Feb 14 2025
At MESH01, we’ve always believed that the best products come from the collaboration between great brands and people like you—the dedicated testers who shape new product ideas in the real world. Since our founding in 2010, the MESH01 tester community has grown from a small group of passionate product designers into a thriving global network of customers-as-testers. This is the story of how your contributions have shaped MESH01 and the world of product. This is your story.
The Early Days: When It All Began
You may not know this, but when MESH01 launched in 2010, it started as a crowdsourcing design platform. MESH01’s initial vision and solution was to connect brands to a global pool of talent to tackle design challenges and support innovation. This early collaboration gave brands fresh insights at the start of the development cycle, making products better before they even hit the market.
At the time, brands like Nike also explored co-creation with NikeID while others like Reebok experimented with open innovation challenges. At the same time, MESH01 was in conversation with many of these brands as they explored different applications of the crowdsourcing model.
By 2011, MESH01 had evolved into a thriving product co-creation community with over 3,000 designers competing in product design challenges for some of the world’s most recognized brands. But something else was happening in parallel—the conversation was evolving. And that change was all about you.
When Brands Asked for More, Product Testers Helped us Deliver
Not long after MESH01’s initial launch, the conversation with brands began to shift. While crowdsourced product design remained a valuable offering, brands were increasingly asking for more: they wanted real-world, specific, and actionable feedback from customers before their products hit the market.
Recognizing this need, MESH01 expanded its platform in 2012 to include wear testing. And this is where many of you -MESH01 testers- became an integral part of our story. Our first testers came from the design community -individuals passionate about innovation and improvement- that grew to over 10,000 designers strong! This marked the beginning of the MESH01 Tester Community, a group that would grow to shape products for leading brands around the world.
The MESH01 Community Grows
From these beginnings, the MESH01 community grew steadily, and in 2013 it reached 2,500 new testers who provided invaluable real-world feedback for top brands. As a tester, you are hand-selected for testing opportunities tailored to your unique shopping habits, lifestyles, activities, and preferences. Each tester is matched with products based on detailed profiles that consider factors like age, activity level, and personal interests, ensuring feedback comes from the exact people a brand aims to reach.
This precision went far beyond basic demographics, too. Whether you are an athlete testing a high-performance product or a busy professional testing a commuter jacket, as a MESH01 tester, you provided insights that were informed, thoughtful, and actionable.
As the years went on, the needs of the brands we collaborated with expanded, opening the door for even more opportunities for the MESH01 community. By 2017, the community had grown to 10,000 testers, representing a diverse range of consumers from all over the world. By 2021, we celebrated reaching over 50,000 testers—possibly including you! This global community offers brands an unmatched range of perspectives and insights, bringing authenticity and depth to the product development process.
With MESH01, every piece of feedback is driven by a genuine connection to the product, which is why leading brands continue to trust the MESH01 community. It’s not just about having a certain number of testers; it’s about having the right people—those who provide insights that drive meaningful innovation and ensure products truly resonate with consumers.
Expanding Across the Globe
Over these past 15 years, we’ve also watched our community grow worldwide. In 2013, we welcomed many of our first international testers, opening the door to perspectives in product testing. Today, our community spans 138 countries, bringing global insights that drive innovation and create better products for everyone.
Here are some highlights from our international expansion:
- Early International Testing (2013): Your early product tests outside the U.S. mark a critical step toward becoming a global platform.
- Worldwide Growth: In 2013, you represented 34 countries; today, your testers come from over 130 countries worldwide!
How You’ve Helped Us Grow
Over the years, we’ve listened closely to your feedback, using it to improve the MESH01 platform and create new opportunities for engagement. From new testing opportunities to the launch of our first mobile app years ago, each new feature has been designed with you in mind.
But the growth of MESH01 doesn’t stop here—it’s a journey we want to take with you. As the world of product development evolves, so do the needs of our brands. The MESH01 community must continue to grow to meet these demands. Brands are searching for new voices and unique perspectives that align with their target audiences. Upon joining MESH01, brands gain access to tens of thousands of testers who provide the insights they need to create exceptional products. The larger and more varied our reliable community, the more opportunities for brands to connect with testers who perfectly match their audience.
You can help continue to grow our community by sharing the opportunities on MESH01 with your friends and family. Whether it’s inviting others to join as testers or following us on social media, every action you take helps us reach new heights. After all, brands are always looking for growth in our community. More voices mean larger tests, more diverse perspectives, and more opportunities for everyone.
By continuing to expand our community, we ensure brands see the value in partnering with MESH01, resulting in even more opportunities for you to share feedback and make a difference. Together, we can ensure every product is better than the last, thanks to your voices.
We wouldn’t be where we are today without you, our incredible testers. With your support, we can expand the MESH01 family, create even more opportunities, and continue shaping the future of product development—together.
Celebrating You: The Heart of MESH01
At its core, MESH01 has always been about community—and that means you. As a tester, you’re not just part of a panel; you’re part of a collective movement to create better products for everyone. Whether you’re testing prototypes, sharing your thoughts on new concepts, or simply being part of the product conversation, your contributions have an impact that goes far beyond the products themselves.
As we celebrate the incredible growth of the MESH01 Tester Community, we want to thank you for being part of our journey. Your dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm have helped us turn ideas into prototypes, prototypes into products, and products into lifelong favorites. Together, we’re not just shaping the future of product development—we’re shaping the future.
