How It Works
What is SciFlow?
SciFlow is a marketplace connecting research funders with verified labs. Every bounty goes through admin safety/ethics review before funding, then labs can submit proposals and milestone-based escrow releases are unlocked only after verification.
Who can use SciFlow?
Anyone can browse. Funders create bounties and fund escrow. Labs apply for verification, submit proposals, and complete research. Both need to sign in to participate.
What makes a good bounty?
Clear deliverables, specific success criteria, reasonable timelines, and well-defined milestones. See example bounties on the Open Bounties page for guidance.
Fees
What are the platform fees?
5% of successfully completed bounties. No fees on cancelled or refunded bounties. Founding cohort members get 0% on their first 3 bounties.
Are there payment processing fees?
Stripe: ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Crypto (USDC): network gas fees only (~$0.01-0.50 depending on congestion).
When are fees charged?
Fees are deducted from milestone payments as they're released, not upfront.
Security & Escrow
How is my money protected?
Funds are held in escrow (Stripe for fiat, smart contracts on Solana/Base for crypto) and only released when milestones are verified or after dispute resolution.
What blockchains do you support?
USDC on Solana (fast, low fees) and Base (Ethereum L2, EVM-compatible). Fiat via Stripe Connect.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, if a lab fails to deliver and loses a dispute, funds are returned. Partial refunds are possible for partially completed work.
Disputes
What if there's a disagreement?
Either party can initiate a dispute. Cases are reviewed by a 3-person arbitration panel who examine all evidence within 72 hours.
Is there a filing fee?
$500 filing fee, refunded if you win the dispute. This prevents frivolous claims.
What evidence is considered?
Milestone evidence (IPFS-hashed), communication history, original bounty terms, and any additional documentation submitted by either party.
Lab Verification
How do labs get verified?
Labs submit institutional affiliation, publications, equipment access, and optionally stake tokens. Verification levels: Basic → Verified → Trusted → Institutional.
What does reputation score mean?
Calculated from successful milestone completions, on-time delivery, and dispute history. Higher scores unlock priority access to bounties.
Can funders verify labs independently?
Yes. Lab profiles show verification documents, past bounty history, and reputation scores. You can also request additional credentials directly.
Supported Currencies & Regions
What currencies can I use?
Fiat: USD via Stripe. Crypto: USDC on Solana and Base.
Are there geographic restrictions?
Stripe availability depends on your country. Crypto is available globally. Check Stripe's supported countries list for fiat payments.
What about KYC/AML?
Fiat payments require Stripe's standard KYC. Crypto payments above $10K may require additional verification per regulatory requirements.