Wednesday, November 14, 2007

FatDoor got $5.5 million from an investment group led by Norwest Venture Partners

What Company is Offering:
FatDoor is a way to get to know your neighbors on a very local level, and displays information over a Microsoft Virtual Earth map that can toggle between 2D and 3D views. It’s like a Wikipedia for the White Pages. FatDoor isn’t limited to people, though. Information regarding your local businesses, events, shopping deals and organizations are accessible using FatDoor as well. And this information can be modified by the users in the community, adding images, descriptions, addresses (not for residences) and groups. If a neighbor hasn’t been to FatDoor to “claim” their location, their icon will be shown on the street as opposed to their house, and you can leave messages for them that they will see once they’ve signed up to use the site. You can invite users to FatDoor with their email address or their street address.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $5.5 million from an investment group led by Norwest Venture Partners and some of this funding comes from KeyNote Ventures as well. Additionally, Yahoo vet Jennifer Dulski has joined the team as CEO.
How They Will Use Raised Funding:

The latest round will go towards building its infrastructure, and supporting its growing team. Still in alpha testing, the site isn’t quite ready for public use. while it offers a lot of helpful tools for finding information on your local neighborhood, it relies heavily on constant user participation.
More at:http://www.fatdoor.com/

eSnips--- Your Social DNA--Discover Yourself Through Others

What Company is offering:
Social DNA is a way to learn more about yourself, find out how similar you are to your friends and countrymen and to discover likeminded people you've never met.
How It Works:
Your Social DNA is made up of bits and pieces called Social Genes, where each Gene is a quiz, list or open-ended question that describes one aspect of your life, in a wide variety of topics. Once you as little as one Gene in your Social DNA, you can start finding out who are your best Matches.
With one Gene, you'll be compared to all of the people who have added that Gene to their Social DNA so that you can see how similar you are. However, the more Genes you have in your Social DNA, the more accurate your Matches will be. Once you have a Social DNA, you'll be able to see how people on eSnips Match you when you view their profile. You'll also be able to find the top Matches in your country, community or among your friends.
Social Gene
A Social Gene is a single "piece" of your Social DNA: one of many different elements that you create to define who you are. Each Gene is either a Quiz you answer or a List that you create in a variety of different topics, according to your tastes and interests. There are Genes about almost everything in life: politics, music, travel, sports, food & wine, business, literature, entertainment, technology, art, parenting and, of course, love, sex and relationships.
Start by adding Social Genes on issues that really matter to you, so that finding a Match will be as relevant as possible. It doesn't matter if your Genes are Lists or Quizzes, they'll still allow you to express your different interests. As you add more Genes to your Social DNA, it will more accurately define you, your interests and your passions. Adding more Genes to your Social DNA will also provide better Matches with people that share many of your interests, not just one or two.
More at:http://www.esnips.com/socialdna

Better ATM Services Got $1.02 Million in First Round of VCsFunding

What Company is Offering:
(BATM) has patented technology that enables automated teller machines (ATMs) to dispense prepaid gift cards via the ATM cash tray using standard cassettes within the ATM (U.S. and other domestic provisional patents).Better ATM Services enables ATM independent sales organizations (ISOs), prepaid platform providers (e.g. retailers), prepaid distribution firms, transit organizations, event and entertainment venues, amusement parks as well as financial institutions to conveniently, profitably, and securely deliver prepaid cards to consumers.

The BATM business model leverages the existing ATM infrastructure and business models to serve as an efficient and cost effective distribution option to help meet the galloping consumer demand for prepaid, stored value cards - especially proprietary cards offered by merchants.

How It Works:
BATM's business model focuses on licensing patents and certificating component players within both the ATM and gift card infrastructures so that they are enabled to profitably provide a more efficient, secure and cost effective distribution alternative for gift cards and other non-cash media while adding functionality and value to the role of ATMs. Hence, ISOs, processors, merchant card providers and ATM manufacturers and ATM driver/processors are free to structure their offerings, set their own pricing and compete as they do today.

BATM intends to enable card producers to supply cards that meet BATM's specifications (pricing should be comparable to current standard credit and debit cards). BATM's pricing model calls for one-time fees to be charged for each new ISO, processor, or ATM manufacturer and each new enabled ATM along with a monthly fee for each active enabled ATM. It is not BATM's intention or role to compete with any licensed or certificated industry participant.

Each gift card constitutes a single panel of three panels on a "card sheet" (patent filed). The card sheet has approximately the same dimensions of larger international currencies like the Dutch Gilder and Danish Kroner. Most ATM equipment utilizes fairly standard currency cassettes that accommodate currencies of varying size including BATM's card sheet dimensions.

