{{Infobox dot-com company | name = Ideapod | logo = | company_type = | traded_as = | foundation = | location = | area_served = Worldwide | founder = Mark Bakacs<br />Justin Brown | industry = Internet | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | num_employees = | subsid = | url = {{URL|https://www.ideapod.com/}} | programming_language = | alexa = | website_type = Social networking service | registration = Required | num_users = 300,000 (as of August 2016) | language = | current_status = Active | screenshot = | caption = }} '''Ideapod''' is a social media platform founded in 2013 by Mark Bakacs and Justin Brown who describe the company as a "technology company that produces media". The company's stated mission is to, in the creators' words, "foster discussions about big ideas" and elevate the level of social discourse online and offline by allowing people to express their views and share ideas with others on matters of concern to them. Ideapod was created to enable the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and the world, for the better. It features noted institutions such as the United Nations on its website, and is used by Jason Silva of Nat Geo's ''Brain Games'' series. Ideapod received an endorsement and assistance for funding from Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. As of August 2016, its user base is at 300,000.
==History== Ideapod is a social media platform that was founded in 2013 by two Australian entrepreneurs named Mark Bakacs and Justin Brown.<ref name="smh">{{cite web |title=Katherine Keating to launch new media platform with Huffington Post |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/katherine-keating-to-launch-new-media-platform-with-huffington-post-20140122-3196r.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |last=Dumas |first=Daisy |date=2014-01-23 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> Brown stated that he felt "disillusioned" by social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter, and felt that there was too much "gratuitous information" on these websites.<ref name="collectively">{{cite web |title=Two High School Buddies Just Launched An Instagram For Ideas |url=https://collectively.org/en/article/two-high-school-buddies-just-launched-an-instagram-for-ideas |work=Collectively |last=Brook Lynn |first=Alex |date=2014-10-21 |accessdate=2014-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103091525/https://collectively.org/en/article/two-high-school-buddies-just-launched-an-instagram-for-ideas |archive-date=2014-11-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Brown was studying for a PhD in international politics in London, but chose to drop it for the website.<ref name = " afr "/> He found himself in a rut in a corporate workplace, and wished to do something more impacting.<ref> {{ cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2015/03/24/you-cant-change-the-world-by-thinking-small-3-ways-to-change-your-mindset/#4df982611c9a | title = You Can't Change The World By Thinking Small: 3 Ways To Change Your Mindset | work = Forbes | last = Brown | first = Justin | date = March 24, 2015 | accessdate = December 9, 2016 }} </ref> Ideapod launched an invite-only beta release on February 24, 2014. Before the beta's release, Ideapod advertised that it featured "100+ influential thought leaders and 150+ leading partners, including the United Nations, and the YMCA." Ideapod has stated that it hopes to bring in a more diverse user base using this beta.<ref name="4 traders">{{cite web |title=New Online Platform For Sharing, Discovering And Developing World Changing Ideas Launches In Invite-Only Beta |url=http://www.4-traders.com/news/New-Online-Platform-For-Sharing-Discovering-And-Developing-World-Changing-Ideas-Launches-In-Invite--17991336/ |work=4-Traders |date=2014-02-24 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref>
Ideapod was launched at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell, 166 East 65th Street in Manhattan, on September 19, 2013.
