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Getting Started

Welcome to CreateDAO v2! This guide will help you understand the basics and get you ready to create your first DAO.

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What You’ll Need

Before creating a DAO, make sure you have:
  1. A Web3 Wallet
    • MetaMask (recommended)
    • Coinbase Wallet
    • WalletConnect-compatible wallets
    • Any EVM-compatible wallet
  2. Cryptocurrency for Gas Fees
    • Base Mainnet: ~0.002-0.005 ETH
    • Sepolia Testnet: Free SepoliaETH from faucets
  3. Basic Understanding
    • What a DAO is
    • How blockchain transactions work
    • Gas fees and wallet confirmation
First time? We recommend starting on Sepolia testnet to familiarize yourself with the process before deploying to mainnet.

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Quick Overview: What is CreateDAO v2?

CreateDAO v2 is a platform for deploying complete DAO governance systems using OpenZeppelin Governor - the industry-standard framework for on-chain governance.

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What You Get

When you create a DAO, you deploy three smart contracts in one transaction:

DAOToken

ERC20 governance token with automatic voting power activation

DAOGovernor

Proposal and voting system with OpenZeppelin extensions

TimelockController

Secure treasury holding 99% of tokens with 1-day execution delay

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Key Features

Auto-Delegation
  • No manual delegation required
  • Voting power activates automatically when you receive tokens
  • Ready to vote immediately
Secure Treasury
  • 99% of tokens held in timelock
  • All treasury actions require governance approval
  • 1-day delay before execution for security
Manager Role
  • On-chain authorization for DAO management
  • Changeable only through governance
  • Designed for integration with platforms like OpenBook
Gas Efficient
  • Uses EIP-1167 minimal proxies (clones)
  • Token and Governor proxies are only 45 bytes each
  • ~69% gas savings vs traditional deployment

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Understanding the Architecture

Your DAO = Token + Governor + Treasury

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1. DAOToken (ERC20Votes)

Your governance token gives holders voting power:
  • Standard: ERC20 with 18 decimals
  • Voting Power: Built-in checkpoint system
  • Auto-Delegation: Automatically activates when tokens are received
  • Distribution: 1% to creator, 99% to treasury

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2. DAOGovernor (OpenZeppelin Governor)

The governance contract manages your DAO:
  • Proposals: Any token holder with 1%+ can propose
  • Voting: FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN
  • Quorum: Minimum 1% participation required
  • Extensions: Includes all standard OZ Governor features
  • Manager Role: Special address for off-chain authorization

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3. TimelockController (Treasury)

The secure treasury holds DAO assets:
  • Holds: 99% of token supply
  • Delay: 1 day between proposal passing and execution
  • Security: Prevents rushed or malicious actions
  • Control: Only governance can move funds

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The Governance Process

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Creating a Proposal

  1. You need 1% of token supply to propose
  2. Proposal includes: target contracts, values, calldata, and description
  3. Voting delay starts (default: 1 day)

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Voting Period

  1. After delay, voting opens for a set period (default: 1 week)
  2. Token holders cast votes: FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN
  3. Voting power = token balance at proposal creation time

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Execution

  1. If quorum met (1%+) and majority votes FOR, proposal succeeds
  2. Proposal is queued in the timelock
  3. After 1-day delay, anyone can execute
  4. Actions are executed on-chain

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Common Use Cases

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Community Organization

Perfect for:
  • Online communities wanting shared decision-making
  • Content creator DAOs
  • Gaming guilds
  • Social clubs going on-chain

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Business Operations

Ideal for:
  • RWA (Real World Asset) management
  • Transparent business operations
  • Multi-stakeholder companies
  • Service cooperatives
Integration: Use with OpenBook for full ERP/CRM/POS with radical transparency.

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Investment Groups

Great for:
  • Collective investment decisions
  • Treasury management
  • Fund allocation
  • Grant programs

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Token Distribution Strategy

When you create a DAO:
  • You get 1% - Enough to meet quorum and create initial proposals
  • Treasury gets 99% - Distributed through governance

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Why 1%?

The 1% allocation is carefully chosen because:
  • OpenZeppelin Governor requires minimum 1% quorum
  • You need exactly 1% to bootstrap governance
  • After setup, you can propose distributing tokens to members

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Distributing to Members

After creating your DAO, create proposals to:
  1. Transfer tokens from treasury to founding members
  2. Set up vesting schedules (via custom contracts)
  3. Reward contributors
  4. Build your community

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Governance Parameters

You’ll choose these when creating your DAO:
ParameterRecommendedDescription
Voting Delay1 dayTime before voting starts
Voting Period1 weekHow long voting lasts
Quorum1% (fixed)Minimum participation
Proposal Threshold1% (fixed)Tokens needed to propose
Timelock Delay1 day (fixed)Security delay before execution
Voting Delay and Voting Period can be customized during creation. Other parameters are set to optimal defaults and can be changed later through governance.

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Supported Networks

CreateDAO v2 is currently deployed on:

Base Mainnet

Chain ID: 8453Production-ready deployment

Sepolia Testnet

Chain ID: 11155111Test your DAO for free
More networks coming soon! Follow us on Twitter for announcements.

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Next Steps

Ready to create your DAO? Follow our step-by-step tutorial:

Creating a DAO Tutorial

Complete walkthrough with screenshots and troubleshooting
 Or dive into the technical details:

DAOFactory Contract

Technical reference

Deployed Contracts

Contract addresses

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Getting Help

Need assistance? We’re here to help:

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Additional Resources

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Learn About Governance

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Integration

  • OpenBook - Transparent ERP for DAOs managing real world assets
  • Build your own tools using our open-source contracts

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Community Examples

Check out DAOs built with CreateDAO:
  • Browse on Tally
  • View on block explorers (Base, Sepolia)
  • Learn from existing governance proposals
Ready to get started? Create your DAO now →