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Wetpaint Wetpaint is changing the way people share and collaborate about passions and interests online through its consumer-friendly Wiki platform. For the first time, anyone who knows how to use Microsoft Word can use Wetpaint to click and type online.Ben Elowitz is a passionate entrepreneur and is currently the CEO of Wetpaint. Prior to founding Wetpaint, Elowitz directed the product management and marketing at Precor USA, was a co-founder and vice president at Blue Nile, Inc, and held management roles at Fatbrain as well as Bain and Company.

Do you see Wikis as the Web’s next natural evolutionary step or do you think that people will need some convincing before they really take off?

Prior to Wetpaint, it was difficult for people to go online and easily share their own personal knowledge or experience with others. At the time, existing Wiki solutions required a high level of technical knowledge that we believe prevented a majority of people from participating.

With the launch of Wetpaint in June 2006, users finally had a solution that was much easier, more intuitive, not to mention empowering to use. Since Wetpaint’s focus is on making the technology incredibly accessible to the average user, we’ve helped expand the number of people who can participate in online content creation beyond those with specialized skills. Now, a broader audience is beginning to recognize the value of Wikis, which make it easy to find and continually evolve rich, authoritative information organized around topics of interest and passion. The strength of the Wiki paradigm is that the quality or accuracy of the information is collaboratively regulated by a community of people who have relevant knowledge or experience – the more people participate, the closer to the “truth” or accuracy of the subject at hand you get. When everyone has the chance to focus their light on the discussion, it begins to shine like a thousand-watt bulb.

What’s the biggest challenge that Wetpaint is currently facing?

The most significant challenge Wetpaint faces in 2007 is raising awareness of the Wiki category. According to a Wetpaint-sponsored Harris Interactive poll, only 17% of the online population is familiar with the term “Wiki” (compared to 40% for the term “blog”).

You have had great success with your past ventures. What personal values play the biggest role in your serial success?

The world is a very large place, and the number of ways in which we can make a positive impact are countless. I believe that with positive energy, tenacity, and drive I’m able to focus on the opportunities and push forward to make a difference—not just in creating a business success but in ways that are helpful in people’s everyday lives.

Bonus: What’s your favorite Wetpaint-powered site?

My favorite Wetpaint site is wikifido, which is a site about dogs for dog lovers. I have a page for my dog Jackson there.

Copyright © 2007 by Sonia Aggarwal