How Much They Got From VCs:
They announced today that it closed its first round of funding for a total of $1.02 million. Better ATM Services’ officials say they are also on their way to opening another round of funding immediately.
More at:http://www.betteratmservices.com/

Zecco got $25 million in new VCs funding

What Company is Offering:
Zecco which offers users a financial community and is widely known for providing access to free stock trading through its wholly owned subsidiary.At Zecco we've gone ahead and reconstructed the mold on traditional web brokerages, making it easier than ever for you to get smart and act smart with your money. Think of us as a full package upgrade to the typical online investment routine.


How Much They Got from VCs:
Zecco Trading, Inc., announced today that it has got $25 million in new funding from a number of current and new investors.
With the close of the latest round, the total capital raised by Zecco is over $35 million.Zecco Trading took the brokerage industry by storm last October by offering access to free stock trading. One year later, Zecco Holdings launched ZeccoShare, a revolutionary investing community available through zecco.com.

How It Works:

ZeccoShare users can share verified portfolios and trades, see each other’s actual performance (available as of next week), and create specific groups with other like-minded investors (such as “socially responsible investing”, “women on investing”, or “value investing”). This gives member unprecedented transparency as they participate in discussion forums, blogs, chat and more. ZeccoShare users can expect additional exciting enhancements in the coming months, including new community-based filters that highlight the collective intelligence of the ZeccoShare open and transparent user base.You can also make up to 10 free stock trades every month as long as you maintain a $2,500 minimum account balance, and after that you only pay a paltry $4.50 per trade.

How They Are Progressing:

"We are aggressively hiring and training new customer service associates to support our rapidly growing customer base,” said Frank O’Connor, Director of Brokerage Products at Zecco Trading and former COO of Brown Co. “And our options analytics and trading capabilities are set to leap frog most of the other major brokerages in the coming weeks. So not only will our customers have the lowest commission pricing in the industry (free), they’ll have some of the best trading functionality too.
More at:http://www.zecco.com/

GovernmentDocs.org -----An Unprecedented level Of Access To Government Documents

What Company is Offering:
GovernmentDocs.org was created to advance the values of open and accountable government. This site gives the public an unprecedented level of access to government documents by allowing users to browse, search, and review hundreds of thousands of pages acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other public disclosure, or “sunshine,” laws.
How it Works:
With the GovernmentDocs.org system, citizen reviewers can engage in the government accountability process like never before. Registered users can review and comment on documents, adding their insights and expertise to the work of the national nonprofit organizations which are partnering on this project.
More at:http://www.governmentdocs.org/

View From Harvard Business

Many people learn instinctively the importance of managing up — that is, keeping your boss in the loop, in your corner, and under control.

More difficult and subtle is the art and science of managing peers, subordinates, different generations, geniuses, and jerks. To varying degrees, all have a significant influence on your career, so it’s in the best interest to proactively manage these relationships.

Take Alpha males: those brutish, boring, basta — uh brash — power movers who seem to be at the center of business decision making. In Unmasking the Alpha Male on Harvard Business Online, Gill Corkindale tells not only how she worked with Alphas and lived to tell her tale, but also how she reduced them to tears. The key? Look at motivation. “Behind the Alpha’s big, brash persona is an often insecure and driven individual who fears being unmasked.”

Corkindale also put women under the same microscope in Alpha Females: Deadlier than the Male?

Here are additional pointers to recent resources on managing over, under, sideways, down:

Upper management Influencing your boss and upper management is often a case of great salesmanship, says business author Marshall Goldsmith, in How to Influence Decision Makers.
Former colleagues In Managing Your Peers: What Would You Do? Michael Watkins, Professor of General Management at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, offers a case study and discussion to look at the difficult transition from peer to boss.
Superstars The smartest thing a manager can do is higher smart people. But trouble can develop with the really smart ones — the superstars. In surprising research on superstar performance, Harvard Business School researchers find that brilliant performers can quickly flame out after jumping to a new job. It turns out, professor Boris Groysberg says in an interview, that stars don’t shine alone.
Fools and Jerks This Harvard Business Review excerpt, a blast from the archives, asks the question, Fools versus jerks: whom would you hire?
What’s the most difficult cohort you’ve had to manage?
via-bnet

Esfresh.com--Music On Demand

What Company is Offering:
EsFresh allows you to watch every version of music videos, lyrics and many more for each song by your favorite artists and make your own Playlist. You can discover new music using our new Radio Station where you type a Genre or an Artist and esFresh plays similar Music.
How It Works:
You can search by archives or you can also make your own playlist.There is three sections.My Music.2.Radio stations.3.Users playlist. Select whichever you want and listen music on demand.
more at:http://www.esfresh.com/

Palbee---Faster And Free Video Conferencing

What Company is Offering:
Palbee is a Knowledge Sharing service platform on Video Conferencing format (Videos + Whiteboard). Although you can share knowledge only on video or on text formats. But wouldn’t it be more effective if we use both media at the same time?
Palbee takes advantage of “Video Conferencing Format” that supports both Non-verbal (gesture, facial expressions & tone of voice) and Verbal (real-time conversation, texts & images) communication. We believe this new communication medium promotes better knowledge sharing in the Internet.

