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I have made the following updates to the article: added new information on Impossible (changed from altruistic social network to innovation group), added a part on Impossible People (it's a continuation of what Impossible was), changed the type of infobox
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{{update|date=July 2016}}
{{update|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox website
{{Infobox company
| name = Impossible
| name = Impossible
| industry = [[Design firm]]
| logo =
⚫
| founded = {{Start date|2013}}
| logocaption =
| founder = [[Lily Cole]]
| screenshot =
| key_people = [[Lily Cole]], Kwame Ferreira
| collapsible =
| num_employees = 70+ (2018)
| collapsetext =
⚫
| website = {{URL|https://www.impossible.com/}}
| caption =
⚫
| url = [https://www.impossible.com impossible.com]
| slogan = a global community here to help
| commercial = Yes
| type = [[Social network]]
| registration = Required for logon
| language = English
| num_users =
| content_license =
| content_licence =
| programming language =
| owner = I AM POSSIBLE Limited
| owner = I AM POSSIBLE Limited
| author =
| editor =
⚫
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2013|05|15}} (beta)
| alexa = 328,154 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/impossible.com|publisher=[[alexa.com]]|title=impossible.com info|accessdate=15 Dec 2014}}</ref>
| current_status = Active
| footnotes =
}}
}}

⚫
'''Impossible''' is an altruism-based [[social network]] which invites people to give their services and skills away to help others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2324873/Lily-Cole-returns-Cambridge-University-launch-new-social-network-business-venture.html?ito=feeds-newsxml|title=From the catwalk to Cambridge... again: Lily Cole returns to university |publisher=Daily Mail |date= 2013-05-15|accessdate=2013-06-10 |location=London}}</ref> The online venture was described by ''Vanity Fair'' magazine as a "commerce-free online community".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2014/04/lily-cole-impossible-gift-economy |title=Lily Cole on Her Commerce-Free Online Community, impossible.com |date=April 2014 |last1=Collins |first1=Amy |accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref> Created by [[Lily Cole]], the site allows users to post something they would like to do or need so that others can grant their wish, creating a culture of giving.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.impossible.com/aboutus/|title=Impossible|publisher=}}</ref> As of May 2013, Cole presented the app's beta in conjunction and with the support of [[Wikipedia]] co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] at a special event at [[Cambridge University]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG10063879/Lily-Cole-debates-the-gift-economy-at-the-Cambridge-Union.html |title= Lily Cole debates the gift economy at the Cambridge Union |publisher= Telegraph.Co.Uk |date= 2013-05-17|accessdate=2013-06-10 |location=London |first=Ellie |last=Pithers}}</ref> The site has since been launched in the UK and US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/national/2014/03/11/lily-cole-launching-gift-exchange-site-impossible-com-value-money/|title=Lily Cole on launching gift exchange site Impossible.com: 'Value not money'|first=Richard Peckett, Metro World|last=News|date=11 March 2014|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/2014/03/impossible|title=US Launch of *impossible* - Berkman Klein Center|publisher=}}</ref> It is the first [[Yunus Social Business – Global Initiatives|Yunus social business]] in the UK.
'''Impossible''' is an innovation group and [[ Business incubator | incubator]]. It started as a gift economy platform created by [[Lily Cole]] in 2013 <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2015/12/08/mission-impossible-lily-cole-changing-how-people-think-about-money|title= Mission Impossible? Lily Cole on changing how people think about money |publisher=The Drum |date= 2015-12-08|accessdate=2018-02-16}}</ref>, and since then has expanded to other areas, mainly design and technology.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/04/bizarre-digital-book-must-destroy-sharing/|title= The bizarre digital book you must destroy before sharing |publisher=Wired |date= 2017-04-14|accessdate=2018-02-16}}</ref> Impossible is working on client projects with potentially far-reaching impacts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/article/achieving-the-impossible-with-lily-cole|title= Achieving the impossible with Lily Cole |publisher=Wired.co.uk |date= 2017-11-17|accessdate=2018-02-16}}</ref>

