6 ms·

That's a really good idea. We started sketching out the API a bit ago but had to put it on hold. It's something we want/need to get right. Hopefully I get some

by jc00ke 13y ago

That's a really good idea. We started sketching out the API a bit ago but had to put it on hold. It's something we want/need to get right. Hopefully I get some time in the next few months to get started on it.

tptacek 13y ago
Let me know when you have a beta or something. We could definitely have used it for the crypto challenges, and we have a much bigger set of (non-crypto) challenges coming up that I'd love to plug directly into Watsi. If we'd had an API, we would probably have done smaller-dollar donations for people who got (say) halfway through. Also, weird as this will sound: it feels very awkward talking up donations from the challenges (for one thing, the dollar amounts we're talking about are a pittance), and so I rarely do. But if the donations were automated, we'd automatically post the donation totals as well. The way things like Twitter work, repetition is hugely valuable.
- jc00ke 13y ago
  We've had some other partners ask for a way to automate donations. We have a plan for that, and we'll be working on it next.
nicksergeant 13y ago
Also would love an API for an idea I had: a reverse-ad-platform where folks could promo campaigns where people need real help. Basically trying to help grass-roots medical campaigns to get more exposure across the "ad platform network".
immad 13y ago
Maybe you should consider open sourcing your backend, then people could help.
- jc00ke 13y ago
  We have considered this a few times, but I always come back to the fact that our app is specific to us. I don't think it's useful to others, per se. Also, most startups don't open source their core business code. Some do, and I think it makes sense for them. I don't think it makes sense for us though. Open source is hugely important to me, and Watsi wouldn't be what it is without all those awesome people out there writing code for the masses. Props to them!
  - ForrestN 13y ago
    Congratulations on this great news, I think what you're doing is really valuable. Can you elaborate a little bit on what you mean by this: "Also, most startups don't open source their core business code. Some do, and I think it makes sense for them. I don't think it makes sense for us though." My understanding is that normally as a business the considerations here would be competitive, right? But that doesn't apply in the context of non-profits. If someone else came in and used your "core business code" to make something which was then helpful to other people, that would be a good thing, right? Likewise, your statement about the app being specific to you and not useful to others makes sense within the normal parameters of a business considering open source. But I think the idea is not that your code would be a self-sustaining open source project because it's especially useful as code, but rather that people (for example here) would be willing to help you do your work for free because they support the mission of your organization. A sort of "in-kind" donation of their time and energy and expertise, right? I definitely think that between your admirable mission and the prestige of your network you could certainly be getting lots of free help and resources beyond just cash donations. If you could develop a workflow (via open source or some other mechanism) to take advantage of volunteer engineer labor, you could presumably pursue whatever software goals you have radically faster, I would think.
    - ISL 13y ago
      Fragmentation could actually be bad for something like Watsi. If there's only one, and it's very well-run and well-publicized, it might be better in the short run to keep the shop closed. If Watsi really flies, expect groups like Heifer International to offer similar programs. If the "business" model works, someone else may code up a clone of the backend anyway.
swamp40 13y ago
When you do get a chance to work on the API, I have an idea to tie donations to wristband activity monitors - so a sponsor such as a parent, etc. could donate into a holding fund, and then the fund gets released to your patients a bit at a time as the wristband wearer walks/runs. People have a great need for a sense of purpose in their lives, and tying their activity to the well being of another seems like a win-win. So, if you could keep that use case in mind while designing your API...
- sillysaurus 13y ago
  That is actually an incredible idea.
  - kevinconroy 13y ago
    Yep. That's exactly what Striiv does: tracks your activity and lets you donate to a variety of projects around the world for clean water, reforestation, and preventing polio via GlobalGiving.org. http://www.striiv.com/ http://www.striiv.com/
- gracegarey 13y ago
  Awesome idea.
  - swamp40 13y ago
    Thank you Grace. As long as I have your ear, I would also like to recommend better integration into Facebook. These touching stories are perfectly poised to go viral, and Facebook is the perfect place to make that happen. You just need to to set up the right conditions and get the right flow going. Like getting the right soil, the proper fertilizer, the perfect growing conditions for a plant. Then you just plop in the seed and it grows, seemingly on its own. Your existing "share" button just isn't good enough for that. I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what is good enough, but I do know that examining and solving that problem could open up some amazing viral growth. I'll bet you can find some Watsi Facebook share posts/campaigns that were wildly successful and fast. They probably start out with a post like this: "This is very dear to my heart. I just donated $30. We only need $150 more. Can you help?" Then other people start replying "I just gave $50", "I just donated", "We only need $100 more", "We DID IT!" - all on one person's timeline. The seed. Then the flow, the shared excitement, and finally the celebration. In their house, with their friends watching. It's everything that makes sports so exciting, but even better because at it's heart it satisfies a basic human need to help others. Is there a way for you to facilitate that on Facebook? Like one click to seed, with compelling text? And maybe realtime updates on each thread from someone at Watsi? With a celebration at the end? And updates from Watsi directly onto that person's Facebook thread? Like I said, I don't necessarily have all the answers, but I can see the possibilities.

