Bill Swearingen is fundraising
Empower 200 Hackers with Off-Grid Mesh Tech
Sponsor a Hacker – Equip Kansas City with Off-Grid Mesh Tech
Our Mission
SecKC (a 501c3) has spent 14 years building Kansas City’s grassroots hacker community. In September 2025 we’re launching a hands-on Meshtastic training mission. We’ll give away 200 LILYGO T-Deck Plus devices, flash custom firmware, teach encrypted long-range mesh networking, then challenge participants with a city-wide scavenger hunt in November. Your support makes this possible.
Why We Need You
We’re not after gadgets. We’re after impact. Each $80 sponsorship puts one T-Deck Plus device in the hands of a future security leader, student, or maker. They’ll learn to:
- Flash custom SecKC firmware emblazoned with sponsor thank-yous
- Master off-grid communication that works when cell towers fail
- Submit their first GitHub pull request during our November challenge
- Decode hidden messages in a real-world, city-wide hunt
- Keep and use this transformative tech for years to come
- Contribute to a stronger mesh network—more devices in the field make the network faster, more resilient, and better at reaching every corner of Kansas City
How Funds Will Be Used
- Purchase of 200 LILYGO T-Deck Plus devices
- Shipping
- Although unexpected, if there are any left over funds, this will be used for future SecKC projects. No money will go to the organizers or the SecKC leadership.
Sponsorship Levels
$80 Sponsor One Hacker
Your name featured in the firmware’s “Thank You” section
$160 (or more) Champion Two Hackers
Double the impact with two devices and a bolded Thank you!
$5,000 (or more) Executive Sponsor
- Your logo embedded in the firmware boot-up animation
- Prime sticker placement on each device case
- Gold level Sponsorship for September and November meetings
- Long-tail brand goodwill in a deeply technical audience
All donations are tax-deductible. SecKC is a registered 501(c)(3).
Why This Matters
When disasters strike or the next big tech innovation arrives, our community needs real-world, hands-on skills. Your sponsorship equips individuals with professional-grade mesh technology and open-source workflows. It’s career-shaping training, disaster-readiness, and open-source advocacy rolled into one.
Deadline
We must order devices by July 31 2025 to guarantee a September launch. Every day counts.
Join Us
Your support isn’t funding an abstract program. It’s empowering a specific person. Sponsor a hacker today and help build Kansas City’s tech future—one node at a time.
Questions ? Ask us here or visit www.seckc.org
Thank you for championing hands-on learning in KC’s hacker community.
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3 supporters
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