EcoSnoop is a startup, as a matter of fact it is a total bootstrap funded by the sweat and tears of folks that want to make a little impact on society by making it easier to save energy, eliminate waste, and help people save money. We are not exactly sure about the business model, but Google was not sure either when they started. It will be a while before we have things worked out to get venture funding. We are focusing more on the iPhone application, which is why this website is a little rough right now. We of course will be adding blackberry, palm, etc over time.
We ultimately want to be a for profit entity, not necessary rich, but profitable so we can expand the way we need to offer a complete customer experience and effect change. We will be adding features to link to twitter/facebook, allow more commentary from experts, garner revenue by helping companies be green, and much more. The value of EcoSnoop is a function of the users, content, and connection between groups. You can help grow EcoSnoop in many ways:
- EcoSnoops: Adding pictures showing inefficiency attracts other users. You can add pictures via our iPhone app or via the web as an EcoSnoop member (register). You can also add notes to each EcoSnoop case, providing more details and information by selecting a case and adding a note.
- Solve Cases: Look through the cases to see if you can help connect the case to the company or government entity that is leaving lights on or wasting energy. You can copy the website link and send it to whomever might be able to resolve the issue. Please add a note to the Case so people know you are helping resolve the case.
- Find Users: Send information about EcoSnoop to your friends. The link for the paid ($1.99) iPhone app is: EcoSnoop PRO app or a free version with ads at: EcoSnoop app. Follow and retweet EcoSnoop (EcoSnoop twitter feed) and energylover (energylover twitter feed)
- Find Businesses and Government that Care: EcoSnoop is starting to design its interface to companies and government entities, so that they can manage cases on their own. We are looking for beta users to share their requirements so we can make EcoSnoop more effective.
- Download EcoSnoop: If you like what we are doing, download a paid version of EcoSnoop from the iTunes store (EcoSnoop PRO app)
- Tell us how to get better: How to grow our EcoSnoop network is not clear. We have a range of users with different concerns including climate change, conservation, energy security, and saving money. We want to serve everyone's interests. So, you can send your good ideas to snoop@ecosnoop.com and we will see what we can do.
- Sign up for our email list: sign up for our email list on our homepage
- Contribute to EcoSnoop: We need cash to pay for development. Sending money to EcoSnoop is NOT tax deductable. But if we ever do charge a fee for the service (unlikely), we will credit your contribution back to you for that subscription. But as a second promise, we keep track of all the contributions and set aside that much profit when the time comes. We will host an online competition and donate the money to a good cause our community of users support. How about that? A contribution is easy using PayPal following the link below. Any amount helps. Users have contributed as little as a $1 and as much as $1,000, on average though people contribute $20.