#1 Why we started Reearthers and how you can help
Our motivation and vision behind Reearthers and what we mean by collaborative knowledge hub for CDR developers...
Let’s rewind to a month ago. Matt and I were knee-deep in the research process for commercialising CDR projects. I thought if I was a project developer, the first thing I’d look for would be an industry-standard playbook, similar to those available in the tech startup world, where VCs synthesise lessons learned from their portfolio companies into actionable guides for all entrepreneurs.
But I soon discovered that no such playbook exists for CDR startups.
The CDR industry is nascent, opaque and complex. Building a business is hard enough, let alone navigating the intricate process of creating physical infrastructure. Much like a deep tech project, most initiatives born out of the lab require experts to invest significant time and resources into developing solutions that often won’t work on the first attempt. Each iteration is bound to be both costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, the lack of clear demand, owing to the nascent stage of the carbon credit market and the current high cost per ton of removal, compounds these challenges. CDR developers have to juggle the uncertainties of market while also contending with the technical hurdles.
Without a playbook, where do project developers find the information they need to progress? And how do they know what success looks like?
Interestingly, my findings coincided with a list of pain points Matt identified through conversations he had with CDR players. People typically get their knowledge through in-person/online workshops and events, which are often exclusive and invite-only. Many of these events cover a broad range of topics, often at a high level, making it difficult to extract actionable insights. Attendees often leave with a flood of information but struggle to pinpoint take-home messages that directly address their specific problems. In some cases, they end up down a rabbit hole of debate on a topic, producing more questions than concrete answers.
It became clear to me that what’s missing is a system to transform fleeting thoughts and insights into a lasting, searchable knowledge base, accessible to project developers at various stages. Unlike the software tech world, where communities like Hacker News and Indie Hackers provide platforms for people to congregate and share ideas, the CDR space lacks a centralised platform for the open exchange of learnings and knowledge. This absence creates a significant barrier, leaving developers to navigate their struggles in isolation.
To build an ecosystem and push the industry forward, we need to tap into the wisdom of the crowd!
That's how Reearthers came about. Matt and I aren’t scientists, but we bring systems thinking and product mindset to the table. We’re not here to impart knowledge; our goal is to create a structure that facilitates efficient knowledge transfer and helps people connect with each other.
To make this work, we see three key pillars.
Content: we’re focusing on actionable insights rather than lofty, 3000-foot-view reports. To make sure everyone can learn from each other, Matt has started interviewing developers to understand their pain points and document their journeys.
Structure: we plan to incorporate a blend of synchronous and asynchronous formats, catering to both just-in-case and just-in-time learnings. This will ensure developers don’t have to constantly be on the lookout for new workshops or events they might be missing. Instead, they’ll have a wealth of knowledge readily available at their disposal. We will also be continuously fine-tuning the information architecture to make sure developers can quickly find the relevant knowledge they need, streamlining their learning experience.
People: It goes without saying, a community is nothing without its people. We want to build an open and safe environment where any developer can find their place, learn from their peers, and pay it forward.
That’s what we mean by a collaborative knowledge hub.
Our current product is just an MVP, but we want to give people a glimpse of what we envision. In a later post, I’ll dive into our product roadmap. We're committed to building this platform in public, and we can’t succeed without your help.
How you can help us:
📚 Share your reading list that you think can help other CDR developers.
🧐 Send us your idea and feedback on how we can make Reearthers better.
💬 Share your war story with us.
🙋 Share questions you’d like to ask other CDR developers.