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<p>The decade-long journey from a TNO research project to <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr>—and how it birthed the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> model itself. This is our collective memory of how we got here.</p>
</div>
<h2id="the-evolution-from-apps-to-emergency-infrastructure">The Evolution: From Apps to Emergency Infrastructure<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-evolution-from-apps-to-emergency-infrastructure"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h2>
<h3id="phase-1-the-origin-transient-apps-2016-2017">Phase 1: The Origin - Transient Apps (2016-2017)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-1-the-origin-transient-apps-2016-2017"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>Our story begins with a research collaboration between <strong>TNO</strong> (Dutch research organization) and <strong>RS New Media Concepts</strong>. The problem: smartphone users drowning in app choices. The solution: <strong>"Transient Apps"</strong>—lightweight applications that appear when needed, disappear when not.</p>
<p><strong>What we built:</strong><br>
- The <strong>Context Engine</strong>: An algorithm predicting user needs based on physical location<br>
- Automatic delivery of relevant web apps<br>
- Working prototype proving the concept<br></p>
<p><strong>What stopped us:</strong><br>
Platform gatekeepers (Google, Apple) would never allow it. They were already building their own versions (Instant Apps, Progressive Web Apps). We hit a dead end.</p>
<divclass="admonition success">
<pclass="admonition-title">Phase 1 Outcome</p>
<p>Research validated but path blocked by platform control:<br>
<h3id="phase-2-the-first-pivot-onlive-social-networks-2017-2019">Phase 2: The First Pivot - "Onlive" Social Networks (2017-2019)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-2-the-first-pivot-onlive-social-networks-2017-2019"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>Rather than abandon the Context Engine, we pivoted. If we couldn't change how apps work, could we change how people connect?</p>
<p><strong>The ethical awakening:</strong><br>
As Facebook's scandals mounted, we faced a choice: build another data-harvesting social network or find a different path. We chose differently. Instead of connecting individuals online, we'd connect <strong>groups of people in their immediate physical world</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>"Onlive: the social network for the real world"</strong><br>
- Context Engine repurposed to identify relevant groups<br>
- Seven Dutch business partners provided feedback<br>
- UX and architecture developed<br></p>
<p><strong>The revelation:</strong><br>
We weren't building an app. We were building an <strong>Operating System for group interaction in the real world</strong>.</p>
<h3id="phase-3-the-governance-pivot-birth-of-the-smartup-model-2019-2020">Phase 3: The Governance Pivot - Birth of the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Model (2019-2020)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-3-the-governance-pivot-birth-of-the-smartup-model-2019-2020"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>With research complete, the logical next step was forming a traditional startup. But was it the <em>right</em> step?</p>
<p><strong>The dilemma:</strong><br>
- Public-good technology<br>
- Complex social mission<br>
- Poor fit for VC model<br></p>
<p><strong>The insight:</strong><br></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"How we create is as important as what we create."</p>
<p><strong>The <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Model emerges:</strong><br>
We began designing a new type of organization based on:<br>
- Collective ownership<br>
- Democratic governance<br>
- Scientific rigor<br>
- SDG alignment<br></p>
<divclass="admonition success">
<pclass="admonition-title">Phase 3 Outcome</p>
<p>New organizational model conceptualized:<br>
- <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> governance structure defined<br>
- Economic model designed<br>
- Democratic principles embedded<br>
- Blueprint for future documented<br></p>
<p><aclass="md-button"href="../../assets/pdfs/Smartup%20Zero%20-%20a%20blueprint%20for%20disruption%20%28book%29_compressed.pdf"target="_blank"><spanclass="twemoji"><svgxmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"viewBox="0 0 24 24"><pathd="M13 9h5.5L13 3.5zM6 2h8l6 6v12a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H6a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V4c0-1.11.89-2 2-2m9 16v-2H6v2zm3-4v-2H6v2z"/></svg></span><abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Zero Original Whitepaper</a></p>
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<h3id="phase-4-the-covid-pivot-academic-validation-2020-2022">Phase 4: The COVID Pivot & Academic Validation (2020-2022)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-4-the-covid-pivot-academic-validation-2020-2022"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>The pandemic provided an urgent, real-world test case. Could Onlive enable <strong>"Digital Herd Immunity"</strong> through group-tracing rather than individual contact-tracing?</p>
<p><strong>Academic collaboration with Erasmus Programme:</strong><br>
