Hack:
iCollabR8 - the future of creative production

Example:
The Novel
The Creation Coordinator proposed an innovative concept for a novel that involves 4 short-stories. Voters elected this concept over 3 others. One of the remaining concepts was an excellent contender and will be used in the next iCollabR8 “project”.

Each short-story is written from the perspective of a different character and each relates to a common event.
Thousands of voters agree that the perspective of the “onlooker” was best described by a 16 year old from New Zealand.
He subsequently posts various situations on the website as he develops his story. Suggestions are provided by members and enhanced by other members. Many of the contributions appear in the sort-story in one form or another.
Each character is authentic as they are developed by an individual from around the world that best related to them.The novel is published as an eBook and in paper back.
Much of the profits are distrubuted to the lead contributors.

The funds and the success provide one of the key contributors with the spark to continue to pursue their creative ambitions.

Potential Business Model
The primary objectives of iCollabR8:
engage people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures from around the world to create high quality work - superior to that which any individual could produce. —
provide inspiration and opportunity to people from around the world to pursue their creative ambitions. —
be financially self-sufficient —
(if successful) establish a new paradigm in creative content development

- Membership is free – however when members join they are required to agree to iCollabR8’s Code of Ethics and commercial code
- The cost of developing and maintaining the site is borne by site owner
- The site owner will support the funding for publication of initial completed creations (ie until there is sufficient working capital from product revenues)
- Successful creations will generate income (eg as songs and eBooks are downloaded)
- Income will be used to pay for publication and hosting costs 
- Much of the profits will be distributed to the Coordinating Contributors for that product
- Income distribution rules will be simple (eg generally split on an even basis amongst Coordinating Contributors).
- Rules will be outlined prior to members seeking election to the role of Coordinating Contributor

Critical Success Factors
1) Industrialised portals: industrialised web-site (eg enables secured “project areas” for managed collaboration), blog, Facebook etc that support large scale collaboration.
2) Robust Intellectual Property Management: iCollabR8 must maintain an unhindered right to use the IP provided voluntarily by members.
3) Sense of collaboration above competition if a member does not get elected to be a main contributor, they are still encouraged to contribute to the end product.
4) Large scale, global marketing campaign to generate significant interest and build momentum, SEO
5) Maintain momentum members will likely come and go, however continually pursuing new creations every 4 – 8 weeks will raise different topics of interest and allow members to easily reconnect.
6) Community above individual: collaboration by definition is about the contribution of many, not the success of one.

Possible Engagement Model (partnering with a Higher Education Provider)
- Participate in the launch of iCollabR8 as an end-end and ongoing project, involving: —
  * Viability assessment – uniqueness and attractiveness of the concept —
  * Strategy – for all stages: launch, momentum, expansion (as well as potential exit) —
  * Partner Engagement – legal (manage IP strategy), web/SEO, production  —
  * Content management – contributing new project proposals, assessing and selecting members to take collaboration coordination roles within a project, overseeing production —
  * Marketing – promotion pre and post launch, via traditional and social media ¢Integrate the iCollabR8 platform as a tool within curriculum esp. creative arts, social media courses