Inspire someone today. You make a difference when you inspire!

U-inspire News Release – Wednesday, August 9, 2000

U-inspire.com Beta Site Launched

“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”
–Victor Hugo

Boston (August 9, 2000) – U-inspire.com (www.uinspire.com), the online destination for inspiration and motivation, announces the launch of its website, designed to help people inspire themselves and others. U-inspire is the premier site on the Internet for inspirational and motivational quotes, poems, stories, speeches, greeting cards, gifts and more.

“We are excited to have publicly launched U-inspire.com,” says Michael Weinbach, co-founder and CEO. “While our website can only be a work in progress without the input of our users, our launch represents over a year of research, hard work and dedication by the U-inspire team. We look forward to sharing our inspirational messages and helping people make a difference in their lives and the lives of the people they care about. We invite you to pay us a visit and begin making a difference today!”
U-inspire’s main draw is its extensive database of inspirational content, which, unlike other quote sites, is completely searchable by subject, author, occasion, type of content, and interest. U-inspire users can also create their own U-greets—pre-made or customized inspirational greeting cards that can be created by combining photography or images with inspirational quotes and personalized messages from each sender to create a treasure worth keeping.

“The next best thing to saying a good thing yourself, is to quote one.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
One unique feature of U-inspire is the ability of users to contribute to the site and have their writings published online. Users can submit original quotes, stories, poems, or articles and be recognized for their contribution.

“There are no such things as strangers, only friends we haven’t met yet.”
                  –Source Unknown
U-inspire users are able to discuss and interact with one another on message boards. Users can also use the Inspiration Gallery, which gives each user a personal page that can be used to save their favorite content to reference, use, or share.

Users also have access to a free weekly newsletter customized with inspirational stories and quotes, as well as quote of the day for those who wish to wake up on a positive not.

“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”            –Albert Einstein

Because inspiration is different for each person, U-inspire.com allows users to personalize what they see. Through the use of surveys and focus groups, U-inspire identified a number of groups that had a strong interest in this content. These include parents, students and educators, coaches and athletes, business people, current and former military personnel, religious groups, women, and those interested in health and fitness.

“Success is born from an idea believed in.”
–Source Unknown

About U-inspire
Ever since Michael Weinbach, CEO, was 13, he has been collecting inspirational quotes, poems, and stories. His love of inspiration flourished during his high school and college wrestling career where, Mike reflects, “the locker room would be full of motivational quotes that pushed us to achieve our full potential.” Not until his first year at Harvard Business School did he realize that his section mate, Bill Plautz, a college tennis player, had the same experience. The two discussed the idea for U-inspire on several occasions, and over the summer of 1999, decided to move forward. Incorporated on January 1, 2000, the idea became a reality and U-inspire.com was born.

U-inspire.com is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and online at www.uinspire.com.

“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
–Margaret Mead

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Contact:
Kate Watson
U-inspire, Inc.
617-638-0040 x103
kate@uinspire.com