Collaboration is an important factor in human nature. It is what drives us and it is through collaboration that truly great products are made. Ben Kaufman found a way to harness this unique drive within us and was able to make a profitable business out of it.
Ben Kaufman began a company selling iPod accessories at age 18. While on a subway in New York City, he saw a girl wearing headphones that he designed. Reflecting on this, he said: “I saw something I invented out in the world, and it was the best feeling. That’s when I realized I needed to help more people experience that.” This moment was what got the gears moving for him to start Quirky.
Quirky is a website where people submit their ideas for a physical product. An online community then votes on them and a team of engineers builds prototypes of the top two ideas of each week. If enough products are presold on Quirky to bring the product to market, it will then be manufactured and then can be sold in retail stores such as Home Depot and Target. The most popular products produced by Quirky include the flexible power strip and the broom groomer, a dust pan that cleans your broom.
Kaufman founded Quirky at the age of 23 and it has gone on to be a wildly successful company. He wasn’t afraid to test the normal system of inventing products and because of that, Kaufman’s company is changing the way that new products are brought to market.
I love Quirky and go on the website at least once a week. I think there are some great ideas on there.
I’ve been on Quirky several times, but didn’t know the back story on how it began and what inspired the founder. Thanks for sharing.
So much adjacent possible! I love the idea of collaboration that comes out of this website, mutual building up and encouragement instead of simply pure competition.