Who: Jennifer Gilbert, 38, and Robin Stein, 39, of Heartbeat Products Inc.
What: PortaMEe, a New York City-based line of high-style baby carriers
How Much: About $600,000 in 2007 Sales
In 2004, Robin Stein was a stay-at-home mom with a 21-pound 6-month-old and an aching back. She tried all types of baby carriers but didn't like the way they fit or looked. Because Stein had previously worked in product development and merchandising, "developing product was a sport," she says. She began sketching ideas for a carrier that rested the baby on the hip. "A hip carrier is more natural, and kids develop faster when they make eye contact with you and you can see what they're doing," she explains.
In the fall of 2005, Stein posted a note on Craigslist looking for people who knew how to sew structured handbags and work with leather. She then spent more than a year making prototypes. When she started wearing the PortaMEe, "people were handing me their cards and telling me to call them when I started selling," she says.
Stein had met Jennifer Gilbert in November 2004, when she joined a women entrepreneurs' group. In mid-2006, Gilbert signed on to fund the business and become a 50 percent owner. "Sales is not my strength, but Jennifer is a genius at sales," says Stein. "I had a list of my top 10 dream accounts. [Thanks to Jennifer,] by the end of 2006, we were in many of our top 10, including Bergdorf Goodman, Best & Co., Giggle, Neiman Marcus and Takashimaya."
Because the market was crowded at the mass price point, they decided to price PortaMEe higher than most baby carriers and target higher-end retailers. So far, the strategy has paid off: The company was recently forced to turn orders down until new shipments arrived.
With a co-branded product with Pottery Barn Kids and a new infant headrest that both launched in September, Stein and Gilbert have plans to move into a new fulfillment center and are looking to raise more capital to fund growth.
More at:http://www.portamee.com/
Via-Uncommon
Sunday, November 18, 2007
ChaCha-- the first search engine that uses the brainpower of really smart people to find anything you want on the Internet got $8 million
What Company is offering:
ChaCha , the first search engine that uses the brainpower of really smart people to find anything you want on the Internet.ChaCha offers a standard search engine, but it gives users the option to tap an army of about 15,000 guides to provide free live chat designed to help zero in on information. ChaCha mobile’s human guides will provide a full menu of information, from sports scores to the location of a good Thai restaurant in a particular locale.
How It Works:
One click hooks you up with a live ChaCha Guide. A real person that will ask you questions, understand exactly what you want, and send you results that are dead-on. Computers can't do that. It takes a community of people who are motivated to help you get the answer you seek - no matter what it takes. The brainpower behind ChaCha.
How Is It Different:
Their Guides know the Internet inside and out. They save, rate and update the results of every search and handpick the best sites. So when you request a search, whether it's an Instant Search or a Live Guided Search, you get results that our Guides and lots of other ChaCha-ers have already checked out.
How Much They Got From VCs Funding:
They got $8 million from former Perot Systems CEO Morton Meyerson.
The Carmel, Indiana, company also received a $2 million grant from Indiana’s 21st Century Technology Fund, giving ChaCha $10 million on top of a $6.5 million first round led by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos in 2006.
About VCs:
Mr. Meyerson is the former president of Electronic Data Systems and chairman and chief executive of Perot Systems, both founded by former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot. Mr. Meyerson’s investment firm, 2M Companies, has invested in companies including Cozymel’s Mexican Grill and web radio company AudioNet, which staged an initial public offering as Broadcast.com and later was acquired by Yahoo.
More at:http://www.chacha.com/
ChaCha , the first search engine that uses the brainpower of really smart people to find anything you want on the Internet.ChaCha offers a standard search engine, but it gives users the option to tap an army of about 15,000 guides to provide free live chat designed to help zero in on information. ChaCha mobile’s human guides will provide a full menu of information, from sports scores to the location of a good Thai restaurant in a particular locale.
How It Works:
One click hooks you up with a live ChaCha Guide. A real person that will ask you questions, understand exactly what you want, and send you results that are dead-on. Computers can't do that. It takes a community of people who are motivated to help you get the answer you seek - no matter what it takes. The brainpower behind ChaCha.
