Build annotated.com.
Win $5,000.
Jason Calacanis is offering a $5,000 bounty to whoever can execute his idea for annotated.com, a Chrome sidebar extension for clipping and annotating media from anywhere on the web.
The Concept
What is annotated?
Annotated is a sidebar Chrome extension that lets users highlight and quickly clip media, text, audio, or video, from any website, then add their own commentary and annotations.
Annotations are saved on a landing page that links back to the original source, and shared on a public social media feed. Users can follow one another and engage with each others' annotations.
Hard Requirements
Three non-negotiables.
Sidebar Chrome extension
The product must ship as a Chrome sidebar extension, not just a web app. The sidebar is the primary surface.
“File a claim” button
Every annotation page must include a clearly visible button to dispute fair use breaches.
Always link to the source
All clipped content, text, audio, or video, must link back to its original source URL.
Supported Source Types
The User Journey
Six steps, one product.
Sign up with X or Google
Users create an account via X (Twitter) or Google OAuth. No email/password flow required.
Pick a source
Users paste a URL or use the page they're already on, YouTube videos, news articles, or podcasts.
Choose what to clip
User is prompted for where the clip starts and ends, or which section of text to capture.
Generate the clip & landing page
The clip or article gets pulled and turned into a public landing page that links back to the source.
Add commentary
The user writes a text annotation or records an audio commentary sharing their thoughts on the clip.
Browse the social feed
Users discover other people's annotations in a public feed, follow each other, and leave comments.
Spec Checklist
Hit every box.
- Max clip size: 90 seconds
- Video clips must be downgraded to 240 pixels (< 480p)
- Every clip links back to its original source URL
- Visible “File a claim” button on every annotation
- Account creation via X or Google only
- Public-facing social feed with follow + comment
- Commentary supports both text and recorded audio
- Sidebar Chrome extension is the primary surface
Ship it. Win $5,000.
Build the Chrome sidebar extension to spec, then submit your entry. The cleanest, most complete execution wins.
Questions? Reach out via the LAUNCH team.