Our Approach:

This year’s NetSquared theme will unfold in an iterative fashion, based on our learning over the last two years, as well as the feedback, needs and specific interests of the NetSquared community members. We recognize both the strengths and limits of our approach. Ultimately, we believe MORE people will derive MORE value from an open and iterative approach to the work, than if we approached the work in a more traditional way.

Having said this, we recognize some people will be frustrated and disappointed for one reason or another. We will address your expectations expeditiously, so that you can focus on the opportunities at hand and leave your frustrations behind.

Guidelines:

1. The N2Y3 Mashup Challenge was designed to highlight the accomplishments of web-based innovators working on issues that affect civil society. Usually, nonprofits and non-governmental organizations focus on this type of work. The Mashup Challenge has gone through the first phase and you all have selected this year's 21 Featured Projects.
2. But our goals remain. We want to:
   • Recruit great projects
   • Get them the help they need
   • Highlight the best ones
3. We are reopening the applications. We are continuing to do broad outreach, on behalf of all projects, to developer networks, funding communities and corporations. Non-profits, individuals, social entrepreneurs as well as legally defined not-for-profit entities are welcome to submit Mashup Projects. Check out the Project Gallery to find out more.
4. We’re going to do our best to give project applicants an opportunity to mobilize resources and garner support as equitably as possible. Accordingly, we’ve created two distinct categories for Mashup Projects:
   • New Mashup Projects
     New Mashup applications represent mashups still in the idea or conceptual stage. These applications might have great potential to become Mashups, but there is still a need for technical assistance to take the vision to the next level. These projects might need assistance from a business analyst or product manager to help build a specification so that an engineer can turn the vision into an application.
   • Ready to Mash Projects
     These projects have already completed what people in the web field call a specification for their Mashup. Nonetheless, they might need additional design, engineering, or other technical or administrative support. That’s OK. NetSquared is here to help mobilize technical support on your behalf.

Expectations:

The NetSquared team is committed to providing all Mashup Projects with the appropriate guidance and resources needed to turn your vision into a Mashup reality. We’re here to find you the right people and resources to help you kick butt.

Our Commitment to You:

We will mobilize the resources and expertise to host an annual event on May 27 - 28, 2008 in San Jose, California. Unfortunately, our venue capacity can only support about 350 people. Some people won’t have an opportunity to attend the conference.

Nonetheless, in the spirit of openness and inclusion, we will host occasional workshops, and work with Net Tuesday organizers in cities beyond the Bay Area to showcase and accelerate the innovative work in the field.

We commit to informing conference invitees of developments in as-close-to-real time as possible.

Expectations of Project Applicants:

Commitment

We expect project applicants to commit to leading the collaboration in bringing your Mashup to life. We’re working on creating a simple pledge for all project applicants to submit. Upon completion of the Mashup Pledge, NetSquared will email all applicants an application booklet, as well as a snippet of code that identifies your project for you to post on your sites around the web.

Initiative

We believe the success of your Mashup will be in proportion to the effort you contribute to the project. We encourage applicants to ask questions on their blogs, join the conversation and not to be shy to ask us for specific help.

We’ll be encouraging you to reach out to the people you believe could help move your work forward. We are genuinely interested in learning what tools and resources you’ll need to be successful.

Empathy

We believe that we’re all going to have more fun if we’re mindful of the unique perspective, challenges and opportunities we all face in our day-to-day work.

We recognize that you have pressing organizational to-do’s that you must tend to during this period. We, too, ask that you keep in mind that our small team serves the needs of hundreds of other projects besides yours.

Intellectual Property, Standards, Licensing:

These details will be published as soon as our legal team gives us the green light. Stay tuned!

Communication:

Mashup projects are encouraged to communicate about your team’s progress as aggressively and openly as possible, including the following:

• Initial kick-off meeting with the Project Designer.
• Regular meetings with a NetSquared Catalyst – as appropriate, usually monthly.
• Informal notification of all significant milestones achieved.
• Publication of results from work is encouraged.
• Media relations. Projects will be announced to the media shortly after they are selected. When appropriate, projects might be asked to interface with the press. Media training will be provided by CompuMentor’s Communications Team.

Conflict of Interest:

Projects funded by NetSquared should follow NetSquared guidelines in Policy and Procedures and be diligent to avoid conflict of interest related to the funding, research, or collaborators on the project.

NetSquared's Sustainability:

NetSquared depends on the support of technology-donation partners at TechSoup, leading corporate technology companies, entrepreneurs, and investors to provide a sustainable source of funding in order to continue to deliver the NetSquared program.

Voluntary donations of equity from start-ups resulting from work funded by NetSquared are appreciated and encouraged to ensure the future sustainability of the program.