Interest in Twollars, the new Twitter currency soars as charities sign-up in numbers
Twollars, the currency of appreciation for Twitter, designed to raise money and awareness for charities and good causes, launched a new feature-rich site yesterday. The new site has been acclaimed as a "huge step forward" by Twollars fans. Forty-seven charities have signed up in the last twenty - four hours since launch. Charities such as Camfed, Vitamin Angles have already begun Twollar fund raising drives on Twitter
Malaga, Spain (PRWEB) May 28, 2009
Since the Twollars launch in February, Twitter users have been tweeting Twollars to each other as an act of appreciation or 'thank you' for helpful, useful, inspiring or just funny tweets. Thousands of Twitter users have enthusiastically adopted the new 'Twollars' habit and regularly give and receive Twollars.
With a mention in Business Week, an interview with Robert Scoble, covergae on Mashable and Guardian Money and reviews on over sixty blogs in over five different languages, Twollars has attracted attention around the world. Many people have been both intrigued and excited by the concept. In particular, Twollars has a large following in France. They have been integral to spreading the Twollars message.
"We are excited because the level of commitment and great feedback we've received has been encouraging", said Eiso Kant, Twollars founder. "This enthusiasm has motivated us to drive Twollars forward from a simple Twitter project to a company that can really make a difference".
Twollar's goal is to capture and pass on positive social 'energy' on Twitter to support and raise funds for good causes. It's a simple idea. Twitter users accumulate Twollars and donate them to a charity. The charity now owns the Twollars. Individuals and businesses then purchase the Twollars with hard currencies (such as Dollars, Euros and Pounds) on Twollars. com and 100% of the funds flow directly to the charities bank account.
So far over 1,500 USD has already been raised for Charity Water, and this activity will grow as more charities actively mount Twollar fund raising campaigns on Twitter.
To cater for this need, the new Twollars website has been designed to service hundreds of charities and many thousands of users, giving, receiving and buying Twollars. It allows charities to register and set up a customized page on Twollars. com to raise their profile and record Twollars and money raised. Individuals and businesses can buy Twollars directly from the charities using credit cards or PayPal.
To encourage multi-national use, the new Twollars site will have support for French, Spanish German and other languages in the next few months. Twollars also now boasts an API and a Wordpress Plugin. These are designed to service businesses, blogs and other websites who want to record Twollars transactions or give them to clients, website visitors or customers.
For example, businesses who buy Twollars from charities on Twollars. com will be able to use them to reward their customers. According to Mac Taylor, one way to recognise a business's 'generosity quotient' will be by the number of Twollars that they give away. As evidence from user engagement with other ethical brands suggests, customers will choose to engage with businesses that give away Twollars. "We expect the Twollars label to be adopted like a 'Fair Trade' brand and other ethical cause brands" said Mac.
About the Founders
Eiso Kant and Mac Taylor met on Twitter and after several long Skype calls conceived the Twollars idea. Their goal was to build a service that leveraged the potential of the Twitter platform by harnessing the extraordinary social interaction that Twitter enables. The Twollars idea is rooted in a vision that the appreciation of others and generosity of spirit is a central to a healthy and vibrant world. Twollars attempts to represent that ideal, and its main purpose to capture and pass on positive energy to help those in need. Mac and Eiso believe strongly in these values and hope to play a part in building a community of like-minded people who support the Twollars vision.
Eiso Kant - profile
Eiso is an Internet entrepreneur who has started and ran online businesses since the age of 14. He is committed to developing projects that are innovative, interesting and focused on helping others. Eiso is based out of the south of Spain.
Mac Taylor - Profile
Mac has a background in philosophy and teaching, with an MA from the University of Cambridge. He is interested in Integral ideas and the evolution of social networks. As well as supporting Eiso on Twollars, he runs a Telecom consultancy focusing on mobile applications and services. Mac is based out of the UK.
Useful Links:
Guardian Money Blog
Http://www. guardian. co. uk/money/blog/2009/may/27/twollars-twitter-currency-charity (http://www. guardian. co. uk/money/blog/2009/may/27/twollars-twitter-currency-charity):
Scoble: - Video Link
Http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=mYBORr8nl3Y (http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=mYBORr8nl3Y)
Mashable Article
Http://mashable. com/2009/05/26/twollars/ (http://mashable. com/2009/05/26/twollars/)
Business Week: http://www. businessweek. com/technology/content/may2009/tc2009055_070595_page_2.htm (http://www. businessweek. com/technology/content/may2009/tc2009055_070595_page_2.htm)
Website: Twollars. com
Eiso Kant: eiso (at) twollars (dot) com
Mac Taylor: mac(at)twollars(dot)com
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