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FLOCKD, NEW Low-Tech Tabletop Pyramid Powering Face-to-Face Connections & Productivity for Innovation, Launches Beta

The Catalyst Unveils Larger Flockd Pyramids for Groups at The Global Coworking Unconference Conference and Announces "Flockd-enabled" Location Functionality

FLOCKD, NEW Low-Tech Tabletop Pyramid Powering Face-to-Face Connections & Productivity for Innovation, Launches Beta

The Catalyst Unveils Larger Flockd Pyramids for Groups at The Global Coworking Unconference Conference and Announces "Flockd-enabled" Location Functionality

Published 03-04-13

Submitted by Flockd

Flockd, a workplace tool signaling productivity and connectivity

 FLOCKD, a NEW low-tech tabletop pyramid, powering connectivity and productivity for innovation, is launching its beta during the Global Coworking Unconference Conference. Emerging from its pilot in partnership with New Work City, Purpose, La Colombe, iSTARTUP Community Centers and Green Spaces, among others, the company is launching larger sizes and announcing more than 50 locations that are now “Flockd-enabled”.

How to "Flock"
Users put Flockd upright on a table, writing their name, organization and topics on its dry-erase sides, indicating they are open to connection. When people are busy, they turn Flockd on its “X” side to set clear, healthy boundaries. The effect is a real-world gchat, live tweet or spontaneous Meetup.

“Flockd drives face-to-face connections and productivity, which are key to driving innovation, particularly in shared workspaces. Flockd solves the pain point of setting clear, healthy boundaries when we’re busy. Flockd also has the ability to open conversation zones, aiming to fuel collaboration, which is often what sparks new innovative ideas,” says Marissa Feinberg, Flockd CEO, and cofounder of Green Spaces.

Why Flock
“In open workspaces like mine, it can be hard to tell when it's okay to talk to someone,” comments Tony Bacigalupo, Mayor of leading coworking community New Work City. “Flockd will make it far easier for my members to feel comfortable being social while also being able to stay focused and be more productive. As workspaces continue to evolve away from cubicles and toward open environments, the need for something like Flockd is only going to grow.”

“After testing our pilot pyramid we are excited to release new, larger sizes. Flockd will be a more visible, stronger signal of when we’re free, when we’re busy and what we want to ‘flock’ about.”  The much larger 33cm size is perfect for groups.  For event producers the larger Flockd pyramid is a perfect visual cue for people to connect between speakers at conferences, seminars and other events.  Placed on tables in the break/coffee area or utilized in open space type events, topics can be written on the Flockd pyramid catalysing conversations. 

“One of the key reasons to attend a conference is to meet other professionals,” says Janice Caillet, Flockd co-founder, “the Flockd pyramid decreases the potential for awkward social interaction or worse no interaction and increases the likelihood of meeting others critical to professional success.” 

Turnstone is inspired by the spirit of small businesses and proudly supports those companies on the forefront of how people work,” says Jeff Joerling, Brand Activist at Turnstone and workspace expert. “Tools like Flockd are what can enhance a community and help make it function great. Therefore, Turnstone has committed to buying Flockd for our coworking space customers and to supporting this project.”

"Flockd helps overcome social hierarchies that can hinder real-world social networks,” says James Slezak, Partner at Purpose, a widely renowned organization that creates 21st-century movements. “Flockd is a beacon that can draw people together; a real asset for in-person movement building.”

Flockd is currently being used for:

  1. Connecting & Collaborating
  2. Creating Open-Conversation Zones
  3. Building an In-Person Following
  4. Being Productive & Staying in Flow
  5. Sharing Knowledge & Ideas
  6. Signaling Needs, Resources & Topics
  7. Branding & Promotion

People are attracted to places and businesses which make it easier for people to connect.  Businesses which utilize Flockd will be noted on the Flockd website as being ‘Flockd Enabled’.  “I hope all coffee shops will become Flockd enabled,” says Nicolas O’Connell, Partner at La Colombe. “At our first ones in Philadelphia, people would come to me for introductions to each other. People got married! With Flockd, people can connect on their own without the need for a 24/7 facilitator.”

"Anything that encourages face-to-face interaction improves our lives,” says Helen Kramer, co-founder of Personal Change System and Author of Liberating the Adult Within. “We have empathy centers and when we use social media, we see when people 'like' what we post, but we don't see when we hurt someone. Therefore, the empathy centers can atrophy like a muscle that's not being used. In an increasingly technology-driven world, Flockd can help future generations be more empathic.”  This month Flockd is starting to reach out to Universities to encourage the use of Flockd in their shared spaces such as in their student unions and cafeterias.

The timing of the beta launch coincides with the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC), March 5th and 6th at Austin Music Hall, where coworking space leaders gather annually to share best practices, highlighting a movement built around workplace community, connections and collaboration.  For a press pass to GCUC, contact anthony@grindspaces.com. Visit austingcuc.com/2013/schedule/ to see the conference and unconference schedule. The media are invited to visit Flockd at the Turnstone lounge at GCUC.

“Let’s flock!” says Janice Caillet, Flockd cofounder. “Invite connections, connect dots, and take action for a better, more connected and productive world.”

FLOCKD, INC.  
Flockd is a NEW low-tech product, powering connectivity & productivity for a better future. We live in networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and many more. People can easily connect online. What about offline? People can use Flockd as an invitation for building relationships, collaborating, building an in-person following, being productive, creating open-conversation zones, and signaling needs, resources & topics. Flockd invites people to sign its manifesto, and invite connections, connect dots, and take action for a better, more connected and productive world.

