Supporting the Power of the "Local" in a Global Network for Robotics Solutions

The SIPA team worked on a project with WeRobotics, a not-for-profit organization that utilizes a franchise model to create a worldwide network of Flying Labs to empower local robotics solutions for aid, health, environment, and development. WeRobotics sought the assistance of the SIPA team in defining and explaining the added value of its bottom-up network model to their partners and, in particular, funders. Through conducting interviews with Flying Labs, donors, partners, the SIPA team synthesized the collected data and analyzed the opportunities and limitations of the organization’s bottom-up approach and network model. In light of the key findings, the SIPA team developed a number of recommendations regarding business model, external and internal communication, Flying Labs quality control, and network sustainability to assist WeRobotics in expanding its global network through fundraising activities.