Since launching in September 2011, Get.com, a crowdsourced - based platform that helps provide insight and information for consumers on various products, has grown exponentially. The platform has recently announced the launch of its new and improved service producing more comprehensive reports to better enable consumers to make an informed purchase decision.
Founder and CEO of Get.com Steve Fruchter identified a gap in the e-commerce market with a site that provided more information on products beyond customer reviews posted on individual on-line shopping sites. Consumers looking to make a purchase on-line would first pose a question to Get.com's community or crowd, searching for the best brand within a specified budget. Over the last eight months, the platform has garnered over 100,000 product recommendations, which will be collated algorithmically to provide a more through product report. "We're creating *the* place people will turn to when they want to buy a product, but don't know which one to buy. What would take a person many hours of product research on Amazon or Google to do would be done in seconds through Get.com." - Steve Fruchter
The site now does more than just help find the right brand at the right price. It also rates the product against the attributes provided essentially providing a free social consumer report, almost instantly. For example if you are searching for a gaming laptop under $1,500, Get.com will provide a schedule of the top ten results that fit the requirements, with an option to list more results. The report will include, prices, details of which stores stock them at said prices, number of recommendations and ratings on the technical specifications of each machine from disk space to battery life. The site can even link to your Facebook account to see if friends have recommended any of the products. Finding the right product for the right price is certainly an arduous task and while some price comparison sites can help make on-line shopping easier. Get.com has made searching for product information more easier, faster and more in-depth product information to help consumers help make an even more informed decision. Image Credit; Get.com (All Rights Reserved)
As more organisations of various types and size look to incorporate crowdsourcing into their daily operations, the need grows for more information as to best practices and technological resources to be made available. The Daily Crowdsource, one of the biggest sources of crowdsourcing news and features are hosting Crowdopolis a major crowdsourcing conference to be held on 19th July 2012 in Los Angeles. The event will feature workshops and key note speeches from brand giants, who have successfully tapped the resource of the crowd.
The Daily Crowdsource (TDCrowdsource) was launched in July 2010 with the purpose of providing news and information on the rise of crowdsourcing around the globe. Since then it has grown into an influential forum of news updates, discussions, meet ups, and insights provided by its authors and growing line up of renowned Crowd Leaders. Crowdopolis is perhaps the biggest crowdsourcing event, second only to CrowdConf, and is likely to be the most significant gathering of leading users and experts of crowdsourcing practises and technology.Crowdopolis will feature speakers from Nokia and GE, leaders in crowdsourced service providers such as Microtask and uTest, and some of TDCrowdsource's contributing Crowd Leaders including author David Alan Grier and Neil Perry, President of Poptent. The breakout sessions will focus on areas in which crowdsourcing plays the biggest role including Advertising, Technology & Innovation, and Content Marketing. There will also be the "After Party" event in which delegates can meet the speakers, indulge in a bit of networking, and even witness the launch of a brand new crowdsourcing venture.The event is aimed at managers of Fortune 1000 or any other large companies wanting to learn all about how crowdsourcing can help them stay ahead of their competition. Over the last few years crowdsourcing has come in from the digital cold and become a significant tool in the further advancement of all businesses whether they be SMEs or large corporations. So if you want to learn more about what Crowdopolis can offer your business and to register for a place then click here to visit the TDCrowdsource events page.Image Credits; The Daily Crowdsource (All Rights Reserved)
Crowdfunding continues to grow exponentially with more platforms offering resources and support, as well as governments passing laws to make it more accessible. Both private sector businesses and third sector organisations are benefiting from the support of the crowd. A new platform, START.ac launched on 15th May 2012, aims to change the current crowdfunding model that will blend commercial projects with altruistic goals.
START.ac was founded by Rod Turner, a seasoned entrepreneur who played a key role in the formation of highly successful start-ups including software developers Symantec (brainchild of Norton Antivirus software) and the popular search engine AskJeeves. Over the last year or so Rod has called upon his extensive knowledge to develop a new crowdfunding platform aimed at helping start-up businesses and technological ventures. The platform offers an assortment of unique features which include;
- The Inside Track TM enables funders to engage with projects they support
- CrowdAudition TM encourages the START.ac TM community to get involved offering feedback on projects up for submission as well as their selection
- START.ac TM offers a mentoring programme for project owners offering guidance and support from seasoned entrepreneurs and market leaders
- CrowdAccelerator TM benefits funded projects with continued dedicated involvement from the mentors
- STARTBusinessRewards TM offers rewards to project supporters based on company milestones.
The site's biggest addition however is the altruistic model aimed at supporting worthy causes. Project drivers looking for funding are generally charged 5% of their funding target, operating on the all or nothing model, for commercial projects but no charge will be made for non-profit ventures. Users can also opt to pay 6% of the funds raised of which 1% will be placed in the Pay it Forward Fund, with 25% of the total funds being allocated to the Pay it Forward Foundation and 75% to charities as voted by members. In the event of a large scale disaster such as a tsunami or earthquake special projects can be set up free of charge to raise funds for any foundations best suited to helping with relief efforts. The VC model is outdated. Investments are highly concentrated in Silicon Valley and similar VC clubs at the expense of 90% of the start-up opportunity across the US and around the world. In addition, current crowdfunding platforms are too narrowly focused in scope and geography. START.ac will democratise the industry in a way that is not yet being addressed. - Rod Turner, Co-founder & CEO START.ac
START.ac, with its evolutionary model looks set to change the future of crowdfunding. Prior to launch the site's Facebook page had already received over 10,000 followers and word quickly spread over other social media sites including LinkedIn, Google + and Twitter. The future for crowdfunding lies in START.ac's goal to make virtualized funds, advice and resources available to support up and coming entrepreneurs to realise their maximum potential. This goal to aide entrepreneurs at a time when the world's economies are still teetering on the blink is equal to START.ac's altruistic commitment to effectively help those less fortunate.
