[Grant Proposal Preview] ZeLoop Spotter
Proposal Title: Grant_ZeLoopSpotter_$26,000
Proposal Type: On-chain Action
Company: Smartblock Beverages FZ LLC
Website: zeloop.net
Discord Support Channel: discord.gg/C923dY3XES
Social Media: @zeloop_ on X and IG
Executive Summary
ZeLoop is a user-friendly mobile app that empowers individuals (mainly Web2 users) to make a positive environmental impact by rewarding eco-friendly actions such as recycling plastic bottles, mapping recycling bins, and cleaning up litter (plogging). Available globally, ZeLoop has enabled users to map recycling points across more than 70 countries. By leveraging gamification, geolocation, and blockchain incentives, ZeLoop makes sustainability engaging and accessible for all.
We are seeking a $26,000 grant to develop:
- A new DApp, ZeLoop Spotter app, in full integration with VeBetterDAO
- The first of its kind Community AI pilot on Telegram to attract and educate individuals to the DAO.
Both initiatives combined will bridge Web2 and Web3 communities, enhancing sustainability efforts and expanding the reach of VeBetterDAO.
Project Overview
Problem
Every year, 11 million tons of litter end up in our oceans. This pollution affects our food, water, and air. Despite producing over 460 million tons of plastic annually, only 9% is recycled. The need for effective, scalable solutions to combat plastic pollution has never been more urgent.
Solution
We aim to onboard the next generation of changemakers by encouraging eco-responsible behavior that creates real environmental impact.
ZeLoop transforms simple, everyday actions of recycling plastic and combating litter into tangible rewards: tokens, vouchers, and public recognition. Powered by blockchain, our platform ensures transparency and trust while making sustainable habits both accessible and rewarding. With seamless onboarding for Web2 users, ZeLoop acts as a bridge into the Web3 ecosystem.
Through our integration with VeBetterDAO, we’ll attract new Web2 users into the DAO ecosystem, while existing VeFam members gain more ways to earn B3TR—either through real-world eco-actions via the ZeLoop app or digital activities through ZeLoop Spotter.
Users will be able to:
- Drop off plastic bottles at verified collection points
- Participate in cleanups (solo or with friends)
- Map recycling bins
- Report litter hotspots
- Join eco-mission cleanup challenges
Proven Impact
ZeLoop’s platform is already delivering measurable results:
- 2M+ plastic bottles recovered
- 40 tons of plastic diverted from the environment
- Active user base in 70+ countries
We also founded the Non-Profit “Ludovic Objectif Planet Propre” with French ambassador Ludovic Franceschet, a Parisian sanitation worker and social media influencer (TikTok: 410k, Instagram: 115k, X: 25k). Our latest challenge—a clean walk from Paris to Marseille—resulted in 13.5 tons of litter collected over 800 km.
In Argentina, ZeLoop has facilitated the return of 150 tons of plastic to recyclers, demonstrating our ability to scale impact internationally.
In Nigeria our first campaign resulted in the collection of 13 tons of plastic bottles.
Why another DApp around sorting and recycling?
Unlike most dApps on this theme, all the impact is accurately measured while we are also organizing projects in the real world alongside the app. If we were part of the DAO, Vebetter would be able to aggregate an additional 200+ tons diverted from pollution the environment.
The addition of ZeLoop Spotter as a new recycling dApp isn’t about redundancy. It’s about amplifying impact, expanding reach, and enhancing the diversity of the VeBetter ecosystem.
Why ZeLoop Spotter is Strategic
Bridging Web2 & Web3 Audiences
ZeLoop already engages a global Web2 audience, not just crypto natives. Our acquisition funnel connects:
- Community building supported by the AI pilot
- ZeLoop onboarding (80% Web2 users)
- Education on the DAO and calls to action via ZeLoop Spotter and other DAO dApps
Complementary, Not Competitive
ZeLoop Spotter focuses on gamified real-world actions like bin mapping, litter spotting, and plogging, offering easy and rewarding ways for new users to contribute. It fills key experience gaps and opens doors for cross-dApp collaboration. Imagine shared passports, global litter clean-up badges, or unified data metrics to track collective impact. Our upcoming Community AI pilot could further enhance engagement across the ecosystem.
