Overview

Let's set records

Welcome to RecordSetter, the new home of world records. We believe everyone can be the world's best at something. Our mission is to raise the bar of human achievement through world records.

So wait, can anyone set a world record?Heck yes. All you need is a unique skill, a video camera and a bit of imagination. Beyond that, the rules are simple: records you submit must be quantifiable, breakable and include sufficient media evidence. Creativity is highly encouraged.
What categories are acceptable?We make it our policy to never subjectively judge submissions, as long as our basic guidelines are followed. We strongly encourage feats that push human achievement in a positive direction. See our RecordSetter Principles below.
How are submissions moderated?We rely on record setters to provide honest, accurate information about the records they're submitting. Our approval process includes both community moderation and a round of input from our internal RecordSetter Council. We're currently developing tools that will allow users greater control in editing submissions. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact us

History

How did this site come to life? RecordSetter is an evolution of a Burning Man theme camp created in the summer of 2004. A group of friends, including RecordSetter co-founder Dan Rollman, sat down in San Francisco to brainstorm theme ideas for their camp. Eager for a concept that allowed community participation, Dan suggested a Burning Man Book of Records, in large part due to his lifelong Guinness Book obsession.

They called themselves the Playa Book of Records (PBR), an homage to the book they'd been inspired by. They bought yellow suit jackets as a nod to Wide World of Sports, drew up documentation forms, made hand-painted signs and took off for the desert, unsure of what was to come.

After just a few days documenting records, they sensed they were onto something. Camp visitors were dreaming up and setting unique, creative and spectacular records. They were taking great pride in their feats. Competition was fierce, with record setters returning daily to make sure their achievements hadn't been topped.

The Playa Book of Records has returned to Burning Man every year since, growing larger and more established each time. They've evolved from wristwatches to stopwatches, single witnesses to multiple, and photo documentation to video. The PBR database now holds over 250 unique records, most of which are included on this site.

In 2006 Rollman met Corey Henderson through his then girlfriend (now wife) Emily Wilson. Over beers during a Ratatat concert in San Francisco, Rollman pitched PBR to Henderson and explained his dream of evolving it online. Henderson saw the vision, and the two spent the night brainstorming on how to make it happen.

Fast forward to 2008. Rollman and Henderson, both now living in New York City, have spent many months and countless hours figuring out this site and bringing it to life. They've turned to friends and family countless times for invaluable assistance, and are excited to finally see this site live.

Team

Dan Rollman, Founder and President
Dan is a lifelong world record fanatic. He attempted to set a Guinness Record for ravioli eating in college, but failed miserably. Rollman's previous career was in advertising, where his achievements included two Super Bowl commercials, an Emmy Award, and a billboard that enraged the province of Saskatchewan.
Corey Henderson, Founder and Head of Technology
Corey is equally passionate about world records, having read the Guinness Book voraciously throughout his youth. A competitive marathoner who hails from a family of entrepreneurs, Henderson's been at the leading edge of web development since 1997. Favorite Record: Fastest Time To Solve A Rubik's Cube While Riding A Unicycle
Corey's RecordSetter Profile
Marc , Partner and Head of Operations
A graduate of NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, Marc has worked in the technology industry for over ten years. His background includes operations, finance and management. Marc has also consulted for a broad range of companies ranging from startups to non-profits.
Simon Kirk, Senior Project Manager
A native of London England, Simon enjoys decaffeinated tea, vegetarian food, and vast amounts of chocolate. At RecordSetter HQ, he manages product development and various other fun things. Favorite Records: Fastest Time to Complete a Two-Ball Game of Labyrinth and Largest Group "Meow" Rendition Of 'Lean On Me.'
Cliff Gray, Developer
Cliff became RecordSetter's lead developer in 2008 after Dan and Corey sold him on their vision of an open community for world record aficionados. A software developer for over a decade, Cliff surfs and snowboards when he's not working late night writing code. Favorite Record: Most TV Shows Named In One Minute Replacing One Word In Title With "Horse"
Alastair Coote, Senior Developer
Alastair is an international transplant to RecordSetter's NY office, arriving via Bath, UK and Vancouver, Canada. He brings with him an eagerness for cross-border competition, a passion for clean code and a worrying appetite for Indian food. When not poking around inside RecordSetter's innards, Alastair can usually be found at an outdoor concert or at one of the city's many weekend tech competitions. Favorite record: Loudest High Five
Emily Miethner, Community Manager
Emily got her start in the world record business designing flyers for RecordSetter's insanely cool events. Now she handles all things community and social media. In her spare time she runs NY Creative Interns, a networking group for college students and recent grads. Favorite Record: Largest Group To Inhale Helium And Sing "I Think We're Alone Now" While Hogtied

