tldr: An opportunity for Nouns to make an unforgettable impact at NAKO 2024 by merging the kendama and web3 worlds, supporting global talent, and fostering creativity in a fun, inclusive environment.
The North American Kendama Open (NAKO) is the premier kendama competition in North America, hosted by Sweets Kendamas, which brings together top players from around the world to showcase their creativity and skills to a global audience.
Kendama is more than just a toy — it’s a tool for mindfulness, community building, and self-expression. NAKO offers an ideal platform for Nouns to align its values of creativity, inclusivity, and play with a like-minded global community.
Building on the success of our collaboration with Mindfulness Through Play and activations at ETH Denver and the Blockchain Futurist Conference in Toronto, where we engaged crypto-savvy audiences, we now aim to introduce Nouns to the entire global kendama community.
Nouns has a unique opportunity to onboard the kendama community into web3 in an exciting and non-intrusive way. By blending the fun of kendama with accessible blockchain technology, we can show how anyone can meaningfully contribute to Nouns, use these tools to fund public goods, and create something impactful.
This proposal outlines how a Nouns sponsorship of NAKO will:
NAKO 2024 will be held in Minneapolis, featuring top kendama players from around the world. As the lead sponsor, Nouns will create unforgettable experiences that not only immerse attendees in the event but also gently introduce them to web3 through fun, approachable activities. By aligning Nouns with the most exciting elements of NAKO, we will drive home our commitment to creativity, play, and community.
By sponsoring the main event, Nouns will be front and center at NAKO 2024, ensuring maximum visibility across livestreams, social media, and event signage. This top-tier exposure firmly positions Nouns as a driving force in the kendama community.
Nouns’ involvement in side events will help us foster deeper connections within the kendama community. These smaller, intimate jams and competitions are where the most personal bonds are formed, and with Nouns' support, we can help elevate the entire experience by offering prizes and making these gatherings even more memorable.
The Nouns DAO Panel and Workshop offer a unique educational experience at NAKO. The panel will provide attendees with an inside look at how blockchain technology intersects with creativity and community building, showcasing real-world examples of how this technology has improved people’s lives. The workshop creates an intimate space for deeper engagement, giving curious attendees a chance to explore the potential of DAOs and learn how they can leverage these tools to enhance their own creative projects.
We will introduce attendees to web3 in a simple, fun way that invites curiosity without pressure. By distributing POAPs and Kendama DAO tokens, Nouns will leave a lasting impression on attendees, giving them something tangible to take home and explore later. This non-invasive approach helps us onboard new members into the Nouns ecosystem while enhancing their experience at NAKO.
Our POAP scavenger hunt will inject an element of play and discovery into the event. This activity encourages attendees to explore various areas of the venue while interacting with Nouns branding and content in a fun, hands-on way. Participants who collect all POAPs will be entered into a raffle, encouraging engagement without overwhelming them with technical jargon or crypto complexity.
Supporting the travel of top international kendama pros is a key element in elevating the competition at NAKO 2024. By helping these elite athletes attend, Nouns not only enhances the quality and prestige of the event but also demonstrates our commitment to nurturing talent and fostering inclusivity in the kendama community.
Featured athletes will be finalized if this proposal passes, we are currently in talks with the following players:
We’re bringing in high-profile guests, such as Bob Burnquist and a top-tier DJ, to add star power and excitement to NAKO 2024. Bob’s presence connects Nouns to creativity and innovation in more traditional communities like skateboarding, while the DJ’s performance will energize the event, making web3 more appealing to a broader audience and aligning Nouns with influential figures in both the skate and entertainment worlds.
We're also submitting a sister proposal to Gnars focused on a skate event to happen alongside NAKO, aiming to merge the worlds of kendama, extreme sports, and web3. By combining our efforts, Nouns and Gnars will create a holistic experience that engages both communities, highlights creativity, and showcases the positive impact of DAOs and blockchain technology while also demonstrating the collaborative nature of Nouns.
Partnering with NAKO 2024 is an opportunity for Nouns to make a massive impact in a new community that shares our values of creativity, play, and collaboration. By blending kendama and web3 in a fun, approachable way, we can onboard new members into the Nouns ecosystem and leave a lasting legacy of support for global talent. Nouns' presence at NAKO will advance our mission to fund public goods that strengthen global communities and inspire creative new forms of innovation and collaboration.
tldr: An opportunity for Nouns to make an unforgettable impact at NAKO 2024 by merging the kendama and web3 worlds, supporting global talent, and fostering creativity in a fun, inclusive environment.