Multiplying Data & Impact
Each additional dApp contributes to richer data and more diverse use cases. ZeLoop’s machine-learning photo validation and geolocation tools ensure that every action is accurately measured, verifiable and transparent. This strengthens VeBetterDAO’s ability to report real-world impact and helps attract ESG-aligned partners and stakeholders.
Accelerating Growth & Innovation
The strength of VeBetter lies in its diversity. Each new dApp introduces fresh communities, technologies, and ideas. ZeLoop contributes its experience with real-world projects and impactful actions, offering a seamless Web3 solution tailored for Web2 users—an approach that has gained recognition in the highly competitive app ecosystem. While some DAO dApps are only beginning to explore the app space, ZeLoop is already well-positioned to advance the DAO’s mission: making eco-friendly actions accessible, engaging, and scalable.
Scalable, Sustainable
ZeLoop isn’t just another app, it’s a tested platform with:
- 7,000+ deposit points
- Presence in 70+ countries
- 200+ tons of waste diverted to date
This is a strategic expansion that will amplify both ZeLoop and VeBetterDAO’s reach.
Adding ZeLoop Spotter is a value-driven decision that will help the DAO reach new audiences, generate more impact, and reinforce its leadership in the sustainability and blockchain space. It’s not “too much”—it’s the next step for a thriving, multi-dimensional ecosystem.
Target Audience
- Global eco-conscious individuals
- ESG-minded brands and municipalities
- Businesses seeking plastic offset solutions
Examples include:
- Nestlé Waters challenge in the Middle East (top user returned 6,000 bottles in 6 weeks)
- Beach cleaning project in Goa, India (with GIZ)
- Challenges for Pif Magazine in France
Existing Revenue Models
- Eco Missions: B2B sponsored cleanup campaigns for CSR
- Plastic Credits: Sold as NFTs to individuals/companies for offsetting plastic footprint
High-Level Roadmap
We have already self-funded and launched a VeBetterDAO challenge within the ZeLoop app, allowing VeFams to discover ZeLoop (see result here) and compete for B3TR rewards from a dedicated prize pool.
Our ambition is to reach 1 million users and maximize community-driven environmental impact.
(See detailed roadmap here: ZeLoop x Vebetter DA0 250727.pptx)
Q3 2025
- Develop & launch ZeLoop Spotter
- Integrate with VeBetterDAO
Q4 2025
- Account reconciliation between ZeLoop & Spotter apps
- New collection operations in Nigeria
- Expand to Ivory Coast and Gambia
Q1 2026
- Launch Community AI pilot
- Expand plastic credit program for verified environmental impact
Investing Back in the DAO
ZeLoop is committed to strengthening the VeBetterDAO ecosystem by reinvesting a share of Plastic Credit sales directly into the DAO.
A ZeLoop Plastic Credit is a digital certificate (NFT) representing a verified amount of plastic waste collected and recycled through ZeLoop’s global network. By purchasing these credits, individuals and organizations can offset their plastic footprint while driving real environmental impact.
VeBetter users gain exclusive benefits from purchasing ZeLoop Plastic Credits—such as B3TR reward multipliers and access to gamified platform features.
To further align with the DAO’s growth, 10% of all Plastic Credit proceeds will be used to buy and stake B3TR tokens. This creates a reinforcing cycle that strengthens B3TR’s value and benefits the entire community.
Grant Milestones
Why a Grant?
ZeLoop has been fully bootstrapped to date, with early revenues consistently reinvested into product development, maintenance, and marketing. These efforts have resulted in a robust, field-tested solution recognized by institutions such as the Solar Impulse Foundation.
Although ZeLoop is generating revenue (e.g. through brand campaigns and plastic credit sales), these funds are not sufficient to independently finance the significant technical work required for full DAO integration. The scale and complexity of building a new dApp to meet VeChain’s requirements—while introducing new features and ensuring seamless connectivity with the existing ZeLoop app—demand dedicated resources beyond our current capacity.
