Hypershelter

Building solar-powered tents that provides temporary shelter, light, and power to homeless and displaced Filipino communities affected by typhoons

The specific problem we are trying to solve is the lack of adequate temporary housing and power for individuals and families affected by natural disasters. In many cases, these individuals are left homeless and without the resources to rebuild their homes and lives.

Scale and People Affected

According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, between 2000 and 2019 the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 7,348 disasters, an average of 367 per year. Floods (44%) and storms (28%) were the most common. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reports that, annually, 14 million people are left homeless due to natural disasters. Even more concerning, 20.5% of people have no emergency funds saved to rebuild after a disaster.

Asia has been disproportionately impacted by disasters, with the Philippines being a prime example. On average, more than 20 typhoons occur each year in the Philippines. In December 2021, Typhoon Rai set a new record for destruction, with 1.5 million houses destroyed and 9 million Filipinos displaced.

Factors

Different factors have contributed to this ever-growing problem, including a lack of emergency funds, the lack of properly equipped evacuation centers, and the ever-increasing risk posed by natural disasters as a result of climate change. In many areas of the world, these natural disasters have become more frequent and intense due to climate change, leaving many individuals and households vulnerable and without the resources necessary to protect themselves. In addition, many individuals and households lack the necessary financial resources to put aside money for emergency funds, leaving them exposed to the risk of being unable to evacuate or seek shelter in the event of a natural disaster. Without the proper evacuation centers to provide adequate shelter and the lack of emergency funds, this problem is only going to worsen.

Consequences

The consequences of this problem are far-reaching and can have devastating impacts on affected individuals and their families. Overcrowded evacuation centers can lead to an increased risk of transmission of existing viruses, bringing further health risks to vulnerable people. Rebuilding homes is made all the more difficult and dangerous due to the extent of the damage caused by the disaster, and the periods of vulnerability for those affected can be extended, with the rebuilding process taking an extended amount of time. Emotional and mental health issues can also arise when individuals and families are faced with such an immense upheaval of their lives.

Our solution is a solar-powered tent that provides a temporary shelter, energy-efficient light, and reliable power to homeless and displaced families affected by natural disasters. The tent features a solar box integrated at the top, providing electricity derived from solar energy to charge smartphones and power electric fans, rice cookers, and other appliances or devices. This solar box also includes a built-in light source that can be used to illuminate the inside of the tent at night, as well as a UV-C disinfection light to protect against bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. 

Furthermore, the tent also provides adjustable air vents and a solar-powered air circulation system to ensure a steady flow of air, making it much more comfortable for occupants. This tent has been designed with waterproof and wind-resistant fabric, as well as layers of insulation for added protection. It is designed to be easy to assemble and transport, making it an ideal choice for those who require quick evacuation. With its robust design, easy setup, and reliable power supply, this solar-powered tent is a great solution for those who are vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.

Our target population is individuals and families living in the Philippines who have been affected by natural disasters such as typhoons and are left homeless and without the resources to rebuild their homes and lives. These underserved individuals, particularly those living in rural areas, often lack access to proper evacuation centers as well as emergency funds to provide them with temporary shelter and power. Our solar-powered tents will provide them with the necessary shelter, light, and power to help them rebuild their lives and provide them with the resources they need to evacuate safely and securely. The tents will be easily transportable, allowing affected individuals and families to quickly move to wherever they are needed. With reliable power, UV disinfection lights, and adjustable air vents for comfort, these tents will provide them with a safe and reliable solution during times of disaster.

Aldrich Alvarez is one of the co-founders of Hypershelter and is a seventeen-year-old software engineer with experience working for various companies and startups, such as Blueberry Markets & Dashlabs.ai (YC W21). He is also the president of Caloocan National Science and Technology High School's robotics club, where the MVP prototype is currently being designed and developed. As a resident of a disadvantaged area and a scholar of the government, where private education is the norm, Alvarez saw the need to create something that could address the issue of poverty and displacement caused by natural disasters, which are rampant in the Philippines and Aldrich often sees in the news.

“Since the pandemic, I’ve always wanted to build a career in tech by becoming a programmer and taking leadership roles in my school’s robotics club, but soon after I realized that technology isn't just for building cool apps and fancy drones and robots like those in Silicon Valley, but you can use it to make an impact on your country," said Aldrich.

Xyrelle Supremo is one of the co-founders of Hypershelter and is an 18-year-old project manager who leads the Hypershelter’s operations and partnerships. 

"I began to research and explore ways in which technology could be leveraged to address social and environmental problems and to improve the lives of individuals and communities. I began to volunteer my time and skills to various projects and initiatives that aligned with my values and goals, and I started to see the impact of my efforts firsthand. I became even more committed to using technology for good, and I knew that this was my calling. I was determined to use my talents and resources to make a difference in the world, and to use technology as a tool for positive change."

James Bermudo is a designer and engineer who ships products from design to code, and one of the co-founders and Design Lead of Hypershelter. 

"Curiosity is the reason why I remain relentless. Whenever I build things, I will never stop until I get the answers to my questions, from working with a world-class team to crafting technology that serves millions of people. As a student in a Catholic school, I have developed a sense of service and the drive to help others in need. I am passionate about using technology to develop sustainable solutions for social problems. With Hypershelter, I want to create a product that helps people in times of crisis, and I am sure that our team can make a huge impact on the world."

