We’re Building the Next Craigslist (On Purpose)

Everyone in tech wants to build the “next big platform.”

More features. More automation.

More dashboards.More complexity… and more cost.

At Rippl Rewards, we’re taking the opposite approach.

We’re intentionally building Rippl the same way Craigslist became one of the most impactful platforms of all time:

Simple. Useful. Trusted.Focused on doing a few things exceptionally well.

Craigslist didn’t win by being flashy.It won by being the easiest tool in the world to use.

Rippl is bringing that philosophy to local business growth.

Craigslist Lesson #1: Simple Products Scale Faster

Craigslist didn’t try to be everything.It didn’t add features because it could.It didn’t complicate the product.

It focused on one core job:Helping people connect within their community.

That clarity gave it unstoppable viral growth.

Rippl’s version of that simplicity:

• Set up in minutes

• No training required

• Zero confusing menus or CRM bloat

• Built specifically for local service businesses

• Designed for people who don’t want complicated software

Rippl does one thing extremely well:It helps you turn word-of-mouth into trackable, rewardable growth.

Nothing more. Because nothing more is needed.

Craigslist Lesson #2: Keep It Affordable

Craigslist didn’t charge $100/month.It didn’t gate features behind subscriptions.It served everyday people, not enterprises.

Craigslist’s accessibility is what made it explode.

Rippl follows the same philosophy:

• Free to start

• Affordable for solo-entrepreneurs and small businesses

• No locked “premium” features that force upgrades

• Fair pricing instead of predatory pricing

Rippl should feel like a useful neighborhood tool, not a line item that stresses out small business owners.

Craigslist Lesson #3: Communities Drive Growth, Not Ads

Craigslist never relied on marketing campaigns.It didn’t spend millions on acquisition.People shared it because it worked.

Rippl is built for the same kind of community-driven adoption.

Local service businesses grow through:

• Neighborhood chats

• Dog park conversations

• Parent groups

• HOA Facebook groups

• “My cleaner is amazing, use them!”

• “My esthetician is the best, here’s her link.”

Rippl simply gives those conversations a trackable link and a reward system, the same way Craigslist gave communities a simple listing page.

Craigslist Lesson #4: Don’t Build Everything — Build the Right Things

Craigslist could have become:

• A social network

• A marketplace with ratings and profiles

• A payments platform

• A messaging app But they didn’t.

They stayed focused.

Rippl is doing the same:

We’re not trying to be:

• A CRM

• A scheduling tool

• A point-of-sale

• A review platform

• A full marketing suite

Those tools already exist, and they already overwhelm small businesses.

Rippl’s mission is different:

Make referrals effortless.Make growth simple.Make rewards automatic.

That’s it. And that’s enough.

Why This Approach Matters

Small businesses today are drowning in tech:

• 6–12 subscriptions on average

• Overpriced SaaS tools

• Features they never use

• Platforms built for enterprises, not locals

Craigslist proved that utility beats complexity. 

Rippl is applying that same philosophy to referrals.

Because when software is simple:

• Adoption skyrockets

• Customers actually use it

• Growth compounds

• Businesses stick around

The world doesn’t need another bloated tool. Local service businesses need a product that helps them grow, fast, without friction.

The Bottom Line

We’re not trying to build the next Salesforce or even HubSpot.

We’re building the next Craigslist, a simple, trusted, affordable tool that spreads because it works.

Rippl Rewards is designed to:

• Do a few things exceptionally well

• Stay accessible to every local business

• Avoid unnecessary complexity

• Grow through community, not ads

• Keep the focus on real human referrals

If you believe software should be simple — not overwhelming — you’re going to love what we’re building.

👉 Try Rippl Rewards free and see why simplicity is our superpower.