Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Rude66 is a free international trade portal that helps business to promote their products and services to the world

What Company Is Offering:
Rude66 is a free international trade portal that helps business to promote their products and services to the world. Based in Phoenix Arizona Rude66 is committed to facilitating import and export trade.Communication is vital to create an atmosphere of prosperity worldwide. Any legitimate business, entrepreneur or individual can come to this trade directory to post their buy and sell trade leads or to create their company profile.

More at:http://www.rude66.com/

Dizzywood's creative, story-driven world offers children a safe virtual environment has secured additional financing in its Series A round

What Company Is Offering:
Dizzywood's is to inspire young people to use their imagination and have fun, while learning real-life values and skills.

How it Works:
Dizzywood's creative, story-driven world offers children a safe virtual environment where they can explore worlds unlike any other, engage in challenging activities and cooperate with others, while developing important cognitive skills. Because Dizzywood's games and activities have endless variation, each experience is new and unique -- keeping kids captivated and engaged. Kids are appropriately challenged with games and activities that earn players unique super powers and other creative rewards. For more information.

How Much They Got From VCs:
Dizzywood, a new virtual world and online gaming platform for children ages 8-12, today announced that it has secured additional financing in its Series A round. The round was led by Shelby Bonnie, with additional investment from Charles River Ventures and other renowned individual investors. The company plans to use the capital to further develop and expand content and services on Dizzywood.

How Is Market Of That Kind of Company:
According to eMarketer, 24% of the 34.3 million US child and teen Internet users will visit virtual worlds once a month in 2007. This will rise to 34% in 2008 and by 2011, 53% will do so. "With so many kids expected to join virtual worlds in the next few years, the market opportunity is tremendous," said Shelby Bonnie. "Dizzywood is defining the next generation of virtual worlds for kids by combining immersive 3-D graphics with story-driven content creating an environment that challenges children to use their imagination."


More at: www.dizzywood.com

Podium Advertising Technologies specializes in online paid search advertising technologies

What Company Is Offering:
Podium Advertising Technologies(adcore) , specializes in online paid search advertising technologies.

At Podium they seek to maintain their advanced technology status and high level of professionalism in the online paid search advertising field by constantly improving their technology tools and deepening theirr SEM knowledge.

How It Works:
adCore is a next generation online advertising technology which fully automates your paid search activities. The system takes you through the entire SEM process from keywords and ads creation through campaign optimization and maximization and down to reporting and monitoring. adCore takes your business to a new level of performance and efficiency.
To fully automate the online paid search advertising process and achieve technological superiority by supplying a comprehensive software solution covering all aspects of industry activity, which is both easy to use and affordable in price.

Their technology is designed to help their customers increase efficiency, scalability, return on investment and the overall value of their paid search advertisements.

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

Zolve is an online real estate referral network

What Company is Offering:
Zolve is an online real estate referral network, a business exchange that connects real estate practitioners and service providers across the country and around the globe.Zolve.com was founded by Brian Wilson, a Colorado Springs Realtor®. In the course of running his own real estate brokerage, Brian identified a need for a platform to more efficiently managing his referral business.

How it Works:
Zolve members access inbound referrals from across the country and around the world. They can also send referrals to qualified professionals who have been ranked, eBay®-style, by consumers with whom they have worked. A simple online referral agreement wizard and referral logging system add legal strength and organization to the entire process.

In addition to providing a business class referral network, Zolve provides social tools that empower real estate professionals to expand their sphere of influence and connect with others. Members can increase the value of their network exponentially by managing it on an interactive map and having access to their network’s network.

All real estate professionals and service providers – mortgage brokers, inspectors, appraisers, etc. -- are welcome to join Zolve.

Joining Zolve is FREE. Your Zolve membership comes with a blog, social networking tools, and the ability to submit outbound referrals to other Zolve members.

More at:http://zolve.com/

ByAllAccounts delivers reconciliation-ready data to investment management and advisory firms has secured $5 million in Series A funding

What Company Is Offering:
ByAllAccounts delivers reconciliation-ready data to investment management and advisory firms. Using innovative expert system technology, we provide an unparalleled access to financial account data from thousands of custodians and enable efficient and timely account reconciliation, performance analysis and consolidated reporting.

How It Works:

They help you build stronger, more profitable relationships by providing timely, personalized levels of service and better advice based on a more complete understanding of your clients' assets.

They have set a new standard in financial data assembly, providing an offering that is innovative in its approach to collecting, normalizing, interpreting and categorizing transaction-level information -- information brought to you in a timely and wholly useful way. They enable you to improve efficiencies, grow your business, and leapfrog your competition.

