Open Brainstorms

I have been thinking about how to attract "the next generation" of brainstormers. If a young person -- say a teen -- comes to the site what questions do they ask? Maybe they want to get involved but can't think of a brainstorm, or how to word a brainstorm. Maybe there could be a "beginners' survey" where newbies are faced with many questions that help them to pinpoint and explain problems they face.

link up with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (http://C-E-O.org) or link up with individual CEO's around at different colleges.

link up to the mophie illuminator (illuminator.mophie.com) to create ipod gear

create a brainreactions app for the personalized google home page

create rankings for users (novice, apprentice, pro etc.)

make it possible to earn money or prizes for ideas (like fellowforce.com)

link in to the huge IBM online brainstorming sessions; challenge them tthat you can come up with better ideas than they can.

create a connection to venture capital / business angel organizations

Offer a service interface or toolkit to include access from portals and websites

Offer corporations the mechanism to export the ideas, votes and related info into their Knowledge domain

sponsored contests!

Corporations could use the tool to meet electronically vs. in person to brainstorm. Saves on travel and other costs. Give a timeline when everyone's responses need to be in on a certain topic so that everyone doesn't have to be connected at the same time.

Offer incentives for current users to invite others to participate - maybe a few bucks put in an account for the user to use on ebay, itunes, amazon

Offer live demonstrations at book stores, business supply stores, libraries, and other places that "idea" people might visit or look to as a resource. I like the idea that there is no cost involved in sharing of ideas. Instead of paying a consultant, you could get the big idea or suggestion or tie it all together right here on line. There is value in that.

Promote to universities for use by study groups, in the library, or live in the classroom

Connect with organizations that already promote business and creativity such as chambers of commerce; women business networking groups

Can you integrate with other social networking sites i.e. get a widget on facebook that shows current brainstorms that people are involved in. Add functionality to share 'interesting' brainstorms and invite people to join.

Have hosted brainstorms on high profile topics -- invite famous people to participate. Have innovations experts come and host as well. Drum up some publicity by using the host PLUS interesting topics i.e. Al Gore on global warming

Build larger community by providing BR as (customized) tool to all organizations that call themselves entreprenuerial/innovation driven so they can brainstorm themselves. (Or is this already happening?)

create more success stories where regular online members have contributed to an idea that came to fruition.

Tie up with entrepreneurial and innovating organizations to enhance/aid new ideas by young idea generators. This will help grow the idea generating community of BR

Maybe if we brainstorm about news-related topical issues? News sites could link to BR for people to join constructive, creative thoughts on the issues.