Grant funding will cover core development costs and help bootstrap user rewards during the early growth phase, ensuring sustainable traction.
Additionally, we aim to develop a Community Management AI Pilot to help onboard, funnel, and educate Web2 users into the DAO environment.
Why a Second Grant Application?
We were initially selected for funding back in February but had to wait for the rollout of the new grant process, which requires a full community vote. As part of the very first cohort under this system, we didn’t get a chance to properly introduce ourselves to the community or understand the level of detail expected in a proposal.
Although our proposal received strong support, we narrowly missed approval due to vote weight—not lack of interest. It’s also worth noting that some of the “no” votes were cast in protest of the new process rather than the project itself.
Encouraged by the Grant Team to resubmit, we’ve taken in all feedback, narrowed our focus to ZeLoop Spotter, and made sure to clearly communicate the value we bring to the DAO. We’re here with a stronger proposal and a clearer emphasis on how ZeLoop enhances the ecosystem for everyone.
Milestones
| Milestone | Description | Funding (USD) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront | Initial disbursement | $5,000 | Immediate |
| 1 | Complete listing and endorsement of ZeLoop Spotter DApp, including (a) Testnet, improvement upon reporting (allowance of 10% of milestone amount for beta tester & endorsers when the app goes live); (b) Core functions: spotting, X2E actions; (c) Integration of VeChain wallet, B3TR token support (ability to send/receive and reward distribution); (d) Mainnet launch. | $10,000 | 3 months from upfront payment |
| 2 | Cross marketing toward Web2 users and VeFam, including (a) Run ZeLoop × B3TR challenges with prize pools; (b) Architecture and training of bots for the AI tool; (c) Aim: 5000+ users for the dApp. | $5,000 | 5 months from upfront payment |
| 3 | Community AI pilot implementation on Telegram, supported by AI bots aimed at acquiring, onboarding, and educating individuals on ESG, blockchain, and VeBetterDAO. Aim is to attract 100,000+ users within 6 months. | $6,000 | 9 months from upfront payment |
Summary:
- Upfront
Design, architecture, initial development - Milestone 1
Technical development: coding, debugging, support - Milestone 2
Launch and app improvement, user engagement campaign, troubleshooting - Milestone 3
Deploy Community AI pilot
Supplement prize pools for ZeLoop and ZeLoop Spotter
Token Distribution Plan
Weekly Allocation
- 75%: User rewards
- 10%: Ops/marketing (linked with user rewards)
- 10%: Team
- 5%: Endorsement incentives
Security Measures
ZeLoop employs multiple layers of user validation and anti-fraud measures:
- Geolocation-based submission access
- Machine learning image validation
- Spam submission prevention
- OAuth login and device fingerprinting
- Manual review with reward caps
- Key management to be finalized with VeChain tech team
Foundation Remarks
ZeLoop presents a well-aligned use case that continues to resonate with VeBetter’s mission: incentivizing real-world, verifiable, eco-friendly actions through blockchain. With a functioning application, a live user base, and prior proof of deployment, the project brings a unique onramp for non-crypto users to engage with the DAO through accessible, impact-driven actions.
While ZeLoop narrowly missed approval in the previous round, we believe this resubmission deserves fresh, objective consideration on the merits of the project itself. The team has responded constructively to community feedback, narrowed its focus to ZeLoop Spotter, and further clarified how the project complements with existing ecosystem.
This grant would support a well-scoped rollout of a new dApp tailored to VeChain’s infrastructure, including wallet integration, X2E feature deployment, and an AI community pilot to educate and funnel Web2 users into the ecosystem. These are meaningful steps toward expanding VeBetter’s reach and real-world impact.
We encourage the community to assess this proposal based on its genuine potential, the effort shown by the team, and the value ZeLoop could bring to the ecosystem’s long-term goals. Whether or not this is the right fit for the next stage of growth is, as always, up to the community to decide, but we believe it is a conversation worth having.