We realized that new development tools let small teams build software faster, with more care for design and ease of use — and far less time spent wrestling with code. Even better, we discovered we could offer these tools at very little cost.

So we asked ourselves: How can we use this new way of building to add real value to the world?

That question became Shatuga.

Simple, well‑designed tools that spark connection, foster community, and — hopefully — do a little good along the way.

Our mission is to build simple, thoughtful tools that help people and the communities they form stay connected — with privacy, clarity, and care at the center. We keep costs low, keep ads out, pay our team fairly, and give the rest to good causes.

Here's how we do it.

Ad-free services that we run for you, with low-cost premium features.
Efficient and automated where possible customer support to keep costs down.
Open source and dual license - to prevent others from making bank off our work.
We're here to provide benefit and help others, first and foremost!
All Profits to Charity. (Uncle Sam is a necessary benefactor, for better or worse.)
We don't buy ads. We rely on YOU to get the word out!
Minimize Money to The Man. Whatever that means...
Publicly visible Charities and Amounts - transparency
Publicly visible compensation. Our highest paid hourly rate less than 3x our lowest paid.
Relaxed development times and working style.
Low staffing - we're lean.

Current Charities

We haven't raised any money yet! But our goal is to make a sizable donation split four ways to these endeavors by years' end.

Current Profit and Loss

We don't have anything to report. Yet. Soon you'll find a link to our quarterly P&L.

Our Inspiration - the Chattooga River

The Wild and Scenic Chattooga River slips out of the mountains of North Carolina and into northern Georgia cold, clear, untamed, and fiercely alive. The river embodies a mystical quality, and dissolves boundaries: between states, between past and present, between human time and river time. Often shrouded in mist, the river inspires a sense of wonder. Within its course the mind becomes quiet. The world somehow wider. More open, even amid the tight slopes of the river's boundaries.

Our name borrows from Tsatu-gi, a Cherokee word rooted in this region's rivers. We use it with respect for the people whose home this was, and is, and with awareness that Shatuga is a newcomer to a long story. The river is our reminder to move with care — to build things that are clear, generous, and worth crossing into.

Meet Neeri!

Neeri is our Shatuga mascot!

We chose Neeri the River Otter because otters thrive in rivers along the Eastern United States, and are known for their cunning cuteness!

Shatuga, Neeri, and the otter character are trademarks of Shatuga, LLC. Thanks for helping us build and maintain a cute, distinctive brand!