What Company is About:
Backchannelmedia's technology will integrate the direct marketing, Internet advertising and television advertising industries into one platform.
Boston-based Backchannelmedia Inc., a provider of advanced software solutions for the TV advertising industry, was founded in 2000 as the pre-eminent provider of information and technologies that transform existing media marketing and advertising business models from those which are managed by sampling and estimation to those which are completely accountable. The company is a supply chain integrator that transforms existing consumer product purchasing models from those which are fragmented across disparate channels to those which will be seamlessly integrated and provide an innovative and intuitive customer experience.
How It Works:
Backchannelmedia is currently designing a 'continuous loop' software system that merges direct marketing and television ad buying software into one platform driven by an automated ad delivery system and an optimized recommendation engine. The system uses actual consumer responses and sales data to produce an ROI breakdown for each advertisement. The company anticipates that this system will change Internet search, television advertising and direct marketing - ushering in a new information age.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Backchannelmedia received a total of $9.5 Million over time from unidentified investors.
More at:http://www.backchannelmedia.com/
Monday, November 19, 2007
MediaMelon is a Internet TV application that makes watching video entertainment easier and more enjoyable
What Company is offering:
MediaMelon is a Internet TV application that makes watching video entertainment easier and more enjoyable. They bring you great shows at the best possible picture quality and create a new way to watch TV.
How It Works;
MediaMelon is a video delivery network. You have to install a plug-in on the computer where you wish to view MediaMelon videos. The plug-in ensures that the videos are kept encrypted (so that the content owners can be comfortable in providing videos to get published on MediaMelon). The plug-in also has the intelligence to automatically record videos as and when the friends in your network refer videos to you. In addition, when videos are published to channels that you have subscribed to, those videos automatically get downloaded and are available.
How is It Different:
It is unlikely that you would be able to see high-quality videos on several sites, such as YouTube, because the technology that they use (streaming video) cannot ensure that the video quality will be good. MediaMelon’ technology is based on video downloads, which means that the videos you see are guaranteed to be at their original quality.
If you subscribe to your favorite channels on MediaMelon, you will get the episodes within those channels automatically, as soon as new episodes are published.
more at:http://www.mediamelon.com/
MediaMelon is a Internet TV application that makes watching video entertainment easier and more enjoyable. They bring you great shows at the best possible picture quality and create a new way to watch TV.
How It Works;
MediaMelon is a video delivery network. You have to install a plug-in on the computer where you wish to view MediaMelon videos. The plug-in ensures that the videos are kept encrypted (so that the content owners can be comfortable in providing videos to get published on MediaMelon). The plug-in also has the intelligence to automatically record videos as and when the friends in your network refer videos to you. In addition, when videos are published to channels that you have subscribed to, those videos automatically get downloaded and are available.
How is It Different:
It is unlikely that you would be able to see high-quality videos on several sites, such as YouTube, because the technology that they use (streaming video) cannot ensure that the video quality will be good. MediaMelon’ technology is based on video downloads, which means that the videos you see are guaranteed to be at their original quality.
If you subscribe to your favorite channels on MediaMelon, you will get the episodes within those channels automatically, as soon as new episodes are published.
more at:http://www.mediamelon.com/
Simulscribe is a voice-recognition tool that’s using its technology to convert your voicemail into text messages
What Company is Offering:
Simulscribe is a voice-recognition tool that’s using its technology to convert your voicemail into text messages, and sends it directly to your mobile phone or email address. They deliver your transcribed voicemail, along with the original audio, to your mobile phone, PDA, and/or email account. This process streamlines your communication flow, saving you both time and money.
How it Works:
SimulScribe converts your voicemail into text messages and then sends them directly to your mobile phone, Blackberry, Goodlink enabled phone and/or your email account.
You can instantly see who has called and what they said, whether you are sitting in a business meeting or traveling on the road. Your voicemail functionality does not change; it can still be listened to and stored for later use.
SimulScribe works with all Major U.S. carriers and networks including: AT&T, Alltell, Cincinnati Bell, Sprint, Skype, T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin and more.
Use SimulScribe to unify your mobile, home and work phones into one unlimited voicemail box and read your voicemail from any of your phone numbers - anywhere.
How Is It different:
It’s not limited to your mobile phone, either. Any voicemail box can be connected to your SimulScribe account, and delivered via email or text message, meaning you can stay on top of things while you’re on a call, in a place where you can’t take a call, or are away from home but find it less time consuming to read your messages rather than dial into a voicemail box and listen to them one-by-one.
More at:http://simulscribe.com/
Simulscribe is a voice-recognition tool that’s using its technology to convert your voicemail into text messages, and sends it directly to your mobile phone or email address. They deliver your transcribed voicemail, along with the original audio, to your mobile phone, PDA, and/or email account. This process streamlines your communication flow, saving you both time and money.
How it Works:
SimulScribe converts your voicemail into text messages and then sends them directly to your mobile phone, Blackberry, Goodlink enabled phone and/or your email account.
You can instantly see who has called and what they said, whether you are sitting in a business meeting or traveling on the road. Your voicemail functionality does not change; it can still be listened to and stored for later use.
SimulScribe works with all Major U.S. carriers and networks including: AT&T, Alltell, Cincinnati Bell, Sprint, Skype, T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin and more.
Use SimulScribe to unify your mobile, home and work phones into one unlimited voicemail box and read your voicemail from any of your phone numbers - anywhere.
How Is It different:
It’s not limited to your mobile phone, either. Any voicemail box can be connected to your SimulScribe account, and delivered via email or text message, meaning you can stay on top of things while you’re on a call, in a place where you can’t take a call, or are away from home but find it less time consuming to read your messages rather than dial into a voicemail box and listen to them one-by-one.
More at:http://simulscribe.com/
quarterlife.com
What Company is Offering:
quarterlife.com, the social network, is devoted to facilitating that same coming of age as the series. Along with community building, it provides resources in all the areas of life that affect those in their twenties – careers, love, health, finances, education, activism.
quarterlife is the new online series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the creative team behind “My So-Called Life,” “thirtysomething,” “Legends of the Fall,” and “Blood Diamond.” It is the first time a true, network-quality series has been produced directly for the Internet. And it’s the first time an independent project of this distinction has been owned and controlled by its creators.
How It Works:
An animated “Portfolio,” a way to present various forms of media – be they videos, photos, music, or writing.
“My Studio,” a workspace and repository for all uploaded media, where soon the users will have tools to write, edit photos and videos, and organize their creative efforts.
“My Private Studio” where works that aren’t ready to be shared, or are too intimate to share, can be safely kept.
Compelling, informative on schools, grants, and techniques, as well as channels for many issues such as love, sex, health, and activism, where users and experts will be able to post content.
Participatory features that will invite the online community to be involved with the ongoing creation of the quarterlife series. Members of the community will be encouraged to upload their own videos and blogs, etc.
In quarterlife Herkovitz and Zwick take on those crucial years between 20 and 30, when so many of life’s important decisions are made. quarterlife tells the ongoing stories of six creative people in their twenties. As with their earlier series, at the center of quarterlife is a commitment to realism, the recognition of universal human themes through the truthful depiction of the way young people speak, work, think, love, argue, and just goof around.
Starting with Dylan, a young woman whose overly truthful video blog (on quarterlife.com of course) spills the closest secrets of her friends, the show’s characters – filmmakers Danny and Jed, actress-bartender Lisa, geek-extraordinaire Andy, and still-tied-to-her-parents Debra – chart the sometimes excruciating, sometimes comic, often emotional experiences that comprise coming of age in the 21st Century.
Where and When to Watch
quarterlife debuts on MyspaceTV.com on November 11, 2007, and on quarterlife.com on November 12th. Also, the series will be made available to other partners such as YouTube, Facebook, and Imeem, one week after each episode airs on MySpace.
MySpaceTV will air the first 36 webisodes of quarterlife. Each webisode will be about eight minutes long, and two episodes will air every week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
More at:http://quarterlife.com/
quarterlife.com, the social network, is devoted to facilitating that same coming of age as the series. Along with community building, it provides resources in all the areas of life that affect those in their twenties – careers, love, health, finances, education, activism.
quarterlife is the new online series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the creative team behind “My So-Called Life,” “thirtysomething,” “Legends of the Fall,” and “Blood Diamond.” It is the first time a true, network-quality series has been produced directly for the Internet. And it’s the first time an independent project of this distinction has been owned and controlled by its creators.
How It Works:
An animated “Portfolio,” a way to present various forms of media – be they videos, photos, music, or writing.
“My Studio,” a workspace and repository for all uploaded media, where soon the users will have tools to write, edit photos and videos, and organize their creative efforts.
“My Private Studio” where works that aren’t ready to be shared, or are too intimate to share, can be safely kept.
Compelling, informative on schools, grants, and techniques, as well as channels for many issues such as love, sex, health, and activism, where users and experts will be able to post content.
Participatory features that will invite the online community to be involved with the ongoing creation of the quarterlife series. Members of the community will be encouraged to upload their own videos and blogs, etc.
In quarterlife Herkovitz and Zwick take on those crucial years between 20 and 30, when so many of life’s important decisions are made. quarterlife tells the ongoing stories of six creative people in their twenties. As with their earlier series, at the center of quarterlife is a commitment to realism, the recognition of universal human themes through the truthful depiction of the way young people speak, work, think, love, argue, and just goof around.
