I’m proud to announce that as of today, “Spot.IM” is now “OpenWeb.”
For nearly a decade, Spot.IM’s mission has been to empower publishers and the open web to host thoughtful conversations and build thriving communities at the point where content is created. In doing so, we’ve grown from a startup to the partner of some of the world’s biggest media orgs, hosting discourse across the internet and giving a voice to millions of diverse opinions.
As we’ve evolved, so has the clarity of our mission. Now, it’s time for our name to fully align with our purpose.
OpenWeb is not just a name. It is a promise. It represents our commitment to the principles of democracy, to the diversity of experiences on the web, to healthy online conversations, and to the sustainability of our partners in the media industry.
Online discourse has become troubled. We are told to accept the trolling, the toxicity, and the harassment — that these are just a natural part of our experience on the web.
This is not the web that I have known and loved since I was a child. That web helped me — struggling with the effects of Kawasaki disease, unable to hold a pencil but great on the keyboard — to connect with others and feel part of this world.
Toxicity is not inevitable. OpenWeb, alongside our partners, chooses to fight for healthier conversations online and a better future for the web.
Though our name has changed, our DNA as a “publisher-first” company remains in our core. OpenWeb will take Spot.IM’s platform to another level in support of our partners. Alongside our new brand, we’re launching the next generation of quality conversations for publishers — incentivizing the best contributions, expanding communities far beyond comments, and giving new meaning to the washed-out term “engagement.”
I’d like to thank all of our partners, supporters, and especially our incredible team for bringing us to where we are today. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s coming next.
Let’s Change the Web.
