We started this business when it was becoming fully apparent just how powerful technology could be in transforming the way citizens and their representatives communicate with each other and work together.

At the same time, and in particular through the last two US presidential cycles, we watched that power concentrate in the hands of a few rather than the many, and usually to the benefit of political campaigns rather than good governance. As Change.org CEO Ben Rattray puts it,

“Technology was supposed to give us a better democracy. What we got was better ad targeting.”

As ElectNext and Versa, we are so proud of our work to upend that dynamic, from our “eHarmony for elections” that helped millions of voters make informed, empowered choices on Election Day, to our Featured Perspectives platform that helped thought leaders and advocates of all stripes debate the finer points of hot-topic issues from directly within trending news stories.

We decided to join Change.org because of everything it has already achieved — 90 million users in 196 countries winning victories on the world’s most pressing issues every hour — and, therefore, the unparalleled opportunity it offers us to apply our work at an incredible scale.

Our organizations are resolute in the belief that old models for citizen-representative engagement are broken. And we share a deep and unwavering passion to empower every person to create the change they want to see.

To our friends, family, supporters, investors, advisors, colleagues, clients and partners who have been core to this unbelievable journey: Thank you.

It would not have been possible to arrive here without you. And while in this next chapter we may become less visible than we were before, it is now more likely than ever that you will feel the impact of our work.