Sprouter.com Profile

What is Sprouter.com? Sprouter is an online collaboration tool for entrepreneurs

Class of tool: Niche social network

From Sprouter.com: Sprouter facilitates networking and collaboration between entrepreneurs globally. Providing a platform for users to connect with other innovators, entrepreneurs can expand their networks to include fellow entrepreneurs and startups with similar interests and goals. By answering the question “What are you working on?”in 140 characters or less entrepreneurs can discover and join events in their local areas, start discussions and follow topics of relevance to their business.

If you’re currently an entrepreneur or thinking about launching your business, Sprouter is the perfect place to bounce ideas, get feedback, and meet like-minded people. Sprouter also holds monthly Sprout Up events in cities around the world to connect entrepreneurs in person, showcase local startups, and hear from relevant guest speakers.

Cost: Free

What makes it different? There are a number of differences:

1. There are less, but more targeted, users than many of the mainstream networks.
2. They facilitate offline meetings (Sprout Up events) around the world where users can actually connect in person – just imagine. Meeting feature guest speakers, and showcase local startups.
3. Sprouter focuses on business only, and specifically on challenges facing startups.

Principals:

• Sarah Prevette, Founder/CEO
• Erin Bury, Community Manager

Blog: Sprouter.com/blog

Since: Launched in private beta in August 2009, launched in public beta in November 2009.

Popularity: Alexa site ranking: 63,322 (worldwide traffic rank) with 178 sites linking in.

Who is using? Spouter doesn't release user stats, but some prominent users are WineLibraryTV founder Gary Vaynerchuck; prominent blogger and consultant Chris Brogan and HootSuite founder Ryan Holmes.

Ease of use: If you can fill out a one page form, then you're in.

Time to setup: Just a few minutes.

Time to maintain: No maintenance, as such, is required. But to get the real value, you'll have to invest some time interacting with other users.

Add-on tools: Sprouter integrates with Twitter. Users can choose to update their Sprouter account through their Twitter account by using the hashtag #Sprouter in an update, or they can chose to push all the Sprouter updates to their Twitter account.

What you need to know: Don't expect the flood of followers and direct messages that you get from other larger social networks. But what you do get is actually valuable. This is Twitter, all grownup and focused.

Bottom line: If you are starting-up, growing or running a business, then it is worth signing up. Be prepared to share – there is equal opportunity to help and be helped. Sprouter is an impressive network – your followers are actually like colleagues. Sprouter is more of a conversation than any other network I've seen.