Bulbstorm is a new social community of innovation that connects people and allows them to share, improve and market their ideas. Bulbstorm is a safe and protected environment where individuals can connect with experts, companies and their peers to develop their ideas and can even provide feedback on other ideas in the community. The beta site was opened to the public in March 2009 and since then Bulbstorm.com has grown rapidly.

Individuals join and become bulbers, sharing their bulbs (ideas) with others. For individuals Bulbstorm.com offers:

• Free community – Connect with other community members to get their thoughts and advice for free.
• Idea protection – Use on-site tools to protect information and choose which bulbers have access to your ideas.
• Expert feedback – New experts are joining every day. Connect with a marketing expert, experienced innovators, IP lawyer or venture capitalist to help grow your idea.
• Groups – Connect with users who share your interest in books, technology or green innovation.
• Opportunity to help others – Share your expertise and help others develop their ideas.
• Easy to use – signing up takes only a few minutes and new ideas can be browsed quickly.

Companies use Bulbstorm to connect with consumers and their own customers to garner market feedback on new ideas, products and services. Bulbstorm allows companies to cost-effectively reach their customers and is easily integrated into their existing research and marketing strategies. It also allows businesses to accelerate their product or service development time by using the bulbstorm community to determine which ideas are best and show the best market potential. Companies such as El Monterey Mexican Foods and Pert Plus Shampoo & Sure Antiperspirant have enlisted bulbstorm users to help find their companies’ next big ideas.

During July, Bulbstorm is helping innovators develop their ideas and win cash! People can visit www.bulbstorm.com/contests and click on the Big Idea Challenge. Contestants simply rate the Top 10 ideas from Bulbstorm.com to help another contestant win $500. Once they have rated the Top 10 ideas they can choose to add an idea of their own which enters them to win an additional $500. Contestants simply register, vote, submit their own idea and earn a shot at the cash prize.

The idea with the most votes will win, so encouraging your family and friends to vote each day is a great idea. El Monterey Mexican Foods and Pert Plus & Sure are offering similar contests to bulbers. Winners will be announced in August.