In 2023, Apple’s annual innovation event reported that over 60% of breakthrough ideas that led to product features came from employees who weren’t part of the traditional research and development teams.
It clearly shows that innovation isn’t confined to a single department—it comes from anyone within an organization.
But how do companies capture and nurture these ideas to bring them to fruition?
The solution lies in an idea sharing platform.
These platforms are designed to facilitate the collection, evaluation, and development of ideas, allowing businesses to capitalize on the collective brainpower of their employees.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best free idea sharing platforms available today, and how they can transform raw ideas into tangible innovations.
#1 InspireIP: The All-in-One Idea and Innovation Management Platform
As the brainchild of renowned inventor Sam Zellner, InspireIP goes far beyond simple idea sharing.
It’s a comprehensive platform that blends idea management, innovation development, and intellectual property (IP) protection.
From the moment an idea is conceived, InspireIP offers tools to capture, refine, and protect it, making it the go-to platform for businesses serious about innovation.
Unique Features of InspireIP
- Inventor Assistant (AI-Powered Brainstorming): InspireIP features an AI-powered Inventor Assistant that helps teams brainstorm new ideas based on existing data and trends. Whether you’re looking to expand on an existing concept or generate new ideas, the Inventor Assistant provides suggestions, insights, and even guides individuals as well as teams through structured brainstorming sessions.
- PQAI (Prior Art Search): One of the standout features of InspireIP is PQAI, a powerful prior art search tool that allows users to verify the originality of their ideas. This AI-driven tool scans patent databases, ensuring that your idea is unique and not already patented, thus saving time and legal costs.
- Comprehensive Idea Capture: InspireIP integrates with popular communication tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat, making idea capture seamless. Users can submit ideas directly through these channels, ensuring no valuable insights are lost in the day-to-day communication shuffle.
- Status Tracking: InspireIP tracks the progress of each idea from conception to completion. With customizable status updates, stakeholders always know where an idea stands in the pipeline, whether it’s under review, in development, or nearing implementation.
- Task Management: Assign tasks related to ideas directly within the platform. This allows for clear delegation of responsibilities and ensures that teams are aligned as they work on developing and implementing ideas.
- Innovation Challenge: InspireIP also allows companies to run innovation challenges to crowdsource ideas from employees or even external partners. These challenges can focus on solving specific problems or generating new concepts for upcoming projects.
- Advanced Reporting: With InspireIP’s advanced reporting, leaders can track key metrics like the number of ideas submitted, the progress of individual projects, and the overall performance of the innovation pipeline.
Why Choose InspireIP?
InspireIP is ideal for businesses looking to develop a sustainable innovation culture. It not only captures ideas but helps refine, protect, and implement them, ensuring a continuous stream of innovation. The platform’s combination of AI tools, IP management, and real-time collaboration makes it an unmatched option for companies seeking to transform their ideas into valuable assets.
#2 IdeaNote
IdeaNote simplifies the idea management process by providing a platform designed for easy idea capture and collaboration. Its user-friendly interface encourages participation from all levels of an organization, helping to crowdsource valuable insights that may otherwise go unheard.
Key Features
- Idea Missions: Create dedicated challenges or missions to focus on specific business needs.
- Automation: Automatically route ideas to the correct evaluators based on custom workflows.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Teams can leave comments, vote, and share insights to improve each idea.
Who Should Use IdeaNote?
This idea sharing platform is perfect for organizations seeking to build a collaborative environment where ideas can be shared and developed quickly.
#3 Aha! Ideas
Aha! Ideas is part of a broader suite designed for product management, making it a top choice for companies looking to crowdsource ideas from employees, customers, and partners. This platform goes beyond capturing ideas—it helps users prioritize and integrate those ideas into their product development roadmap.
Key Features
- Crowdsourcing from External Sources: Gather ideas from customers and partners.
- Roadmapping: Convert ideas into product features and align them with strategic goals.
- Custom Scoring: Evaluate ideas based on their potential value or customer impact.
Who Should Use Aha! Ideas?
Aha! is perfect for product-focused organizations looking to include external feedback in their innovation process.
#4 ClickUp
While ClickUp is known primarily as a task management tool, its Whiteboard and Mind Map features make it an excellent choice for idea sharing and brainstorming. The platform’s flexibility allows teams to create custom workflows that fit their innovation processes.
Key Features
- Mind Mapping: Visualize ideas and how they connect to larger projects.
- Custom Workflows: Tailor your idea pipeline based on your team’s specific needs.
- Task Assignment: Move seamlessly from ideation to implementation by assigning tasks directly.
Who Should Use ClickUp?
This idea sharing platform is a great option for teams seeking a flexible tool that can handle both project management and idea sharing.
#5 BrightIdea
Designed for large enterprises, BrightIdea focuses on managing innovation at scale. The platform allows companies to create custom idea pipelines, run innovation challenges, and track the development of ideas from conception to implementation.
