Funding Proposal for Major Qualification

TL:DR - Nouns supports an unsponsored Counter-Strike team on their journey to the Austin Texas Major. If they qualify, Nouns stands to financially benefit!

Changes from Prop 715:

• 12 Months → 6 Months
• Added plan to return revenue to DAO through sticker sales.
• Narrowed scope to focus on Major results and organizing around the event.
• Budget reworked and significantly slimmed.

---

Request Overview

We are asking NounsDAO to front six months of operational expenses for the Nouns CS2 team as we embark on the journey to qualify for the Austin Major in June 2025. This event is more than just a tournament—it’s a chance to secure a spot in Counter-Strike history, represent Nouns on one of the world’s biggest stages, and generate sustainable revenue for the DAO’s future operations.

If the team qualifies for the Major, 25% of generated sticker revenue will return to the DAO (estimated at $200,000 – $500,000).

This gives the DAO all of the traditional benefits of our operating rosters in mass-exposure and onboarding, as well as a very unique financial incentive on top. For the remaining sticker revenue, 50% (industry standard) will go to the players and the remaining 25% will be used to extend the runway of Nouns CS, aiming to secure another Major appearance in December.

These funds will be returned to the DAO either through the purchase of a single noun (to avoid any concerns of a governance balance shift), or through a direct transfer via the new DUNA entity after coordinating with the DUNA admin.

---

What is Sticker Sales Revenue?

In Counter-Strike, teams that qualify for the Major receive custom, in-game team stickers that anyone can purchase, trade, and collect. These stickers are a cherished part of the community, immortalizing the teams in-game all while providing a significant and sustainable revenue stream. Think of these as Counter-Strike NFT’s.

The figures for these stickers have ranged from mid six-figures up to millions in the past.

---

Why Is This Significant?

The Power of Stickers in Counter-Strike

Securing our spot at the Major means we’ll have Nounish-themed stickers in the game—a permanent, collectible representation of our team and our brand.

Players bond very closely with their collected skins, developing a fandom for the teams that the stickers represent, to the point of there being X accounts that showcase sticker “crafts” where a player has decorated their weapon with stickers.

Stickers will help Nouns further integrate into the culture while bringing unparalleled brand awareness to a dedicated community of over 30 million monthly players.

The 2025 Austin Major

Tens of thousands will gather this year to witness the Austin Major in Austin, Texas—a significant event for Nouns Esports and the culture of Counter-Strike as the worlds top 32 teams from around the globe go head-to-head!

As one of the few all-North American teams, we have a rare and meaningful opportunity to qualify for the first Major on home soil in seven years. Made all the more special as it comes after North America’s only Major victory at the Boston Major back in 2018.

We’ll be keeping our eyes out for any opportunities to promote Nouns and run events/activations centered around the Major as it draws closer.

Major Viewership

Counter-Strike reigns as one of the most watched esports on the planet, being religiously followed by millions with Majors seeing the greatest peaks of viewership and cumulative watch hours year after year.

The coming major in Austin is expected to hold strong and put up similar, if not better, viewership numbers exposing Nouns to more eyes than ever before within the space.

---

How Do We Qualify for the Major?

A Major features 32 slots, with 11 allocated to our region, the Americas. Teams are ranked using a new points system, and based on our historical performance and current ranking, we are eligible to compete for these spots.

This is nearly double the number of slots our region has traditionally received. Instead of going through two separate qualifiers as in the past, we will now have a single qualifier against our regional competition for a direct spot in the Major. If we do not receive a direct invite North America should have 3 dedicated slots for qualification.

---

How Likely Are We to Qualify?

This year sees some drastic changes to the distribution of major spots, as well as quantity of participating teams. With these new rules we feel it is more likely than ever that our team will qualify for the upcoming Austin Major based on our historical performance and quality of the roster assembled.

We are very confident in our ability to secure one of these spots, as we have proven ourselves against similar competition time after time in the past. During the previous Major qualification cycle, we achieved a flawless 3-0 record against North American teams in the qualifier to the Regional Major Rankings event (RMR), which included a mix of the region’s top talent.

Additionally we believe in this path based on our historical performance against domestic competition, the quality of the team we have assembled (some saying our best roster to date), and our Intel Grand Slam winning coach adreN who after a year with Nouns, understands the dynamics and workings of the DAO. We believe in him to be the figurehead leading our team to the Major.

---

Budget Overview

Total Budget: $218,000 USDC

Support Staff:

• $20,000 — Manager
• $15,500 — Graphic Designer

​Team Budget:

• $36,000 — Coach
• $20,800 / Player — 5 Players
• $35,000 — Bootcamps and LAN Event Travel
• $7,500 — Misc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ⦁ Analytics Software ​ ​ ​ ​ ⦁ Practice Server ​ ​ ​ ​ ⦁ Nounish Jerseys ​ ​ ​ ​ ⦁ Noggles

multisig — Machimus.eth, adreN.eth, and nounsesports.eth

CS FANS ♥ NOUNS — Community Reception to First Prop

CS fans from around the globe made their voices heard after learning about our initial prop, check them out! ↓