Starting with Dylan, a young woman whose overly truthful video blog (on quarterlife.com of course) spills the closest secrets of her friends, the show’s characters – filmmakers Danny and Jed, actress-bartender Lisa, geek-extraordinaire Andy, and still-tied-to-her-parents Debra – chart the sometimes excruciating, sometimes comic, often emotional experiences that comprise coming of age in the 21st Century.
Where and When to Watch
quarterlife debuts on MyspaceTV.com on November 11, 2007, and on quarterlife.com on November 12th. Also, the series will be made available to other partners such as YouTube, Facebook, and Imeem, one week after each episode airs on MySpace.
MySpaceTV will air the first 36 webisodes of quarterlife. Each webisode will be about eight minutes long, and two episodes will air every week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
More at:http://quarterlife.com/
MyThings has added a clever feature for the holiday season
What Company is Offering:
MyThings is a social shopping site , allowing users to appraise the valuation of items, show off their products, and browse the profiles of other users of the site. They have built in links to the major shopping comparison engines so you can see the sale price of items at a variety of online outlets. MyThings is for people with too much stuff. Or, conversely, people who don’t have that much, but really like what they own.
How It Works:
They’re a free service that helps you organize your possessions online, whether that’s electronics, jewelry, antiques, or your vast collection of Smurfs action figures. They also provide services like valuation, accessories, manuals, repair info, recycling, donation, a one-click sell-on-eBay feature, and an easy way to report to Trace, a global database of lost or stolen goods.
New Added Features For Holiday Season:
MyThings has added a clever feature for the holiday season: the ability to anonymously ask people what they think of your gift idea. To do so, you add an item from the MyThings product catalog to your gift list and can then send the intended recipient the gift idea. The recipient then logs in to MyThings and lets you know how they feel about the gift (“love it, like it, or so-so”). The site requires the recipient to signup for a MyThings account in order to vote – a restriction that ought to be removed.
More at:http://www.mythings.com
MyThings is a social shopping site , allowing users to appraise the valuation of items, show off their products, and browse the profiles of other users of the site. They have built in links to the major shopping comparison engines so you can see the sale price of items at a variety of online outlets. MyThings is for people with too much stuff. Or, conversely, people who don’t have that much, but really like what they own.
How It Works:
They’re a free service that helps you organize your possessions online, whether that’s electronics, jewelry, antiques, or your vast collection of Smurfs action figures. They also provide services like valuation, accessories, manuals, repair info, recycling, donation, a one-click sell-on-eBay feature, and an easy way to report to Trace, a global database of lost or stolen goods.
New Added Features For Holiday Season:
MyThings has added a clever feature for the holiday season: the ability to anonymously ask people what they think of your gift idea. To do so, you add an item from the MyThings product catalog to your gift list and can then send the intended recipient the gift idea. The recipient then logs in to MyThings and lets you know how they feel about the gift (“love it, like it, or so-so”). The site requires the recipient to signup for a MyThings account in order to vote – a restriction that ought to be removed.
More at:http://www.mythings.com
synthasite got $5 million in Series A funding from Columbus Venture Capital
What Company is Offering:
Their goal is to create a unique website building experience for everyone that wants to publish content onto the web.
How It Works:
You can work with the tools available within its service, which easily arrange text, images, badges and buttons to create a professional-looking site. There are a few items available by default, such as a YouTube video or a Flickr photo search, which can be added into your design as well.
Build your website in minutes with no programming knowledge.
Get started quickly with our growing template library.
Over a dozen site templates to start building with.
Free hosting & free domain name.
Download your site & host it yourself if you want.
How Much They Got In VCs Funding:
They got $5 million in Series A funding from Columbus Venture Capital. Like many startups before it, Synthasite’s mission is to let users with no HTML or design skills create web pages.
More at:http://www.synthasite.com/
Their goal is to create a unique website building experience for everyone that wants to publish content onto the web.
How It Works:
You can work with the tools available within its service, which easily arrange text, images, badges and buttons to create a professional-looking site. There are a few items available by default, such as a YouTube video or a Flickr photo search, which can be added into your design as well.
Build your website in minutes with no programming knowledge.
Get started quickly with our growing template library.
Over a dozen site templates to start building with.
Free hosting & free domain name.
Download your site & host it yourself if you want.
How Much They Got In VCs Funding:
They got $5 million in Series A funding from Columbus Venture Capital. Like many startups before it, Synthasite’s mission is to let users with no HTML or design skills create web pages.
More at:http://www.synthasite.com/
UnLtdWorld.com---Connecting Social Entrepreneurs
What Company Is Offering:
UnLtdWorld is an online platform that aims to connect social entrepreneurs and enable them to share content and build collaborative value, raise the visibility of ideas, issues and projects, and help generate greater positive impact in the real world.UnLtdWorld empowers people to generate greater social impact in the real world by enabling them to share, shape and build knowledge, markets and communities through social networks.
How It Works:
On UnLtdWorld you can connect with other socially-minded people, search and share resources and opportunities, find and list services and products, share answers to key questions, create and join groups, support inspiring projects, and lots more.
On the site you can control which information you share, set how it's displayed and who can see it.
UnLtdWorld is a project of UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. UnLtd's mission is to reach out and unleash the energies of people who can transform the world in which they live. We call these people social entrepreneurs.
UnLtdWorld was developed by Curverider on their next generation social platform, in collaboration with UnLtd and designed by Pete Harris.
More at:http://unltdworld.com/
UnLtdWorld is an online platform that aims to connect social entrepreneurs and enable them to share content and build collaborative value, raise the visibility of ideas, issues and projects, and help generate greater positive impact in the real world.UnLtdWorld empowers people to generate greater social impact in the real world by enabling them to share, shape and build knowledge, markets and communities through social networks.
How It Works:
On UnLtdWorld you can connect with other socially-minded people, search and share resources and opportunities, find and list services and products, share answers to key questions, create and join groups, support inspiring projects, and lots more.
On the site you can control which information you share, set how it's displayed and who can see it.
UnLtdWorld is a project of UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. UnLtd's mission is to reach out and unleash the energies of people who can transform the world in which they live. We call these people social entrepreneurs.
UnLtdWorld was developed by Curverider on their next generation social platform, in collaboration with UnLtd and designed by Pete Harris.
More at:http://unltdworld.com/
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Unusual Profitable Business Idea
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
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
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/
Saturday, November 17, 2007
ON Networks ---For Tv,Videos On demand
What Company is Offering:
ON Networks has set out to change the way traditional TV programs are created, distributed, consumed and monetized.
They deliver high-definition shows on-demand across multiple digital platforms, including the Internet, digital cable, IPTV, and various mobile and gaming devices.
How It Works:
ON Networks is a new digital media company that is built around the
shifts in how TV shows are created, distributed, viewed and monetized.
Put simply, an ON show is coming to pretty much every glowing screen
near you – from TV to computer to mobile device.
We've created a haven for smart, engaging and entertaining programs for
every pastime and pursuit. And since we believe in the future of our
content, we ensure that all shows are produced in glorious HD.
More at:http://www.onnetworks.com/
ON Networks has set out to change the way traditional TV programs are created, distributed, consumed and monetized.
They deliver high-definition shows on-demand across multiple digital platforms, including the Internet, digital cable, IPTV, and various mobile and gaming devices.
How It Works:
ON Networks is a new digital media company that is built around the
shifts in how TV shows are created, distributed, viewed and monetized.
Put simply, an ON show is coming to pretty much every glowing screen
near you – from TV to computer to mobile device.
We've created a haven for smart, engaging and entertaining programs for
every pastime and pursuit. And since we believe in the future of our
content, we ensure that all shows are produced in glorious HD.
More at:http://www.onnetworks.com/
YOU BE THE VC-----Powered By Your Ideas
What Company is offering:
Bang Ventures is a New York based investment firm with offices in Cambridge and is focused on early stage emerging technology companies. Bang Ventures isn't a VC firm. They help smart and driven people co-found fantastic new companies, providing entrepreneurs with a roof over their heads, mentoring, a deep network of contacts, marketing support, professional services and other technical support....and yes, funding as well.
How It Works:
Bang Ventures gets into the projects at the inception phase, evaluating opportunities and empowering entrepreneurs to develop strong companies. The firm is currently focused on investing in North America and Eastern/Central Europe in sectors ranging from Web 2.0 to clean tech to medical devices.
Bang Ventures is making an open call for entrepreneurs to submit their ideas for new start-ups -- then they'll let the public decide on the next three companies we fund….after several rounds of tasks, analysis, and video pitches. That is You Be The VC in a nutshell.
Essentially the three selected companies get a company to run. Winners will get financing, programming/web development, expert mentoring, office space, legal, accounting, administrative and marketing support, as well as a stipend to live and work in Cambridge.
Who is Behind The Company:
Mark is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, executive, investor and visionary. He Co-founded New Europe Ventures, a Polish-based Venture Capital firm, as well as the Benet Group, Leonardo BioSystems, Lux Research, and the NanoBusiness Alliance. He has served as a senior executive at NanoDynamics (and continues to advise the company), Opion, GolinHarris and NRW. In addition, he has consulted for companies ranging from NanoSys to Engelhard to Mastercard to Yahoo to eSpeed to Pixar to DaimlerChrysler.
Mark is a member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group to the President Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). He is among the most well known figures in technology and was recognized by Forbes as a "powerbroker" and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, US News, ABC, BBC, NY Times, Business Week, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, among others. Mark also appeared regularly as CNBC technology commentator and on occasion as a co-host of SquawkBox.
