FAQ Tag: General

General

  • If sponsors were dropping out, would you let this happen?

    We would do everything possible to bind sponsors to us within the objectives and design of the foundation.

    Who are the sponsors who are dropping out?

    Please provide the name and the lost opportunity in US $.

  • Why have separate KERI Foundation (KF) repositories alongside existing Web of Trust (WoT) repositories?

    The primary concern is that newcomers may find it confusing to understand the relationship between the different repositories and their purposes.

    Historically, there have been multiple overlapping initiatives like ToIP, IETF, WoT, and DIF, which already caused confusion. Adding KF repositories could further complicate things for those unfamiliar with the ecosystem. Newcomers might ask, “What lives where?” and feel that the community is fragmented. Ensuring clarity through proper documentation and syncing practices could help address this issue.

    The main reason for having separate KF repositories is that the open-source code that belongs there will have an enhanced balanced legal framework and decision-making unit.

  • Why did the KERI Foundation (KF) decide to maintain separate code repositories instead of contributing directly to existing Web of Trust (WoT) repositories?

    The KERI Foundation decided to maintain its own repositories to focus more on further maturing the KERISuite and to establish a governance structure that is clearer and more streamlined.

    While the WoT community remains volunteer-driven, KF aims to manage directed funds and funded projects more efficiently. This setup allows KF to work on targeted developments while ensuring the code remains open and licensed under Apache 2.0. The decision was not made to split the community but to provide a more structured way to advance the KERISuite.

  • How can I offer one of my developers to help code KERI?

    Look for existing projects on our website or submit your proposal. Within a foundation project, roles will be selected for assignment, candidates will be assessed, and officers will be appointed and paid for their deliverables.

    Example calculation

    Suppose you suggest that Developer Y code with us. Great idea and a lovely proposal!
    Suppose we agree on Y’s suitability for any vacant project roles (it could be your own freshly established KERI foundation project).

    In that case, we hire Y for the same amount that Y’s gross salary involves.

    The extra step is needed to keep the foundation independent of individuals and their bosses.

  • How do we pay attention to urgent matters in country X?

    The KERI Foundation has a long-term and global scope. However, can direct part of the team and its agenda to a local scope, directly funded by interest groups for this particular local scope.

  • Why is the foundation concerned with other programming languages of KERI implementations?

    Security and reputation are key here.

    A responsible tech team should manage this auditing/steering under Technical Managers’ leadership.

    Compliance and API compatibility with the reference installation should be the deciding factors. More of those key criteria could be noted in the organizational regulations.

    There will be a tech team managing all technical and security issues. Under the Technical Managers’ leadership, but not on a day-to-day basis. This role will be gatekeeping to ensure all operations are aligned with the strategic objectives and vision.

    Technical Management of the KERI Foundation is appointed to Sam Smith as long as he wishes to perform this role and is capable of doing so. Because of his special background as the KERISuite inventor and co-founder of the KF, implementations should be in full width and non-negotiably vetoable by him for as long as he’s in a Technical Management position.
    Apart from him, no other individual in this future position will have a veto right.

  • Is there a sales tiger or a fundraiser needed to close the deals of funding?

    We have quite a few people on Zoom calls who have these capabilities.

    Yes, we’ve described the fundraiser in a competence profile, so we’ll get there to install an officer for this task and consult the current team of participants when the position is vacant.

    The status of early 2025 is that the L3C + Operational Agreement + MoU legal structure was set up by the end of 2024.

    Foremost, we need the organization, the donor contract, and the bank account because otherwise, any deal can’t be closed. Of course, enthusiasts can always start the preparatory/exploratory work.

    Our plan is to get the funding rolling, immediately start the development of the 5Ws with this, and raise more funds to support developers who completed the 5Ws. Only then will KERI adoption be sustainable.

    A sales tiger selling projects too early invokes a large user base too-early, and this might backfire.

  • I want to donate, but I’d like to know upfront what will you do with my money?

    Thank you for considering donating. This is how we onboard donors:

    1. We formulate portfolios in which money will flow
    2. We accept donors who want to sign a donor contract matching the portfolio
    3. An obligation to pay the donorship money is established via a donor contract

    Look at the projects currently at hand and the vacant positions we’re filling in on this site!

    We’re ready to accept donors from March 2025. Because we can’t make a deal, we can talk to donors in a non-binding way.

  • How are you going to attract sponsors and donors?

    We envision frain-grained methods to onboard international sponsors and donors to (directly funded) projects under supervision and value-adding by the foundation.

    That doesn’t mean we’re perfect. Supposing you have a better proposal in mind, these are the questions that we pose ourselves in a local context but bearing the greater picture in mind:

    • Who will step on board and donate? How much? Probability?
    • How do I envision the strategy and bringing in funding partners outside of my local scope? We need those because the geographical scope needs to be international.
    • What contribution do my strategy and my group make to the broader foundation goal? 
    • What would be my forecast for raising funds in the next 2 to 3 years? Targets/industries and anticipated amounts? What conditions would I offer and agree upon?
    • How do I value the global objectives compared to the local scope?
    • What share of the total required funding (5Ws phase) do I estimate that my local jurisdiction will put on the table?
    • How would I propose to widen the geographical scope and attract international partners?

  • What is the decision-making power of the advisory board?

    The board selects the voting chair from the advisory board on the main board.