Problem: Today, needy individuals in remote communities of the developing world lack affordable means to communicate directly with (potential) benefactors/patrons and vice versa. They have to rely on a limited number of non-profits or local patrons. Access to these local entities is difficult and they in-turn might have resource constraints.

Solution: The smsvani idea will bridge this gap and allow local needs to be broadcast (via sms) to a global audience (via internet). In short, smsvani is an sms2web message board.

Scope: In developing countries, Sms is viable since mobile phone penetration (30%) is more than the Internet penetration (3%). Needs may take the form of goods, services or monetary support. For example our sms-based messageboard platform will enable a contribution of ten dollars to a school 8,000 miles away so that the school can purchase twenty school uniforms or children's lunches for a whole week.

SMSvani Cycle

1. Need Broadcast: Individuals or communities broadcast their needs to smsvani's website via an sms. (eg: "local school kids need pencils")   2. Need Aggregation: Smsvani will automatically classify "needs" by category (health, education etc) and geography (google maps, see video).  (eg "education")      3.Need Matching (analogous to adwords): Registered benefactors/non-profits visit  smsvani portal and address a need. 4.  Execution, Progress tracking: A local non-profit might mediate and address the need with the concurrent support from a wide pool of potential donors (eg: Upon obtaining the pencils or cash to buy pencils patron receives an update)