Kwestr

Kwestr operates as an online social gaming platform that integrates real-life activities with gamification elements. Launched in November 2011, the company was founded by Frank Yu. Kwestr's platform is designed to allow users to structure and gamify their real-world experiences, encouraging engagement with friends within a social framework.

The core of the business revolves around users signing up for or creating their own "kwests," which are essentially checklists with milestones. The platform is accessible via Facebook and Sina Weibo, enabling users to log in, track their progress, and share achievements. This integration facilitates a social validation process, where friends can confirm the completion of milestones, which also serves as a mechanism for user acquisition. Upon completing these milestones and entire kwests, users earn points and badges, fostering a sense of accomplishment and friendly competition. Users can follow their friends' activities, and a verification score is maintained for each user based on how many times their achievements have been validated by others.

The business targets individuals seeking self-improvement or a more engaging way to complete mundane tasks. For instance, kwests have been created for goals like enhancing sports abilities or ensuring all steps are followed correctly when setting up a server. The model leverages social networks for its user base and verification system. The platform was launched as an open Beta, indicating a strategy of refining the product based on user feedback and interaction. While a mobile application was part of the future development plan, the initial launch was web-based.

Keywords: gamification, social gaming, real-life challenges, goal setting, achievement tracking, social validation, milestone tracking, user-generated quests, Facebook integration, Sina Weibo integration, self-improvement tool, productivity game, online community, badge rewards, social competition, Frank Yu