More at:http://www.youbethevc.com/
Bang Ventures is a New York based investment firm with offices in Cambridge and is focused on early stage emerging technology companies. Bang Ventures isn't a VC firm. They help smart and driven people co-found fantastic new companies, providing entrepreneurs with a roof over their heads, mentoring, a deep network of contacts, marketing support, professional services and other technical support....and yes, funding as well.
How It Works:
Bang Ventures gets into the projects at the inception phase, evaluating opportunities and empowering entrepreneurs to develop strong companies. The firm is currently focused on investing in North America and Eastern/Central Europe in sectors ranging from Web 2.0 to clean tech to medical devices.
Bang Ventures is making an open call for entrepreneurs to submit their ideas for new start-ups -- then they'll let the public decide on the next three companies we fund….after several rounds of tasks, analysis, and video pitches. That is You Be The VC in a nutshell.
Essentially the three selected companies get a company to run. Winners will get financing, programming/web development, expert mentoring, office space, legal, accounting, administrative and marketing support, as well as a stipend to live and work in Cambridge.
Who is Behind The Company:
Mark is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, executive, investor and visionary. He Co-founded New Europe Ventures, a Polish-based Venture Capital firm, as well as the Benet Group, Leonardo BioSystems, Lux Research, and the NanoBusiness Alliance. He has served as a senior executive at NanoDynamics (and continues to advise the company), Opion, GolinHarris and NRW. In addition, he has consulted for companies ranging from NanoSys to Engelhard to Mastercard to Yahoo to eSpeed to Pixar to DaimlerChrysler.
Mark is a member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group to the President Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). He is among the most well known figures in technology and was recognized by Forbes as a "powerbroker" and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, US News, ABC, BBC, NY Times, Business Week, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, among others. Mark also appeared regularly as CNBC technology commentator and on occasion as a co-host of SquawkBox.
More at:http://www.youbethevc.com/
Iovation--to prevent online fraud, abusive behavior, and unauthorized access to online services got $10 million from Intel Capital
What Company is Offering:
iovation Reputation Services are built on an advanced device identification and reputation management platform to prevent online fraud, abusive behavior, and unauthorized access to online services. The system flags suspicious and hard-to-spot associations among online accounts/transactions and devices. Members of our reputation network benefit from sharing fraud intelligence to proactively stop known offenders.
iovation Reputation Services consist of several solutions built on the underlying reputation management platform called Device Reputation Authority™ (DRA).
Why to use it:
If you’re serious about managing risk, protecting your brand and customers, iovation Reputation Services™ should become a key component of your best practices program for online fraud prevention and multi-factor authentication.
Why Is it Different:
Unlike other products that help e-commerce sites identify fraudsters, Iovation doesn't track personal information. In other words, it doesn't track people, it tracks computers.
It gathers data that tells a company which computers, hand-helds or cell phones have been responsible for credit card fraud, cheating at online games, stalking or other bad actions at Iovation clients' Web sites.
Iovation tracks more than 16 million devices for its customers, quadruple the number that the company tracked at the beginning of this year.
How Much They Got from VCs:
They got $10 million from Intel Capital, with the promise of another $5 million if it cannot find more investors. It is the first outside funding for the Portland software maker.
More at:http://www.iovation.com/
iovation Reputation Services are built on an advanced device identification and reputation management platform to prevent online fraud, abusive behavior, and unauthorized access to online services. The system flags suspicious and hard-to-spot associations among online accounts/transactions and devices. Members of our reputation network benefit from sharing fraud intelligence to proactively stop known offenders.
iovation Reputation Services consist of several solutions built on the underlying reputation management platform called Device Reputation Authority™ (DRA).
Why to use it:
If you’re serious about managing risk, protecting your brand and customers, iovation Reputation Services™ should become a key component of your best practices program for online fraud prevention and multi-factor authentication.
Why Is it Different:
Unlike other products that help e-commerce sites identify fraudsters, Iovation doesn't track personal information. In other words, it doesn't track people, it tracks computers.
It gathers data that tells a company which computers, hand-helds or cell phones have been responsible for credit card fraud, cheating at online games, stalking or other bad actions at Iovation clients' Web sites.
Iovation tracks more than 16 million devices for its customers, quadruple the number that the company tracked at the beginning of this year.
How Much They Got from VCs:
They got $10 million from Intel Capital, with the promise of another $5 million if it cannot find more investors. It is the first outside funding for the Portland software maker.
More at:http://www.iovation.com/
Blowtorch is an entertainment company got $50 million in initial funding including an equity investment from Ignition Partners
What Company is Offering:
Blowtorch is an entertainment company that joins forces with you, their online legion of young, creative thinkers, to create unique feature length and short form films. You see, they kinda look at it like this, if you've helped to create something, there's a good chance you might actually like it.
And for those choosing to partake in the experience, they encourage you to put your stink on all things Blowtorch, or maybe just kick back and enjoy the deliciously stinky fruits of your peers labors.
How It Works:
Submit a video of your best short film idea. The theme can be anything at all related to “TECHNOLOGY.” Internet dating, killer robot vacuums, used time machine salesmen...whatever.
Remember, it’s all about the idea, not how you shoot it. So, a video camera is great, but a web-cam works too. Shoot it, pitch it, just get your idea out there. If yours wins, we’ll fly you out to LA to produce it for real. Submit as many as you like, just keep them under 3 minutes.
Blowtorch puts out 6 feature films per year. They play in hundreds of theaters nationwide. Any one film might be funny or edgy or scary, but if anything, they will always celebrate irreverence, engaging you in a familiar voice and attitude.
Likewise, their original live action and animated short films, or as we call them our "Blowtorch Shorts," are cut from the same cloth, just shamelessly and unapologetically making fun of anything and everything that gets in their way.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They announced that it has secured more than $50 million in initial funding including an equity investment from Ignition Partners.To create a media company for the young adult audience based on the belief that their media consumption behaviors require new rules for media creation. The investment enables Blowtorch to launch a three-year stream of feature films and short-form content, as well as to build the Blowtorch.com online community. The company’s first feature film release will be “You Are Here” and will debut in theaters in spring 2008.
Who Is behind Them:
The company was established by senior executives in entertainment, technology and advertising from firms including Leo Burnett, MTV, Ogilvy & Mather, Starcom MediaVest Group, Verizon and major Hollywood studios.
More at:http://bigscreen.blowtorch.com/
Blowtorch is an entertainment company that joins forces with you, their online legion of young, creative thinkers, to create unique feature length and short form films. You see, they kinda look at it like this, if you've helped to create something, there's a good chance you might actually like it.
And for those choosing to partake in the experience, they encourage you to put your stink on all things Blowtorch, or maybe just kick back and enjoy the deliciously stinky fruits of your peers labors.
How It Works:
Submit a video of your best short film idea. The theme can be anything at all related to “TECHNOLOGY.” Internet dating, killer robot vacuums, used time machine salesmen...whatever.
Remember, it’s all about the idea, not how you shoot it. So, a video camera is great, but a web-cam works too. Shoot it, pitch it, just get your idea out there. If yours wins, we’ll fly you out to LA to produce it for real. Submit as many as you like, just keep them under 3 minutes.
Blowtorch puts out 6 feature films per year. They play in hundreds of theaters nationwide. Any one film might be funny or edgy or scary, but if anything, they will always celebrate irreverence, engaging you in a familiar voice and attitude.
Likewise, their original live action and animated short films, or as we call them our "Blowtorch Shorts," are cut from the same cloth, just shamelessly and unapologetically making fun of anything and everything that gets in their way.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They announced that it has secured more than $50 million in initial funding including an equity investment from Ignition Partners.To create a media company for the young adult audience based on the belief that their media consumption behaviors require new rules for media creation. The investment enables Blowtorch to launch a three-year stream of feature films and short-form content, as well as to build the Blowtorch.com online community. The company’s first feature film release will be “You Are Here” and will debut in theaters in spring 2008.
Who Is behind Them:
The company was established by senior executives in entertainment, technology and advertising from firms including Leo Burnett, MTV, Ogilvy & Mather, Starcom MediaVest Group, Verizon and major Hollywood studios.
More at:http://bigscreen.blowtorch.com/
Tilefile Your Personal Content Channel Got VCs Funding From Motorola Ventures
What Company is offering:
To bring you The Content You Care About™. Over time Tilefile will evolve to become your personal content channel, where the content you care about will be fed to you in a constant stream of Tiles, without you having to do anything. For the content that doesn't interest you, we will work hard to make sure it never gets to you.
How It Works:
When you upload photos, videos and audio to Tilefile, it gets wrapped as "Tiles" and automatically shared with your contact list. Similarly all the content your friends upload is automatically shared with you in your "Social Feed".
Instead of using emails as the vehicle for sharing your media, use Tilefiles. Tilefiles allow you to add descriptions and comments, they can be embedded into web pages, and they are evolving fast. Because they live in the web, they won't clog up your inbox.
As more people start to channel their media through Tilefile, we will add new ways of integrating with your existing social networks and services, and new devices that can upload to Tilefile and browse the service.
With Tiles you don't have to distinguish between photos, videos, audio or messages. Everything becomes simply a "Tile". When you upload a piece of media to TileFile it gets automatically turned into a Tile. This way everyone shares one format for organizing and combining their experiences. Tilefiles are "community neutral". The moment a Tile is created it is ready to be shared or embedded in other communities, blogs and websites. You may also embed folders of Tilefiles so that they appear as a "Grid" of thumbnails, ready for navigation or viewing as a slide show.
How Much They Got In VCs Funding:
Motorola Ventures, its strategic venture capital arm, today announced that it has made an equity investment in Tilefile Limited.