==Impossible People==
⚫
Impossible People (previously Impossible.com) is an altruism-based [[mobile app]] which invites people to give their services and skills away to help others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-websummit-lily-cole/forget-glamor-model-lily-cole-wants-tech-for-good-to-encourage-women-girls-idUSKBN1332LT|title= Forget glamor, model Lily Cole wants tech for good to encourage women, girls |publisher=Reuters |date= 2016-11-08|accessdate=2018-02-16}}</ref> Created by [[Lily Cole]], the app allows users to post something they would like to do or need so that others can grant their wish, creating a culture of giving.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.impossible.com/|title=Impossible People|publisher=}}</ref> In May 2013, Cole presented the app's beta in conjunction and with the support of [[Wikipedia]] co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] at a special event at [[Cambridge University]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG10063879/Lily-Cole-debates-the-gift-economy-at-the-Cambridge-Union.html |title= Lily Cole debates the gift economy at the Cambridge Union |publisher= Telegraph.Co.Uk |date= 2013-05-17|accessdate=2013-06-10 |location=London |first=Ellie |last=Pithers}}</ref> It is the first [[Yunus Social Business – Global Initiatives|Yunus social business]] in the UK. The project became open source in March 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hackernoon.com/impossible-people-goes-open-source-3e992f27863f |title= Impossible People goes open source |publisher= Hackernoon |date= 2017-03-16|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>


==Funding and support==
==Funding and support==
The site received a grant of £200,000 from the [[Cabinet Office]]’s Innovation in Giving fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/multi-millionaire-supermodel-lily-cole-given-3266581 |title=Multi-millionaire supermodel Lily Cole given £200k of taxpayers’ money to set up gift exchange website |publisher=Daily Mirror |date=2014-03-21 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Piers |last=Eady}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/10467409/Mission-Impossible-Lily-Coles-new-social-network.html |title=Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2013-11-23 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Ellie |last=Pithers }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/25/how_did_millionaire_supermodel_lily_cole_get_200000_of_taxpayers_cash/ |title=Improbable: YOU gave model Lily Cole £200k for her Impossible.com whimsy-site |publisher=The Register |date=2014-03-25 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Andrew |last=Orlowski }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/26/lily_cole_impossible/ |title=Supermodel Lily Cole in Impossible partnership with Jimbo Wales, YOU |publisher=The Register |date=2013-11-26 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Kelly |last=Fiveash }}</ref> Other investors include Lily Cole herself and boyfriend and [[Kwamecorp]] founder, [[Kwame Ferreira]]. Donations of services from [[Muhammad Yunus]], Brian Boylan, chairman of [[Wolff Olins]], Tom Uglow, creative director for Google’s [[Creative Lab]], office space and "angel investor"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGn097HZ00&t=0m56s Zeitgeist Minds], presented by [[Google]], ''Becky Anderson in conversation with Lily Cole, Model, Actress and Founder, impossible.com & Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia.org'', 2012.</ref> role from [[Jimmy Wales]], and legal services from [[Herbert Smith Freehills]] have bolstered the social network.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/10467409/Mission-Impossible-Lily-Coles-new-social-network.html Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network]," ''The Telegraph'', 23 Nov 2013.</ref>
In the past, the Impossible.com gift economy project received a grant of £200,000 from the [[Cabinet Office]]’s Innovation in Giving fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/multi-millionaire-supermodel-lily-cole-given-3266581 |title=Multi-millionaire supermodel Lily Cole given £200k of taxpayers’ money to set up gift exchange website |publisher=Daily Mirror |date=2014-03-21 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Piers |last=Eady}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/10467409/Mission-Impossible-Lily-Coles-new-social-network.html |title=Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2013-11-23 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Ellie |last=Pithers }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/25/how_did_millionaire_supermodel_lily_cole_get_200000_of_taxpayers_cash/ |title=Improbable: YOU gave model Lily Cole £200k for her Impossible.com whimsy-site |publisher=The Register |date=2014-03-25 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Andrew |last=Orlowski }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/26/lily_cole_impossible/ |title=Supermodel Lily Cole in Impossible partnership with Jimbo Wales, YOU |publisher=The Register |date=2013-11-26 |accessdate=2015-01-04 |first=Kelly |last=Fiveash }}</ref> Other investors include Lily Cole herself and boyfriend and Impossible's co-founder, [[Kwame Ferreira]]. Donations of services from [[Muhammad Yunus]], Brian Boylan, chairman of [[Wolff Olins]], Tea Uglow, creative director for Google’s [[Creative Lab]], office space and "angel investor"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGn097HZ00&t=0m56s Zeitgeist Minds], presented by [[Google]], ''Becky Anderson in conversation with Lily Cole, Model, Actress and Founder, impossible.com & Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia.org'', 2012.</ref> role from [[Jimmy Wales]], and legal services from [[Herbert Smith Freehills]] bolstered the social network.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/10467409/Mission-Impossible-Lily-Coles-new-social-network.html Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network]," ''The Telegraph'', 23 Nov 2013.</ref>