The North American Kendama Open (NAKO) is the premier kendama competition in North America, hosted by Sweets Kendamas, which brings together top players from around the world to showcase their creativity and skills to a global audience.
Kendama is more than just a toy — it’s a tool for mindfulness, community building, and self-expression. NAKO offers an ideal platform for Nouns to align its values of creativity, inclusivity, and play with a like-minded global community.
Building on the success of our collaboration with Mindfulness Through Play and activations at ETH Denver and the Blockchain Futurist Conference in Toronto, where we engaged crypto-savvy audiences, we now aim to introduce Nouns to the entire global kendama community.
Nouns has a unique opportunity to onboard the kendama community into web3 in an exciting and non-intrusive way. By blending the fun of kendama with accessible blockchain technology, we can show how anyone can meaningfully contribute to Nouns, use these tools to fund public goods, and create something impactful.
This proposal outlines how a Nouns sponsorship of NAKO will:
NAKO 2024 will be held in Minneapolis, featuring top kendama players from around the world. As the lead sponsor, Nouns will create unforgettable experiences that not only immerse attendees in the event but also gently introduce them to web3 through fun, approachable activities. By aligning Nouns with the most exciting elements of NAKO, we will drive home our commitment to creativity, play, and community.
By sponsoring the main event, Nouns will be front and center at NAKO 2024, ensuring maximum visibility across livestreams, social media, and event signage. This top-tier exposure firmly positions Nouns as a driving force in the kendama community.
Nouns’ involvement in side events will help us foster deeper connections within the kendama community. These smaller, intimate jams and competitions are where the most personal bonds are formed, and with Nouns' support, we can help elevate the entire experience by offering prizes and making these gatherings even more memorable.
The Nouns DAO Panel and Workshop offer a unique educational experience at NAKO. The panel will provide attendees with an inside look at how blockchain technology intersects with creativity and community building, showcasing real-world examples of how this technology has improved people’s lives. The workshop creates an intimate space for deeper engagement, giving curious attendees a chance to explore the potential of DAOs and learn how they can leverage these tools to enhance their own creative projects.
We will introduce attendees to web3 in a simple, fun way that invites curiosity without pressure. By distributing POAPs and Kendama DAO tokens, Nouns will leave a lasting impression on attendees, giving them something tangible to take home and explore later. This non-invasive approach helps us onboard new members into the Nouns ecosystem while enhancing their experience at NAKO.
Our POAP scavenger hunt will inject an element of play and discovery into the event. This activity encourages attendees to explore various areas of the venue while interacting with Nouns branding and content in a fun, hands-on way. Participants who collect all POAPs will be entered into a raffle, encouraging engagement without overwhelming them with technical jargon or crypto complexity.
Supporting the travel of top international kendama pros is a key element in elevating the competition at NAKO 2024. By helping these elite athletes attend, Nouns not only enhances the quality and prestige of the event but also demonstrates our commitment to nurturing talent and fostering inclusivity in the kendama community.
Featured athletes will be finalized if this proposal passes, we are currently in talks with the following players:
We’re bringing in high-profile guests, such as Bob Burnquist and a top-tier DJ, to add star power and excitement to NAKO 2024. Bob’s presence connects Nouns to creativity and innovation in more traditional communities like skateboarding, while the DJ’s performance will energize the event, making web3 more appealing to a broader audience and aligning Nouns with influential figures in both the skate and entertainment worlds.
We're also submitting a sister proposal to Gnars focused on a skate event to happen alongside NAKO, aiming to merge the worlds of kendama, extreme sports, and web3. By combining our efforts, Nouns and Gnars will create a holistic experience that engages both communities, highlights creativity, and showcases the positive impact of DAOs and blockchain technology while also demonstrating the collaborative nature of Nouns.
Partnering with NAKO 2024 is an opportunity for Nouns to make a massive impact in a new community that shares our values of creativity, play, and collaboration. By blending kendama and web3 in a fun, approachable way, we can onboard new members into the Nouns ecosystem and leave a lasting legacy of support for global talent. Nouns' presence at NAKO will advance our mission to fund public goods that strengthen global communities and inspire creative new forms of innovation and collaboration.