About VC:http://www.motorola.com/
More at:http://www.tilefile.com/
To bring you The Content You Care About™. Over time Tilefile will evolve to become your personal content channel, where the content you care about will be fed to you in a constant stream of Tiles, without you having to do anything. For the content that doesn't interest you, we will work hard to make sure it never gets to you.
How It Works:
When you upload photos, videos and audio to Tilefile, it gets wrapped as "Tiles" and automatically shared with your contact list. Similarly all the content your friends upload is automatically shared with you in your "Social Feed".
Instead of using emails as the vehicle for sharing your media, use Tilefiles. Tilefiles allow you to add descriptions and comments, they can be embedded into web pages, and they are evolving fast. Because they live in the web, they won't clog up your inbox.
As more people start to channel their media through Tilefile, we will add new ways of integrating with your existing social networks and services, and new devices that can upload to Tilefile and browse the service.
With Tiles you don't have to distinguish between photos, videos, audio or messages. Everything becomes simply a "Tile". When you upload a piece of media to TileFile it gets automatically turned into a Tile. This way everyone shares one format for organizing and combining their experiences. Tilefiles are "community neutral". The moment a Tile is created it is ready to be shared or embedded in other communities, blogs and websites. You may also embed folders of Tilefiles so that they appear as a "Grid" of thumbnails, ready for navigation or viewing as a slide show.
How Much They Got In VCs Funding:
Motorola Ventures, its strategic venture capital arm, today announced that it has made an equity investment in Tilefile Limited.
About VC:http://www.motorola.com/
More at:http://www.tilefile.com/
CakeMail is the world’s newest white label email marketing platform
What Company is Offering:
CakeMail is the world’s newest white label email marketing platform. It’s a true private label tool that uses a reseller’s own domain name, even for the user interface. And it can be offered in any language. Plus, it’s got an API that lets agencies and third-party developers extend, integrate and build on all that goodness. Happily, this delicious combination comes at a price that won’t make you sick to your stomach.
How It Works:
For end-users, it's a great online tool for easily creating and managing newsletter mailings. Visit a CakeMail reseller to open a user account.
For agencies, it's a true white label solution that lets you adopt CakeMail and market it as your own with total control over the design, branding and domain name.
For third-party developers, designers and translators, it's a platform that you can use to extend CakeMail's features with plugins, skins, and new interface languages.
Why to use it:
Email marketing is a terrific tool that can give agencies’ customers a real edge. So why aren’t more agencies offering it to their clients? Building and managing one’s own platform is both expensive and complicated. And many so-called white label options still redirect agencies’ customers to a domain name and an interface over which they have little control when it comes to branding, design or language. Until now.
More at:http://www.cakemail.com/
CakeMail is the world’s newest white label email marketing platform. It’s a true private label tool that uses a reseller’s own domain name, even for the user interface. And it can be offered in any language. Plus, it’s got an API that lets agencies and third-party developers extend, integrate and build on all that goodness. Happily, this delicious combination comes at a price that won’t make you sick to your stomach.
How It Works:
For end-users, it's a great online tool for easily creating and managing newsletter mailings. Visit a CakeMail reseller to open a user account.
For agencies, it's a true white label solution that lets you adopt CakeMail and market it as your own with total control over the design, branding and domain name.
For third-party developers, designers and translators, it's a platform that you can use to extend CakeMail's features with plugins, skins, and new interface languages.
Why to use it:
Email marketing is a terrific tool that can give agencies’ customers a real edge. So why aren’t more agencies offering it to their clients? Building and managing one’s own platform is both expensive and complicated. And many so-called white label options still redirect agencies’ customers to a domain name and an interface over which they have little control when it comes to branding, design or language. Until now.
More at:http://www.cakemail.com/
Rich Sage--Money Making Wisdom
What Company is Offering:
The RICH SAGE will review your web site or blog and take an article that you have written about it and publish on my network, based on category.
How It Works:
The aim of the Rich Sage is to present outstanding monetizing (online money making methods), online success building lessons, a forum and membership to help you build your online income. Since then a million places and hundreds of ad networks have sprung up all over the world. Yet, very few of these services offer the local business a way to effectively resolve their advertising needs. Furthermore, the solutions that are out there are very expensive for the local small business that has a monthly budget of a few dollars to get things done.Everything you do to build your business and the Rich Sage promoted Affiliate Programs, are discussed at richsage.com to help you and other readers build their own businesses.
And that discussion along with your membership area and affiliate program (which are also FREE) helps you start earning money online.
More at:http://www.richsage.com/
The RICH SAGE will review your web site or blog and take an article that you have written about it and publish on my network, based on category.
How It Works:
The aim of the Rich Sage is to present outstanding monetizing (online money making methods), online success building lessons, a forum and membership to help you build your online income. Since then a million places and hundreds of ad networks have sprung up all over the world. Yet, very few of these services offer the local business a way to effectively resolve their advertising needs. Furthermore, the solutions that are out there are very expensive for the local small business that has a monthly budget of a few dollars to get things done.Everything you do to build your business and the Rich Sage promoted Affiliate Programs, are discussed at richsage.com to help you and other readers build their own businesses.
And that discussion along with your membership area and affiliate program (which are also FREE) helps you start earning money online.
More at:http://www.richsage.com/
CouchTycoon ---Friend And Family Venture Network
What Company is offering:
The CouchTycoon Friends n Family Venture Network is an internet community that aims to grow to the strongest investment consortium trough the power of united internet users all over the globe. It stands for community managed ventures. The community owns equities in companies, start-ups, single projects and even standard investment products every community member can buy stakes (we call them "Asset Slips") from
CouchTycoon enables you to submit new investment ideas, to discuss and vote on them and finally to decide about major issues and invest jointly.
How It Works:
Participants can directly invest in start-ups starting at approximately $ 4 and they can trade their shares they’ve bought once. So startups get financed and quoted in real values and at their very first steps they do. To invest and trade shares of startups you must convert your dollars to "CouchChips" first, as they call their own currency. To submit a project is as easy as writing an e-mail or blogging. Describe your project like you would do in an e-mail to one of your friends. Your post will appear on the "Going to Beef Island" site as well as in the "Going to Beef Island Feed".
What's Different:
CouchTycoon lets the community participate in the success-stories of the web. Not like the other sites that let their user work for them by creating their content. CouchTycoon lets their user participate in a startups’ success.
More at:http://www.couchtycoon.net/
The CouchTycoon Friends n Family Venture Network is an internet community that aims to grow to the strongest investment consortium trough the power of united internet users all over the globe. It stands for community managed ventures. The community owns equities in companies, start-ups, single projects and even standard investment products every community member can buy stakes (we call them "Asset Slips") from
CouchTycoon enables you to submit new investment ideas, to discuss and vote on them and finally to decide about major issues and invest jointly.
How It Works:
Participants can directly invest in start-ups starting at approximately $ 4 and they can trade their shares they’ve bought once. So startups get financed and quoted in real values and at their very first steps they do. To invest and trade shares of startups you must convert your dollars to "CouchChips" first, as they call their own currency. To submit a project is as easy as writing an e-mail or blogging. Describe your project like you would do in an e-mail to one of your friends. Your post will appear on the "Going to Beef Island" site as well as in the "Going to Beef Island Feed".
What's Different:
CouchTycoon lets the community participate in the success-stories of the web. Not like the other sites that let their user work for them by creating their content. CouchTycoon lets their user participate in a startups’ success.
More at:http://www.couchtycoon.net/
Friday, November 16, 2007
iXiGO is a travel search engine for Indian consumers
What Company is About:
iXiGO is a travel search engine for Indian consumers.To aggregate travel information and make it searchable and useful and their technology that brings speed, usability and transparency to the travel world.
How It Works:
They let you search directly across multiple airlines and online travel agencies in real-time so that you don't need to search a zillion travel websites. They thus aim to make your travel search easier for you, the same way Google does for information on websites.
They do not advertise any 0 Rs. fares, 1 Rs. fares, 99 Rs. fares on our site, for one simple reason - they let you cut through the crap and give you the raw deal - inclusive of all taxes and fees. We believe that travelers want all-inclusive price comparison, even for roundtrip fares, where selecting an onward and return flight separately is not only tedious but unnecessary. They show you all combinations with the actual price that hits your pock.
Why It is In News Again:]
Red Herring Magazine announced today that iXiGO.com has been short listed for the Red Herring 100 Global 2007 Awards.
XiGO is a finalist at Red Herring Asia 100, 2007(Red Herring is a global media company uniting the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums), the prestigious list of hot companies in Asia.
More at:http://www.ixigo.com/
iXiGO is a travel search engine for Indian consumers.To aggregate travel information and make it searchable and useful and their technology that brings speed, usability and transparency to the travel world.
How It Works:
They let you search directly across multiple airlines and online travel agencies in real-time so that you don't need to search a zillion travel websites. They thus aim to make your travel search easier for you, the same way Google does for information on websites.
They do not advertise any 0 Rs. fares, 1 Rs. fares, 99 Rs. fares on our site, for one simple reason - they let you cut through the crap and give you the raw deal - inclusive of all taxes and fees. We believe that travelers want all-inclusive price comparison, even for roundtrip fares, where selecting an onward and return flight separately is not only tedious but unnecessary. They show you all combinations with the actual price that hits your pock.
Why It is In News Again:]
Red Herring Magazine announced today that iXiGO.com has been short listed for the Red Herring 100 Global 2007 Awards.
