Change is a powerful force that shapes the world around us. It's a force that drives innovation, evolution, and growth. And sometimes, that change is reflected in a simple yet profound transformation: a change of name. Today, we announce that RahRah has rebranded itself as "Knitted." What lies behind this name change, and what does it signify for the platform and its community? Let's unravel the story.

1. A Deeper Connection

The name "Knitted" evokes a sense of connection and togetherness. Just as individual threads are woven together to create a beautiful tapestry, communities are formed by individuals coming together, each unique but interwoven to create something greater than themselves. "Knitted" symbolizes this deep sense of connection that communities foster.

2. A Platform for Unity

Community engagement platforms are more than just tools for interaction; they are catalysts for unity. They bring people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives under one virtual roof. "Knitted" conveys the idea that these diverse threads of humanity can come together to create something harmonious and beautiful.

3. Bridging the Digital Divide

In an increasingly digital world, "Knitted" signifies the platform's commitment to bridging the digital divide. The name suggests a cozy, comforting environment where members can feel a sense of belonging, regardless of their physical location. It reflects the platform's mission to create a digital space that feels warm and inviting.

4. Celebrating Diversity

Communities are a tapestry of diversity, and "Knitted" celebrates this diversity. The name acknowledges that each member is a unique thread, contributing their distinct color and texture to the fabric of the community. It reinforces the idea that diversity is a source of strength and richness.

5. A Fresh Start

Sometimes, a name change is a fresh start, a way to signal a new chapter in a platform's journey. "Knitted" represents a departure from the old, a shedding of the past to embrace a brighter future. It's an opportunity to reimagine the platform's purpose and its commitment to fostering meaningful connections.

6. Evolving with the Times

In a rapidly changing digital landscape, platforms must evolve to stay relevant. "Knitted" reflects the platform's adaptability and willingness to grow alongside its community. The name change signals an understanding that change is necessary for progress.

7. A Platform for Empowerment

Just as knitting allows you to create something tangible and beautiful, "Knitted" symbolizes the platform's commitment to empowering its community members to create and build together. It's a name that suggests a canvas for creativity and collaboration.

8. A Name to Remember

A good name is memorable, and "Knitted" is just that. It's a name that sticks in the mind, making it easier for community members and potential users to recall and engage with the platform. It's a name that stands out in a crowded digital landscape.

In conclusion, the name change from a community engagement platform to "Knitted" is more than just a rebranding; it's a statement of purpose and identity. It signifies a commitment to unity, diversity, adaptability, and empowerment. "Knitted" is a name that invites individuals to become part of a larger tapestry, to connect, collaborate, and create something beautiful together. It's a name that captures the essence of community and the power of coming together, thread by thread, to weave a stronger, more connected world.

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When we started RahRah we set a few ground rules for how we were going to build the platform and what problem that platform would solve.

We saw that the enterprise mobile apps leveraged in the higher education sector were plagued with poor and outdated user experiences or they lacked the ability to integrate at an enterprise level. To address these gaps we decided to take our time through a design partner program where we partnered with institutions and students across America and built from the ground up. In doing so we could ensure a high value provided to both the student(s) and institutions while also being minimally disruptive when it came time to go to market and implement.

When looking at Higher Ed here in America we saw that the industry is faced with many different challenges. Declining enrollment, stagnant retention, and a rising cost of tuition have created a demanding environment for the space. Managing these while also tackling socio-economic mobility, equity and the mental health crisis was and is a tall order for any industry. How were we as an unknown start up at the time supposed to address all of these at once?

We looked at college campuses and institutions of all sizes and types across the country and the light bulb turned on. No matter what, at the end of the day every single higher ed institution is a community with two sides.

One side is a diverse and captive audience of all types of students that need services, information, resources, and programming for them to be as successful as they can be. The other side is a fairly static set of those resources, services, information, offerings (and more). The problem is the space between those two sides is often a confusing and tangled web of manual processes, siloed offices, and web site sprawl that requires the student to understand confusing terminology and org charts to discover and access the things they want or need.

Problem solved! RahRah makes the space between smarter, simpler and more relevant with a beautiful, easy to use, mobile first platform that integrates at the enterprise level.

Since this realization we have seen the impact our platform can make on community colleges, liberal arts colleges, large public universities and regional institutions. Students and institutions across the nation have embraced our platform’s ease of use, functionality and light implementation.

As RahRah evolved, it became clear that our platform could benefit a wider audience beyond student. Today, in addition to enrolled students, prospective students, parents, employees, faculty, staff, and alumni at different institutions now leverage RahRah to squeeze the juice out of the (higher ed) communities they’re affiliated with. By centralizing the community, we’re enhancing accessibility and engagement for these different types of users while breaking down barriers, unlocking data and increasing the overall efficiency of our partner institutions.

Over the years our focus has remained on higher education. What many don’t know is that during that time we were (and are) constantly approached by different community types such as companies, hospitals, elderly care communities, property managers, professional associations and even major US cities, all seeking improved engagement solutions. Each of them came to us and said they needed a better way to engage, retain and grow their respective audience. We continued to hear “no one reads our emails and no one goes to our website.”

Taking in all of this data and the conversations we had, we realized that RahRah’s platform and value proposition was and is applicable to so many more places. Because of this we are proud to now say that we are offering an expanded RahRah platform to communities in all sectors and of all sizes.

This strategic expansion isn’t just about tapping into the growing 14% (CAGR) community software market, we’re expanding because it matters. From a state, local and federal perspective, research from Americorp shows that for every dollar invested in community there is a dollar return of $53.20 in the long term and $4.58 in the short term. Research from the CAST Social Connectedness & Engagement Technology Workgroup determined that feelings of loneliness and disconnectedness can increase the risk of death by anywhere from 26% to 45%! What solves that? Community! According to LoyaltyLion companies that invest in community engagement can see up to a 1,352% ROI after just two years! The point we are trying to make is that community matters to the people who need it and those who are responsible for it. Prioritizing community in any context is the definition of “doing well by doing good.” We are now able to help all of them with a platform that makes community more discoverable, accessible and relevant.

Now for our friends in the higher ed space — it is important to call out that this expansion drastically enhances our offering to higher education. By introducing a more flexible version of RahRah, we can cater to specific departments and individual colleges within institutions at a more affordable rate, especially crucial in times of budget constraints.

So many institutions have begun to prioritize the student experience but many struggle with where to begin while also balancing larger digital transformation efforts. With this expanded version of RahRah your institution will be able to “test” RahRah out with a select population with a lower barrier to entry and less effort. If it goes well (as it has at many institutions across the nation) then it’s easy for us to expand to an enterprise level to be fully integrated and white labeled for every community member your institution serves.

While our primary mission remains simplifying student life, RahRah’s vision has grown. We’re committed to streamlining community interactions, not just in education but beyond.

For more details on our expansion and updates, visit our website. If you are a part of a community that could use RahRah please be sure to join the waitlist at rahrahlife.com!

For our higher education partners, please check out our specialized content at rahrah.life!