SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12, 2011 - CloudFactory, a "third world startup" based in Kathmandu, Nepal launched an innovative Cloud Labor platform at TechCrunch Disrupt today on its way to creating work opportunities for people in developing nations. Businesses can use this platform to design virtual assembly lines for all types of digital work such as inputting data from handwritten forms, extracting data from images, flagging bad content and categorizing things. The assembly lines are then instantly staffed by 500,000 cloud workers from around the world.
"Similar to how Kiva connects people through micro-loans, CloudFactory is connecting people through micro-work," said Mark Sears, CEO of CloudFactory. "We see this market-based approach to poverty alleviation being a key to unlocking the massive human potential in developing countries."
CloudFactory is an example of innovation by the developing world, for the developing world with the platform itself built in Nepal by bright young engineers wanting to help create life-changing work for people in countries like their own. Cloud Labor is an exploding industry that will demand a lot more workers in the years to come and CloudFactory is committed to raising up a handpicked workforce across developing nations through on-the-ground training, testing and equipping of cloud workers.
Early adopters like tech startups are finding unlimited uses for their own CloudFactory assembly lines whether it be at the core of their application or support for internal sales or operations. Since an average developer can build and integrate an assembly line in as little as an hour, innovating is easy without the usual hurdles and costs associated with other outsourcing options.
About CloudFactory
CloudFactory (www.cloudfactory.com), a social enterprise with a staff of 40 passionate people across offices in Nepal and Hong Kong, is creating work for people in developing nations by offering its Cloud Labor API to businesses needing access to an on-demand, scalable workforce. Initially targeted at startups and developers, the pay-as-you-go platform offers a motivated workforce, self-moderation and advanced workflows appropriately called assembly lines. Like in a real factory, every assembly line is a series of task stations where humans and robots team up to get digital work done.
About TechCrunch Disrupt
TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2011(http://disrupt.techcrunch.com) is TechCrunch's second annual conference in San Francisco attracting over 2,500 leading technology innovators and investors and over 150 new startups. The main conference is preceded by the popular Hackathon -- a 24-hour competition where over 500 top developers present new innovations. TechCrunch Disrupt follows with a format that combines top thought-leader discussions with new product and company launches. Morning executive discussions debate the most timely disruptions in the technology industry. Afternoons host the Startup Battlefield where 30 plus new companies will launch for the first time on stage, selected to present from more than 1000 applications received from around the world. Another 100 early-stage startups will exhibit in Startup Alley. TechCrunch will award a US$50,000 grand prize along with other award recognitions at the conclusion of the conference. The Hackathon is Sept 10-11; the main conference is Sept 12-14 2011 at San Francisco Design Center Concourse, 635 8th Street (at Brannan), San Francisco, CA 94107.
About TechCrunch
TechCrunch (www.techcrunch.com) is a leading technology media network dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies. Founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, TechCrunch and its network of websites reach over 13 million unique visitors and more than 30 million page views per month. TechCrunch was acquired by AOL in 2011 and operates a global network of websites including dedicated properties in Europe and Japan, as well as specialized industry websites including MobileCrunch, CrunchGear, GreenTech, TechCrunchIT, and CrunchBase. TechCrunch's CrunchBase is the leading open database about startup companies, people, and investors. In addition to TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch hosts other conferences and events, including the Crunchies Awards (http://crunchies2010.techcrunch.com) and various meet-ups worldwide, serving as community platforms for industry conversation and collaboration.
