What 2016 Set in Motion

2016 was a pivotal year for me. I made a very hard decision (which is still hard many days) to move away from being in the field and working directly with species to jump into what was then a very new, emerging conservation tech space. I couldn’t get out this idea out of my head for a way to connect conservationists in the field directly with people who wanted to do more (what would soon become Key). I knew nothing about designing and building an app/platform, running a business, supporting orgs, or getting funding. But I also knew if I didn’t pursue it with everything I had I would regret it. So we packed up everything we owned and moved from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to San Diego, California where I got a job working for a start up.

I remember working inside what was pretty much a concrete cube sitting behind a computer, making 100 sales calls a day (it’s as intense as it sounds), learning the startup world ropes, all while questioning my life choice as the co-founder cruised around the office on a video robot, a clear reminder that I was in a completely different world. My daily reprieve was my lunchtime walk in the city to a small pocket park where I would take a deep breath and get back in there. I missed being in the field deep in my soul but I was learning a ton and every night after work I got to work.

I spent countless hours learning UX and UI, taking courses about how to design and build an app, sketching hundreds of pages that would become the Key platform, learning how to build a website and actually building one, applying for nonprofit status and getting it approved without legal support because I could not afford it, finding mentors through Wildlabs, and securing early support through Conservation X Labs and friends and family through Indiegogo. There were countless naysayers who said building Key was impossible and that conservation organizations don’t want to collaborate with one another, that they only want to help themselves. I didn’t listen to them and instead met with over 100 conservationists from around the world and listened to their challenges, frustrations, and hopes. Their words kept me going. Nearly all of those organizations would later go on to sign up for Key in the future.

I had no idea then what I was getting myself into, but as many of you can understand, when you feel the passion and determination to change something you believe in, you find a way. To me that is what conservation is. Talk to anyone who works in this field and if you ask them about the thing they are passionate about you can practically fly after just based on their infectious energy.

2016 was a year of jumping into the unknown, and I’m excited that this year, after a brief step back and countless obstacles and personal sacrifices, the relaunch of Key is finally happening. We’re bringing a fully redesigned platform into the world, shaped by years of feedback and shared experience from supporters, conservationists, and the community that has grown around this work. Stayed tuned as we share all of the behind the scenes action of what it’s really been like to rebuild, shape, and launch the Key platform. Want to be the first to join? Are you a conservation organization? Sign up here: https://key.myflodesk.com/keyorgrelaunch Are you an individual? Sign up here: https://key.myflodesk.com/supporterkeyrelaunch