Maple is a topic-based double opt-in messaging app that aims to facilitate meaningful conversations between people outside one's network. The app allows users to discover potential conversation topics from others, propose their own topics, and choose which users to message about specific topics. It also allows users to view, manage, and message other users about conversations. The founder is seeking $5,000 in funding for a 10% stake in the company to further develop the app.

1. Maple
A means to meaningful conversations

2. Prepared by:
computer science undergraduate at Southern Methodist University
Brandon McFarland

3. It’s hard to have great conversations with
People outside of your network
Problem

4. Mapleis topic-based double opt-in messaging
Solution

5. Demo
Bob’s user story

6. Discover conversation
I want to talk about the
Irving Penn exhibit
currently @ the DMA
Conversation Rating:
Topic:
✓
✗
Upon signing in to Maple
Bob sees “conversation
cards” which contain the
topic of a proposed
conversation and a peer
rating of the user proposing
that conversation.
Bob can “accept” or “pass” on
these conversation topics.

7. Propose Conversation
I want to talk about…
Submit
Along with discovering what
other users want to talk
about, Bob can choose to
propose his own
conversation topics.
The effectiveness of
grassroots lobbying
on policy change in
the USA

8. Welcome conversation
After submitting his topic
and having other users
accept it, Bob can pick and
choose who he wants to have
a conversation with.

9. Manage Conversation
Search
The Irving Penn
The Effectiveness
Playing Violin
Fiji Water
Bob can view the topics of all
of his conversations in the
conversation manager.

10. Manage conversation
Jack Smith
Jane Doe
Bob Roberts
Search
By tapping a topic Bob can
see who he’s talking to about
that topic.

11. Make conversation
<back Jack Smith ŸŸŸ
By tapping a name Bob can
message that user.

12. People don’t want to have a conversation about everything they post
A Maple conversation card is an explicit request for A conversation
What Incumbents Are Missing

13. Cheap
Competitive Landscape
Expensive
Personal
Professional
Maple

14. Business Model
Maplewill operate on a freemium model, where a fraction of
users will generate a majority of the revenue by purchasing
access to additional features

15. Seeking $5000 for a 10% stake in Maple
Fundraise