To ensure our solution, Hypershelter, meets the needs and expectations of the population we wish to serve, we have taken extensive steps to understand their needs. Our team conducted virtual interviews with 5 families from Tacloban Leyte, which was one of the most affected areas during Typhoon Yolanda, one of the most devastating typhoons to hit the Philippines. We shared our concept of Hypershelter with them and received their valuable feedback which we then incorporated into our design. We specifically listened to their suggestions such as providing adjustable air vents to ensure a steady flow of air, as well as the need for UV-C disinfection lights to protect against bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, our team has been engaging with the Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and UNDP Philippines that are working on similar projects to understand better the population's needs and how we can best serve them. By exchanging ideas and information from other sectors, we have been able to gain a much better grasp on the problems that are affecting the population and further refine our idea for Hypershelter.

Why Hypershelter provides a new or significantly improved approach to the problem

Hypershelter aims to revolutionize disaster relief efforts with its innovative solution of solar-powered tents for homeless and displaced Filipino families affected by typhoons. This solution combines the traditional concept of providing temporary shelter with the added function of providing a source of power through solar/photovoltaic cells, addressing the issue of lack of power which is often a problem for families displaced by typhoons. 

Do you expect it to change the market?

Traditional methods of temporary shelter, such as modular evacuation tents, often lack a power source, leaving families without access to light or the ability to charge their devices. By providing a sustainable and self-sufficient option for temporary shelter, our solution has the potential to change the market for disaster relief efforts and inspire other organizations and companies to adopt similar approaches and invest in sustainable solutions.

Our solution has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space by providing an accessible and sustainable shelter option for those affected by natural disasters. This could result in improved living conditions for families impacted by disasters, as well as increased affordability due to the solar-powered tent's low cost and easy setup. In addition, the use of solar energy could help reduce the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the use of generators and other traditional power sources. Our solution has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by natural disasters, and we hope it will inspire others in the space to invest in more sustainable solutions.

Our impact goals for the next year are to provide 500 solar-powered tents to affected Filipino communities, with the aim of providing temporary shelter, light, and power to those affected by natural disasters. We plan to achieve this goal through a combination of fundraising, donations, and partnerships with existing organizations working towards the same goal. To ensure that the tents are of the highest quality, we plan to develop a prototype and thoroughly test it in a laboratory setting as well as pilot it in affected communities. Furthermore, we plan to collaborate with local organizations to provide training and education on the usage of the tents, maintenance and care, as well as increase our visibility and outreach to raise awareness of the Hypershelter solution and its potential to help those affected by natural disasters. This will allow us to make sure that those in need are aware of our solution and receive the help they deserve.

The core technology behind our innovative solution is solar energy, which utilizes an Arduino, an open source hardware electronics and software platform. This platform gives us the capability to remotely control the device, as well as collect data from the solar cells. The data can then be used to power the various components of the solar-powered tents, such as the lights and air conditioning. Furthermore, this platform also gives us the ability to program the device to respond to environmental conditions, such as temperature and light intensity, providing us with data on the energy usage of the tent. This data can be used to optimize the energy usage of the tent and make the most of the solar energy available. Additionally, this technology also gives us the ability to make changes to the programming of the device, allowing us to adjust to different environmental conditions.

Currently, our solution is not yet launched, but we plan to serve 500 people in the next year.

1. Raising the necessary funds: We will need to raise enough funds to be able to produce, install, and maintain the solar-powered tents.
2. Lack of resources: As we are a small team, we may face resource constraints in terms of our ability to develop the prototype, test it, and reach out to affected communities.
3. Limited visibility: We may face difficulty in raising awareness of our solution and our mission, as well as reaching out to potential donors and investors.
4. Complex regulations: We may face difficulty in navigating the complex regulations and requirements of local, provincial, and national governments when seeking service contracts.

UNDP Philippines and Youth Co:Lab - Hyperhshelter is currently under UNDP Philippines and Youth Co:Lab’s Springboard PLUS pre accelerator program, a six-months virtual pre-accelerator programme dedicated to enhancing the investment readiness for youth-led social enterprises, and addressing their business operations and management challenges when scaling their impact.

Caloocan National Science and Technology High School Robotics Club - provides the lab where the MVP prototype is being developed

Rather than selling directly to displaced families who may not have the financial capacity to purchase a tent, we have identified key government entities, nonprofit organizations, corporate foundations, and international organizations such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations (UN), and UNICEF, as our target customers who are looking for cost-effective solutions to provide temporary shelter for typhoon victims, and possibly, displaced victims of other calamities and disasters. We strongly believe that our Hypershelter tents are the ideal solution for these organizations. Not only are they highly affordable, but they are also incredibly reliable and easy to install and maintain. Manufacturing one unit of Hypershelter has a cost of only $62.41, which allows our customers to take advantage of our flexible rental packages, where they can rent ten (10) units for $51.98 per month. This economically sound solution provides our customers with an opportunity to save money on their budget by giving them the flexibility to rent the tents for short or long durations based on their needs. By providing displaced families with safe and secure shelter, light, and power, Hypershelter is helping to reduce the time and money spent on rebuilding after a natural disaster. 

We plan to fund our work through a combination of sustained donations and grants, service contracts to governments, and raising investment capital.

1. Sustained donations and grants: We plan to apply for grants and raise donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund the production, installation, and maintenance of the solar-powered tents.

2. Service contracts to governments: We plan to seek contracts with local, provincial, and national governments to provide our solar-powered tents to affected areas as part of their disaster response efforts.

3. Raising investment capital: We plan to raise investment capital from investors and venture capitalists who are interested in our model and believe in our mission to provide adequate temporary housing and power to individuals and families affected by natural disasters.