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Go to a sports bar. Offer to buy beer (should not be very expensive) for those who get one other member to sign up with them. Pay for 50 beers, get 100 members. Plus, you might get feedback related to the site instantly (in person). That's hustling, in my opinion.

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Nice idea... This is something that I might try...

Is there an online version of this sort of thing? Like a service that lets you offer free access codes to people who refer 2+ other people?

No (well, probably), but there's you going to the bar yourself and watching them sign up, then paying for the cheap beer (hopefully ~$1 beer). Personal interaction will probably be a lot better for understanding your potential user base, too. I certainly don't feel close to the CEO/founders of "Claim It!" even though sign-ups have been incentivized with goods (like the beer I suggested buying at the bar). This is client acquisition and research and should be treated as such -- utilizing some super-abstract such as an app (as you asked for).

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