Vindhu - Social Blood Donation Platform
Award-winning social blood donation application connecting donors and recipients through location-based matching, winner of the 2014 Kickstart Hackathon
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Vindhu emerged from the 2014 Kickstart Hackathon as a winning solution to address blood donation challenges in the Maldives. Developed by Naail Abdul Rahman and Mohamed Maail Rasheed, this location-based social platform connects blood donors with recipients in real-time.
Hackathon to Production
Winner of 2014 Kickstart Hackathon - Maldives’ first public 24-hour hackathon
- MVR 15,000 prize for innovation and social impact
- Peer-voted victory among 40 local developers
- Sponsored by Allied Insurance for full development and launch
Key Innovation
Vindhu introduced an “inverted flow” approach to blood donation - instead of recipients searching for donors, the app creates a proactive network of willing donors ready to help when needed.
Core Features
- Location-based matching between donors and recipients
- Blood type compatibility checking
- Real-time availability status for donors
- Donor profiles with donation history
Technical Implementation
Native Development
- iOS: Objective-C with native UI
- Android: Java with Android SDK
- Google Maps integration for location services
- Push notifications for urgent requests
Backend
- Parse BaaS (later migrated to SashiDo.io)
- Real-time data synchronization
- Secure medical data handling
Launch & Impact
Officially launched November 18, 2015 through Allied Insurance partnership. The app addressed critical healthcare needs in a country with high Thalassaemia prevalence, creating a sustainable donor network and improving emergency response capabilities.
Legacy
Vindhu demonstrated the potential of local tech innovation to solve real social problems, establishing a model for healthcare technology adoption in the Maldives and inspiring future social impact applications.