How Is It Different:
Their Guides know the Internet inside and out. They save, rate and update the results of every search and handpick the best sites. So when you request a search, whether it's an Instant Search or a Live Guided Search, you get results that our Guides and lots of other ChaCha-ers have already checked out.
How Much They Got From VCs Funding:
They got $8 million from former Perot Systems CEO Morton Meyerson.
The Carmel, Indiana, company also received a $2 million grant from Indiana’s 21st Century Technology Fund, giving ChaCha $10 million on top of a $6.5 million first round led by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos in 2006.
About VCs:
Mr. Meyerson is the former president of Electronic Data Systems and chairman and chief executive of Perot Systems, both founded by former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot. Mr. Meyerson’s investment firm, 2M Companies, has invested in companies including Cozymel’s Mexican Grill and web radio company AudioNet, which staged an initial public offering as Broadcast.com and later was acquired by Yahoo.
More at:http://www.chacha.com/
Yugma is a free web collaboration service that enables people to instantly connect over the internet
What Company is Offering:
Yugma is a free web collaboration service that enables people to instantly connect over the internet to communicate and share content and ideas using any application or software. Whether you are using Windows, Mac or Linux computer, you can connect on-demand and real-time with co-workers, clients, friends and family -- regardless of whether they are across the city, nation or even the globe.
How It Works:
Yugma is the only online meeting and collaboration venue that offers complete encryption capabilities and the ability to host meetings securely from your work station, as well as enabling shared or read-only document controls. This true security makes Yugma ideal for public or private communication.
Yugma offers universal, cross-platform collaboration with complete security protection.
In Yugma you enjoy complete, simultaneous use of a shared desktop - not the "view only" or save and forward capabilities of other applications.Yugma offers shared server-based environments based on project groups and shared project space so you can share data online/offline. Yugma adapts to organizational security models (AD or LDAP).Since the Yugma desktop solution is platform and software agnostic, all you need is your laptop or PC and you're ready to go. Yugma works in any environment: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
More at:https://www.yugma.com/
Yugma is a free web collaboration service that enables people to instantly connect over the internet to communicate and share content and ideas using any application or software. Whether you are using Windows, Mac or Linux computer, you can connect on-demand and real-time with co-workers, clients, friends and family -- regardless of whether they are across the city, nation or even the globe.
How It Works:
Yugma is the only online meeting and collaboration venue that offers complete encryption capabilities and the ability to host meetings securely from your work station, as well as enabling shared or read-only document controls. This true security makes Yugma ideal for public or private communication.
Yugma offers universal, cross-platform collaboration with complete security protection.
In Yugma you enjoy complete, simultaneous use of a shared desktop - not the "view only" or save and forward capabilities of other applications.Yugma offers shared server-based environments based on project groups and shared project space so you can share data online/offline. Yugma adapts to organizational security models (AD or LDAP).Since the Yugma desktop solution is platform and software agnostic, all you need is your laptop or PC and you're ready to go. Yugma works in any environment: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
More at:https://www.yugma.com/
Scriggle-it is the ultimate music marketing and fan management solution
What Company is Offering:
Scriggle-it is the ultimate music marketing and fan management solution for any musician. What's that mean? For starters, Scriggle-it is built around a robust email list management tool, written from the ground up for musicians. Scriggle-it allows you to easily stay in touch with your fans, and look good doing it! And, what's more, we're continually adding new features to help you promote and market your music to your fans, as well as venues and labels. Use Scriggle-it to announce anything: a show, a new song, or that you just learned to tie your shoes.
How It Works:
With Scriggle Mail, you can easily send email campaigns to your fans, optionally using geo-location to specify which fans you would like to target. Additionally, you can choose from a plethora of great-looking email templates.
Scriggle Code — A snippet of HTML code that allows fans to easily join your mailing list from your site, or your MySpace, Purevolume, or other social network site profile.
Share your biography, pics, audio, videos (coming soon), and stage requirements (also coming soon) with potential venues, producers, and labels through our Electronic Press Kit feature.
