# Temperate Mesh — Executive Summary

**Document purpose:** One-page pitch for partners and early stakeholders.  
**Brand:** Temperate Mesh · [temperate.app](https://temperate.app)  
**Market:** Southeast Alaska, starting in Ketchikan  
**Status:** Brainstorming / planning (June 2026)

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## The idea in one sentence

Temperate Mesh helps Southeast Alaska residents and businesses get affordable, correctly configured Meshtastic devices—and when needed, professionally mounted outdoor infrastructure—so the regional off-grid mesh grows stronger for everyone.

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## The problem

Southeast Alaska has weak or absent cell coverage in many places people actually work and recreate: boats, trails, job sites, cabins, and backcountry. Meshtastic (LoRa mesh) solves off-grid messaging and location sharing, but:

- Hardware choices are confusing (T1000-E vs RAK4631 vs solar repeaters vs Heltec displays).
- Settings matter (channels, region, MQTT, position privacy, battery vs repeater roles).
- Outdoor installs need height, weatherproofing, and sometimes construction work most people cannot do safely.
- Shipping to Ketchikan adds cost and delay that mainland pricing ignores.

Most people give up at “flash firmware” or “what is MQTT?”—and the mesh stays thin.

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## Our solution

A **local, two-skill partnership**:

| Partner | Role |
|---------|------|
| **Tech (you)** | Device sourcing, configuration, customer manuals, MQTT/ATAK education, support tiers, Temperate Broker stewardship |
| **Construction (partner)** | Pole/tree/roof mounts, solar repeater installs, bonding-backed jobs, maintenance |

We sell **devices + clarity**, not just boxes:

1. **Hardware** — curated catalog with honest Alaska landed cost and ~20–30% device markup; higher margin on antennas, solar, cabling, and bundles.
2. **Setup & education** — paid configuration plus a personalized instruction manual for each customer’s use case.
3. **Construction installs** — get repeaters high and durable (the highest per-job revenue line).
4. **Ongoing support** — optional subscriptions, maintenance visits, training workshops.
5. **Community infrastructure** — free public Temperate MQTT broker; paid help for private/home brokers.

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## Why a denser mesh helps everyone (network effect)

Meshtastic is a **mesh**: each node can relay messages for others. More well-placed nodes means:

- Longer effective range across islands, channels, and forest
- More reliable paths when terrain blocks line-of-sight
- Better coverage for hunters, fishermen, SAR, and remote workers
- More gateways feeding maps and regional awareness (when used responsibly)

**Our business aligns with community benefit:** every customer we onboard correctly makes the mesh better for the next customer. That is the core marketing story.

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## Target customers (Ketchikan first)

- **Outdoor recreation:** hunters, hikers, boaters, anglers
- **Maritime / fishing:** deck-to-shore or vessel-to-vessel coordination where VHF/cell fail
- **Remote property:** cabins, off-grid homes wanting a home-base repeater
- **Construction & trades:** job-site comms without cell plans
- **Search & rescue / volunteer groups:** coordinated off-grid awareness (with clear safety limits)
- **Mesh enthusiasts:** people who want a solar repeater on a pole but not the ladder work

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## Revenue model (summary)

| Stream | Typical margin / value | Notes |
|--------|------------------------|-------|
| Device sales | Thin (~$8–$25/unit after Alaska shipping) | Loss leader for relationship; accessories carry margin |
| Paid setup & config | **High** ($75–$200+) | Where expertise pays |
| Construction installs | **Highest per job** ($300–$1,500+) | Partner’s licensed work |
| Maintenance / inspection | Recurring potential | Seasonal pole/solar checks |
| Support subscription | Moderate recurring | Optional; cap expectations |
| Training / workshops | Event-based | ATAK/iTAK + mesh basics |
| Private MQTT broker setup | Project fee | Public Temperate broker stays **free** |

**Year 1 framing:** Part-time side venture; conservative target ~20–40 device sales and a handful of installs—not full-time income for both partners yet.

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## Competitive positioning

We are **not** trying to beat Amazon or Seeed on price alone. We win on:

- **Alaska-aware pricing** (shipping included, no surprise freight)
- **Pre-configured for Temperate Mesh defaults** (LongFast / US region)
- **Plain-language manuals** (MQTT, channels, use cases)
- **Professional outdoor installs** (construction license + bonding)
- **Local support** (firmware updates, troubleshooting, community)

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## Startup constraints (confirmed)

- **Capital:** Under $5,000 initial budget → lean inventory, made-to-order where possible
- **Labor:** Both partners part-time initially
- **Volume:** Conservative year 1 (~20–40 devices, ~3–8 install jobs)
- **Philosophy:** Affordable entry, profit on services and infrastructure—not gouging on handhelds

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## Near-term milestones

1. Finalize product catalog and landed-cost spreadsheet (see `01-product-pricing-catalog.md`)
2. Publish customer manual template (see `03-customer-manual-outline.md`)
3. Define install packages and partner hourly rates (see `02-construction-services.md`)
4. Launch Temperate Broker when ready (free; document on temperate.app)
5. First 10 customers via word-of-mouth + local demos
6. Review year-1 numbers against `07-financial-projections.md`

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## Key risks (headline)

- Small local market ceiling
- Customers buying direct online
- Support burden vs part-time availability
- Weather, liability, and install access
- Firmware/ecosystem changes

Full analysis: `08-risks-and-challenges.md`

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## Related documents

| Doc | Topic |
|-----|-------|
| `01-product-pricing-catalog.md` | Devices, bundles, margins |
| `02-construction-services.md` | Installs, maintenance, bonding |
| `03-customer-manual-outline.md` | Customer education template |
| `04-mqtt-explained.md` | Plain-language MQTT guide |
| `05-atak-itak-guide.md` | ATAK/iTAK use cases |
| `06-marketing-onboarding.md` | Go-to-market & support tiers |
| `07-financial-projections.md` | Budget, P&L, break-even |
| `08-risks-and-challenges.md` | Risks & mitigation |

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*All dollar figures in supporting documents are planning estimates for brainstorming—not audited financial statements.*