Short Summary
Spar aims to be a social platform that allows users with diverse opinions and perspectives to discuss various topics in a way that drives meaningful and productive discourse. Social media platforms today are driven by "attention" and are not built to move society forward. Spar wants to provide a platform where good ideas and diverse perspectives thrive and users are rewarded for contributing these ideas to various conversations. Help us change the world of social media with a contribution today!
Story
In a world saturated by quick bytes of information and superficial engagement, the depth and richness of meaningful conversation have been lost. Social media platforms reward shock-value and popularity, rather than the thoughtful exchange of ideas and perspectives. Conversations that should build bridges often create divides, and our screens are filled with more noise than knowledge. This is the problem that inspired the creation of Spar, a new kind of social platform.
Imagine Alice, a young professional who enjoys engaging in discussions about a range of topics, from climate change to the latest bestseller. She's eager to share her insights, learn from others, and broaden her horizons. However, she finds that the platforms available are not conducive to this. They're filled with memes, inflammatory comments, and empty likes, with little room for in-depth, thoughtful discourse.
Then there's Bob, a small business owner who values the power of social media for understanding his customers better. But he's frustrated by the lack of meaningful data and insights available from existing platforms. The number of likes or shares doesn't tell him much about his customers' needs, preferences, or behavior.
This is where Spar comes in. For users like Alice, Spar offers a space to engage in open, meaningful debates on various topics, fostering a community that values critical thinking and perspective sharing. It's a platform that rewards meaningful contribution, not just popularity. For users like Bob, Spar provides a powerful tool for understanding user behavior and preferences, with its structure allowing for precise and efficient analytics.
However, building a platform like Spar requires resources, time, and a community that believes in the value of thoughtful discourse. This is why we need your help. With your support, we can make Spar a reality and transform the way we engage with social media. We can create a space that values quality over quantity, depth over superficiality, and understanding over indifference.
Together, let's bring back the richness of meaningful conversation. Let's build Spar.
What We Need
We need funds to help us build a working version of Spar. Upfront we will conduct some user research to better understand what features are most important to those who will become top contributors on Spar. Once we feel satisfied with the directional approach to building the platform, we will begin building out our team with talented people that believe in the product. These people will be responsible for building the platform and making it available to users around the world.
In order to reach these goals, we are hoping to raise $275,000:
- $50,000 will be used to conduct user research to validate the concepts and understand what Version 1 of Spar should look like.
- $150,000 will be dedicated to building our internal resources to build the platform.
- The remaining $75,000 will be dedicated to taxes, fees, and other unexpected costs we might experience.
If we do not reach this goal, then all funds will be directed towards building a prototype of the site in order to secure further funding.
What You Get
If you contribute to this campaign, you will be added to our email list for updates about the project. To say thank you for your contribution, we offer the following rewards:
- Spar Founder's Badge
- When we launch the platform, all who have contributed will be able to claim a founder's badge that will be linked to your account. This badge will grant you early access to new features as we roll them out across the platform.
- Spar Build Community Access
- We will use this community to help us build the platform from Day 1. The feedback from this community will be a top priority for our team to build into the platform so that we optimize the experience for our users.
- Reward Multiplier
- Eventually we aim to offer rewards to our users. Contributing to the platform now will earn you a reward multiplier for when the platform begins offering rewards. The idea as it stands is to reward users whenever their conversations are utilized in helping a company, or other organization make meaningful change. This reward multiplier will enhance the value of the reward that you would have been awarded.
The Impact
In the world today new social issues present themselves on a daily basis, and there is no where to turn to have a meaningful conversation on these issues. Social sites today reward "influencers" for creating chaos and "engagement" on the platform. At Spar we aim to provide a universal location for people of all perspectives to discuss how to move the world forward in a productive and meaningful way
Risks & Challenges
Obviously we will run into various risks and challenges along the way. The biggest risk facing this venture is adoption of the platform. From our conceptual research findings, it was found that among Americans ages 25-40, 70% believe there is a need for a platform for users to engage in meaningful and productive discussion. Additionally, when asked how much they would use the platform, only 25% of respondents said they wouldn't use the platform at all. Over 46% said 0-2 hours per day and the remaining ~30% said they would use the platform over 2 hours per day! This breakout of responses matched very closely with how the same base of respondents said they currently use Instagram.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you believe in the mission, but cannot contribute financially, we would still love for you to reach out to us as we build this platform. If you would like to get involved, please email Alex at amkumle@kumleresearch.com and we will find ways to get you involved in the project!