Ideapod as of October 21, 2014, had 70,000 users;<ref name="collectively"/> in 2015, they had 150,000 users.<ref name = " afr "> {{ cite web | url = http://www.afr.com/technology/richard-bransonendorsed-social-media-site-ideapod-launches-in-australia-20150703-gi482m | title = Richard Branson loves Aussie duo's Twitter rival Ideapod | work = Financial Review | last = Redrup | first = Yolanda | date = July 23, 2015 | accessdate = December 8, 2016 }} </ref> As of August 2016, Ideapod has 300,000 active users and 130,000 fans on Facebook. <ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.facebook.com/ideapods | title = Ideapod's Facebook Page | website = Facebook | accessdate = December 8, 2016 }} </ref>
===Features=== Ideapod, a social network for sharing and evolving ideas, allows participants to create posts which may feature URLs, images, and videos, but limits the length of their post to 1000 characters (or 40 seconds, whichever comes first).<ref name = "huffp" /> People are able to reply to others' posts and collaborate with each other.<ref name="4 traders"/> Its founders stated that they felt that a "140-character tweet" was too small for users to be able to explain "high-level concepts for solving world problems." They also have a feature that allows users to create their own content to share.<ref name="streetwise">{{cite web |title=Meet Ideapod: Upworthy Meets Pinterest in Social Media Platform for Life-Changing Ideas |url=http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/02/26/meet-ideapod-upworthy-meets-pinterest-in-social-media-platform-for-life-changing-ideas/ |work=InTheCapital |last=Vanden Dolder |first=Tess |date=2014-02-26 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> Like Twitter and Facebook, Ideapod utilizes hashtags to categorize comments.<ref name="streetwise"/> The co-founders are looking to add new features as the beta continues along to increase users' abilities to collaborate and to better implement certain things.<ref name="streetwise"/> The social media site also features a thing called an "idea cluster," wherein relevant ideas from other users can be found.<ref name="collectively"/>
==Reception== Since its launch in 2014, Ideapod has received generally positive reception. ''VentureBeat''{{'}}s Harrison Weber described Ideapod as a mixture of Upworthy and Pinterest. He noted that while the Upworthy comparison is due to similarities between its headlines and Upworthy's "obnoxious title formula," he praised it for showing more "restraint with the curiosity gap." He also praised its exclusive nature.<ref>{{cite web |title=If Upworthy launched a social network, this is what it would look like |url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/20/if-upworthy-launched-a-social-network-this-is-what-it-would-look-like/ |work=VentureBeat |last=Weber |first=Harrison |date=2014-02-20 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> ''Fast Company'' author Vivian Giang featured Ideapod co-founder Justin Brown on her list of "the odd and surprising alternative career paths of 6 successful entrepreneurs."<ref>{{cite web |title=THE ODD AND SURPRISING ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATHS OF 6 SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3031265/hit-the-ground-running/the-odd-and-surprising-alternative-career-paths-of-6-successful-entre |work=Fast Company |last=Giang |first=Vivian |date=2014-06-02 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> Editing company "The Expert Editor" announced a contest, where the person who wrote the best idea on Ideapod about their vision of the future - with the theme of "#2030" - would receive a $1000 prize. The Expert Editor stated that they chose Ideapod because it encouraged "idea-making."<ref>{{cite web |title=Launch of a New Writing Competition Based on People's Vision for the World in 2030 |url=http://www.newsmaker.com.au/news/29441/launch-of-a-new-writing-competition-based-on-peoples-vision-for-the-world-in-2030#.VFKXAPnF9gg |work=Newsmaker |date=2014-03-12 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> According to Yahoo! News, Ideapod appeared in the final six of 400 startups at the 37 Angels Pitch Forum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Tech Events This Week (Next Billion, FinTech Hackathon, Capital On Stage, StrategyHack, NY Tech, DevPong, Engadget Expand) |url=https://news.yahoo.com/best-tech-events-week-next-billion-fintech-hackathon-143001651.html |work=Yahoo! |last=Sharma |first=Gary |date=2013-11-04 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> ''The Huffington Post''{{'}}s Melissa Jun Rowley featured discussion of Ideapod in her article about simple social networking. She felt that it was "shaping up to be a futurists' social network" and compared its desire to "create positive change" for society to Change.org.<ref>{{cite web |title=What's Next in Social Networking? Meaningful Simplicity |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-jun-rowley/whats-next-in-social-netw_b_5397912.html |work=The Huffington Post |last=Jun Rowley |first=Melissa |date=2014-05-28 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> Bakacs and Brown were featured in a video series called "Men of the Moment" made by the Made Men YouTube channel to honor certain men. Other people honored include ''Breaking Bad'' creator Vince Gilligan, peace activist Carlos Arredondo, and mixologist Alex Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Made Man Celebrates 'Men Of The Moment' Like 'Breaking Bad' Creator |url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/12/02/men-of-the-moment-breaking-bad-vince-gilligan-made-man/ |work=Tube Filter |last=Gutelle |first=Sam |date=2013-12-02 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> ''B&T Magazine'' published an article written by Joanne Jacobs, director of 1000heads Pty Ltd, which cited Ideapod as an example of a "growing range of new social platforms that assist in product development and problem solving."