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Key people at MindSumo.
MindSumo was founded in 2013 by Rohan Puranik (Co-founder & CTO).
MindSumo operates an online crowdsourcing platform, connecting companies with a global community of problem-solvers for innovative solutions and insights. The platform engages a diverse network of students and young professionals, primarily from Millennial and Gen Z demographics, to tackle real-world business challenges, serving as a conduit for fresh perspectives. It provides a structured environment for organizations seeking novel approaches across various sectors.
Founded in 2011 by Keaton Swett, Trent Hazy, and Rohan Puranik, MindSumo emerged from the founders' insight into the untapped potential of younger generations to contribute valuable ideas. They recognized a disconnect between companies needing innovation and a vast pool of creative individuals eager to apply their skills, driving the creation of this structured platform. The founders' background informed the platform's focus on talent engagement.
The platform caters to numerous Fortune 500 companies, which leverage its community for market research and strategic insights. MindSumo provides its community members with opportunities to gain experience and earn rewards. The company envisions a future where open innovation and cross-generational collaboration fuel corporate progress and empower global talent development, shaping a more dynamic problem-solving landscape.
Key people at MindSumo.
MindSumo is a crowdsourcing platform that connects companies with a global community of over 1 million Millennial and Gen Z "problem solvers," primarily students from more than 3,000 universities across six continents, to generate innovation, insights, and creative solutions through online challenges.[1][2][4] It serves nearly 100 Fortune 500 companies and others in sectors like automotive, retail, technology, healthcare, and hospitality—such as Adobe, GlaxoSmithKline, Marriott, and Palantir—helping them ideate, understand consumer needs, and drive growth via co-creation projects.[1][3][5] Acquired by MBO Partners in 2020, it now operates as MBO's crowdsourcing and innovation division, having run over 2,500 projects since 2012; problem solvers earn financial rewards, build skills in problem-solving and creativity, and gain resume-worthy experience, while keeping the platform free for users.[1][2][4]
The platform solves the challenge of accessing fresh, diverse ideas from young demographics quickly and cost-effectively, bridging the gap between corporate innovation needs and untapped student talent.[3][4] With reported revenue around $5.4 million and 51-200 employees (pre-acquisition estimates vary), MindSumo demonstrates steady growth through partnerships and community expansion.[1][3]
Founded in November 2011 and launched in February 2012, MindSumo emerged from the Stanford Student Startup Accelerator, StartX, where three friends sought to revolutionize collaboration between creative thinkers—especially Millennials and Gen Z—and companies.[2][5] The idea stemmed from recognizing the underutilized problem-solving potential of students and young professionals, enabling them to tackle real-world corporate challenges for rewards, skills, and opportunities.[2][4]
Early traction built rapidly, growing to a community of over 350,000 problem solvers by mid-decade and expanding to 1 million users globally.[2][4] Key milestones include running thousands of challenges with top firms and the 2020 acquisition by MBO Partners, which integrated it as their innovation arm without disrupting its core mission.[1]
MindSumo rides the crowdsourcing and open innovation wave, accelerated by digital platforms democratizing idea generation amid remote work and Gen Z's rise as a consumer force.[1][3] Its timing aligns with corporate shifts post-2020 toward agile innovation, leveraging a post-pandemic emphasis on diverse, youth-driven insights to counter internal silos and aging workforces.[2]
Market forces like AI's limitations in creative ideation favor human crowdsourcing for breakthrough thinking, while economic pressures push companies to tap low-cost global talent pools.[3] It influences the ecosystem by upskilling entry-level talent—addressing hiring gaps in problem-solving—and enabling firms like Marriott and GSK to prototype ideas rapidly, fostering a feedback loop between education, startups, and enterprises.[5] As part of MBO, it amplifies independent worker platforms, contributing to the gig economy's evolution in innovation services.[1]
MindSumo is poised to expand as Gen Z enters the workforce en masse, potentially scaling challenges with AI-hybrid tools for idea curation while deepening MBO synergies for enterprise clients.[1][2] Trends like sustainability (e.g., its food waste and ocean cleanup challenges) and DEI will shape its growth, with opportunities in emerging markets and Web3 rewards to boost engagement.[4][6]
Its influence may evolve toward hybrid models blending crowds with professional networks, solidifying its role in bridging youth creativity to corporate strategy—ultimately powering more inclusive innovation at scale, much like its StartX roots disrupted traditional collaboration.[2][5]
MindSumo was founded in 2013 by Rohan Puranik (Co-founder & CTO).
