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Claim
State your position clearly and thoughtfully
Civil debate, structured.
AI-powered rounds. Live video. Observer voting. The platform where ideas compete — not egos.
“AI moderation could reduce toxicity by 60%. Platforms have tried self-governance — it doesn’t scale.”
Discussion
2:30
Jordan K.
“Human judgment handles nuance better. We need better tools for people, not algorithms replacing them.”
What do you think?
"Should AI moderate online discussions?"
Dondo helps both sides find common ground through structured debate.
The Rhythm of Debate
Every Dondo debate follows a structured flow -- guided rounds that turn disagreement into discovery.
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Response
Listen actively, then offer your perspective
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Counter
Engage with ideas, not just positions
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Common Ground
Find shared understanding together
AI keeps the rhythm flowing -- guiding, not judging.
How Dondo Works
Structured debates powered by AI, designed for meaningful discourse
Structured Rounds
Debates flow through clear phases: Opening Arguments, Discussion, Rebuttals, and Closing. Everyone gets heard.
AI Coaching
Get real-time suggestions to strengthen your arguments. AI helps with logic, evidence, and persuasiveness -- without taking sides.
Live Video Debates
Face-to-face video with multiple layouts: grid view, speaker focus, or TikTok-style battle mode for 1v1 debates.
Smart Matching
Find opponents by topic interest, stance position, or school. Send personalized challenges to specific debaters.
Badges & Leaderboards
Earn badges for debates won, streaks, and contributions. Compete on weekly, all-time, and school-specific leaderboards.
Observer Voting
Spectators vote for winners, most persuasive arguments, and best points. Live reactions keep debates engaging.
Safe & Moderated
AI-powered content moderation and human moderators keep debates civil. Real-time interventions when needed.
Call & Response
Like the talking drum's dialogue, great debate is a conversation—not a shouting match.
The Problem
Today's debates break down into noise. Social media rewards outrage over insight. Conversations become competitions where nobody listens and everyone loses.
The Answer
Dondo brings structure back. Timed rounds, AI-guided facilitation, and observer voting create debates where ideas compete—not egos. Understanding emerges from rhythm, not chaos.
About Dondo
A conversation instrument, not a referee
"Human judgment leads; AI helps structure and reflect. Dondo guides debates into clear rounds, keeps tone constructive, and generates concise summaries to elevate the quality of civil discourse."
Named for the Talking Drum
In West Africa, the dondo was more than an instrument. By tensioning its cords, drummers could shape pitch to "speak" in the tones of human language -- sharing stories, sending messages, and bringing communities together across great distances.
The drum's power lay not in volume, but in rhythm and structure. A skilled drummer could communicate complex ideas, mediate disputes, and unite villages through the careful cadence of their beats.
Dondo brings that same rhythm to digital discourse -- where every voice matters, every perspective is heard, and civil debate creates lasting understanding.
Structure Over Chaos
Clear rounds and turn-taking ensure productive conversation instead of shouting matches.
Understanding Over Winning
The goal isn't to defeat opponents -- it's to find common ground and broaden perspectives.
Community First
Schools, clubs, and organizations build their own debate communities with shared values.
Building the future of civil discourse
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Beta Participants
from universities across the country
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Completion Rate
debates that reach common ground
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Civility Score
average rating out of 5
Every conversation starts with a beat.
Join the Dondo campus pilot. Be among the first to bring structured debate to your university.
Request Received
We'll reach out within 48 hours to discuss how Dondo can work for your community.
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