A Marketplace Begins with a Gift

Every marketplace has to start somewhere. At 99active, we decided to begin with a present. Giving visibility to acts that are already happening all around us. Each day we discover hidden talents. A student teaching morning poetry sessions under the oak tree. A designer running creative workshops in her studio. A tinkerer organizing “Fix-It Fridays” where people bring broken things and leave with working ones and the knowledge to fix things themselves. These acts already exist, but without visibility, many people never find them.

These acts already exist everywhere around us. But without visibility, many people never find them. That’s why we decided at 99active to start with a gift: free attention for hidden talents. We share them on our platform and make them easier to discover.

What is an Act? Simply put: You can do something, others want to learn it. You repair bikes? Show them how. You make soap? Let them join in. When you share your knowledge or skills, that’s an Act. Why “Act”? Because course, workshop, event, experience, activity, tour are so many words - we chose one. And like in music, the main act is the provider.

Why Trust Matters

It’s about trust. We research carefully before sharing, because trust is built through quality. Participants who land on 99active see genuine offers they can join today. Like a “Leftover Kitchen” course where participants learn how to prepare delicious meals from leftovers. Or “Phone-Free Hikes” that combine fresh air with real conversations. That creates trust. Trust that this is a place worth visiting again and again. A place where acts are real and communities are forming.

Trust is the foundation for any marketplace. By starting with hand-picked acts, we’re laying down that foundation together.

A Compliment That Spreads

And if you don’t offer an act yourself? You can still be part of this story. Sharing this blogpost with a friend who does is more than just forwarding a link. It’s a compliment. It’s a way of saying: “What you’re doing is worth being seen.”

Maybe you know someone who repairs bikes, your roommate for example. Or a friend who works as a carpenter and wonders what to do with all the small wood scraps. Often it’s the smallest gestures that make the biggest difference. A forwarded link can lead to a “welding course” gaining new fans or a “soap lab” becoming a popular meeting point for creatives.

The Bigger Picture

Every act listed helps shape a richer, more visible marketplace for local skills, passions, and knowledge. Together, we’re building something that allows people to find experiences in their own neighborhoods. From wild herb walks that teach about nature’s gifts. To open studio jam sessions where musicians of all ages and backgrounds connect over shared rhythms. To kitchen chemistry workshops that show how everyday ingredients can be used to make your own cleaning products. Like homemade laundry soap or all-purpose cleaners.