That’s a fair suggestion, and if the WhatsApp version could be launched independently, that’s probably the route I would have taken.
The challenge is that the remaining work isn’t made up of isolated features; it’s production infrastructure that all has to come together at the same time. To get Pesa Ya Siri live, we need a reliable Lightwalletd backend for Zcash synchronization, a production-grade WhatsApp API integration, a more robust database deployment on AWS, and the infrastructure to securely connect and manage all of those services. These components are interdependent, so deploying one without the others would leave us with a system that isn’t ready for real users.
That’s why we’re seeking a grant now. The funding isn’t for adding new ideas or expanding the project’s scope, it’s to complete the production infrastructure required to launch a stable and reliable service. The amount we’re requesting is actually quite modest considering what’s needed to move from a working prototype to a publicly available product.
If you’d like to see what has already been built, you don’t have to wait for the public launch. Most of the core functionality can already be exercised through Postman by calling the existing API endpoints. Everything is documented in this forum post, including the relevant links and instructions, so you’re welcome to explore the current implementation and see the progress firsthand.