How Much They Got From VCs:
ByAllAccounts, a provider of reconciliation-ready data for investment management and advisory firms, announced that it has secured $5 million in Series A funding. Commonwealth Capital Ventures led the round and was joined by members of the company's executive management team. The company plans to use the funding to further support sales, marketing and product development initiatives.
Who Is Backing Them:
The ByAllAccounts management team is led by CEO, President and co-founder James Carney. The team also includes co-founder Ellen Dickau, Vice President of Engineering, and co-founder Martin Dickau, Chief Technology Officer.
Commonwealth Capital Ventures' Perreault and General Partner Jeffrey Hurst have joined Carney on the company's Board of Directors.
"It was important for us to find an investor that understood our industry and business model and shared our vision," said Carney. "With Commonwealth's track record of successfully investing in companies that deliver Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions and their collaborative, team-based approach to working with their portfolio companies, they bring more than just capital; they will add significant value to the strategic direction of our organization."

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

Cellfire that allows consumers to easily access deals from brand-name merchants nationwide through their mobile phone raised $12 million in funding

What Company Is Offering:
Cellfire gives amazing offers from food and entertainment to retail shopping and more. With Cellfire, you are only a few key taps away from convenient savings on the stuff you want to buy.Cellfire is the first nationwide mobile coupon and discount offer service that allows consumers to easily access deals from brand-name merchants nationwide through their mobile phone.

How It Works:
With Cellfire's mobile technology, you already have the coupons and discount offers right on your phone.
* No need to clip paper coupons and bring it with you when you shop.
* You don't have to check email or surf the Web looking for hot deals.
* Quickly and easily navigate through coupons and discount offers by menus — without sifting through your text messages!.

How Much They Got From VCs:
Cellfire Inc. secured its third round of funding, raising $12 million from a new investor, Silver Creek Ventures, and existing investors, including Menlo Ventures, and Storm Ventures. Proceeds will be used to expand the company's sales and marketing efforts, along with increasing product functionality, business development and partnership activities.

http://www.cellfire.com/

QualVu enables you to turn consumer-generated video into business intelligence got $750,000 in Series A funding

What Company Is Offering:
QualVu is an automated online video platform designed for researchers, helping them connect directly with audiences they care about to gain rich insights faster and more cost-effectively than any other online or offline methods.

How It Works:
QualVu enables you to turn consumer-generated video into business intelligence — delivering on the flexibility, reach and cost efficiencies of the Internet, without sacrificing rich, visual and auditory consumer reactions. QualVu can be embedded in online surveys to generate visual representative insights, and also provides a video diary module that allows researchers to go way beyond text-based online methods.
Use the online video platform to engage with audiences you care about, and capture invaluable insights gained from their answers to your questions.

How Much They Got From VCs:
QualVu, a Colorado-based technology start-up that has developed a web-based video platform for qualitative research, it has closed $750,000 in Series A funding. The round was led by the co-founders of ServiceMagic.com, Mike Beaudoin and Rodney Rice. The company plans to use the funding to fuel further development and growth of their online business-driven video platform. In conjunction with this funding, Mike Beaudoin and Rodney Rice joined the Board of Directors, along with QualVu CEO and Founder John Williamson.

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

The Merlin Technologies is to assemble and build a new and unique talent acquisition company raised $10 million in Series A financing

What Company Is Offering:
The Merlin Technologies is to assemble and build a new and unique talent acquisition company through the effective integration of complementary pre-employment point solution providers. Employers currently deal with too many vendors in a fragmented pre-employment process that increases cost and complexity. Merlin streamlines the process and provides one-stop shopping that allows the customer to achieve better hiring results and improved productivity through an integrated and improved process, and simplification and cost reduction through fewer vendor implementations, contracts and databases.

How Much They Got From VCs:

It has raised $10 million in Series A financing from Updata Partners. Funding will be used to expand operations and finance the acquisition of ASSESS Systems, a leading provider of web-enabled candidate assessment and employee development offerings. Commensurate with the funding, Ira Cohen, Venture Partner, and Barry Goldsmith, General Partner at Updata Partners have joined the board of directors.

As the former CEO and CFO of Peopleclick, Inc., Merlin Technologies' founders, Steve Sasser and Jim Buchanan, are knowledgeable leaders in the talent acquisition market; having gained valuable experience working with industry leading customers at Peopleclick - who was a pioneer in this market. Sasser and Buchanan formed Merlin to assemble and build a new and unique talent acquisition company through the effective integration of complementary pre-employment point solution providers. They have extensive experience with merger and acquisition activities and worked together in leadership roles at Legent and Goal Systems earlier in their careers.

