I cam across Quirky last year and was totally blown away by the concept. Basically, Quirky is an online platform where individuals from around the world can submit proposals for innovative new product ideas. Quirky will select the best product proposal on a regular basis (approx every 2 weeks) and commit to having that product designed, manufactured and on the shelves of stores around the world in as little as 10 days.
The idea crossed Ben Kaufman’s mind when he was preparing for the Mac World Expo several years ago. Ben was fortunate to have previously won the ‘Best of Show’ award for an iPod accessory he designed. This year he was feeling the pressure to deliver another ‘Best of Show’ product. It was this pressure that ultimately led to the idea of Quirky. Rather than design a new product himself, he began asking everyone at the Mac World Expo to submit suggestions for a product that they believed he should design. The response was immense. Ben selected the best suggestion and began selling yet another top selling iPod accessory. This then enabled him to raise an impressive 1.5 million in venture funding. However, Ben realised that by capturing the creative mind power of individuals, he could achieve far more than he could on his own. Ben sold the iPod accessory company Mopie and set out on a new exciting journey.
I’m impressed with Quirky on many different levels. Firstly, I fully believe that there exists huge untapped value in the community. Quirky have developed a hugely successful platform that enables individuals to share innovative ideas, collaborate with other innovators and earn royalties in return. It’s a model that benefits every stakeholder involved. I remember being told by my grandfather that the only reason you partner with someone in business is to share a loss (or something to that effect). I think this captures the mindset of an older generation – keep your cards close to your chest and look out for ‘numero uno’. My generation – or the Net Generation as Don Tapscott calls it – is fundamentally different. We have an inherent drive to share in a manner that may not directly benefit ourselves. The web contains endless examples such as Wikipedia, Linux, InnoCentive and The Human Genome Project.
I believe Quirky has tapped into this inherent attribute of the Net Generation. We are eager to share ideas and collaborate with others. In doing so he has gained access to a huge resource of creative ideas, talent and market research. I’ve included a video below that outlines the origins of Quirky and his aspirations for it going forward. Well done Ben and best of luck!
