[Video Disruptor] Crux, Inc.

Nobody has claimed this yet.

Application by: @jessjayearth
## What is your project, and what problem does it solve?
Crux, Inc. aims to address the systemic issues in traditionally underfunded sectors such as the arts, humanities, education, and nightlife.

V1 of Crux will primarily serve as a platform for artist onboarding and live performance/content livestreaming.

## Link to public GitHub repo (if applicable)
https://github.com/cruxinc
## Link to demo website (if applicable)
cruxinc.xyz
## Please describe in more detail why this proposal is valuable for the Livepeer ecosystem
This project leverages Livepeer’s technology to democratize live performances, making them accessible to a global audience regardless of location, while also highlighting underrepresented art forms and creating opportunities for artists.

## Please describe in details what your final deliverable for this project will be.
By the end of the grant period, we expect to have a fully functional MVP of the Crux, Inc. platform launched to production. We'll debut our Crux MVP at a live New York show in Spring 2025. Our first 8 performers will beta test the platform, providing feedback that will inform our platform refinements before the public launch of Crux.

## How will this deliverable benefit the Livepeer ecosystem?
This project leverages Livepeer’s technology to democratize live performances, making them accessible to a global audience regardless of location, while also highlighting underrepresented art forms and creating opportunities for artists.

## Please break up your development work into a clear set of milestones

## What is the total amount requested (in USD)?
14000

## Specify your team's long-term plans to maintain this software and upgrade it over time
After the MVP is built, we aim to begin fundraising for Crux's further development and bring on FT employees capable of maintaining/upgrading this software long-term.

## Please describe (in words) your team's relevant experience, and why you think you are the right team to build this project. You can cite your team's prior experience in similar domains, doing similar dev work, individual team members' backgrounds, etc.
Jess Still - Founder, CEO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-still/

Jess brings 6 years of tech experience, starting in agricultural technology where they designed horticultural solutions before joining Microsoft to help North American teams leverage data insights for business strategy.

In 2020 and beyond, Jess entered the crypto space as a contributor to various DAOs, most notably PactDAO, which fiscally sponsors 14 Brooklyn-based mutual aid organizations. For the past two years, they've led business development initiatives and product strategy at Kadena, a Layer 1 blockchain that originated as the foundation for JPM Coin before evolving into a public PoW chain.

Alongside their crypto work, Jess has immersed themselves in Brooklyn's nightlife scene as a drag performer, developing deep insights into nightlife economics and building strong connections with local artists. This unique blend of crypto expertise, artistic sensibility, and community focus makes them the ideal founder to lead the Crux platform, which embodies these diverse principles.

Utkarsh Bhimte/DockLabs - Development Team
www.linkedin.com/in/utkarsh-bhimte

Utkarsh, founder of DockLabs LLC, empowers groundbreaking ideas in the Base and Farcaster ecosystems. With over 7 years of experience, he has served as Founding and Lead Software Engineer at multiple startups, building codebases from the ground up and scaling them to significant growth.

Passionate about both technology and user experience, Utkarsh is dedicated to developing products that users love. Deeply immersed in the Web3 ecosystem for the past 4 years, he has built consumer-focused products across various blockchains. Most recently, he launched his own product studio, DockLabs, where he and his team willserve as the primary technical contributors to the development of Crux, Inc.

Jayen Harrill - Advisor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayeharrill

Jayen Harrill is a veteran in the crypto space with deep roots going back to 2012. Currently driving marketing at Covalent, she also advises startups like Dragonscale (AI), Protectors Guild (crypto security), and Sound Money (Bitcoin Music SocialFi).

A self-described "technical marketer," Jayen seamlessly bridges the gap between technology and user experience. Her ability to chart a course from hardware to user interface allows her to pinpoint the most impactful ways to connect with potential users.

Ivy Astrix - Advisor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivy-astrix-27a988156

Ivy is a seasoned tech professional with 18 years of experience in industrial automation, solutions architecture, and information security. A longtime cannabis advocate and activist, Ivy served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, where she oversaw regulatory compliance, government relations, and DEI initiatives.

Beyond cannabis, Ivy is passionate about community building and web3. She founded the Clubhouse 'Testflighter' community and served as Lead Engineer at both Twali DAO and Tuum Technologies, where she most recently built out a MetaMask Snap for AuthFlow. She also holds a board position at New Forms Festival and is a regular contributor to Boys Club.

## Who is your target user group? How do you plan on getting your users to use this?
Target users: Live performance fans & crypto community

Strategy:

- Partner with artists/venues
- Demo at tech/art conferences
- Interactive features for virtual live experience
- Provide easy onboarding and interaction with the Crux platform through users' crypto wallets, tailoring the experience for mainstream audiences

## How did you learn about the Livepeer Grants Program?
Your fantastic Program Manager, En

## Was this project started at a hackathon or another web3 event? Which one?
No :-)

## Please include any additional information that you think would be useful in helping us to evaluate your proposal.

Start by reviewing the public repository at github.com/cruxinc and the milestone plan in this issue. The proposal covers authentication, creator profiles, admin tools, and Livepeer-powered creator and viewer streaming interfaces. Done is a production-launched MVP with beta testing and the listed milestone deliverables, but no specific files, tests, or entry points are identified.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.