Rakiura

Do the science. We handle the rest.

For astrophysicists and planetary scientists. Turn your research into impact (and income) without leaving the lab.

Built with astrophysicists from Caltech, MIT, and ESOIndependent Astronomy Research BoardSupporting open-access astrophysics research

How it works

Minimal setup. Serious rigor. You focus on discovery—Rakiura handles production, peer review, and distribution.

1) Start or join a lab

Create a 501(c)(3) lab or join an existing one (fiscal sponsors welcome). We verify and set up your profile automatically.

2) Upload your research

We ingest allowable versions (arXiv preprints, postprints, CC papers), generate explainers across formats, and route to astronomy peer reviewers.

3) Publish & earn

Revenue is pooled and redistributed: 50% base UBI, 25% performance, 25% Rakiura. Patent revenue: 50% UBI, 25% your lab, 25% Rakiura.
No marketing required
We turn papers into web, audio, and video automatically. You approve before publishing.
Legitimacy first
Two qualified reviewers must approve before platform publication.
Save time
Press releases, grant support, telescope time booking, and survey data reduction for HST, JWST, and ground-based observations.
Patent support
We surface patentable discoveries in instrumentation, adaptive optics, data processing algorithms, and observational techniques.
Transparent payouts
Public ledger of revenue and distributions—no per‑click bounties.
Free to join
No platform fee for scientists. Revenue comes from content and licensing.
B Corporation • Trust Owned • Bootstrapped

Why Rakiura is different

We're built differently because science deserves better. Not venture-backed. Never going public. Forever focused on research.

Trust-owned, mission-driven

Rakiura is a B Corporation owned by a trust—not shareholders, not VCs. This means:

  • •80% of net income flows back into science through the global UBI fund
  • •20% retained earnings ensure long-term stability and independence
  • •No pressure to prioritize profit over scientific integrity

Bootstrapped, independent, forever

We made commitments other platforms can't or won't make:

  • •No venture capital—we won't compromise our mission for returns
  • •Never going public—no quarterly earnings pressure
  • •Scientists come first, always—written into our legal structure

What this means for you

When you join Rakiura, you're joining a platform that legally cannot sell out. Your research, your community, and your income are protected by our trust structure. We succeed only when science succeeds.

Learn more about our mission and structure →

See it in action

Explore a sample lab with a paper → explainer page → auto‑podcast → data package.

Sample: "Detection of Water Vapor in HD 189733b"

Web explainer preview

Auto‑podcast: "Exoplanet Atmospheres Explained"

Audio player placeholder

Earnings & integrity

Funding flows through a global pool—never per click. Scientific rigor is protected by review and transparency.

How earnings flow

Content revenue is pooled then redistributed: 50% base UBI for active labs, 25% performance for verified contributions, 25% Rakiura to run the platform.

Patent licensing revenue: 50% to UBI, 25% to your lab, 25% to Rakiura.

How integrity is protected

Peer review firewall: Two qualified reviewers approve before platform publication.

Funding firewall: No per‑view payouts; popularity does not drive income.

Transparency: Public ledger of revenue and distributions.

What astrophysicists are asking

"I don't want to be a content creator."

You don't have to be. We handle production—converting your papers into videos, podcasts, and explainers. You simply review and approve before they go live.

"Will this hurt my academic career?"

Everything is peer-reviewed on-platform and citable with DOIs. This enhances your impact, reach, and citation potential—not your workload.

"What about my telescope time and data?"

We help you book instrument time and provide survey data reduction support—freeing you to focus on analysis and discovery.

Frequently asked questions

Free • Peer-reviewed • Transparent