Nextdoor launches the first private social network for neighborhoods
Successful Pilot Program Proves Value of Bringing Back a Sense of Community to the Neighborhood
San Francisco, California, October 26, 2011 – Nextdoor (www.nextdoor.com), the first private social network for neighborhoods, announced today the nationwide availability of its free online platform specifically designed to foster neighbor-to-neighbor communication. Starting now, neighborhoods across the country can take advantage of this new type of social networking service to build happier, safer places to call home.
On Nextdoor, neighbors create private websites for their neighborhoods where they can ask questions, get to know one another and exchange local advice and recommendations. Topics of discussion are as varied as local events, school activities, plumber and babysitter recommendations, recent crime activity, upcoming garage sales or even lost pets. Unlike an email listserv or other online group, neighbor posts are organized and archived for future reference.
“We ‘friend’ more people than ever and ‘follow’ strangers we’ve never met, yet we don’t have a good way to communicate with the people who live right next door,” said Nirav Tolia, CEO and Co-founder of Nextdoor. “There are many ways our neighbors can help us, but these days people don’t know their neighbors, or how to contact them. Nextdoor was created to change that.”
Nextdoor was specifically designed to make neighbors feel comfortable sharing information with one another. All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood. Information shared on Nextdoor is password-protected and cannot be accessed by those outside the neighborhood or found on Google or other search engines. And Nextdoor never shares personal information with any third parties.
“Nextdoor is different from other social networking sites because it was built from the ground up to help neighbors come together in a trusted environment,” said Bill Gurley, General Partner of Benchmark Capital and board member of Nextdoor. “We have been blown away by the positive response to Nextdoor and believe it is a natural evolution of social networking that will demonstrate the value of building community to neighborhoods everywhere.”
Nextdoor recently completed a successful pilot program where neighbors in over 200 neighborhoods across 26 states established Nextdoor websites with the goal of creating more connected and safer places to call home. The pilot program clearly proved how neighbors can use Nextdoor to bring back a sense of community to their neighborhood.
Anne Clauss, Nextdoor neighbor in Hamilton, New York
“Our neighborhood dynamics have improved significantly since we launched Nextdoor – the collaboration between neighbors has showered an unprecedented feeling of community upon us. Nextdoor takes the best of social media, adds a spoonful of intimacy, and envelopes it in a blanket of privacy and comfort.”
Brent Bamberger, Nextdoor neighbor in Orinda, California
“Since Nextdoor, we finally feel like a neighborhood. Our communication has become more frequent, open and helpful. We’ve seen lost pets get returned in minutes; unwanted ping pong tables finding new homes in a matter of posts; and a heightened sense of security throughout the neighborhood when a recent crime wave hit.”
Nicole Perkins, Nextdoor neighbor in Woodside, California
“The value of Nextdoor hit close to home when a teenager was diagnosed with meningitis. His parents used Nextdoor to alert everyone in the community to this life-threatening situation and get other kids tested immediately. The ability to broadcast the news through Nextdoor very likely saved other lives.”
Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www.nextdoor.com and enter their address. If Nextdoor is available in their area, they can immediately sign up. If a Nextdoor website has not yet been established for their area, active and engaged neighbors are invited to apply to bring Nextdoor to their neighborhood.
About Nextdoor.com, Inc.
Nextdoor (www.nextdoor.com) is a private social network for the neighborhood. Using Nextdoor’s free online platform, neighbors create private neighborhood websites where members can ask questions, get to know one another and exchange local advice and recommendations. Nextdoor is specifically designed to provide a trusted environment for neighbor-to-neighbor communication. Hundreds of neighborhoods are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home.
Based in San Francisco, California, Nextdoor was founded in 2010 by Internet veterans who have spent their careers creating thriving online communities. The company is funded by Benchmark Capital and Shasta Ventures.