Kluster.com - Putting Social Networks to Work

Kluster is a web-based platform that enables communities to collaborate and decide. Kluster’s philosophy is that development and decision-making is better served by engaging groups. Kluster’s founder, Ben Kaufman (21), proved the success of this model in his first venture, mophie, an iPod accessory company. Mophie engaged consumers and retailers to participate in product design and development. Designs were chosen by the community, manufactured, and sold in retail outlets in 28 countries. Mophie was successfully acquired in August 2007. The undisclosed proceeds of the sale were invested in Kluster. Kluster participants will work on a variety of initiatives including product development, marketing and advertising, event planning -virtually any decision- making activity better served by asking a group. Community members will contribute based on their experience and interest. Decisions within the site are made algorithmically by assessing the weight of each community member’s vote based on their participation, past successes and risk. Today, Kluster is launching the platform and encouraging everyone to jump in.

“kluster is a place to harness the power of community collaboration to get things done. everyone has ideas, we provide a platform to get them out of heads and into the world… where they belong.”

They recently received the enormous honor of being invited to engage the world's "greatest thinkers and doers" at the TED conference in Monterey, California on February 26th. Over the course of just 72 hours, TED attendees and the world community will work together on the Kluster platform to develop a brand new product.

Will they add some new features to the site as they continue growing?