by jc00ke 13y ago

tptacek 13y ago

Let me know when you have a beta or something. We could definitely have used it for the crypto challenges, and we have a much bigger set of (non-crypto) challenges coming up that I'd love to plug directly into Watsi. If we'd had an API, we would probably have done smaller-dollar donations for people who got (say) halfway through. Also, weird as this will sound: it feels very awkward talking up donations from the challenges (for one thing, the dollar amounts we're talking about are a pittance), and so I rarely do. But if the donations were automated, we'd automatically post the donation totals as well. The way things like Twitter work, repetition is hugely valuable.

jc00ke 13y ago
We've had some other partners ask for a way to automate donations. We have a plan for that, and we'll be working on it next.

nicksergeant 13y ago

Also would love an API for an idea I had: a reverse-ad-platform where folks could promo campaigns where people need real help. Basically trying to help grass-roots medical campaigns to get more exposure across the "ad platform network".

immad 13y ago

Maybe you should consider open sourcing your backend, then people could help.

jc00ke 13y ago
We have considered this a few times, but I always come back to the fact that our app is specific to us. I don't think it's useful to others, per se. Also, most startups don't open source their core business code. Some do, and I think it makes sense for them. I don't think it makes sense for us though. Open source is hugely important to me, and Watsi wouldn't be what it is without all those awesome people out there writing code for the masses. Props to them!
- ForrestN 13y ago
  Congratulations on this great news, I think what you're doing is really valuable. Can you elaborate a little bit on what you mean by this: "Also, most startups don't open source their core business code. Some do, and I think it makes sense for them. I don't think it makes sense for us though." My understanding is that normally as a business the considerations here would be competitive, right? But that doesn't apply in the context of non-profits. If someone else came in and used your "core business code" to make something which was then helpful to other people, that would be a good thing, right? Likewise, your statement about the app being specific to you and not useful to others makes sense within the normal parameters of a business considering open source. But I think the idea is not that your code would be a self-sustaining open source project because it's especially useful as code, but rather that people (for example here) would be willing to help you do your work for free because they support the mission of your organization. A sort of "in-kind" donation of their time and energy and expertise, right? I definitely think that between your admirable mission and the prestige of your network you could certainly be getting lots of free help and resources beyond just cash donations. If you could develop a workflow (via open source or some other mechanism) to take advantage of volunteer engineer labor, you could presumably pursue whatever software goals you have radically faster, I would think.
  - ISL 13y ago
    Fragmentation could actually be bad for something like Watsi. If there's only one, and it's very well-run and well-publicized, it might be better in the short run to keep the shop closed. If Watsi really flies, expect groups like Heifer International to offer similar programs. If the "business" model works, someone else may code up a clone of the backend anyway.

swamp40 13y ago

When you do get a chance to work on the API, I have an idea to tie donations to wristband activity monitors - so a sponsor such as a parent, etc. could donate into a holding fund, and then the fund gets released to your patients a bit at a time as the wristband wearer walks/runs. People have a great need for a sense of purpose in their lives, and tying their activity to the well being of another seems like a win-win. So, if you could keep that use case in mind while designing your API...

sillysaurus 13y ago
That is actually an incredible idea.
- kevinconroy 13y ago
  Yep. That's exactly what Striiv does: tracks your activity and lets you donate to a variety of projects around the world for clean water, reforestation, and preventing polio via GlobalGiving.org. http://www.striiv.com/ http://www.striiv.com/
gracegarey 13y ago
Awesome idea.
- swamp40 13y ago
  Thank you Grace. As long as I have your ear, I would also like to recommend better integration into Facebook. These touching stories are perfectly poised to go viral, and Facebook is the perfect place to make that happen. You just need to to set up the right conditions and get the right flow going. Like getting the right soil, the proper fertilizer, the perfect growing conditions for a plant. Then you just plop in the seed and it grows, seemingly on its own. Your existing "share" button just isn't good enough for that. I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what is good enough, but I do know that examining and solving that problem could open up some amazing viral growth. I'll bet you can find some Watsi Facebook share posts/campaigns that were wildly successful and fast. They probably start out with a post like this: "This is very dear to my heart. I just donated $30. We only need $150 more. Can you help?" Then other people start replying "I just gave $50", "I just donated", "We only need $100 more", "We DID IT!" - all on one person's timeline. The seed. Then the flow, the shared excitement, and finally the celebration. In their house, with their friends watching. It's everything that makes sports so exciting, but even better because at it's heart it satisfies a basic human need to help others. Is there a way for you to facilitate that on Facebook? Like one click to seed, with compelling text? And maybe realtime updates on each thread from someone at Watsi? With a celebration at the end? And updates from Watsi directly onto that person's Facebook thread? Like I said, I don't necessarily have all the answers, but I can see the possibilities.