Solstice is an operating system for governance in low-resource regions. Since what gets measured gets done, we approach the task of eradicating global poverty by building capacity to measure better and more meaningful data. We develop and host a free data management platform used in countries. Solstice also works directly with governments, civil society organizations, and academic researchers on data-driven approaches to reducing poverty.
Open access business model
Solstice follows an open access business model. Anyone can use the platform for free, forever.
Large organizations apply their own software budgets as investments in the technology the world needs. Investor-level organizations pay for new features, data-driven program design and implementation, and technical assistance and training. In turn, we are able to offer all Solstice features to the public for free.
Solstice builds and hosts a cloud-based and fully supported data collection, analysis, and visualization software platform. The system includes a web portal for managing and visualizing data and mobile smartphone apps for data collection that are available on Android, iOS, and via the web browser.
With Solstice, you can:
Design flexible surveys online
Track geolocated Sites for collaborative, longitudinal monitoring
Collect data using Android, iOS, or a browser
Import and export data
Work in multiple languages
Use standard Indicators for the SDGs and more
Visualize and map your live data online
Completely own your data and choose what to share
Scale up to thousands of users and millions of survey responses for your organization, business, or government
Solstice shares a code base with the mWater platform, which began in 2012 and now has over users around the world.
History
In 2012, our small team piloted an approach to support infrastructure in developing countries. We began with a platform focused on the water and sanitation sector, called mWater. What began as a simple app to monitor water quality test results steadily grew in capabilities and scale. Today, mWater users have collected surveys in countries.
Solstice expanded this technology to other sectors within aid beginning with health, education, agriculture, and other humanitarian topics adjacent to water. What was an infrastructure management platform for water and sanitation is now growing into an operating system for sustainable governance.
Why Solstice?
The first data point that humans measured and tracked over time to better understand their world, health, and safety was the solstice. Twice a year, in each hemisphere, the sun reaches its lowest or highest point in the sky, and the sun shines for the shortest or longest time each day. That day is called the solstice. Humans tracked this to know where they were in the year, when the growing season would return, and how many cycles of the sun’s ebb and flow had passed over time. We named our platform Solstice to honor this global human tradition of using data for better understanding of ourselves and those around us.