XiGO is a finalist at Red Herring Asia 100, 2007(Red Herring is a global media company uniting the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums), the prestigious list of hot companies in Asia.
More at:http://www.ixigo.com/
MegaPhone is a phone-controlled multi-player collaborative gaming platform for big screens in public spaces
What Company is Offering:
MegaPhone is a phone-controlled, real-time, multi-player collaborative gaming platform for big screens in public spaces. Megaphone can join in a simple video game by calling in with their cell phones, with their phones serving as makeshift game controllers. As a video on Megaphone’s website demonstrates, those linked into the game can fire weapons at space-alien attackers while seeing their own avatar along with those of other players.
How It Works:
Anyone can use ANY phone from ANY service provider in ANY country as a game controller.
Players join the game by making a regular phone call, and they can see their input (either voice or keypad) immediately.
MegaPhone turns pedestrians into players.
What's Different:
The essential strength is audience participation on a massive scale. Participants get a sense they’re contributing to a larger effort, in the same way stadium goers continue to enjoy creating the wave during sporting events. With multitudes of users participating, everyone also retains some needed anonymity. If you play poorly, no one will know. ;-) And Megaphone is yet another example of harnessing cell phones to enhance a marketing effort.
More at: www.playmegaphone.com
MegaPhone is a phone-controlled, real-time, multi-player collaborative gaming platform for big screens in public spaces. Megaphone can join in a simple video game by calling in with their cell phones, with their phones serving as makeshift game controllers. As a video on Megaphone’s website demonstrates, those linked into the game can fire weapons at space-alien attackers while seeing their own avatar along with those of other players.
How It Works:
Anyone can use ANY phone from ANY service provider in ANY country as a game controller.
Players join the game by making a regular phone call, and they can see their input (either voice or keypad) immediately.
MegaPhone turns pedestrians into players.
What's Different:
The essential strength is audience participation on a massive scale. Participants get a sense they’re contributing to a larger effort, in the same way stadium goers continue to enjoy creating the wave during sporting events. With multitudes of users participating, everyone also retains some needed anonymity. If you play poorly, no one will know. ;-) And Megaphone is yet another example of harnessing cell phones to enhance a marketing effort.
More at: www.playmegaphone.com
Claseo is the world's first closed shopping community " Shopping But Only By Invitation"
What Company Is Offering:
Claseo is the world's first closed shopping community. You can only buy items from their label if you are invited by a member. Claseo also offers its members a lifestyle oriented online portal where you can connect with your fellow friends.
Claseo is making the most of that trend with an invitation-only line of clothing. Each member of Claseo is given a limited number of invitations to share with friends, who must enter an invitation code and make a purchase in order to become members themselves. Once they've done that, they gain access to Claseo's fashion label and an online lifestyle portal; the inviting member, meanwhile, is credited with a EUR 10 discount on their next purchase.
How It Works:
All Claseo items are emblazoned with a unique, visible identification code. Not only does that code allow members to recognize one another in a crowd, but it also enables them to learn more about each other. By entering the code seen on another member's shirt on Claseo’s website (or mobile site), a user can learn that person's name. Members can connect through Claseo's online portal, which features profiles, messaging and photo galleries, as well as exchange information and tips on a variety of fashion and lifestyle topics.
Claseo also picks up on the customer-made trend by inviting members to submit design suggestions and vote on new collection ideas, thereby helping to shape the brand and its products; those whose design ideas are adopted get a share in the profits. The site's product line so far includes just its summer collection of polo shirts, but dress shirts, rugby shirts and dinner jackets are on the way. Claseo is currently also forging partnership arrangements with leading clubs and fashion stores around the world for extended member benefits, beginning with Munich's P1 Lounge & Club.
How To Buy:
Everyone can browse our online store but only some people are allowed to actually buy Claseo fashion. See how the process works:
1. Receive an invitation, either...
* ...by a current member through our invitation cards,
* ...by email from a current member or
* ...by applying for a membership here.
2. Choose your Claseo items from our online store.
3. Pay by Credit Card, Bank Transfer or Paypal.
4. Receive your products and your login details for our exclusive online portal.
5. Now you have invitation privileges yourself and you can invite other interesting people to join Claseo.
More at: www.claseo.com
Claseo is the world's first closed shopping community. You can only buy items from their label if you are invited by a member. Claseo also offers its members a lifestyle oriented online portal where you can connect with your fellow friends.
Claseo is making the most of that trend with an invitation-only line of clothing. Each member of Claseo is given a limited number of invitations to share with friends, who must enter an invitation code and make a purchase in order to become members themselves. Once they've done that, they gain access to Claseo's fashion label and an online lifestyle portal; the inviting member, meanwhile, is credited with a EUR 10 discount on their next purchase.
How It Works:
All Claseo items are emblazoned with a unique, visible identification code. Not only does that code allow members to recognize one another in a crowd, but it also enables them to learn more about each other. By entering the code seen on another member's shirt on Claseo’s website (or mobile site), a user can learn that person's name. Members can connect through Claseo's online portal, which features profiles, messaging and photo galleries, as well as exchange information and tips on a variety of fashion and lifestyle topics.
Claseo also picks up on the customer-made trend by inviting members to submit design suggestions and vote on new collection ideas, thereby helping to shape the brand and its products; those whose design ideas are adopted get a share in the profits. The site's product line so far includes just its summer collection of polo shirts, but dress shirts, rugby shirts and dinner jackets are on the way. Claseo is currently also forging partnership arrangements with leading clubs and fashion stores around the world for extended member benefits, beginning with Munich's P1 Lounge & Club.
How To Buy:
Everyone can browse our online store but only some people are allowed to actually buy Claseo fashion. See how the process works:
1. Receive an invitation, either...
* ...by a current member through our invitation cards,
* ...by email from a current member or
* ...by applying for a membership here.
2. Choose your Claseo items from our online store.
3. Pay by Credit Card, Bank Transfer or Paypal.
4. Receive your products and your login details for our exclusive online portal.
5. Now you have invitation privileges yourself and you can invite other interesting people to join Claseo.
More at: www.claseo.com
TheStreet.com Raised $55 million from Technology Crossover Ventures
What Company Is About:
Founded by Jim Cramer, the financial news website is looking to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions, in its effort to become a dominate destination site for information regarding money.
How Much They Got FRom VCs:
Technology Crossover Ventures has purchased a minority stake in TheStreet.com, in a move to help the company continue its growth. For the minority stake, TCV paid $55 million, which includes the purchase of preferred stock and warrants to purchase shared of common stock. TCV’s founding general partner has also joined TheStreet’s board.
How They Are Progressing And What's Further Plan:
Towards the end of organic growth, TheStreet will be launching a new site called Mainstreet.com, which looks to be a lifestyle-oriented online publication for resources regarding money news and money management.
TheStreet will also be re-launching TheStreet and Stockpickr, which is one of the companies it has already acquired. As Stockpickr has a bit of social networking capabilities involved in its site, it’s pretty clear that TheStreet is moving towards a diverse repertoire of money-related online resources and tools. Promotions.com is the other acquisition that’s already been made by TheStreet.
More at:http://www.thestreet.com/
www.stockpickr.com
www.Mainstreet.com
Founded by Jim Cramer, the financial news website is looking to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions, in its effort to become a dominate destination site for information regarding money.
How Much They Got FRom VCs:
Technology Crossover Ventures has purchased a minority stake in TheStreet.com, in a move to help the company continue its growth. For the minority stake, TCV paid $55 million, which includes the purchase of preferred stock and warrants to purchase shared of common stock. TCV’s founding general partner has also joined TheStreet’s board.
How They Are Progressing And What's Further Plan:
Towards the end of organic growth, TheStreet will be launching a new site called Mainstreet.com, which looks to be a lifestyle-oriented online publication for resources regarding money news and money management.
TheStreet will also be re-launching TheStreet and Stockpickr, which is one of the companies it has already acquired. As Stockpickr has a bit of social networking capabilities involved in its site, it’s pretty clear that TheStreet is moving towards a diverse repertoire of money-related online resources and tools. Promotions.com is the other acquisition that’s already been made by TheStreet.
More at:http://www.thestreet.com/
www.stockpickr.com
www.Mainstreet.com
Freedom-2 Holdings, Inc. Got $5.4 Million in Series B Funding
What Company is Offering:
Freedom-2™'s technology combines materials known to be safe. Using well-characterized biocompatible materials, Freedom-2™ is successfully engineering ink products designed to address two of the greatest challenges in the tattooing industry: high quality art and effective, less painful, lower cost removability.
Freedom-2™ inks are designed to be permanent and durable. However, we also recognize that life circumstances change and your desire for new body art may cause you to want to remove all or a part of an existing tattoo. Freedom-2™ inks are engineered, independent of color, for efficient and effective laser therapy removal leaving your skin clear and ready for new body art.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $5.4 million in Series B Convertible Preferred financing led by new and current independent investors.
What's Different:
Recently recognized as one of “The Best Inventions of the Year” by Time Magazine, Freedom-2’s Infinitink technology is the first permanent tattoo ink engineered specifically for improved removability. F2 uses bioabsorbable pigments and dyes that are encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer forming a microencapsulated colored bead. These beads are used to make the ink. Tattoo artists use traditional delivery methods to provide a Freedom-2 Infinitink tattoo – the only difference is the ink. An Infinitink tattoo is easily removed using traditional laser therapy that breaks the polymer beads allowing the body to naturally absorb the pigments trapped inside.
