding.
Bunzz proved to be a valuable tool that significantly simplified our development workflow.
Q: Do you have plans to further develop and expand this project?
Salem: Absolutely, I do have plans to further develop the project. While established platforms like GoFundMe exist, my initial focus will be on individuals seeking to crowdfund their projects or campaigns. I aim to provide them with a straightforward, secure solution catering to their needs.
Q: Do you anticipate any challenges in the adoption of this dApp?
Salem: I am confident that the adoption of this dApp will not encounter significant hurdles. We have streamlined the process of creating crowdfunding campaigns and ensured fund security through blockchain technology. With a user-friendly interface, automated generation of unique Ethereum addresses for campaigns, and a minimal learning curve, we anticipate a smooth adoption process.
Q: Which blockchain platform do you plan to deploy your dApp on? You mentioned Ethereum as your primary choice. Is that correct?
Salem: Yes, Ethereum remains our primary choice for deployment, although I am considering alternatives like Polygon. Currently, I am utilizing the Polygon testnet for testing purposes.
Q: How far do you aspire to take your career in the blockchain space?
Salem: I aspire to become a full-time smart contract developer and am fortunate to be part of a team that aligns with my goals in this field. My ultimate aim is to contribute to the advancement of decentralized technologies and shape the future of the blockchain industry.
At Bunzz, we are excited to support and power blockchain solutions to solve real problems. Salem’s journey in building FunDity highlights the power of community, continuous learning, and innovative thinking. His dApp for decentralized fundraising introduces a practical, transparent, and secure solution for raising funds within the blockchain space.