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

Vaultus Mobile Technologies that extends business-critical applications to handheld devices for anywhere, anytime access Got $6 million In VCs Fund

What Company Is Offering:
Vaultus Mobile Technologies is a mobility leader that extends business-critical applications to handheld devices for anywhere, anytime access. Its award-winning Mobile Application Platform provides the fastest and most secure access to enterprise data, along with unparalleled ease of use.

How Much They Got From VCs:

Vaultus Mobile Technologies, a leader in extending business-critical applications to handheld devices, announced that it closed a $6 million expansion round. The round was lead by Point Judith Capital with participation from existing investors Susquehanna International Group and IDG Ventures. The funding will enable Vaultus to accelerate its growth in the mobile space, building its sales and partnership channels to extend its leadership position in the burgeoning mobile market.

What VCs Says About Company:
“Mobile is the future of the enterprise application. Over the next few years every major corporation is going to have to be sure that any application they deploy be available anywhere at any time,” said David Martirano, general partner at Point Judith Capital and Vaultus board member. “Vaultus is positioned for strong growth, not only because of the market, but because it has the right technology, the right management team and the strong partnerships that will propel it forward.”

About VCs:
Point Judith Capital is a leading early-stage venture capital firm partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs building communications, Internet, healthcare and technology companies. Point Judith Capital has a strategic partnership with Tudor Investment Corporation, an internationally recognized, diversified investment management firm.
For more, visit http://www.pointjudithcapital.com.

More at:www.vaultus.com

Camlink is an innovative dating service that brings the popular concept of Speed Dating to the web

What Company Is Offering:
Camlink is an innovative dating service that brings the popular concept of Speed Dating to the web.
Experience Online Speed Dating from the comfort of your own home through a series of online dates. No long profiles. No misleading pictures. Connect with other members through a webcam or chat, then vote for those that you like. Speed Dating is a quick and fun way to meet singles from your area. Get instant results!

How It Works:
Speed dating is based on the scientifically proven fact that most people form their impressions of one another within the first minute of the meeting. After the session, which was a lot of fun, we came to the realization that an online version of Speed Dating could be even better. We felt there is a definite need for a new kind of site that is not profile and picture based, but rather gives users a live interaction with other singles, all from the comfort of their own home. Best of all, Camlink is free to all users.

Each Online Speed Date session consists of a number of mini-dates, ranging anywhere from 1 minute (we call them "turbo dates") to 5 minutes for a typical session. They also host private events for parties of a particular interest. Each event is theme based. During the date you vote if you like the person you're speed dating with. If both users vote YES - then the system detects the match and users are prompted to select which contact information to share. You're able to communicate through our website, or can provide your email address, screen names or phone number if you feel comfortable. The next step is in your hands, for you to plan a future date.
More at:http://www.camlink.com/

TripTouch is a website for independent travelers who want the best from their trip

What Company Is Offering:

TripTouch is a website for independent travelers who want the best from their trip. Everything at TripTouch is centered around your location and your personalized travel tastes. They'll bring you information, services and a lively community - all in one easy to use site. TripTouch is still in beta stage.

Its Features:

TripTouch is free - all you need is an email address, and you're ready to go.

TripTouch is your travel home page and gives you everything you need -
Travel information - attractions, events, accommodation, and more.
Services - maps, news, weather, currency rates and more.
Share your trip - publish your photos and blog your trip!.
Lively travel community - keep in touch with people you meet and find new travel friends.

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

What's Reason Behind Yahoo's rejection of Microsoft's acquisition bid?

Yahoo's rejection of Microsoft's acquisition bid is likely a negotiating strategy to elicit a higher offer and shouldn't be seen as an attempt to resist a deal at all costs, according to analysts.

Neither Microsoft nor Yahoo has many options to improve their position in online services and advertising, and combining forces is their best bet against common rival Google, analysts said.

"It's part of a larger negotiation that's occurring. Clearly, Yahoo should be and is seeking a higher bid, and this is part of that process," said Clayton Moran, a financial analyst with Stanford Group.

Yahoo is unlikely to find a company willing to bid as much as Microsoft for it, while Microsoft will not be able to attain its Internet goals by acquiring a company other than Yahoo. "While they need to negotiate and go through the process, at the end of the day this deal will happen," Moran said.

