November 17 , 2009

Connect onlinei n real time with Sprouter
New site bring entrepreneurs together

There is now an easy, effective way for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect in real-time online. Launched last Monday, Sprouter is an online community that allows small business owners and entrepreneurs to share links, ask questions, and share expertise with their peers.

“It’s a place where you can ask questions and get answers instantly,” says Sprouter CEO Sarah Prevette. “The goal is to provide active, relevant content for our users.”

Sprouter asks entrepreneurs the question “What are you working on?” Answering this question encourages other members of the Sprouter community to offer tips, support, resources or other relevant members to connect with, all in 140 characters or less. Any member of the site can reply or give a reaction to a comment, or direct message for private information.

“The power of social networking by individuals has been made more than evident, and Sprouter is striving to create that same sense of community and sharing for entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Prevette, Sprouter’s founder and CEO. “Entrepreneurs face struggles on a daily basis – from how to get funding to the best business tools to use. Sprouter can provide the forum for real-time networking and collaboration so everyone can benefit from mistakes and successes.”

Sprouter members can create a topic around a concept, company, association, or event. This allows conversations around a specific topic to be streamlined, and facilitates discussion around events or subjects in real-time. Members of the Sprouter community can also use the search function to find entrepreneurs in their area or industry, or find others who are discussing a topic of interest (like “funding”).

Typical social networks allow you to connect with people you already know – whether your friends, family, or former coworkers. The idea behind Sprouter is that it’s the people you haven’t connected with yet but who share common goals and interests who can be the most valuable resources. By visiting www.sprouter.com entrepreneurs can join the community, create a profile, and start connecting with other entrepreneurs globally – the community currently has members from all over the world, including India, Australia, Europe, and North America.

“Entrepreneurs can harness Sprouter to expand their pre-existing networks,” Prevette says. “When you’re an entrepreneur you don’t want to go to your family or friends for help – you want to talk to your peers who are experiencing the same things you are, and who can help you.”

So far the response to Sprouter has been positive, with new members signing up every minute worldwide. Prevette says her company hasn’t turned on any of their revenue options yet but there are things in the works for coming months.

In the new year watch for the free Sprouter app for iPhones to be available.