More at:http://www.freedom2ink.com/
Freedom-2™'s technology combines materials known to be safe. Using well-characterized biocompatible materials, Freedom-2™ is successfully engineering ink products designed to address two of the greatest challenges in the tattooing industry: high quality art and effective, less painful, lower cost removability.
Freedom-2™ inks are designed to be permanent and durable. However, we also recognize that life circumstances change and your desire for new body art may cause you to want to remove all or a part of an existing tattoo. Freedom-2™ inks are engineered, independent of color, for efficient and effective laser therapy removal leaving your skin clear and ready for new body art.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $5.4 million in Series B Convertible Preferred financing led by new and current independent investors.
What's Different:
Recently recognized as one of “The Best Inventions of the Year” by Time Magazine, Freedom-2’s Infinitink technology is the first permanent tattoo ink engineered specifically for improved removability. F2 uses bioabsorbable pigments and dyes that are encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer forming a microencapsulated colored bead. These beads are used to make the ink. Tattoo artists use traditional delivery methods to provide a Freedom-2 Infinitink tattoo – the only difference is the ink. An Infinitink tattoo is easily removed using traditional laser therapy that breaks the polymer beads allowing the body to naturally absorb the pigments trapped inside.
More at:http://www.freedom2ink.com/
Mugr Offers face recognition and search services for the masses
What Company is Offering:
Mugr's development is to provide face recognition and detection as a service over the web. Searching photos for friends is pretty cool, and they'd like to share it with their existing Mugrs. To that end, they're releasing a Ruby interface for Mugr services, affectionately named, Rmugr .
How It Works:
Sign up for Mugr. Access to the API service is currently available for existing users only. Since they're doing a limited beta, you'll have to either find an invitation code, or put your name on the waiting list.
You submit a photo over their REST interface. You can do this via the Ruby interface, or you can roll your own.
Once we've authenticated you, their army of lolcats search the photo for faces and match them up to people.
More at:http://mugr.com/
Mugr's development is to provide face recognition and detection as a service over the web. Searching photos for friends is pretty cool, and they'd like to share it with their existing Mugrs. To that end, they're releasing a Ruby interface for Mugr services, affectionately named, Rmugr .
How It Works:
Sign up for Mugr. Access to the API service is currently available for existing users only. Since they're doing a limited beta, you'll have to either find an invitation code, or put your name on the waiting list.
You submit a photo over their REST interface. You can do this via the Ruby interface, or you can roll your own.
Once we've authenticated you, their army of lolcats search the photo for faces and match them up to people.
More at:http://mugr.com/
Zelixy--A socially responsible green social network where the users have ownership in the company
What Company Is Offering:
Zelixy is the socially responsible social network site owned by us.
Zelixy is whatever you make it! They are a user friendly balance of your most popular social network sites.A socially responsible green social network where the users have ownership in the company.
How It Works:
Their community will be distinctly different for multiple reasons. First, their users will have ownership in the company. Second, their site is a philanthropic driven site where their users truly have the ability to make a difference in the world with the content they create.
Cash Contest-their cash contest system is a content development platform that has leveraged the amazing potential of net communities with an easy to use prize based program. This gives them an added revenue stream and better content.
Philanthropy-You will raise money with your entries that Zelixy will donate to the charity of your choice. You will help change the world in your spare internet time!
More at:http://zelixy.com/
Zelixy is the socially responsible social network site owned by us.
Zelixy is whatever you make it! They are a user friendly balance of your most popular social network sites.A socially responsible green social network where the users have ownership in the company.
How It Works:
Their community will be distinctly different for multiple reasons. First, their users will have ownership in the company. Second, their site is a philanthropic driven site where their users truly have the ability to make a difference in the world with the content they create.
Cash Contest-their cash contest system is a content development platform that has leveraged the amazing potential of net communities with an easy to use prize based program. This gives them an added revenue stream and better content.
Philanthropy-You will raise money with your entries that Zelixy will donate to the charity of your choice. You will help change the world in your spare internet time!
More at:http://zelixy.com/
YesOptions.com offers you your company’s space on the webwithout any investment
What Company is offering:
YesOptions.com offers you your company’s space on the web, so you can discover your success on internet without any investment.
How It Works:
Users first create an account ,choose template,input contents.Your products or services will be ordered by categories with images, institutional sections with galeries and more. Open your ONLINE store for FREE in a few minutes
Generate extra income without investment.
More at:http://www.yesoptions.com/
YesOptions.com offers you your company’s space on the web, so you can discover your success on internet without any investment.
How It Works:
Users first create an account ,choose template,input contents.Your products or services will be ordered by categories with images, institutional sections with galeries and more. Open your ONLINE store for FREE in a few minutes
Generate extra income without investment.
More at:http://www.yesoptions.com/
Bargainspy----Save Bargains
What Company Is Offering;
They keep an eye on the many websites where content is being posted every hour, you don't need to keep up with forums and websites yourself - they provide a single place to browse. When you find something you like, you'll find the 'Full Story' link to view the full bargain information along with related discussion directly on the original website.
How It Works:
Users will never miss out on up to the minute deals whilst looking for this years must have Christmas gift. BargainSpy.com is a social shopping search hub, bringing together up to the minute bargains, offers, coupons from retailers both online and in the high street. The system searches popular websites throughout the UK to find deals posted by the general public; they are then brought together and categorized for easy browsing. Bargain Channels are then used to group similar types of items; these can be found listed down the right of the pages. Some channels have sub-channels to further filter results to be more specific.
More at:http://www.bargainspy.co.uk/
They keep an eye on the many websites where content is being posted every hour, you don't need to keep up with forums and websites yourself - they provide a single place to browse. When you find something you like, you'll find the 'Full Story' link to view the full bargain information along with related discussion directly on the original website.
How It Works:
Users will never miss out on up to the minute deals whilst looking for this years must have Christmas gift. BargainSpy.com is a social shopping search hub, bringing together up to the minute bargains, offers, coupons from retailers both online and in the high street. The system searches popular websites throughout the UK to find deals posted by the general public; they are then brought together and categorized for easy browsing. Bargain Channels are then used to group similar types of items; these can be found listed down the right of the pages. Some channels have sub-channels to further filter results to be more specific.
More at:http://www.bargainspy.co.uk/
GottaGotta.com----Discover And Share The Best Sites Online
What Company is Offering:
Its as your online navigation system. Here, you not only discover and share the best sites online, but also use GottaGotta to get where you want to be. It's the Web at your fingertips. GottaGotta One Click - a neat feature that lets you open your favorite sites with a single click once you set up your account and choose the sites you like to visit every day. It's that simple .
How It Works:
Create an account on the site and then you can import you favorite sites from your browsers bookmarks or favorites onto GottaGotta.com. You can organize and categorize your information and sites by putting them in suits. You can have entertainment suits or travel suits. You can log onto your favorite sites with just a click, it’s that easy. GottaGotta.com allows you to share your screen with other users and with other user’s permission you can see their screen. Sharing screens allows you to add comments, blogs , and sites to your friend’s screen. Your screen can be private or public. Any users can look at your screen if it is public and they can see what sites you are interested in.
More at:http://alpha.gottagotta.com/
Its as your online navigation system. Here, you not only discover and share the best sites online, but also use GottaGotta to get where you want to be. It's the Web at your fingertips. GottaGotta One Click - a neat feature that lets you open your favorite sites with a single click once you set up your account and choose the sites you like to visit every day. It's that simple .
How It Works:
Create an account on the site and then you can import you favorite sites from your browsers bookmarks or favorites onto GottaGotta.com. You can organize and categorize your information and sites by putting them in suits. You can have entertainment suits or travel suits. You can log onto your favorite sites with just a click, it’s that easy. GottaGotta.com allows you to share your screen with other users and with other user’s permission you can see their screen. Sharing screens allows you to add comments, blogs , and sites to your friend’s screen. Your screen can be private or public. Any users can look at your screen if it is public and they can see what sites you are interested in.
More at:http://alpha.gottagotta.com/
Thursday, November 15, 2007
OpenPeak Inc got $30 million in Series C funding
What Company is Offering:
OpenPeak Inc ,a provider of end-to-end system solutions and devices for telephony, digital content, and Internet services,
OpenPeak Inc. creates, designs, and develops innovative communication systems and devices that enable simple user control of VoIP telephony, digital media, Internet content, messaging applications, and consumer electronics.
How It Works:
From a single screen ,users can access email, voicemail,personal calendars,address books,news weather,traffic information,movie listing,leave memos for family members and make phone calls too.The revolutionary OpenFrame solution re-invents the home phone with a touch screen interface and custom software that integrates telephony, Internet content and digital media on a single device. This innovative approach complements family PC, TV and mobile phones and is built on OpenPeak’s core technology for channeling control of disparate content and services for easy access and management. OpenPeak provides end-to-end solutions from industrial design and user interfaces to custom software and finished products.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $30 million in Series C funding. Investors include RRE Ventures, J. Tomilson Hill, and Mort Topfer, all participants in OpenPeak’s prior funding rounds. The new funds will be used to support the manufacture and market launch of OpenPeak’s new OpenFrame line of devices.
Who is Backing Them:
OpenPeak investors include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi-Cola; Mort Topfer, former Vice Chairman of Dell and Executive VP Motorola; J. Tomilson Hill III, Vice Chairman of The Blackstone Group, RRE Ventures, Castletop Capital, Millennium Technology Ventures and GMG Capital Partners.
