Imagine a global exchange for social entrepreneurs, a combination search engine and social networking tool enabling social change agents from around the world to connect, collaborate and affect change in their communities. Imagine the T.E.D. conference meeting the Burning Man/Cooling Man Project or the Obama campaign meeting the Skoll World Forum.

SuperNova7 Productions (SN7) was created with the vision of building Nebula through open source technology which would allow artists, professionals, students, and social entrepreneurs of all ages to share best and worst practices; access tools, resources, data and research; and seek funding to help execute social impact projects. Social entrepreneurs are segmented into different age groups, expertise, and geographic locations. They are also limited by some of the same issues as individuals, but if social entrepreneurs could unify their fragmented voices then they could organize very much like those who worked on the Obama campaign. Social entrepreneurs by the very nature of their work are involved with interdisciplinary sectors, while attracting diverse skill sets and standing for various social causes. Nebula would allow social entrepreneurs to have all the necessary tools to embark upon some of the daunting problems we face in this world. This user-friendly exchange would be available through the web, handheld devices and in person social networking. Search results would be in real-time which would give users the ability to see projects and ideas in progress around the world. This allows for complete transparency for all stakeholders and the presence of metrics to measure the social impact of initiatives. There would also be a built mechanism to have peer to peer review as seen in Wikipedia to ensure user content for social good.

Nebula is an application that will be used on mobile phones which uses current GPS technology. Nebula would allow social entrepreneurs to track one another around the world while matching Nebula users to other likeminded individuals. Currently, there is no application that allows social entrepreneurs to know of each other existence or the area of work they are involved with. As society’s problems become larger and increasingly serious with irreversible outcomes, Nebula’s mobile application would allow more collaboration with change agents on a global scale. Blackberries and iPhones would be the first wave of mobile devices to carry Nebula as an application. 

SN7 also advocates youth participation in this movement by providing a linkage between entrepreneurs and those more established. This exchange encourages those entrepreneurs with mutual interests to connect, while supporting young entrepreneurs with a critical network of technical knowledge and advice that they regularly may not have access to. SN7 also plans to partner with or host two to four events next year in order to showcase the work of prominent social entrepreneurs/organizations in different U. S. cities. Through this effort, SN7 will aim to broaden exposure, solidify networks, and help entrepreneurs scale up. In its operation, SN7 is creating a unique one-stop-shop for social entrepreneurs which does not currently exist in the marketplace.

Examples of current advocacy and grassroots collaboration projects include partnerships with organizations such as GrassRoot Hoyas, Shine a Light and the India Peace Initiative.

In addition:

SuperNova7 Productions launched our website Nebula, on Jan 20, 2009 in its basic version with a limited budget.  php and mySQL programming were used on the initial launch. Moving forward we will use J2EE, JSR 168 & 286 portlets, alongside Java related open source frameworks. Our software developer recommended we use Liferay portal and mySQL to further develop Nebula. I identified an undergraduate from the University of California, Berkeley who I enlisted to do initial programming, and then recruited a software developer who is a Liferay Specialist who is now also programming.  By discussing options with hardware experts and receiving various recommendations, I chose and purchased a VPS server on March 9, 2009 using the hosting company RIMuHOSTING to begin integration of technologies mentioned above. Due to limited financial resources only the Liferay Specialist is coding on a volunteer basis. I have also researched graphic and web design companies as potential clients, and also tapped into the knowledge of personal contacts that have professional expertise within the area. Initial costs associated with developing

Phase 1 of Nebula are ongoing both in the web design and development areas. Once proper funding is secured, then development in both areas can be managed and executed with more resources. Phase 2 of Nebula would be to target educational institutions in the US and aboard as long term partners. In Phase 3 of Nebula’s development would be to customize the technology for filmmakers, musicians, artists, and other professionals. In Phase 4 would be the creation of a global social exchange for social entrepreneurs of all ages.

 If a successful prototype of Nebula is functioning in fall of 2009, then it will be integrated into two undergraduate classes at the University of Rutgers, Social Entrepreneurship and Public Service Organizations by Professor Quintus Jett.  Professor Jett is currently a senior research fellow at the Center for Digital Strategies at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. I recruited Professor Jett to be a part of the advisory board for Nebula’s parent company, SuperNova7 Productions.Nebula would be used by his students as a learning tool in the classroom that will be developed and customized to manage their own needs. 
In addition to this potential collaboration, I am currently working with non-profit, grassroots, and social issue groups to further enhance their operations by leveraging Nebula’s technology. Nebula has working partnerships with Shine a Light, GrassrootHoyas, and the India Peace Initiative.

Shine a Light is a non-profit based in São Paulo, Bogotá, and Mexico City linking 230 NGOs in 49 cities, by using filmmaking, photography, and a collaborative network to create spaces for marginalized children. Nebula is working with Shine a Light to create social media outlets to promote their best practices and create advocacy groups in the US.

GrassHoyas is a pilot project of Athletes United which aims to address the immediate need for HIV prevention education in Washington, DC. GrassrootHoyas mobilizes college athletes to empower local youth through soccer and basketball. Nebula is working with GrassrootHoyas to raise awareness with community events and strategic partnerships to help promote their cause.

India Peace Initiative is a grassroots group committed to protect the human rights for the people living in Orissa, India. Nebula is working with the India Peace Initiative to create a social media strategy in order to create awareness of the human rights violations to the global community.

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