How it Works:

FREE Video Conference (One hour/Five People) for unlimited sessions. Its Flash based interface enables true cross platform interoperability.
(PC, Mac & Linux), and even without downloading and Installation.
Palbee supports FREE Recording of sessions.
And, you can share the recordings on any other Web 2.0 services such as blogs and wikis. You can embed or use widgets for sharing your recordings on Palbee Player.
You can use Palbee for your company, school, clubs, friends & families, marketing, sales meetings and any other purposes.
It Will Also Helpful :

To use Palbee for your presentation, lectures, webinars, product promotions or self-promotions. Even without a participants, you can come alone and record the materials, then share any where in the Internet.

More at:http://www.palbee.com/

URdrobe.com---Make Your Own Cloths With Your Own Styles

What Company Is Offering:
URdrobe is a virtual wardrobe platform that enables its members to manage and explore their wardrobes, clothing wish-lists, and personal style online.
How It Works:
URdrobe is the first online wardrobe platform of its kind, empowering you with a new perspective on your clothes and your style.
URdrobe represents a shift in the everyday person's experience of clothing and style through its pairing of a specialized apparel database with an extremely intuitive and attractive interface. Although there are a variety of plans for URdrobe's near-term development, the platform is currently based on a simple three-pronged approach: IDENTIFY - members are able to identify clothing they own or wish to own via URdrobe's apparel database, storing items to their profile along the way. MANAGE - members are able to manage their clothing and wish-lists by comparing and contrasting garments they have stored to their profile. CATALOG - members are able to catalog their clothing by storing outfit combinations to their profile with comments for future reference.

In creating a dynamic and interactive experience for its members, URdrobe empowers consumers with a new perspective on their wardrobes and an opportunity to further define and cultivate their style. Membership on the URdrobe website is free.
More at:http://www.urdrobe.com/

AdWidth brings advertising to the people

What Company is Offering:
The world is watching more and more online video; and like it or not, advertising will always be a big part of the experience. With Adwidth, you are now in the position to make video advertisements more than tolerable, in fact, we know that you can make them interesting and entertaining to watch.
This is why they started Adwidth, a platform for independent producers to create and broadcast their own video concepts for marketing featured brands.
How It Works:
AdWidth brings advertising to the people. Online videos are increasingly being invaded by an inevitable army of commercials, thus in order to give the people a little more entertainment and fun, they’ve been enlisted to help shape the very ads that they will watch sometime or other. There are of course a couple ground rules to follow, namely commercials are limited to 60 seconds, it’s got to be PG, and everything must be original, no rip offs or copies. From there let your imagination run wild. Currently, the only brand available to do ads for is GoDaddy, but more are certainly on their way. Also, for the moment the monetization component has yet to arrive, but again it’s in the works. For those who aren’t so crafty with a camera, you can still participate by commenting, voting, and spreading the word. You have to register (it’s free) to access the site.
More at:http://beta.adwidth.com/

TVnima.com---Allows Anyone To Create A TV News Program

What Company Is Offering:
TVnima is an online Realtime 3D application that allows anyone to create a TV news program using their personal media (photos, images, videos).
You can add a voice and import media, choose your camera angles and presenter gestures in just a few clicks.That's it; you're the director.
How It Works:
The site allows users to create news programs using 3D avatars, photos and videos. Once you’ve loaded your media, you play the director and call all the shots, deciding where to place the camera, what angles to record, and what tracks to use. There are three screens to work from: the Project screen where you load previous and new work, the Customization screen from which you tailor your presenter and the set, and the Director screen where you can add media, and camera gestures on a timeline. Several different software are involved and TVanima is still in alpha, so some things may not run so smoothly. Besides that caveat, TVanima is cost free.
More at:http://www.tvnima.com/

WebUnload .com-----For Selling And Buying Of Web Products

What Company Is Offering:
Webunload is an internet marketplace, dedicated to connecting sellers with buyers. List your established or unestablished sites, forums, domains, and templates. Or, if you are interested in purchasing, browse our marketplace to find that perfect design or site that might just turn into the next money maker for you.
How It Works:
WebUnload focuses solely on the buying and selling of web products, nothing more, nothing less. As a creator, you’ll need to post an ad providing a description of what it is that you’re selling along with pertinent info such as visitor info, runtime, member base, revenue, and reasons for selling. Images and other files can be uploaded as well. After that simply fill out your profile info with contact details (email, AIM, Yahoo, etc.) and wait for the buyers to come rolling in.
Why is It Different:
Webunload is specifically focused on the selling and purchasing of web goods. At other sites, including Sitepoint, the marketplace is a mere “additional feature”, and it is not the core of the site. Here at Webunload, the marketplace is the whole reason the site exists. There is nothing else to get in the way or distract visitors.
More at:http://www.webunload.com/