GLOBAL COWORKING UNCONFERENCE CONFERENCE
For the second year running, Texas will host the biggest coworking conference in the world. The Global Coworking Unconference Conference takes place at the Austin Music Hall on March 5 & 6. The GCUC, or “Juicy” as its commonly known, is the most important event of its kind and a bright spot on the calendar of coworking enthusiasts everywhere. GCUC aims to bring together the best and brightest minds in the coworking movement, to share ideas and inspiration and develop new strategies for the future. Attendance is open to anyone with an interest in coworking. The two-day event is split between an organized conference on the first day and an open-format unconference on the second.

NEW WORK CITY
New Work City is the result of the collective effort of a community of people who share a common set of values and needs. We are proudly built and based in New York City, the greatest city in the world. To learn more about the amazing people who make New Work City possible, visit our about and thanks pages. We are a part of the global coworking movement, and if anyone says it's spelled co-working, correct them!

PURPOSE
Purpose creates 21st century movements. We deploy the collective power of millions of citizens and consumers to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems. We develop and launch our own social and consumer movements using our model of movement entrepreneurship, and we work with organizations and progressive companies to help them mobilize large-scale, purposeful action.

LA COLOMBE TORREFACTION
For nearly two decades, La Colombe has been a leading proponent of ethical long-term trade with coffee growers as well as a key supporter of certification organizations such as Fair Trade Alliance, Rainforest Alliance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and others. Most important, however, is our direct influence on the well being of our coffee growing communities - from water resource development and borehole drilling to building and maintaining schools which support hundreds of orphaned children with housing, health care and education. We recognize that as coffee roasters we occupy a unique place in the world, a spot on the narrow bridge between the developing world and some of the most affluent consumers on the planet. To us, this role is more than a responsibility, more than a popular philanthropic logo but a rare privilege seldom afforded. At La Colombe, we intend to make the most out of this opportunity.

ISTARTUP
iSTARTUP is a catalytic collaboration of partnerships, services and solutions to create greater resilience and revitalization on multiple levels: Community, Neighborhood, Organizational, Team, Family and Individual levels. Taking a system-thinking and solutions-driven approach to any change initiative, the iSTARTUP team is comprised of not only consultants and advisors but also of entrepreneurs and innovators. In essence, iSTARTUP assists in making systems more fluid, conversations more productive and end-results more powerful. 

GREEN SPACES
Green Spaces provides the infrastructure for triple bottom line companies to work and grow. With locations in New York and Colorado, its coworking shared offices are hubs for sustainable business leaders gathering social entrepreneurs, startups and freelancers alike. Green Spaces builds strong community, offers special events for networking, serves as connectors, and has been home to more than 500 game-changing startups and organizations. Currently Green Spaces is home to more than 150 companies in NYC and Colorado.  GreenSpaces also started the Green Leaders Global network, fostering dialogue and uniting more than 1,000 executives in social entrepreneurship.

MARISSA FEINBERG, FLOCKD CEO, COFOUNDER
As an inherent connector, Marissa enjoys sharing stories and championing people and ideas that make us think, laugh, do good, and take action to pursue our dreams. And since it’s the work of changemakers that have the most touching stories and make the greatest difference, Marissa co-founded Green Spaces New York, the go-to coworking space for social entrepreneurs to work, innovate, and host meaningful events that drive dialog and action. To follow her love of connection culture, Marissa is launching Flockd, inspired by coworking spaces and social movements with the dream to create a more open society.

In addition, Marissa blogs for Forbes and serves on the boards of Green Map, NYU Stern’s Annual Conference of Social Entrepreneurs, and the Zoological Lighting Institute. Marissa also speaks about PR for Early Stage Startups for Investor’s Circle Conference, NYC’s and Kaufman’s FastTrac program, and for Parsons The NEW School for Design. Prior, she worked in CSR for the General Electric Foundation and social design for Felissimo Universal Corporation of America.

JANICE CAILLET, FLOCKD CHIEF CATALYST, COFOUNDER
Janice Caillet is an innovator and agent for conscious change with a passion for revitalization and resilience on multiple societal levels. Her life's purpose is in being a bridge between people, ideas and opportunities and she finds herself very fortunate to have lived 'on purpose' for the majority of her life.

Janice was named one of the Top 10 Women in New Media in New York in 1996 and has not stopped since. Janice cofounded six successful organizations:

  • Total New York (sold to Digital City; sold Digital City to AOL – remained at AOL for two additional years)
  • Coaching Circles, a professional referral service for clients and professional coaches
  • Send Word Now, a global emergency response system
  • SPARC Teams, a social enterprise in the UK for the under and unemployed
  • iSTARTUP, revitalization and resilience services across multiple societal levels
  • and..FLOCKD, Inc., a social connectivity and productivity tool for a better future, today

Janice has also led, developed and coached leaders and teams in a variety of sectors from technology and telecommunications to gourmet frozen food and social enterprise. She is an international public speaker in areas of revitalization, resilience, career empowerment, innovation, entrepreneurship, teams and leadership. Janice recently moved to the Boston area after living more than seven years in Europe. She lives with her husband, Alexander Caillet, and their daughters.

Flockd

Flockd

Flockd is a NEW real-world app, powering connectivity & productivity for a better future. We live in networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and many more. People can easily connect online. What about offline? People can use flockd as an invitation for building relationships, collaborating, building an in-person following, being productive, creating open-conversation zones, and signaling Needs, resources & topics. Flockd invites people to sign its manifesto, and invite connections, connect dots, and take action for a better, more connected and productive world.

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