Abstract: A network-based rating system provides a mechanism whereby users can submit and rate challenges in a challenge processing step and submit and rank ideas in an idea processing step that correspond to the challenges in the challenge processing step. The highest rated challenge is determined in the challenge processing step and is then submitted to users in an idea processing step. Alternatively, challenges submitted by users in the challenge processing step are submitted to users for ideas in the idea processing step on an ongoing basis. In these alternative embodiments, the challenge rated in the idea processing step is a challenge other than the highest rated challenge determined in the challenge processing step. In another embodiment, the users rating challenges are the same users rating ideas in the idea processing step and in other embodiments the users are not the same as those rating ideas in the idea processing step.