Key Features
- Drag-and-Drop Pipelines: Customize the process for evaluating and refining ideas.
- Gamification: Encourage participation through gamified challenges.
- Mobile Access: Employees can submit ideas on the go through BrightIdea’s mobile app.
Who Should Use BrightIdea?
This platform is ideal for enterprises with large innovation teams and complex idea management needs.
#6 Viima
Viima is a board-based innovation platform that helps organizations collect and manage ideas from various stakeholders. Its simple, visual interface makes it easy to track ideas through every stage of development.
Key Features
- Customizable Boards: Organize ideas visually with customizable boards.
- Unlimited Users: The free plan includes unlimited users, making it accessible to companies of all sizes.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Teams can collaborate on ideas and track their development in real time.
Who Should Use Viima?
Viima is a perfect fit for companies looking for a flexible, visual tool that can scale as their innovation needs grow.
#7 Spigit
Spigit is a high-powered crowdsourcing platform used by large enterprises to gather ideas from employees, partners, and customers. With AI-driven idea selection, Spigit helps organizations identify the best ideas to move forward with.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Idea Selection: Use machine learning to identify the most promising ideas.
- Gamification: Boost participation with gamification elements.
- Scalability: Handle large volumes of submissions without slowing down the innovation process.
Who Should Use Spigit?
Large organizations with complex innovation pipelines will benefit most from Spigit’s advanced features and idea sharing platform.
#8 IdeaDrop
IdeaDrop offers a streamlined solution for idea sharing, evaluation, and collaboration. Its smart ranking algorithm ensures that the best ideas rise to the top, and its intuitive interface makes it easy for teams to engage with the platform.
Key Features
- Smart Ranking: Rank ideas based on their potential impact, feasibility, and other criteria.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Teams can discuss and refine ideas in real time.
- Analytics: Track the performance of ideas and identify bottlenecks in the pipeline.
Who Should Use IdeaDrop?
Organizations looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use idea sharing platform for managing ideas from conception to execution.
#9 Planview IdeaPlace
Planview’s IdeaPlace (formerly known as Spigit) offers end-to-end innovation management. It’s designed for companies looking to capture, evaluate, and implement ideas at scale, while also integrating with Planview’s broader project management tools.
Key Features
- AI-Driven Crowdsourcing: Automatically evaluate and prioritize ideas based on predefined criteria.
- Portfolio Management: Manage your innovation pipeline alongside your project portfolio.
- Built-In Collaboration Tools: Teams can collaborate across departments, ensuring cross-functional input on ideas.
Who Should Use Planview IdeaPlace?
Organizations using Planview’s suite of tools will find IdeaPlace a perfect fit for managing their innovation efforts.
#10 Coda
Though Coda is not a dedicated innovation platform, its flexibility makes it a powerful tool for idea management. Teams can create custom workflows to capture and develop ideas, with features that allow for seamless collaboration and project management.
Key Features
- Customizable Workflows: Create workflows tailored to your organization’s idea management process.
- Collaboration Tools: Teams can work together in real time to refine ideas.
- Project Tracking: Move from idea to execution within the same platform.
Who Should Use Coda?
Teams looking for a highly customizable idea sharing platform for both idea management and project tracking will find Coda to be an excellent choice.
Conclusion: Picking the Right Platform for Your Innovation Journey
Choosing the right idea sharing platform can make all the difference in how effectively your organization can harness creativity and drive innovation.
Each of the platforms we’ve explored offers unique advantages depending on your needs—whether you’re a small startup looking to capture ideas on the fly, or a large enterprise aiming to crowdsource and refine thousands of ideas at scale.
For organizations that need a comprehensive, all-in-one solution, InspireIP stands out with its powerful blend of AI-powered brainstorming, prior art search (PQAI), and tools that take you from idea capture to patent filing.
It not only helps you generate and capture innovative ideas but also offers critical tools like status tracking, task management, and innovation challenges to ensure every idea has the best chance of becoming a reality.
Platforms like IdeaNote and Aha! Ideas are excellent choices for companies focused on employee-driven or customer-centric innovation, while tools like BrightIdea and Spigit cater to larger organizations with complex idea pipelines that need scalability and advanced collaboration features.
If you’re seeking a visual, flexible platform, ClickUp, Viima, and Coda offer robust solutions for teams that prefer to map out ideas, brainstorm collaboratively, and track tasks—all within a single interface.
Ultimately, the key to selecting the right platform is understanding your company’s unique needs—whether that’s fostering open collaboration, protecting intellectual property, or streamlining the innovation pipeline.
Whichever idea sharing platform you choose, investing in the right tools will empower your team to not only share ideas but turn them into actionable, game-changing innovations. The future of your organization’s success might just be one great idea away—and now you have the tools to make it happen.
