The Carrot Company

In 2010, Jaison Morgan founded The Carrot Company, a venture focused on a novel approach to problem-solving: using prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing to drive innovation. The company, formally known as The Common Pool, LLC, established itself by designing and managing online contests and open-innovation initiatives for a wide range of clients, including philanthropic institutions and public-sector entities. The core business involved creating structured competitions that would incentivize many minds to tackle tough problems, a method Morgan had studied at MIT. The company operated for 15 years, building a market-leading position in what it called "next-generation procurement." Its model was designed to ensure more open, transparent, and fair processes for finding solutions and awarding contracts. This approach attracted organizations looking for new ways to solve complex issues by tapping into a broad pool of talent and ideas. A significant chapter in the company's story came in the spring of 2025. On March 31, 2025, The Carrot Company was acquired by Advanced Technology International (ATI), a South Carolina-based nonprofit that manages research and development collaborations for the U.S. government. The entire Carrot team and its platform were transitioned into a wholly owned entity of ATI. This acquisition positioned ATI to integrate Carrot's incentive and rewards systems, expanding its capabilities to execute innovative research initiatives for its government partners.