More at:http://www.openpeak.com/
OpenPeak Inc ,a provider of end-to-end system solutions and devices for telephony, digital content, and Internet services,
OpenPeak Inc. creates, designs, and develops innovative communication systems and devices that enable simple user control of VoIP telephony, digital media, Internet content, messaging applications, and consumer electronics.
How It Works:
From a single screen ,users can access email, voicemail,personal calendars,address books,news weather,traffic information,movie listing,leave memos for family members and make phone calls too.The revolutionary OpenFrame solution re-invents the home phone with a touch screen interface and custom software that integrates telephony, Internet content and digital media on a single device. This innovative approach complements family PC, TV and mobile phones and is built on OpenPeak’s core technology for channeling control of disparate content and services for easy access and management. OpenPeak provides end-to-end solutions from industrial design and user interfaces to custom software and finished products.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $30 million in Series C funding. Investors include RRE Ventures, J. Tomilson Hill, and Mort Topfer, all participants in OpenPeak’s prior funding rounds. The new funds will be used to support the manufacture and market launch of OpenPeak’s new OpenFrame line of devices.
Who is Backing Them:
OpenPeak investors include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi-Cola; Mort Topfer, former Vice Chairman of Dell and Executive VP Motorola; J. Tomilson Hill III, Vice Chairman of The Blackstone Group, RRE Ventures, Castletop Capital, Millennium Technology Ventures and GMG Capital Partners.
More at:http://www.openpeak.com/
GrubHub got $1.1 million in Series A Funding Led by Origin Ventures
What Company is Offering:
GrubHub allows individuals to use the Internet to conduct local searches and place orders, online or by phone, for restaurant food delivery. The free service also provides the ability to view menus as well as rate and review local neighborhood restaurant favorites.
How It Works:
GrubHub.com is a free delivery search engine! Enter your location to find Chicago and San Francisco restaurants that deliver food to your address. It's all here: restaurant menus, customer reviews, and delivery info!
Chicago and San Francisco Restaurant Delivery.
Chicago restaurant delivery is easy to find with GrubHub.com. Enter your location to find all restaurants that deliver to you.GrubHub is designed so that city residents who are too tired, busy or unable to cook can search for restaurants that will deliver by simply inputting their address. The site appeals to people from all walks of life ranging from the overworked businessperson, to the busy on-the-go mom, to party revelers looking for a late night snack.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $1.1 million in Series A Funding. Led by Origin Ventures, the round also includes support from well-established Silicon Valley investors including Bob Zipp of Amicus Capital.
More at:http://www.grubhub.com/
GrubHub allows individuals to use the Internet to conduct local searches and place orders, online or by phone, for restaurant food delivery. The free service also provides the ability to view menus as well as rate and review local neighborhood restaurant favorites.
How It Works:
GrubHub.com is a free delivery search engine! Enter your location to find Chicago and San Francisco restaurants that deliver food to your address. It's all here: restaurant menus, customer reviews, and delivery info!
Chicago and San Francisco Restaurant Delivery.
Chicago restaurant delivery is easy to find with GrubHub.com. Enter your location to find all restaurants that deliver to you.GrubHub is designed so that city residents who are too tired, busy or unable to cook can search for restaurants that will deliver by simply inputting their address. The site appeals to people from all walks of life ranging from the overworked businessperson, to the busy on-the-go mom, to party revelers looking for a late night snack.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $1.1 million in Series A Funding. Led by Origin Ventures, the round also includes support from well-established Silicon Valley investors including Bob Zipp of Amicus Capital.
More at:http://www.grubhub.com/
Billeo--Online Bill Payment Solution Got $7 million In VCs Funding
What Company is Offering:
Billeo streamlines the online payment process by giving consumers and small business owners complete control over when and how they manage, organize, pay bills and shop online. With Billeo, payment is instantaneous and your receipts are automatically captured, saved and filed. And, Billeo offers one-step password log-on to one-click completion of online shopping and bill pay forms.
How It Works:
It provides consumers a free service that makes all online transactions convenient, simple and secure. Powered by the largest biller directory in the industry, Billeo offers consumers the greatest flexibility in managing their online bills, as well as their passwords or any other information involved in online transactions. Online Banking report has recognized Billeo with the ePayment "Best of the Web" award.
What's Its Strength:
Billeo is the only card bill-pay provider featured by more than 40 U.S. banks/issuers, including six of the top ten banks/issuers, including Visa, Bank of America, Chase and Wachovia to name a few. Additionally, the Billeo Biller Directory has nearly 6,000 billing companies across 26 categories, including utility, cable and credit card companies—the largest Biller Directory available.
Billeo’s award-winning payment solution is free to consumers.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $7 million Series B round of funding. ATA Ventures led the financing, with additional contributions from all of Billeo’s existing investors including Altos Ventures, Claremont Creek and Pacifica Fund.
What's Purpose Of Raising Fund:
The funding will be used for product development, marketing, and scaling operations. As a principal investor, Mike Hodges, venture partner at ATA Ventures, will join Billeo’s board of directors.
More at:http://www.billeo.com/aboutus.jsp
Billeo streamlines the online payment process by giving consumers and small business owners complete control over when and how they manage, organize, pay bills and shop online. With Billeo, payment is instantaneous and your receipts are automatically captured, saved and filed. And, Billeo offers one-step password log-on to one-click completion of online shopping and bill pay forms.
How It Works:
It provides consumers a free service that makes all online transactions convenient, simple and secure. Powered by the largest biller directory in the industry, Billeo offers consumers the greatest flexibility in managing their online bills, as well as their passwords or any other information involved in online transactions. Online Banking report has recognized Billeo with the ePayment "Best of the Web" award.
What's Its Strength:
Billeo is the only card bill-pay provider featured by more than 40 U.S. banks/issuers, including six of the top ten banks/issuers, including Visa, Bank of America, Chase and Wachovia to name a few. Additionally, the Billeo Biller Directory has nearly 6,000 billing companies across 26 categories, including utility, cable and credit card companies—the largest Biller Directory available.
Billeo’s award-winning payment solution is free to consumers.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $7 million Series B round of funding. ATA Ventures led the financing, with additional contributions from all of Billeo’s existing investors including Altos Ventures, Claremont Creek and Pacifica Fund.
What's Purpose Of Raising Fund:
The funding will be used for product development, marketing, and scaling operations. As a principal investor, Mike Hodges, venture partner at ATA Ventures, will join Billeo’s board of directors.
More at:http://www.billeo.com/aboutus.jsp
lypp.com
What Company is offering:
Lypp is the simplest way to create instant group calls from your BlackBerry, Windows Mobile device or any phone that supports Instant Messaging. And Lypp works from your desktop Instant Messaging service in exactly the same way.
How It Works:
They use Instant Messaging to connect your calls to your landline or mobile number, which means you won’t have pay long distance charges in the States and Canada. When making a call, your phone rings first but you’ll be automatically connected to anyone in North America. Using Lypp you can make conference calls to all of your contacts or just a select few. To get started you’ll need to download an IM client if you haven’t already got one on your phone; next choose an ID and add Lypp as buddy. After that, you’ll need to choose a plan. For $9.95 you’ll get 250 minutes (sign up before the end of November and they’ll add an extra 100 minutes).
More at:http://www.lypp.com/
Lypp is the simplest way to create instant group calls from your BlackBerry, Windows Mobile device or any phone that supports Instant Messaging. And Lypp works from your desktop Instant Messaging service in exactly the same way.
How It Works:
They use Instant Messaging to connect your calls to your landline or mobile number, which means you won’t have pay long distance charges in the States and Canada. When making a call, your phone rings first but you’ll be automatically connected to anyone in North America. Using Lypp you can make conference calls to all of your contacts or just a select few. To get started you’ll need to download an IM client if you haven’t already got one on your phone; next choose an ID and add Lypp as buddy. After that, you’ll need to choose a plan. For $9.95 you’ll get 250 minutes (sign up before the end of November and they’ll add an extra 100 minutes).
More at:http://www.lypp.com/
SmartRaise.com---For Online Fundraising
What Company is Offering:
SmartRaise is a 100% free fundraising program that allows school groups, community organizations, and other causes to fundraise online, eliminating the frustrations of traditional fundraising programs. This novel fundraiser idea was created by public school teachers who were searching for a fast, easy, free fundraising alternative.
How It Works:
SmartRaise is a shopping rewards program where everybody wins! Groups raise money whenever their supporters make purchases through our network of leading online merchants. Supporters pay the exact same prices they always would (or even less thanks to our many discount programs) and automatically help their favorite causes fundraise whenever they shop online.
More at:http://www.smartraise.com/
SmartRaise is a 100% free fundraising program that allows school groups, community organizations, and other causes to fundraise online, eliminating the frustrations of traditional fundraising programs. This novel fundraiser idea was created by public school teachers who were searching for a fast, easy, free fundraising alternative.
How It Works:
SmartRaise is a shopping rewards program where everybody wins! Groups raise money whenever their supporters make purchases through our network of leading online merchants. Supporters pay the exact same prices they always would (or even less thanks to our many discount programs) and automatically help their favorite causes fundraise whenever they shop online.
More at:http://www.smartraise.com/
Ooyala.com
What Company is Offering:
At Ooyala, they developed a platform that gives content owners control -- marketers accountable video advertising -- and viewers high quality interactive video with non-intrusive advertising. This platform is built on Ooyala's patent-pending delivery system, one that is able to deliver up to HD-quality video over the Web at a fraction of the cost. Our ad system uses elements of computer vision and machine learning to deliver a targeted advertising experience.
The company is based in the heart of the Silicon Valley, but we have a sales presence in both Hollywood and New York City.