- Security challenges addressed<br>
- UX refined for crisis scenarios<br>
- Concept validation in pandemic context<br>
- Technical feasibility confirmed<br></p>
<p>The world suddenly understood why decentralized, resilient communication matters.</p>
<h3id="phase-5-technical-deep-dive-mesh-networking-2023-2024">Phase 5: Technical Deep Dive - Mesh Networking (2023-2024)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-5-technical-deep-dive-mesh-networking-2023-2024"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>To truly work without internet, we needed to go deeper into the networking layer.</p>
<p><strong>Partnership with HanzeHogeschool:</strong><br>
- Open-source mesh network implementation<br>
- Smartphone-native protocols<br>
- Beyond proof-of-concept to production-ready<br>
- Ad-hoc network formation without infrastructure<br></p>
<p>We weren't just building an app anymore. We were building alternative internet infrastructure.</p>
<divclass="admonition success">
<pclass="admonition-title">Phase 5 Outcome</p>
<p><strong>Mesh protocol designed and tested:</strong><br>
- 75+ node networks achieved<br>
- Android implementation working<br>
- Bluetooth/WiFi Direct integration<br>
- Open source architecture defined<br></p>
<p><aclass="md-button"href="../../assets/pdfs/NLUUG%20-%20Smartup%20Zero%20-%20Hanze%20Copy%20.pptx.pdf"target="_blank"><spanclass="twemoji"><svgxmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"viewBox="0 0 24 24"><pathd="M13 9h5.5L13 3.5zM6 2h8l6 6v12a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H6a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V4c0-1.11.89-2 2-2m9 16v-2H6v2zm3-4v-2H6v2z"/></svg></span><abbrtitle="A peer-to-peer network topology where each device relays data for others, enabling communication even when central infrastructure is down.">Mesh Network</abbr> Protocol Design</a></p>
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<h3id="phase-6-the-final-pivot-onlife-emergency-network-2025-present">Phase 6: The Final Pivot - <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr> Emergency Network (2025-Present)<aclass="headerlink"href="#phase-6-the-final-pivot-onlife-emergency-network-2025-present"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>Ten years of pivots, research, and refinement crystallized into a clear mission.</p>
<p><strong>From ONLIVE to <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr>:</strong><br>
Not just "online live"—but a network for LIFE itself. When everything else fails, <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr> remains.</p>
<p><strong>The focus sharpens:</strong><br>
- Emergency communication for citizens<br>
- Works without internet or telecoms<br>
- Mesh network using existing smartphones<br>
- European civil resilience infrastructure<br></p>
<divclass="admonition success">
<pclass="admonition-title">Phase 6 Outcome</p>
<p><strong>The experiment begins:</strong><br>
- <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Zero launched<br>
- Community forming<br>
- Development starting<br>
- Everything transparent<br></p>
<p><strong>As an owner, you get access to all code, documentation, and decisions in real-time.</strong></p>
</div>
<divclass="admonition quote">
<pclass="admonition-title">Why the Name Change</p>
<p>"ONLIVE was about being online in live settings. <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr> is about staying connected when life itself is at stake. It's not just a network—it's a lifeline."</p>
<p>What makes our history unique is that we didn't just develop technology—we developed a new way to develop technology:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong><abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—an open-source emergency mesh network prototype for smartphones that functions when all other networks fail.">ONLIFE</abbr></strong>: The emergency communication protocol</li>
<li><strong><abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Model</strong>: The organizational form to build it</li>
</ol>
<p>Both innovations emerged from the same insight: existing systems—technical and organizational—aren't fit for planetary challenges.</p>
<divclass="admonition success">
<pclass="admonition-title">From Research to Reality</p>
<ul>
<li>10 years of research<br></li>
<li>Multiple pivots based on ethical considerations<br></li>
<li>Academic validation<br></li>
<li>Technical proof of concept<br></li>
<li>Organizational innovation<br></li>
<li><strong>Now</strong>: Building it together as <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through transparent, collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Zero<br></li>
</ul>
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<h2id="key-partners-along-the-journey">Key Partners Along the Journey<aclass="headerlink"href="#key-partners-along-the-journey"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>TNO</strong>: Original research partner (2016-2017)</li>
<li><strong>RS New Media Concepts</strong>: Initial development</li>
<li><strong>Seven Dutch businesses</strong>: Early feedback partners</li>
Society Of Solutions is a global open cooperative running as an unincorporated alliance and transparently funded via <ahref="https://opencollective.com"target="_blank"rel="noopener">Open Collective</a>.
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