On Monday, Yahoo rejected Microsoft's bid, saying it undervalues the company. Microsoft offered to pay US$31 for half of Yahoo's outstanding shares and 0.9509 of a Microsoft share for the other half. At the time of the offer, Microsoft's stock stood at $32.60 and the bid was valued at $44.6 billion, a 62 percent premium over Yahoo's stock price at the time. However, the bid's value has dropped with Microsoft's sliding stock price, which at press time was $28.10. At the same time, Yahoo's stock price has risen from a close of $19.18 on the day before the bid to $29.75 at press time.

Moran predicted that Microsoft will adjust its offer so that it ends up at $35 per share, probably increasing the fixed cash portion and reducing the variable stock portion so that value is less vulnerable to Microsoft stock fluctuations. A $35-per-share offer would be a midpoint between the original bid and the $40 per share Yahoo is reportedly seeking.

"We continue to view a Yahoo sale to Microsoft as the most likely outcome," Citigroup financial analysts wrote in a note published Sunday after press reports over the weekend that Yahoo would reject the Microsoft bid. The rejection isn't surprising, but rather consistent with Yahoo's board job to "extract maximum value" for shareholders, the Citigroup analysts wrote.

Yahoo has reportedly held talks with Google and AOL to explore alternatives to a Microsoft acquisition.
Via-Juan Carlos

The Industry Standard

What Company Is Offering:
The Industry Standard features news and analysis that covers emerging technologies and companies, venture funding, acquisitions, site launches, and other developments in the internet space. Additionally, The Standard aggregates community knowledge in a quantified fashion, thereby ranking both the knowledge of the individual community members themselves, as well as the value of the information the community provides as a whole. This system is built as a prediction market, intersected with a reputation-based social network.

How It Works:
Their prediction market is a place where, for entertainment purposes, you can bet on the chances of future events occurring or not occurring, using a virtual currency called "Standard Dollars". The predictions listed on the market are all related to the online economy, which touches nearly all businesses these days. If you see a prediction on the site where you believe you know the future outcome, place a bet and see if you are right. If your bet is correct, you’ll win more "Standard Dollars" to bet on other predictions, and your community rank will increase. If you’re really good, you may also win prizes.

The Community Consensus (Odds) is a rolled-up percentage of all the community's bets on that prediction, meaning it represents the consensus of the community as to the probability of that event. We calculate this not only by the number of total bets, but more importantly, we calculate the amount of Standard Dollars wagered in total. For example, if there is a prediction stating, “Apple will sell 10 million iPhones by October 31, 2008” and the community odds are at 65%, that means the community believes there is a 65% chance that the event will occur by the date specified. Ultimately, the consensus is built off of all of the betting actions of the community, bets in favor and bets against.

More at:http://thestandard.com/

ZocDoc enables you to make appointments with dentists and doctors instantly online

What Company Is Offering:
ZocDoc enables you to make appointments with dentists and doctors instantly online. They are currently offering dental appointments in New York. Other specialties and cities will be added soon.

How It Works:
ZocDoc brings the speed and convenience of the web to finding and booking a dentist or doctor. With a few clicks. You can easily filter doctors and dentists by location or insurance, read reviews by other patients, leave your own doctor rating or find out where a doctor went to school.

Features:
Find doctors and dentists in your neighborhood,
judge their quality by patient reviews & ratings,
filter them by your insurance and finally
book them online 24/7.

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

Lotame- For Online Undrstanding Of Consumer Behaviors

What Company Is Offering:
At Lotame they understand the world of social media and have worked hard to develop tools to navigate this ever-changing environment. Their Crowd Control technology merges important demographic and behavioral cues to provide insight into what users do (actions) as well as what they like (interests). With this powerful data, publishers and advertisers can do what they were previously unable to: increase relevancy by delivering targeted and retargeted messages to engaged users. They bring the audience into focus so our clients can increase the value of ad space, drive sales and enhance overall end user experience.

How It Works:
They aim to bring the social media audience into focus, delivering greater value for ad inventory, driving sales and enhancing overall user experience.
Crowd Control technology creates value for advertising inventory on social media sites by uncovering consumer actions, as well as interests, to target relevant audiences. Through advanced user personality profiles, publishers can more effectively market real estate within these environments. Messages connect to engaged users, achieving greater results from ad investments and increased value for CPMs (cost per impression).
Crowd Control is a revolutionary new technology that delivers a higher return on your advertising investment, increased sales and a better understanding of the users interacting with your brand. By developing advanced user personality profiles, you can create messages and advertising campaigns that genuinely interest social media users. Crowd Control technology creates value for advertising space on social media sites by uncovering consumer actions (behaviors), as well as interests, to consistently target and engage relevant audiences.

More at:http://lotame.com/