More at:http://www.scriggleit.com/
Scriggle-it is the ultimate music marketing and fan management solution for any musician. What's that mean? For starters, Scriggle-it is built around a robust email list management tool, written from the ground up for musicians. Scriggle-it allows you to easily stay in touch with your fans, and look good doing it! And, what's more, we're continually adding new features to help you promote and market your music to your fans, as well as venues and labels. Use Scriggle-it to announce anything: a show, a new song, or that you just learned to tie your shoes.
How It Works:
With Scriggle Mail, you can easily send email campaigns to your fans, optionally using geo-location to specify which fans you would like to target. Additionally, you can choose from a plethora of great-looking email templates.
Scriggle Code — A snippet of HTML code that allows fans to easily join your mailing list from your site, or your MySpace, Purevolume, or other social network site profile.
Share your biography, pics, audio, videos (coming soon), and stage requirements (also coming soon) with potential venues, producers, and labels through our Electronic Press Kit feature.
More at:http://www.scriggleit.com/
Kaneva---an extension of socialization and entertainment in the real world---Virtual World But Real Friends--
What Company is Offering:
Kaneva is the first virtual entertainment world that unifies the 2D web with a 3D experience. Kaneva is the first to integrate social networking, shared media, and collaborative online communities into a modern-day, immersive 3D Virtual World.
Built for the masses, Kaneva is an extension of socialization and entertainment in the real world. Kaneva has been designed from the ground up with ease-of-use, fun and entertainment top-of-mind.
Kaneva is the only place where Profiles, Media and Communities are teleported from the 2D web into a modern-day 3D Virtual World with their own virtual spaces.
How It Works:
The 3D Virtual World of Kaneva is consistently set in the modern day where members use their true identity in order to share their real-world interests and establish authentic connections and friendships.
Kaneva is also the first virtual world where everyone has their own 3D persona (an avatar) and a 3D home. Kaneva members can easily customize their avatars to look like them as well as decorate their virtual spaces to reflect their own style. With their own Media Libraries, members can take their favorite uploaded videos, photos, music, and games from their Profiles of the Kaneva web site and easily import them into their 3D home. In just seconds they can program their in-world TV to play their favorite shows or home videos and place their favorite photos in picture frames on the walls. Members can even change the patterns of most furniture, walls, and floors to really make their home unique.
All Kaneva online Communities also get their own 3D hang-outs -- including theaters, media rooms or other virtual meeting places -- extending the community experience to 3D where they can meet up and interact through live 3D chat.
More at:http://www.kaneva.com/
Kaneva is the first virtual entertainment world that unifies the 2D web with a 3D experience. Kaneva is the first to integrate social networking, shared media, and collaborative online communities into a modern-day, immersive 3D Virtual World.
Built for the masses, Kaneva is an extension of socialization and entertainment in the real world. Kaneva has been designed from the ground up with ease-of-use, fun and entertainment top-of-mind.
Kaneva is the only place where Profiles, Media and Communities are teleported from the 2D web into a modern-day 3D Virtual World with their own virtual spaces.
How It Works:
The 3D Virtual World of Kaneva is consistently set in the modern day where members use their true identity in order to share their real-world interests and establish authentic connections and friendships.
Kaneva is also the first virtual world where everyone has their own 3D persona (an avatar) and a 3D home. Kaneva members can easily customize their avatars to look like them as well as decorate their virtual spaces to reflect their own style. With their own Media Libraries, members can take their favorite uploaded videos, photos, music, and games from their Profiles of the Kaneva web site and easily import them into their 3D home. In just seconds they can program their in-world TV to play their favorite shows or home videos and place their favorite photos in picture frames on the walls. Members can even change the patterns of most furniture, walls, and floors to really make their home unique.
All Kaneva online Communities also get their own 3D hang-outs -- including theaters, media rooms or other virtual meeting places -- extending the community experience to 3D where they can meet up and interact through live 3D chat.
