Type: Blended
PHASE: Define
CATEGORY: Technology
LOCATION: Austin, United States
iplay4
North America

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Combining elements of fundraising and social gaming, iplay4 will work to supplement the fundraising process for non-profit organizations while also creating awareness.

Standings & Awards

422 out of 422 in North America
206 out of 206 in Technology
930 out of 930 in Define
1066 out of 1066 in Blended
4003 out of 4003 Overall
iplay4 offers non-profit organizations help in raising funds and awareness for worthy causes.

81 million people play social games at least once a day. Users bought around $2.2 billion worth of virtual items in 2009 and experts forecast that number will increase to $6 billion by 2013, market research firm NPD Group reports.   

What if all of this money went to a deserving cause?  What if you could play for your favorite causes and learn about others?

iplay4: Through fusing elements of fundraising and social gaming, iplay4's goal is to create a framework to more efficiently raise funds for non-profit organizations and create awareness.  A main objective is to create an enjoyable donating experience for users through allowing interactivity and participation.

Website: iplay4 will serve as a platform that links non-profit organizations with game developers.  Users will be allowed to search for and discover different non-profit causes.  Users will then be prompted to select which organization(s) they wish to play a game for.  Funds will go directly towards whichever organization the participant chooses to play for.  Additionally, the website will offer suggestions of organizations to play for based on recent searches.

Game: We will partner with game developers and also develop our own game in beta for testing.  The concept game involves a space mission where  users can play a limited version for free and advance through earning influence points and purchasing point packages.  Virtual items, such as special player skins and weapons will also be available for purchase.  The purpose of the game is to build a massive force of user cadets and defeat the aliens to save Earth.   Every mini-quest will be designed to market the game and website (e.g. Inviting friends to join spaceship will give user influence points, playing for various non-profit organizations can double user points, etc). 

We plan to create a social experience where users can learn and share about causes through social media platforms and word of mouth.  “Who do you play for?” is a motto we hope will define and reinforce iplay4’s central purpose.

Supporting links:

http://bit.ly/dU048z

http://bit.ly/K3RhX5

http://on.mash.to/fD5W9n

http://slidesha.re/198C64

Support Your Idea Optional (5 - 7 minutes for three uploads)

Supporting Document: 
application/pdf iconTimeline
image/jpeg iconConcept art for space mission game
image/jpeg iconRelevant game statistics by AllFacebook.com

Roadmap to Success Optional (1 - 3 minutes to upload)

Roadmap to Success: 
application/pdf iconroadmap_to_success.pdf

Sponsors, Investors, and Supporters

Austin Technology Incubator
The Austin Technology Incubator helps start-ups transition into successful, high growth technology businesses.

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
A hybrid of social gaming and fundraising, iplay4 will innovate how people learn about and donate to non-profit organizations. By blending interactivity and participation with fundraising, the user will have a fun donating experience while feeling good about helping a worthy cause. Moreover, users will be motivated to share their experience and in-game achievements with friends and family. Ultimately, worthy causes from all over the world will benefit from the funds generated through iplay4.
2. Who gains the most? 
Organizations around the world are doing amazing things. A young boy in Argentina can go to school and avoid the risk of infection through the TOMS Shoes movement. A classroom in Ghana is able to easily access literature through World Reader’s donation of e-readers and e-books. Both emerging and established organizations can grow and gain awareness they otherwise may not have had through iplay4. We hope to supplement organizations’ efforts so that deserving donation recipients gain the most.
3. Who pays? 
Prospective investors include firms that focus on early-stage technology companies, angel network investors, and philanthropic firms. iplay4 will pursue technology grants as well as grants aimed at specific non-profit causes. NPO’s will offer a portion of their reserved marketing money as an investment. Sponsors include any company wishing to advertise and increase their social return on investment by becoming pro-social. Users will also have the option of donating to iplay4.
4. What is your success? 
iplay4 offers value for any cause through its innovative fundraising model. Moreover, its scalability and replicability promise transformation to the way we fundraise. By 12 months, beta tests and a marketing campaign for the game will be underway. By 3 years, we will have an expansive network of non-profit organizations and have made a positive financial impact for their respective causes. By 5 years, we hope similar interactive fundraising companies will form and create significant impacts.
5. How will you do it? 
Grants, online campaigns, and other donations will go towards game testing and developer partnerships. We will seek sponsors who seek to generate social ROI and retail/restaurant partners to sale game point cards. The website will market itself through game quests (e.g. Influence points will be earned by inviting friends to join, etc). To minimize risk involved with introducing a new business model to investors, seeking a financially minded mentor and a board of directors is necessary