Tethr: Bringing True mobility to Journalists and communities

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1. What is your project? [1 sentence]

Tethr allows people to connect with one another and the world, anywhere, anytime, via any means available.

2. How will your project use mobile tools and approaches? [2 sentences]

We believe super easy to use tools are key to proper communication. Tethr enables people to use the tools they already know and love, whether they are connected to the Internet or not, and provides an open platform for development of new applications.

3. Who will use it and why? [1 sentence]

Journalists, Scientists, Educators, Citizen groups, Governments and others have expressed interest in Tethr.

4. Please list three ways they would learn about your project.

1. Personal networks and referrals: Each of our customers and employees brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the party.
2. Community building: We have already begun building cross-cutting communities of interest to help define our product. We will use these communities in the future to expand our market reach.
3. Social networking: Our most public outreach will be built around sharing our knowledge and inviting everyone into our community.

5. What connections have you made, or will you make, with others [communities, organizations or networks] about your project? [2 sentences]

Our current customers include NGOs, Journalists and municipalities. We would like to improve our connections with Telecom companies and networks of educators.

6. What part of the project have you already built? [1-2 sentences, feel free to include links]

We have built and sold two beta units (one to Internews Europe- http://bigpicturejournalism.org/blog/pioneering-crowdsourced-journalism-training-africa and one to Qatar Foundation International - http://mappingthemangroves.qfi.org). Further units are in the pipeline for Lake Tanganyika Floating Clinic (http://floatingclinic.org) and a municipality in Canada.

7. What does success for your project look like? [1-2 sentences]

We look forward to seeing our customers in the field telling stories, providing useful and timely data, and using Tethr to improve the lives of others.

8. What resources do you need to succeed? [1-2 sentences]

We need money and more technical expertise. We will always need more connections to communities of interest as well.

Additional details:
Please list who is on your team: Aaron Huslage, Roger Weeks, Stephen Hanley
Expected number of months to complete project: 6-9 months
Estimated Project Cost: $250,000
Name: Aaron Huslage
Twitter: @huslage
Email address: huslage@tethr.org
Organization [if applicable]: Tethr (@tethr)
City: Durham, NC
Country: US
How did you learn about the contest? Previous entrant.