More at:http://www.kaneva.com/
A gravatar, or globally recognized avatar----Brand Yourself
What Company is Offering:
A gravatar, or globally recognized avatar, is quite simply an 80×80 pixel avatar image that follows you from weblog to weblog appearing beside your name when you comment on gravatar enabled sites. Avatars help identify your posts on web forums.
How It Works:
Signing up for a gravatar.com account is FREE, and all that's required is your email address. Once you've signed up you can upload your avatar image and soon after you'll start seeing it on gravatar enabled weblogs!
Setting up gravatars on your weblog is easy, you don't even need an account! Plugins are available for leading weblog software, and our tutorials will have you running gravatars in no time. To request a gravatar from our servers, you simply add an image to your comments area with an "src" attribute that points to our gravatar image generator and includes an MD5 hash of the commenter's email address. Since all gravatars are rated with an MPAA style rating, you can restrict your site to show only gravatars whose content you are comfortable with.
Gravatars give regular folks a way to brand themselves in the blogosphere—every time you post a comment or participate in any way on a blog, you beloved avatar will show up, leaving your mark upon the net. The avatars are simple 80x80 pixel images—you’ll need to upload your very own as no defaults are provided. Plugins are available for most blog platforms (Movable Type, WordPRess, Blogger, LiveJournal, for example). It’s free to use but you will need to sign up first to get results.
More at:http://site.gravatar.com/
A gravatar, or globally recognized avatar, is quite simply an 80×80 pixel avatar image that follows you from weblog to weblog appearing beside your name when you comment on gravatar enabled sites. Avatars help identify your posts on web forums.
How It Works:
Signing up for a gravatar.com account is FREE, and all that's required is your email address. Once you've signed up you can upload your avatar image and soon after you'll start seeing it on gravatar enabled weblogs!
Setting up gravatars on your weblog is easy, you don't even need an account! Plugins are available for leading weblog software, and our tutorials will have you running gravatars in no time. To request a gravatar from our servers, you simply add an image to your comments area with an "src" attribute that points to our gravatar image generator and includes an MD5 hash of the commenter's email address. Since all gravatars are rated with an MPAA style rating, you can restrict your site to show only gravatars whose content you are comfortable with.
Gravatars give regular folks a way to brand themselves in the blogosphere—every time you post a comment or participate in any way on a blog, you beloved avatar will show up, leaving your mark upon the net. The avatars are simple 80x80 pixel images—you’ll need to upload your very own as no defaults are provided. Plugins are available for most blog platforms (Movable Type, WordPRess, Blogger, LiveJournal, for example). It’s free to use but you will need to sign up first to get results.
More at:http://site.gravatar.com/
Directory of Hotels is an independent guide of hotels and travel information
What Company Is Offering:
Directory of Hotels is an independent guide of hotels and travel information created by a team of people with a love for travel. The hotels within our directory represent something unique, special enough to give it our stamp of approval.
How It Works:
This site employs a team of well heeled travelers who only seek the most exotic and elegant stays across the globe. You won’t find your ordinary list of chain hotels and brand name luxury spots. At Directory, you’ll get hotels for all needs and whims—vacationers, business men, weekend get aways, or for the perpetual traveler. To find your hotel simple input a destination (city, province, etc), date, and number of guests. Book through the site for countless discounts. If you’re in need of some advice consult the staff, or check out the Hot List and browse the site’s most beloved additions to the directory.
More at:http://www.directoryofhotels.com/
Directory of Hotels is an independent guide of hotels and travel information created by a team of people with a love for travel. The hotels within our directory represent something unique, special enough to give it our stamp of approval.
How It Works:
This site employs a team of well heeled travelers who only seek the most exotic and elegant stays across the globe. You won’t find your ordinary list of chain hotels and brand name luxury spots. At Directory, you’ll get hotels for all needs and whims—vacationers, business men, weekend get aways, or for the perpetual traveler. To find your hotel simple input a destination (city, province, etc), date, and number of guests. Book through the site for countless discounts. If you’re in need of some advice consult the staff, or check out the Hot List and browse the site’s most beloved additions to the directory.
More at:http://www.directoryofhotels.com/
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