Hypothes Is Project

The Hypothes Is Project is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting open web annotation as a means to enhance collaboration and improve the quality of online discourse. Founded in 2011 by Dan Whaley, the project aims to provide a framework for collecting comments on web-accessible content, fostering a "peer review layer for the entire Internet."

History

Hypothes Is was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its origins stem from Dan Whaley's experience in the climate change field, where he encountered challenges with distorted information online. The project's initial funding was supported by a Kickstarter campaign and significant contributions from foundations such as the Shuttleworth Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Helmsley Trust, the Knight Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Mission

The Hypothes Is Project's mission is to create and promote an open annotation layer over online content. This involves developing and implementing open-source software and advocating for interoperable standards, such as those established through the W3C Web Annotation Working Group, which Hypothes led from 2014 to 2017. The goal is to facilitate more productive collaboration by integrating conversations with content across the web.

Technology and Impact

Hypothes Is operates using browser extensions or bookmarklets to annotate web pages. The system allows for the rating and filtering of comments to assess credibility. Over a decade since its founding, Hypothes Is has grown significantly, with its annotations used by more than 1,200 colleges and universities and over a million users worldwide.

Financial Structure

Initially reliant on grants and donations, Hypothes Is faced funding challenges as key supporters changed their strategies. In response, the nonprofit formed a public benefit corporation named Anno, which shares the Hypothes mission. Anno secured a $14 million seed round, enabling the organization to scale its services further, particularly in the higher education and research sectors.

Organizational Evolution

While the nonprofit Hypothes Is Project continues to focus on advocacy and standards, Anno is positioned to develop and scale annotation services through investments. This dual structure allows Hypothes to maintain its mission-driven approach while expanding its impact. Despite organizational changes, Hypothes remains committed to its core principles of open-source development and universal accessibility.