[company_age]3.0[/company_age][employees]nan[/employees][funding]pre_seed[/funding][description]PadawanDAO is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that aims to alleviate financial barriers for young people aged 15-25 who want to attend crypto conferences. Founded in November 2021, the organization was inspired by a group of teenagers who were sponsored by Ric Burton to attend ETHLisbon. Recognizing the transformative power of such experiences, PadawanDAO raised $500,000 to sponsor hundreds of young people to attend conferences like ETHDenver, ETHAmsterdam, and ETHRio. 

The organization's name and branding are heavily influenced by Star Wars, with the term "Padawan" representing those who are learning from experienced mentors. This reflects the relationship between the sponsored individuals and the DAO's mentors. PadawanDAO operates through a decentralized structure, utilizing a DAO to manage funds and conduct voting processes.

Initially, sponsorships were primarily spearheaded by individual core members or organized as large-scale initiatives involving over 50 participants. Currently, the organization accepts applications through its Discord server and also fulfills ad-hoc requests from students who reach out to the team. PadawanDAO has received support from notable donors such as RBVBEBYTDZ and BONMMCk.

After achieving its initial goal of sponsoring hundreds of young people, half of the founding team transitioned to pursue other ventures. The remaining team members have focused on increasing community involvement, improving application accessibility, and initiating new fundraising efforts as resources dwindle. PadawanDAO's dedication to empowering young people in the crypto space sets it apart from other organizations. Its focus on financial accessibility and mentorship fosters a supportive environment for the next generation of crypto enthusiasts.[/description][ps]Financial sponsorships for young people to attend crypto conferences, mentorship opportunities.[/ps]