Innovation Accelerator — Contribute from Anywhere
You do not need to move to a remote Himalayan village to make a difference. The Innovation Accelerator lets you contribute your skills from anywhere in the world.
What Is the Accelerator?
The Innovation Accelerator is a remote participation program that connects global talent with the needs of the Jumla pilot and future deployments. It is designed for people who want to contribute meaningfully but cannot commit to an on-site residency.
Through the Accelerator, your skills — whether in engineering, design, writing, data, or business — become part of systems that are being built and tested in real time. Your contributions go to the field, not a shelf.
Remote Contribution Pathways
Pathway A: Design & Engineering Support
Design components, improve plans, and solve problems from your laptop.
| What You Can Do | Skills Needed | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CAD design | Fusion 360, FreeCAD, Onshape | Design 3D-printable parts, adapt designs for local materials |
| Hardware review | Mechanical or electrical engineering | Review schematics, suggest improvements, check BOMs |
| Simulation | Energy modeling, fluid dynamics | Simulate micro-grid performance, water flow, structural loads |
| Firmware | Arduino, ESP32, LoRa | Write and test sensor firmware, mesh node software |
| Electronics design | PCB design, circuit analysis | Design charge controllers, sensor interfaces, control boards |
Deliverable: CAD files, schematics, firmware, simulation reports
Pathway B: Documentation & Translation
Turn technical knowledge into accessible guides for operators with limited formal education.
| What You Can Do | Skills Needed | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Technical writing | Clear, simple English | Write operator manuals, troubleshooting guides, quick-start docs |
| Illustration | Diagram creation, visual communication | Create step-by-step visual guides, fault diagnosis flowcharts |
| Photography / video | Field media production | Edit field footage into training videos, system demos |
| Translation | Nepali, Jumli dialect, or other languages | Translate documentation into local languages |
| Curriculum design | Instructional design | Design assessment rubrics, certification tests, training modules |
Deliverable: Translated and illustrated guides, video tutorials, curricula
Pathway C: Data Analysis & Impact Measurement
Turn field data into actionable insights and compelling reports.
| What You Can Do | Skills Needed | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Data analysis | Python, R, SQL, spreadsheets | Analyze energy production, water quality trends, production yields |
| Dashboard design | Grafana, Tableau, custom web | Build real-time monitoring dashboards for community and operators |
| Impact assessment | Statistics, MEAL frameworks | Design indicators, measure outcomes, write impact reports |
| GIS / mapping | QGIS, Google Earth Engine | Map node placements, solar potential, waste collection routes |
| Sensor data pipeline | Data engineering | Build pipelines from MQTT to time-series databases |
Deliverable: Dashboards, analysis reports, impact metrics
Pathway D: Market Linkages & Business Model Design
Connect products from the agri-hub to real markets and design revenue models.
| What You Can Do | Skills Needed | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Brand strategy | Branding, marketing | Develop brand identity for Jumla apple products |
| Packaging design | Graphic design | Design product labels and packaging that meet export standards |
| Market research | Business analysis | Identify buyers in Kathmandu, India, export markets |
| Financial modeling | Spreadsheets, business planning | Model hub economics, farmer income scenarios |
| Certification support | Organic, fair trade, GI | Research and prepare certification applications |
| Cooperative design | Cooperative law, governance | Design ownership and profit-sharing structures |
Deliverable: Brand assets, market research, financial models
Pathway E: Regional Adaptation Scoping
Take the Jumla blueprint and adapt it for a different region — your own community, a partner organization’s area, or a proposed expansion site.
| What You Can Do | Skills Needed | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Resource assessment | Remote sensing, field data | Analyze solar/wind/hydro potential, crop suitability |
| Community context | Anthropology, development | Document local economic and social structures |
| Supply chain mapping | Logistics, agriculture | Map existing value chains, identify gaps |
| Regulatory review | Local policy knowledge | Identify permits, regulations, incentives |
Deliverable: Adaptation brief — what changes for the new region
How the Accelerator Operates
Coordination
All work is organized through the rv-accelerator repository on GitHub. The repository contains:
- Task board — Open tasks organized by pathway and skill level
- Sprint notes — Current priorities and ongoing work cycles
- Contributor guide — How to get started step by step
- Discussion forum — Ask questions, propose ideas, coordinate with others
Workflow
1. Browse tasks on the Accelerator board
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2. Pick something that matches your skills
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3. Fork the relevant repository
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4. Make your contribution
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5. Submit a pull request
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6. Review cycle (peer + module maintainer)
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7. Merged → credited → deployed to field
Sprints
Work is organized in two-week sprints with clear deliverables. Each sprint begins with a planning session (asynchronous, in GitHub Issues) and ends with a review. You can join any sprint, take a break, or return later. No permanent commitment.
Recognition
All contributors are credited in the CHANGELOG of the relevant module. Contributors who complete significant work receive:
- Listed in the CONTRIBUTORS.md file for the organization
- Mentioned in release announcements
- Priority consideration for on-site residencies if they choose to apply later
- Invitation to quarterly community calls
Getting Started
Step 1: Find Your Entry Point
| If You | Start Here |
|---|---|
| Have never contributed to open source | Look for issues labeled “good first issue” |
| Have a specific skill | Browse the rv-accelerator task board by pathway |
| Want to propose your own project | Open a discussion in the org |
| Want to adapt the blueprint for your region | Start with the rv-adaptations repository |
Step 2: Join the Community
- GitHub: github.com/FUMFGRP/mountaineerfi-remote-valley-os
- Discussions: github.com/FUMFGRP/mountaineerfi-remote-valley-os/discussions
- Contact: accelerator@mountaineer.fi
Step 3: Introduce Yourself
Open a discussion or comment on an issue. Tell us:
- Your background and skills
- Which pathway interests you
- Whether you have a specific project in mind
- How much time you can contribute (no minimum)
Who the Accelerator Is For
- Engineers and designers who want to apply their skills to real-world problems but cannot relocate.
- Graduate students and researchers seeking applied projects with real field data.
- Professionals on sabbatical who want to contribute meaningfully in a flexible format.
- Retired experts who want to mentor the next generation of builders.
- Translators and writers who want their work to have direct impact.
- Anyone who believes remote communities deserve world-class engineering, not hand-me-downs.
Accelerator vs. Residency
| Accelerator | Residency | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Anywhere | Jumla, Nepal |
| Commitment | Flexible (1 hour to ongoing) | 3-12 months full-time |
| Work style | Remote, async, sprint-based | On-site, hands-on, embedded |
| Best for | Focused contributions, specific skills | Full-system building, deep relationships |
| Impact | Your design runs in the field | You train operators who run it forever |
| Housing | Not provided | Free on-site housing |
You can start in the Accelerator and later apply for a residency, or vice versa.
Part of Remote Valley OS — an open-source project by Mountaineer.fi