inspired by the radical potential of zines and the communal spirit of cafés, zine.café is a hub for creating, learning, and teaching through diy media.

Problem

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1. Difficulty finding high quality, accessible resources for teaching / learning zine-making
2. Platforms for creative sharing don’t often prioritize safety or inclusivity. Lack of online supportive spaces for authentic expression
3. Online design tools don’t honor the diy nature of zines nor are they ready-to-go for creating printable zines
4. lack of social justice education in traditional schooling, same goes for creative expression.

Existing Alternatives

<aside> <img src="/icons/contrast_gray.svg" alt="/icons/contrast_gray.svg" width="40px" /> List how these problems are solved today

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• book creator
• canva, google slides. Or more expensive, difficult software too
• khan Academy, youtube
• tumblr, Issuu, itch.io

Unique Value Proposition

<aside> <img src="/icons/looped-square_gray.svg" alt="/icons/looped-square_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Describe how the product is different from the existing alternatives

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zine.cafe works at the intersection of justice, art, education, and technology.

• Khan Acadedemy for social justice art education
• Canva for emerging artivists
• Tumblr for youth zines

For educators, we offer resources to bring the radical creativity and educational potential of zines in to their classroom (community center, workshop, etc).

For young creators, we offer online tools to design, create, and share their works- amplifying their voices and fostering a supportive creative community

We empower youth, with a particular focus on those historically marginalized, to use zines as a tool for self expression and social change.

In the future, zine.cafe will be an evolving space for interactive zine-making, collaborative challenges, and gamified experiences that encourage social justice values, authentic expression, and advocacy.

High-Level Concept

khan academy meets tumblr meets canva for zine-making and social justice

Solution

<aside> <img src="/icons/question-mark_gray.svg" alt="/icons/question-mark_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Outline possible solution for each problem

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1. Collection of zine related resources designed to inspire (tutorials, teaching tools, etc.)
2. sharing platform for zines that’s safe for young people and centers community-building
3. accessible online graphic design tool, that honors the collaborative, diy and anti-perfectionist ethos of zine making
4. Free, public learning for topics of social justice art education

Key Metrics

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• registrations
• active users
• user retention
• time spent on platform
• number of zines created
  • proportion justice related
• number of downloaded resources
• feedback and testimonials
• (later) gamification engagement

Customer Segments

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• Educators
• Young Creators
• Zine Enthusiasts

Early Adopters & Channels

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• Educators in art, social justice, creative learning
  • email newsletters
  • conferences
  • teaching networks
  • social media
  • collabs with schools and orgs
• QT, BIPOC, and disabled youth creators
  • instagram, tiktok, discord, youtube
  • school partnerships
  • collaborative contests
• Art Activists and zinesters
  • twitter, FB groups
  • Medium
  • email campaigns
  • nonprofit partnerships
• youth organizations
  • partnerships
  • conferences
  • grant opportunities
  • social media

Unfair Advantage

<aside> <img src="/icons/lock_gray.svg" alt="/icons/lock_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Something that can’t be easily copied or bought.

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our unfair advantage lies in the intersection of art, education, and social justice, combined with an authentic, DIY spirit that supports both emerging creators and educators. This unique combination makes zine.café a platform that is difficult to replicate, offering a space for creators to express themselves, collaborate, and create change in a safe, accessible, and empowering environment.

• detailed breakdown

Cost Structure

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• Web Development & Hosting
• Honorariums for zine spotlights and contributing educators/artists
  • rewards
  • content creation and curation
• Marketing
  • ads
  • influencer collabs
  • partnerships
• Operational costs