The company was founded by Ben Kaufman and allows anyone to become an inventor or influencer by submitting ideas and helping to determine which products Quirky will design, manufacture, and sell. Ideas are submitted through Quirky.com and the iPhone app, and the community vets, critiques, and votes for their favorites. Quirky considers factors such as uniqueness, manufacturing complexity, and intellectual property rights when determining which products to make. The company shares revenue directly with inventors and partners who helped launch the most innovative new products.