For profit business

ThrdPlace

To date, the most important achievement of thrdPlace is our viability. In one year, thrdPlace has built a web platform for its service at www.thrdPlace.com. Mobile will launch in April 2013. ThrdPlace has developed the nascent business from a startup to a platform with a global footprint of impact. And thrdPlace has achieve all of this with a limited investment...just $45K.

In January 2012, the two co-founders were accepted to startup accelerator StartEngine (www.StartEngine.com). In March 2012, thrdPlace sold its first, pilot services to Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods used thrdPlace to manage an international, workforce volunteer campaign across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. To execute that campaign, Whole Foods identified, vetted and collaborated with over 200 Non Profits all on thrdPlace.

Since the pilot, thrdPlace has secured technology and distribution partnerships with ESRI and ADi Global. ESRI (www.ESRI.com) is global leader in geo-data mapping and visualization with $1B+ in annual revenue and 500K global clients. ESRI signed thrdPlace to its Partner Program because their clients face challenges in community outreach. ESRI is contracted to provide mapping and data analytics software to thrdPlace as well as distirbute thrdPlace to its existing clients. Similarly, ADi Global (www.ADi.com) is contracted to distribute thrdPlace to its existing clients. ADi is a global leader in supply chain and philanthropic efficiencies. Their 300K clients around the globe face the same challenges in community outreach as ESRI’s clients. ADi, therefore, integrates thrdPlace into its salesforce and distribute thrdPlace on our behalf.

Furthermore, HUB Los Angeles (www.theHUBLA.com) invited thrdPlace and its co-founders to be founding members in its membership club. HUB Los Angeles is dedicated to build the local, sustainable economy in Los Angeles and beyond. ThrdPlace and HUB are working together to certify Certified B Corporations and Benefit Corporations, display their impact on surrounding communities and invite community members to optimize their impact in LA.

April 3, 2013 thrdPlace will demo its services alongside Mayor Antonio Villarigosa as he debuts his MYLA311 App. The Mayor’s mobile application will enable Angelenos to report issues in community development like potholes, illegal trash dumping and burst downed power lines directly to City officials for repair. ThrdPlace is 1 of 7 technologies invited by HUB Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to promote emerging civic engagement tools Angelenos can use to develop their communities.

ThrdPlace has achieved a lot in a short period of time with little money. What’s more, industry leaders like StartEngine, ESRI, ADi Global, HUB Los Angeles and the LA Chamber of Commerce have all vetted thrdPlace. And all of these industry leaders promote thrdPlace due to its potential to impact community development.

1 Submitted Idea

  • 2013 Grants Challenge

    At thrdPlace our idea for LA2050 is to provide the digital infrastructure for community development

    At thrdPlace, our idea for LA2050 is to provide the digital infrastructure for community development: to connect stakeholders around shared interests and improve identity in all of our communities. More than anything, thrdPlace is the story of you and me. ThrdPlace represents your family and friends and neighbors. We all want the ability to affect change where we have need.

    At thrdPlace, we see a new way for us all to develop our shared communities. Each of us can create a movement to develop local community solutions were individually we only saw problems.

    ThrdPlace is managed by a group of Angelenos, made of Urban Planners, Cause Marketers and Software Developers. Day after day, we see community needs that go unaddressed, community members who want to help but are unable, and resources that can impact these needs left uncaptured. Despite our expertise, too often we are frustrated by a lack of innovation in community development. The LA2050 Challenge is evidence that we are not alone.

    ThrdPlace uses social technology to connect diverse community stakeholders around shared interests. For Profits, Non Profits and Community Members use thrdPlace to work together to resource and execute projects based on these shared needs. Thrdplace is the infrastructure that elevates that local need through story; organizes the funds, supplies and volunteers within a community needed to execute a solution; and connects stakeholders that share an interest in supporting.

    The data generated on ThrdPlace, by its users (both organizations and individuals), is made available back to those users. Open data enables everyone to benefit from the collective activity of Angelenos and ultimately create a city that better reflects our needs as citizens. These data provide new insights to evaluate community need and activity against a variety of macro indicators from voting, to graduation rates and public safety. The improvement of local communities can and should be the throughline that connects all stakeholders within Los Angeles.

    Specifically, ThrdPlace impacts the three Social Connectedness indicators.

    Volunteerism: thrdPlace is a volunteer creation engine designed to engage the 9.8 million citizens of Los Angeles. thrdPlace brings volunteer opportunities directly to citizens through a variety of digital channels. We create high rates of engagement by delivering stories of local need, peer involvement and a direct call to action. ThrdPlace enables all community stakeholders and their existing programming, to tap into the uncaptured energy and resources available within our local communities. Because our mission at thrdPlace is so closely aligned with LA2050’s goals, we envision an opportunity for LA 2050’s project submissions to use thrdPlace as a centralized platform to expand their capacity and achieve their goals.

    Civic and Social Engagement: Building physical community is the best way to develop inter-personal relationships. ThrdPlace brings shared interest in local issues to the forefront of citizen attention. It provides the opportunity for collaboration and exploration across stakeholders both on and offline.

    Voting: Locally engaged citizens vote. Participating in a local project creates a sense of ownership and identity within community. The act of building relationships, taking ownership, and sharing ideas for local solutions leads to a population more likely to vote.

    ThrdPlace has already successfully facilitated collaboration across sectors. Brands in both the public and private sector see thrdPlace as a market to interface and deepen relationships with local communities (and their consumers). Envision Charlotte, for example, is collaboration between the City of Charlotte, a local Non-Profit and local commercial businesses (incl. Duke Energy, Verizon and Wells Fargo). Envision Charlotte is finalizing a partnership thrdPlace. They are activating local businesses and individuals to document, connect and resource projects within a regional sustainability action plan. Businesses are sharing their internal initiatives and supporting local projects started by citizens. Citizens are starting projects based on their local needs and driving support from their fellow citizens and local businesses. And communities are connecting through their shared goal.

    ThrdPlace views Social Connectedness as the common denominator needed for LA2050 to achieve its goals across all of its indicators. ThrdPlace increases Angelenos civil and social engagement, voting rates and volunteerism.

    Working together, we can share the collective vision of a successful Los Angeles and serve as a model for engagement and development for cities around the world.

    (To learn more about thrdPlace please visit us here: http://thrdplace.com/blog/)