The site has operated at a loss throughout 2014 and 2015, as it disclosed posted losses of around £150,000 in 2014 and almost £250,000 in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3478557/GIRL-TOWN-three-celebs-business-bubbles-burst.html|title=GIRL ABOUT TOWN: Are three celebs seeing their business bubbles burst?|publisher=}}</ref>
The project operated at a loss throughout 2014 and 2015, as it disclosed posted losses of around £150,000 in 2014 and almost £250,000 in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3478557/GIRL-TOWN-three-celebs-business-bubbles-burst.html|title=GIRL ABOUT TOWN: Are three celebs seeing their business bubbles burst?|publisher=}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*{{Official|http://impossible.com }}
*{{Official|http://impossible.com }}


[[Category:Social networking websites]]
[[Category:Industrial design]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2013]]

Revision as of 15:29, 16 February 2018

Impossible
IndustryDesign firm
Founded2013 (2013)
FounderLily Cole
Key people
Lily Cole, Kwame Ferreira
OwnerI AM POSSIBLE Limited
Number of employees
70+ (2018)
Websitewww.impossible.com

Impossible is an innovation group and incubator. It started as a gift economy platform created by Lily Cole in 2013 [1], and since then has expanded to other areas, mainly design and technology.[2] Impossible is working on client projects with potentially far-reaching impacts.[3]

Impossible People

Impossible People (previously Impossible.com) is an altruism-based mobile app which invites people to give their services and skills away to help others.[4] Created by Lily Cole, the app allows users to post something they would like to do or need so that others can grant their wish, creating a culture of giving.[5] In May 2013, Cole presented the app's beta in conjunction and with the support of Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales at a special event at Cambridge University.[6] It is the first Yunus social business in the UK. The project became open source in March 2017.[7]

Funding and support

In the past, the Impossible.com gift economy project received a grant of £200,000 from the Cabinet Office’s Innovation in Giving fund.[8][9][10][11] Other investors include Lily Cole herself and boyfriend and Impossible's co-founder, Kwame Ferreira. Donations of services from Muhammad Yunus, Brian Boylan, chairman of Wolff Olins, Tea Uglow, creative director for Google’s Creative Lab, office space and "angel investor"[12] role from Jimmy Wales, and legal services from Herbert Smith Freehills bolstered the social network.[13]

The project operated at a loss throughout 2014 and 2015, as it disclosed posted losses of around £150,000 in 2014 and almost £250,000 in 2015.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Mission Impossible? Lily Cole on changing how people think about money". The Drum. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  2. ^ "The bizarre digital book you must destroy before sharing". Wired. 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  3. ^ "Achieving the impossible with Lily Cole". Wired.co.uk. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  4. ^ "Forget glamor, model Lily Cole wants tech for good to encourage women, girls". Reuters. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  5. ^ "Impossible People".
  6. ^ Pithers, Ellie (2013-05-17). "Lily Cole debates the gift economy at the Cambridge Union". London: Telegraph.Co.Uk. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  7. ^ "Impossible People goes open source". Hackernoon. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  8. ^ Eady, Piers (2014-03-21). "Multi-millionaire supermodel Lily Cole given £200k of taxpayers' money to set up gift exchange website". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
  9. ^ Pithers, Ellie (2013-11-23). "Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
  10. ^ Orlowski, Andrew (2014-03-25). "Improbable: YOU gave model Lily Cole £200k for her Impossible.com whimsy-site". The Register. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
  11. ^ Fiveash, Kelly (2013-11-26). "Supermodel Lily Cole in Impossible partnership with Jimbo Wales, YOU". The Register. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
  12. ^ Zeitgeist Minds, presented by Google, Becky Anderson in conversation with Lily Cole, Model, Actress and Founder, impossible.com & Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia.org, 2012.
  13. ^ "Mission Impossible: Lily Cole's new social network," The Telegraph, 23 Nov 2013.
  14. ^ "GIRL ABOUT TOWN: Are three celebs seeing their business bubbles burst?".
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