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"Mashable\u2019s Spark of Genius series highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, see details here.  The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.\tName: groubal\nQuick Pitch: Consumer Reports meets Yelp for the purpose of creating buying alliances on behalf of the consumer.\t\tGenius Idea: Groubal is an advocacy platform that enables U.S. consumers to create online petitions and recruit others to their causes.\nFind your bank's late payment fees unfair, or upset that you weren't compensated by an airline for a three-hour flight delay? Create a post on groubal and leverage your networks on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere to build support and demand action.\nEach month, groubal picks the highest-ranked petitions and brings them to the attention of corporations and industry leaders in the hopes of creating effective group buying alliances. It's the site's willingness to champion its users' causes that sets it apart from other online petition sites. It's not just a tool for formalizing complaints; instead, it helps users carry those complaints to achieve reform and develops a site community in the process.\nWhat do you think of the platform? How do you generate support for your causes and complaints online? \t\nSponsored by Microsoft BizSpark\nBizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/06/16/groubal/>