The Point: Mobilizes people to reach “tipping point” for their cause

January 30, 2008 | Drew Arnold | Comments | |

thepoint.jpgDrawing upon Malcolm Gladwell’s concept of the “tipping point,” a Chicago start-up called The Point allows its users to coordinate groups to successfully pull off fundraisers, petitions, boycotts, or any number of other causes.

According to its approach, only once the “tipping point” of the number of members in a campaign has been reached should the members “activate” the campaign and display it to the public, ensuring a nice base of support for that group. The company, founded in September has just raised $4.7 million from Rugger Ventures, Old Willow Partners, and Silicon Valley-Baltimore firm New Enterprise Associates.

The company provides lots of entertaining examples of how the approach can be employed, from frustrated consumer, to under-appreciated employee, loving parent, concerned citizen and smart shopper on the company’s home page (bottom right). There’s a tour here.

And here’s the page of actual campaigns underway, from an effort to raise $10 billion(!) to create a weather-shielding dome over Chicago, to a demand for better healthcare for workers at Wal-Mart.

winterdome.jpg

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About the Author, Drew Arnold

  • What a great concept! I just started an Al Gore for President campaign. Most of the time people have to create a unique website to promote a social cause (Save Darfur, Politics, Fundraising, etc.).

    When an issue becomes big enough, then a stand alone URL/web presence is justified. But for a quick hit or small campaign, this is perfect.
  • Ara
    Terry- Dennis Kucinich has a likelier chance of becoming President at this point.
  • HC
    Another website you should check out is PledgeBank, which gives a simple and straightforward way to pledge to get something done in your community and find others to join you, and is run by a nonprofit organization. Take a look!