IDEABLOB FAQS

Ideablob.com® Frequently Asked Questions

Curious minds want to know. Here are the answers to your burning blob questions.

What is ideablob.com?

Ideablob.com is a community of small business owners and entrepreneurs who bounce ideas off each other. They give feedback, advice and much-needed encouragement. Every month, the community votes on the best idea. The winner gets $10,000 to help their idea grow. Have an idea brewing? Go ahead, blob away.

How do you submit an idea to IdeaBlob?

Submitting your idea is easy. All you need to do is register and activate your account. Once you join the blob, you're free to submit ideas, and vote and comment on other ideas.

How is the winner decided?

Once a month, one idea will move ahead of the pack based on the number of votes it receives. The top idea will win a whopping $10,000 to help it grow. Certain eligibility and other contest rules apply. See the Official Contest Rules for details.

Why would people submit ideas?

They're proud to share their brainchild with the world.
They're looking for input, advice and feedback on their ideas.
They'd like to meet a genius-of-a-mentor or two.
And maybe the best reason, they want a shot at winning $10,000.

Who can participate?

Anyone 18 and over with a business idea or anyone wanting to share their infinite wisdom can participate. People like small business owners, entrepreneurs, students, and stay-at-home moms and dads. Oh, and bartenders, plumbers and nannies, too. Your profession doesn't matter - just your idea. Certain eligibility and other rules apply to the contest. Check the Official Contest Rules for details.

Who are the judges?

The community is the judge. Anyone who is registered on ideablob.com is eligible to vote for the winning idea.

Can a person or business submit more than one idea?

You bet - there's no limit on the number of ideas you can submit. But there may be a limit on how many you can think up.

Why is Advanta launching ideablob.com?

Advanta currently has over 1.3 million small business customers and thousands more small business owners and entrepreneurs applying for credit every day to help fuel their dreams. Supporting and providing service to small businesses is part of our mission, and ideablob.com is dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs communicate with each other, exchange ideas and grow their businesses.

How will the monthly winner be notified?

The blob will contact you by email, phone and mail. The $10,000 prize will be paid by check (one of those really big ones). Winners will be required to clear a background check and sign and return an affidavit and release.

Is ideablob.com open to Advanta employees?

While employees, consultants and their close family and household members can submit ideas and receive valuable feedback, they are not eligible for the monthly prize. Sorry, Barry from Accounting.

What does the graph on my idea page represent?

The graph on your idea page is your stock chart. Like the stock market, it goes up and down every day as your idea gains or loses popularity (kinda like high school). Your idea can gain popularity over the duration of a sprint or get cooler and cooler over time.

If I have more than one idea, does it mean that I have more than one stock chart? Or do I just have one stock chart?

Each idea has its own stock chart. The more ideas you have, the higher the chance that one of them will make it to the finals. So keep those creative juices flowing.

What does the percentage ranking on my idea page mean?

The percentage shows the ranking of your idea (i.e. how your idea is doing compared to the other ideas in a given sprint or overall popularity). The ranking is calculated at the end of each day (12:00am CST). So check it out while you're raiding the fridge for your midnight snack.

What is a "sprint"?

Put your sweatbands away, it's not that kind of sprint. Each month is one cycle. Each cycle is divided into four periods: the first 3 periods are called sprints, which are followed by the Monthly Showdown. Check the dates to see which sprint your ideas are running in. Fast little devils.

What is the difference between 'Current Sprint Leaders' and 'Most Overall Votes'?

Ok, ok, so to be fair to all ideas, we decided to give equal opportunity to new ideas, while maintaining the wisdom of old ideas. The Sprint Leaders are simply ideas that have GAINED the highest number of votes in that particular sprint. The Most Overall Votes are ideas that have gained steady votes over time. Your idea could have been submitted several months ago, but if it has become the most-voted for idea, you're in. Hey, a good idea is a good idea, regardless of age.

When does the Final Monthly Showdown begin and how is the winner decided?

Enter tumbleweed and suspenseful music. The Monthly Showdown begins at the end of three sprints. The two ideas with the most overall votes and the six ideas that have gained the most votes during each sprint compete for the final $10,000 award. To level the playing field, each of the eight finalists begin the monthly showdown with zero votes.

What happens to my idea if I don't win?

After the Monthly Showdown, all eight finalists' ideas get inducted into the ideablob Hall of Fame, where they are eligible to be admired - but not for new votes. (Few will ever experience such an honor.) But, you can re-submit and start fresh or submit a new idea! Votes remain intact for your ideas that do not make it to a Monthly Showdown, and you are still in the running to earn $10,000.

How many times can I vote for an idea?

You can only vote once for an idea - unless the idea makes it to the Monthly Showdown, where you can vote for it again. At that point it will be obvious you have developed some feelings for it.

What prevents someone from stealing my idea?

Well, nothing really. We like to think that most of our blobbers are trustworthy. After all, they're putting their own ideas out there too. And, of course, if you don't share your idea, you won't receive advice on how to grow your idea, not to mention you can't win the money. But since we can't control what someone else may do with your idea, if your idea is proprietary or you have a patent pending, you should not post it without getting legal advice first. For further questions or concerns, refer to Submitter and Voter Terms & Conditions.