In recent years, there have been many apps that have come onto the scene hoping to be the next social media giant. There was Vero a few years ago and earlier in 2021 Hive, promising to bring back chronological feeds and all the missed social features from time passed. The issue with these apps is that they were competing with the likes of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. When I saw an article about Copper, an app for book lovers, I thought — this might actually work as it focuses on a niche.

The rise of platforms like Medium have found success by tapping into a specific interest group and this is what Copper does.

Copper will transform how we connect around books and modernise the publishing industry, making it easier for authors and readers to reach each other.

I wanted to build the tool I needed and wish had existed when I was early in my book journey. We’re writers, and then we’re expected to know how to create visual or video content and how to reach an audience. The platforms that exist really serve readers but not authors. It’s a two sided marketplace between authors and readers where they can go to connect with one another. Only authors can be verified so it’s very clear who is who. The user experience helps authors have meaningful conversations with existing readers while allowing them to reach new readers using the discoverability piece. - Allison Trowbridge, Founder

So why the name ‘Copper’? The founder Allison Trowbridge likened how the material connects infrastructure to how technology infrastructure connects our lives. She sees Copper as a piece of that puzzle moving forward.

Currently in its Beta stage, Copper allows authors and book lovers to sign up to the platform ahead of its full release. It will aim to create a social experience around a common interest, using the credibility of authors and readers to drive recommendations. They have also thought of a way to indicate spoilers, a very important feature should you create an account. If there’s a spoiler coming up there is an ‘S’ icon that will appear blurring a certain comment section out. This will allow all users can jump into discussions without having key plot lines revealed!

It will be great to monitor the uptake of the app, as authors use it as a hub to promote their books and share their love of the written word. We’ll be signing up and we can’t wait to give the experience a go! Find out more about its release here.