Advisory Board

Chris Sacca
An accomplished venture investor, private equity principal, company advisor, entrepreneur, and public speaker, Chris manages a portfolio of over two dozen consumer web, mobile, and wireless technology start-ups as well as an array of mature enterprises through his holding company, Lowercase Capital. He also holds the RecordSetter World Record for Most Consecutive Push-Ups On Top Of The Continental Divide. Favorite Record: Most Giraffe Tattoos On A Shoulder
Craig Kanarick
Hailed as an influential thought leader throughout the field of digital technology, Craig is best known as the co-founder of the pioneering internet services firm, Razorfish. His design work is part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Craig and his family live in New York City. Favorite Record: Fastest Time To Play 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' On A Baby Piano While Holding A Pomelo In One Hand
Cindy Gallop
A former chairman of BBH with deep experience working with blue-chip brands such as Johnnie Walker and Levi's, Cindy left advertising in 2005 to become an entrepreneur and brand consultant. Cindy launched makelovenotporn.com at TED in February 2009 and just launched IfWeRanTheWorld.com, which enables individuals, companies and non-profits to partner to help change the world one microaction at a time. Favorite Record: Fastest Time To Register A Private Limited Company Via The Internet
Benjamin White
A pioneer in the media and digital space, Ben has a diverse background as entrepreneur, media executive, investor and consultant. Ben is the former CCO at Sling Media (makers of the Slingbox), VP of Digital at MTV, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Complex Magazine and Founder of Platform Network.

Principles

RecordSetter was founded on the belief that every person on earth is capable of being the world's best "something". That said, encouraging humanity to push its limits is fraught with challenges. When you participate in the record-breaking community, please keep the following ideals in mind.

1. Honesty and accuracy are pretty much everything.

For RecordSetter to succeed, we have to rely on the integrity of mankind. Whether you're setting a record, judging a record or voting on a record, please be as honest and accurate as possible.
2. Don't hurt yourself. Don't hurt others. Don't hurt the planet.

RecordSetter exists to bring out the best in people, not harm lives or the environment. If you have the slightest concern about a record you're considering, please contact us first or discuss it with the most responsible person you know.
3. Waste sucks.

If you're going to set a record for, say, "World's Largest Banana Cheesecake" or "Largest Collection of V-Neck Sweaters", don't let your creation go to waste. Get a food bank or charitable group involved so you can help out others while achieving your feat.
4. Be respectful.

RecordSetter encourages healthy competition, and welcomes open dialogue and debate in all places of conversation, including our Forums and Facebook page. That said, we care deeply about our community and reserve the right to delete disruptive, profane, or off-topic comments, and to suspend or permanently ban users who do not adhere to our policies.
5. Be yourself.

While not imperative, we encourage users to register accounts as their true, offline selves.

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FAQ

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Press

URLesque Site of the Year, 2009
Best Oddball Night, Best of New York 2009, New York Magazine: "If your talent for guzzling maple syrup or sorting Skittles has gone unappreci- ated, here's your chance at glory."
"A less bureaucratic and more whimsical version of the one made famous by Guinness."
"The Universal Record Database, a Web site that is to the Guinness World Records as Wikipedia is to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, bills itself as the â€˜definitive site for human achievement.' This means there's finally a place, at least online, for people who aspire to achieve such distinctions as â€˜Longest Suspension of Tape Measure While Standing on One Foot' and â€˜Slowest Consumption of a Bowl of Cereal.'
"Your chance to become a recognised record- breaker without all the fuss of having to apply to Guinness World Records has arrived."
"This may just be the shortcut to immortality you've so desired: Guinness Book of World Records meets YouTube, with a dash of Hot or Not."
"There are many parallels to what Wikipedia did to the old Encyclopedia companies. There's no reason for a group of people to try to control the process, and there's nothing wrong with people trying to set a record for the tallest tower of humans wearing one sock each while brushing their teeth and listen- ing to Thriller. Nothing wrong with that at all."
"Personal media at its best: participatory, inspira- tional, addictiveâ€”and a genius rethink on a classic form that's been ruled for far too long by those dusty old dogs at Guinness."