<ref>{{cite web |title=It's time marketing handover social |url=http://www.bandt.com.au/marketing/it-s-time-marketing-handover-social |work=B&T Magazine |last=Jacobs |first=Joanne |date=2014-04-08 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> Brown appeared on a panel of "innovators and disruptors" at the third-annual New York Ideas panel, which was presented by ''The Atlantic'' and the Aspen Institute at the New York Historical Society. It took place on May 6, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Innovators and Disruptors Take the Stage at the Third Annual New York Ideas |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2014/04/innovators-and-disruptors-take-the-stage-at-the-third-annual-new-york-ideas/360408/ |work=The Atlantic |date=2014-04-09 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref>
The website has received ideas and support from several celebrities, including Jason Silva of Nat Geo's ''Brain Games'', best-selling author Brian Solis, and founder and chairman of the Global Partnerships Forum Amir Dossal.<ref name="4 traders"/><ref>{{cite web |title=The 12 Pillars of Innovation |url=https://www.ideapod.com/idea/53aa18057765626b0a4b0000 |work=Ideapod |last=Solis |first=Brian |date=2014-06-24 |accessdate=2014-10-30 |archive-date=2014-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103075625/https://www.ideapod.com/idea/53aa18057765626b0a4b0000 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amir Dossal |url=https://www.ideapod.com/amirdossal |work=Ideapod |last=Dossal |first=Amir |accessdate=2014-10-30 |archive-date=2014-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103080542/https://www.ideapod.com/amirdossal |url-status=dead }}</ref> Silva gave praise to Ideapod, citing both its "curation" - which he feels creates better spaces for people - as well as the fact that he has seen many fans of his "Shots of Awe" series come to the website to "share awe."<ref name="indiegogo campaign"/> Dossal felt that it did well at keeping out the "noise" found in other social media websites, and that he found it "refreshing" to see so many different ideas.<ref name="indiegogo campaign"/> An interview conducted between Professor Joseph Camilleri and Bruce Kent - the latter a "leading peace and disarmament advocate" - was hosted on Ideapod.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Interview with Bruce Kent |url=http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23156 |work=Independent Catholic News |last=Camilleri |first=Joseph |date=2013-09-04 |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref> The service was officially endorsed by Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. He described it as "offering a space where people can bounce ideas off each other."<ref name = "huffp" > {{ cite web | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/18/australian-innovation-ideapod-for-idea-sharing/ |title = Australian Innovation: Ideapod For Idea Sharing | work = The Huffington Post | last = Charleston | first = Libby-Jane | date = July 15, 2016 | accessdate = December 6, 2016 }} </ref> Branson helped secure $3 million in funding for Ideapod.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/62885-the-three-things-these-aussie-entrepreneurs-learnt-from-richard-branson-after-visiting-his-private-island-twice/ | title = The three things these Aussie entrepreneurs learnt from Richard Branson after visiting his private island twice | work = Smart Company | last = Sadler | first = Denham | date = February 12, 2016 | accessdate = December 8, 2016 | archive-date = December 21, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161221004510/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/62885-the-three-things-these-aussie-entrepreneurs-learnt-from-richard-branson-after-visiting-his-private-island-twice/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
===Indiegogo campaign===
An Indiegogo campaign was initiated in order to help fund an Ideapod mobile app.<ref name="collectively"/> It was opened on October 18, 2014, and closed on December 12, 2014. Depending on the contribution level, a person can receive early access to the website, early access to the mobile app, and a variety of content produced by members of the website. As of the close on December 12, it had made $53,613 of its $53,000 goal.<ref name="indiegogo campaign">{{cite web |title=Ideapod - Social Media for Ideas |url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ideapod-social-media-for-ideas |work=Indiegogo |accessdate=2014-10-30}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://www.ideapod.com/ Official Ideapod website]
Category:2013 establishments in New York City Category:American social networking websites Category:Companies based in New York City Category:Computer companies established in 2013 Category:Internet properties established in 2013 Category:Online mass media companies of the United States