for starters its viral.. it tracks not only how much you brought in, but how much everyone you've invited brought in, and how much everyone they've invited brought in etc.

I mean, ok, but that's not going to make or break the product.

You said that was for starters -- what else?

Also, what type of corporate entity is Browsarity? Is it actually a 501(c)(3)?

Actually true virality does tend to make or break the things that have it.

I meant this, specifically: "it tracks not only how much you brought in, but how much everyone you've invited brought in, and how much everyone they've invited brought in etc."

Obviously if their viral loop works that will make the product. I'm saying the above will have no impact on whether their product is viral or not (speaking from experience). I'd even be willing to bet on an A/B test against their viral coefficient.

I read the original comment to say, "We are different because we show you the number of dollars your whole social network brings in." That's cool. I like numbers. But that feature isn't rocket fuel.

Instead I should have taken it to mean, "We're not that different in principle, but we're focused on making charitable giving viral, like Causes for the web at large."

So mea culpa.

Wouldn't being a non-profit cause problems with investment and potential exits?

Yes, but the name of the product is "Browsarity," which is a portmanteau of browser and charity. And the positioning on the landing page is about giving, donating, etc.

So I guess my question is, is this actually a charity?

Well, ok, I should be fair. That's a rhetorical question, because I'm 99% sure the answer is "no." So I suppose my real questions are:

1. Isn't that a conflict of interest? 2. How do I know the money is going where you say it's going? 3. If you're donating this revenue to charities via the affiliate fees you pocket, are you getting the tax benefits of that? i.e., Amazon credits your affiliate account via the activity of your users. You then "donate" that to the Red Cross (or whomever), which comes with tax benefits.

I don't think you can really call that 'viral'.

It has a feature that has the potential, if people use it, to make it viral. But TBH I'm skeptical.

If you use the plugin, I think it could work. The loop is not great right now, but the two hooks are email importing and Facebook feed posting.

Obviously Causes works, although the donation step occurs at a different place in the funnel, but I don't see in principle why it couldn't.

It'd be like Beacon, but you only broadcast messages saying you donated XYZ to ABC charity via Browsarity.