Communi-SEA
Business Plan & App Design
Project Overview
Communi-SEA is a community-focused platform designed to connect residents, visitors, and local organizations with coastal conservation initiatives in Newport.
Developed as part of Salve Regina University’s Business Planning Capstone, the project explores how a centralized digital platform can improve awareness, participation, and collaboration around environmental efforts.
The concept is built around a simple idea: make it easier for people to find, engage with, and support local conservation opportunities in one place.
The Problem
There are many opportunities to get involved in coastal conservation efforts in Newport, but many people don’t know where to find them.
Local nonprofits, community groups, and environmental organizations regularly host events, clean-ups, and initiatives, but this information is spread across multiple platforms. As a result:
Events are harder to discover
Participation opportunities are missed
Communication between organizations and the community is limited
There is no centralized space for ongoing engagement
This creates a disconnect between interest and action. People want to get involved, but there isn’t a clear or consistent way to do so.
The Approach
Our team developed a comprehensive business plan focused on creating a centralized, user-friendly platform that supports both community engagement and organizational collaboration.
Key components of the strategy included:
Conducting market and audience research to understand user needs and behaviors
Analyzing existing platforms and identifying gaps in accessibility and usability
Defining core features that would support both users and partner organizations
Developing a scalable business model aligned with nonprofit partnerships and community goals
The goal was to create a solution that is both practical and sustainable, with clear value for all stakeholders involved.
The Solution
The result is Communi-SEA, a platform designed to streamline how users discover and engage with local conservation efforts.
Core features include:
A centralized event calendar for clean-ups, volunteer opportunities, and local initiatives
A community feed for updates, highlights, and announcements
Member accounts to support engagement and communication
A partner portal for organizations to share events and updates
An integrated storefront to promote eco-friendly products and support funding efforts
To extend the concept beyond the business plan, I designed a mobile app prototype that brings these features into a cohesive, user-friendly experience.
The app focuses on accessibility, simplicity, and intuitive navigation, making it easy for users to quickly find opportunities and take action.
Looking Ahead:
Communi-SEA is designed as a scalable concept with the potential to expand beyond Newport into other coastal communities.
By centralizing information and lowering the barrier to participation, the platform creates a more connected and engaged approach to environmental action.
Recognition
Our team was selected as one of five finalists in Salve Regina University’s Seahawk Tank Pitch Competition, where we presented the Communi-SEA concept to local leaders and entrepreneurs at Innovate Newport.
We were awarded first place, recognized for the strength of our strategy, clarity of execution, and community impact.
