A global problem needs a global solution – we want to fight AIDS with the power of the internet. .hiv – the first ever social cause Top-Level Domain (TLD) – implants the virus in the foundation of the internet and for the first time ever, a domain ending is filled with more meaning than just being the end of an internet address. It has a highly innovative utilization concept and introduces a revolutionary micro-donation system: all proceeds from the domain sale go into a pot. Then, with every click on any .hiv-domain, the internet users activate a micro-donation out of this pot. The content of the site remains the same. So with every click on a .hiv-domain, internet users can do something good. This principle makes common matter: website owners and internet users are taking action together. Since dotHIV is a charitable organization, we don’t have a big budget for anything. Nonetheless, we have managed to win people from every sector to support and promote this idea, almost everyone working for reduced rates or pro bono. A lot of people see dotHIV as a great opportunity to put their special set of skills to work for a good cause. Social business angels who believe in the innovational nature and huge potential of this idea have contributed the necessary risk capital of 470,000 $ together with promotional loans and social venture capital givers. So we have created the perfect tool for worldwide communication in order to set an end to one of the biggest humanitarian problems of all time: the world’s first ever social cause Top-Level Domain .hiv.

The .hiv TLD will tackle the topic HIV/AIDS from three sides: it will generate funds to support the dedicated all over the world, raise awareness and work against the stigmatization of people living with the virus. We expect to sell 36.000 domains within the first 5 years, this means that €10 million could be passed on to initiatives that fight the virus within the first 3 years. Naturally, this is a conservative calculation. One of the main goals of dotHIV is to support those, who support others. .hiv will unite those, who are engaged in the fight against the virus: organizations, initiatives, NGOs and activists. It promotes synergies and makes them part of a global network.

It gives them new possibilities for unbureaucratic financing and makes their work more visible. We have had many successes in the almost 4 years we have been working on making this idea a reality but the proudest moment was April 19th 2013: we received a letter from ICANN with the official approval of our application. We have passed the months-long evaluation process with flying colors, the way to the internet is now open for .hiv – and we already have almost 6,000 pre-registrations.