NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoup.org - social change technology n2y2

N2Y2Con: My 3 Words on NetSquared

xicanista — Wed, 30 May 2007 18:44:21 -0400

Beth Kanter asked for three words and go this: http://blip.tv/file/247719.

My three words -

competitive
collaborative
inspiring

N2Y2Con: Tech Innovation Feedback Track 5

xicanista — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:26:48 -0400

YAKANA.ORG

Q: From Expert - Why you over any other project?
A: Latin america lacks access. Want to bring access for the purpose of supporting people in their respective fields. Who is our competition? There are many tools available, but there is not technical support for the community. Want to make tools available without barrier of having to understand how the tools work. Just want give access to apply the tool.

Q: What about access? What is the issue?
A: Ecuador only has a 10% internet access. The government is installing centers to give communities access. Yakana.org is promoting low cost internet access for organizations as well.

N2Y2Con: Who's getting my vote

xicanista — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:52:51 -0400

As a volunteer live blogger I was asked to be sure your session notes posts are objective. I believe they have been. In fact, if you find that something in my notes is not accurate or balanced please let me know!

At this point I am really attracted to Stop Family Violence and MyKenyan Space. Since we get to vote 3 chips I am not sure where the 3rd goes. Will I give one of these projects 2 votes or throw it to a third? Not sure yet.

N2Y2Con: Tech Innovation Track Feedback Session II

xicanista — Tue, 29 May 2007 18:26:14 -0400

INNOVATORZ MEDIA

Social innovators to produce content. Centralize tools and distribute content broadly.

Q: from expert - Can you differenitate yourself from other similar services?
A: Get people to develop content for purpose of pushing through distribution channels.

Q: from expert - One of your stated goals is improving your content. Please explain.
A: Want to answer the best questions to get better answers.

Q: from expert - Technical improvement is not the issue, right? Its an improvement of the quality of content you are seeking, right? Are you satisfied with the technical stuff?
A: No, they need technical assistance. They are not experts in computer science. They are self-teaching and implementing on the fly.

N2Y2Con: Tech Innovation Track Feedback Session I

xicanista — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:25:03 -0400

STOP FAMILY VIOLENCE

victims of abuse can come together, get support
service providers can network as well
find out from survivors about what is most needed
to support activism

Q: Where are you starting at?

Current online site very different from vision.

She now has wireframes for web 2.0 kinda site.

Q: To what extent do you expect to provide expertise to organizations that have no websites or poor ones?

Likely need to do serious market analysis and proof of concept, see what they need and determine what is realistic to provide those organizations?

N2Y2Con: 3rd Round of Project Presentations

xicanista — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:07:44 -0400

Grassroots.org
A nonprofit business to business model. They currently have a low need for technology development. Leverage existing applications for the benefit of nonprofits packaged in a "toolbox". A strength - having the ability to get for-profit companies help out at no cost.

Global Women's Leadership
Imaging a world where a woman in Africa could use her cel phone to request information on how technical and business concepts. Goal is to develop women's leadership via low bandwidth technology - cel phones. Have support of Santa Clara University, but need additional technical support.

WiserEarth

N2Y2Con: Nonprofit B2B pitches

xicanista — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:33:47 -0400

There have been a few projects that have pitched nonprofit business to business (b2b) models. They are similar in this respect - they argue something to the effect

"Nonprofits need to focus on their mission, not on their technology. We want to figure out and manage their tech for them."

So here are some questions I have about this angle:

How many of these nonprofits target audiences are on the web?
If they are connected, how are they using the web?
If nonprofits barely have the capacity to serve their communities, shouldn't technology be focused on increasing that organization's capacity and effectiveness?