How It Works:
The video quality is amazing and the site gives content owners tools to see what type of people are viewing their site. BackLot allows you to deliver high quality videos and gives you the opportunity to track and analyze viewing patterns and revenue. BackLot supports almost all video formats; MP4, AVI, VOB, and more. You can also access your video collection on and offline. There are no video limitations on file size or video length. There are two options for uploading videos, the drag and drop option and the Upload tab. The drag and drop potion is easiest, just move bulk files or individual files onto BackLot. Find you videos quickly by using the search option. The authorized domain feature allows you to restrict where your website is shown. If you click the all domains option your video can be played on all the sites on the web. If you choose the specified option you can authorize which sites your video can be displayed on. There is video reporting data that shows how many displays and plays your video has had. BackLot also features special options for advertisers. Viewers using BackLot can slow down a video clip and get information on an actor or product.
More at:http://www.ooyala.com/
At Ooyala, they developed a platform that gives content owners control -- marketers accountable video advertising -- and viewers high quality interactive video with non-intrusive advertising. This platform is built on Ooyala's patent-pending delivery system, one that is able to deliver up to HD-quality video over the Web at a fraction of the cost. Our ad system uses elements of computer vision and machine learning to deliver a targeted advertising experience.
The company is based in the heart of the Silicon Valley, but we have a sales presence in both Hollywood and New York City.
How It Works:
The video quality is amazing and the site gives content owners tools to see what type of people are viewing their site. BackLot allows you to deliver high quality videos and gives you the opportunity to track and analyze viewing patterns and revenue. BackLot supports almost all video formats; MP4, AVI, VOB, and more. You can also access your video collection on and offline. There are no video limitations on file size or video length. There are two options for uploading videos, the drag and drop option and the Upload tab. The drag and drop potion is easiest, just move bulk files or individual files onto BackLot. Find you videos quickly by using the search option. The authorized domain feature allows you to restrict where your website is shown. If you click the all domains option your video can be played on all the sites on the web. If you choose the specified option you can authorize which sites your video can be displayed on. There is video reporting data that shows how many displays and plays your video has had. BackLot also features special options for advertisers. Viewers using BackLot can slow down a video clip and get information on an actor or product.
More at:http://www.ooyala.com/
Scoodi.com----Social Trading
What Company is offering:
At Scoodi they strongly believe that re-cycling is good, but re-use is even better. Scoodi makes it easy to buy, sell and give things away, in an environmentally conscious way.
How it Works:
Scoodi is a "free to list" and "free to trade" service that helps you and your community get the most out of the things you own and the things that people around you own. Scoodi does this by connecting you locally and giving you some great trading tools.
Buy-it, Sell-it, Give-it-away
Reuse and recycle within your local community with Scoodi.com, the location based social trading platform. Scoodi.com has been developed to encourage you to mobilize the things you don't use and get those things circulating in your local community. With Scoodi.com you can buy & sell or give things away. There are no time limits on listings and using Scoodi is absolutely free. Browse and search for stuff by tags and key words within a search area that you define.
What's Different:
Scoodi is simple and easy to use. There's no auction pressure and no clock ticking. At Scoodi, you can take your time. Items are listed until sold. You are free to offer what you like for items, and when you receive offers on your things, it's your choice which offers you accept.
More at:http://www.scoodi.com/
At Scoodi they strongly believe that re-cycling is good, but re-use is even better. Scoodi makes it easy to buy, sell and give things away, in an environmentally conscious way.
How it Works:
Scoodi is a "free to list" and "free to trade" service that helps you and your community get the most out of the things you own and the things that people around you own. Scoodi does this by connecting you locally and giving you some great trading tools.
Buy-it, Sell-it, Give-it-away
Reuse and recycle within your local community with Scoodi.com, the location based social trading platform. Scoodi.com has been developed to encourage you to mobilize the things you don't use and get those things circulating in your local community. With Scoodi.com you can buy & sell or give things away. There are no time limits on listings and using Scoodi is absolutely free. Browse and search for stuff by tags and key words within a search area that you define.
What's Different:
Scoodi is simple and easy to use. There's no auction pressure and no clock ticking. At Scoodi, you can take your time. Items are listed until sold. You are free to offer what you like for items, and when you receive offers on your things, it's your choice which offers you accept.
More at:http://www.scoodi.com/
DefineProfileCards.com --Your Social Network Card
What Company is Offering:
DefineProfileCards.com is a site where you can decide to make a business like card with all of your Facebook or MySpace information on it.
How It Works:
The card has your profile photo, it lists your interests, your status, your favorite music and books, your educational and work information, and any other information you have on your MySpace or Facebook profile. Making these profile cards is easy. First you enter either the MySpace section or the Facebook section. You choose your border from a selection of border themes as creative as pink skulls to basic blue stripes. Then you enter your username, elect an image, edit any of your profile information that you would like, edit your final design and you are ready to go. You can choose a catch phrase to put on the top of your card as well. The cards are $19.99 for 100. The cards are 2.5inches by 3.5 inches. These profile cards could be a way to network offline. You use your profile to network online, now have you profile readily available offline in card form.
More at:http://www.defineprofilecards.com/
DefineProfileCards.com is a site where you can decide to make a business like card with all of your Facebook or MySpace information on it.
How It Works:
The card has your profile photo, it lists your interests, your status, your favorite music and books, your educational and work information, and any other information you have on your MySpace or Facebook profile. Making these profile cards is easy. First you enter either the MySpace section or the Facebook section. You choose your border from a selection of border themes as creative as pink skulls to basic blue stripes. Then you enter your username, elect an image, edit any of your profile information that you would like, edit your final design and you are ready to go. You can choose a catch phrase to put on the top of your card as well. The cards are $19.99 for 100. The cards are 2.5inches by 3.5 inches. These profile cards could be a way to network offline. You use your profile to network online, now have you profile readily available offline in card form.
More at:http://www.defineprofilecards.com/
Retrevo.com----Get Millions Of Product Details In One Easy Search--Electronic Products Search
What Company is Offering:
Retrevo team has in-depth experience in building technology products and services. We understand technology, we understand information (and the pain associated with overload and irrelevancy) and we understand service delivery. Most importantly, we are passionate about electronic gadgets just the way you are. And we won't stop at anything short of building the best destination for your digital life.
How It Works:
Retrevo can find reviews for all of the top rated products for many consumer electronics categories.They scour the web, organizing anything and everything about consumer electronics. Millions of Product Details, one easy search.
More at:http://www.retrevo.com/
Retrevo team has in-depth experience in building technology products and services. We understand technology, we understand information (and the pain associated with overload and irrelevancy) and we understand service delivery. Most importantly, we are passionate about electronic gadgets just the way you are. And we won't stop at anything short of building the best destination for your digital life.
How It Works:
Retrevo can find reviews for all of the top rated products for many consumer electronics categories.They scour the web, organizing anything and everything about consumer electronics. Millions of Product Details, one easy search.
More at:http://www.retrevo.com/
Vator.tv --Its a Professional Network And Marketplace For Ideas And Business Via Video Pitchs
What Company is Offering:
Vator.tv is a catalyst for innovation. It is a professional network and marketplace for ideas and businesses. Anyone, across all industries, at any stage, can share ideas, products, services and businesses with the rest of the world, mainly through video.
How It Works:
First, sign up and create a profile.
(Your Vator.tv profile is your resume on the Web, where you can describe yourself and your interests in a rich-media environment.)
Second, create a pitch profile for your idea, project or business you want to share with the Vator.tv community. Or, you can create a pitch profile for only your network to see. Describe your idea in a rich-media environment by uploading video, images, PPT, PDF. [Click here to see PayPal co-founder, venture capitalist and hedge fund manager, Peter Thiel share his advice on how to create a compelling video pitch.]
Third, invite your professional contacts and friends to join your personal network and the networks around your pitches.
OR, search the site for cool new ideas, people and businesses that are already part of the Vator.tv community.
Fourth, view the connections you create between your network.
People use Vator.tv to pitch their ideas, businesses, skillsets or needs, such as capital, partner or staffing requirements. Hence, the tagline, "What's your pitch?" Through these pitches, people on Vator.tv can network, exchange knowledge and collaborate with other people who can help those ideas get to the next level. People use Vator.tv to get their ideas or needs discovered or to find, discover and connect with others in networks of interest.
More at:http://www.vator.tv/
Vator.tv is a catalyst for innovation. It is a professional network and marketplace for ideas and businesses. Anyone, across all industries, at any stage, can share ideas, products, services and businesses with the rest of the world, mainly through video.
How It Works:
First, sign up and create a profile.
(Your Vator.tv profile is your resume on the Web, where you can describe yourself and your interests in a rich-media environment.)
Second, create a pitch profile for your idea, project or business you want to share with the Vator.tv community. Or, you can create a pitch profile for only your network to see. Describe your idea in a rich-media environment by uploading video, images, PPT, PDF. [Click here to see PayPal co-founder, venture capitalist and hedge fund manager, Peter Thiel share his advice on how to create a compelling video pitch.]
Third, invite your professional contacts and friends to join your personal network and the networks around your pitches.
OR, search the site for cool new ideas, people and businesses that are already part of the Vator.tv community.
Fourth, view the connections you create between your network.
People use Vator.tv to pitch their ideas, businesses, skillsets or needs, such as capital, partner or staffing requirements. Hence, the tagline, "What's your pitch?" Through these pitches, people on Vator.tv can network, exchange knowledge and collaborate with other people who can help those ideas get to the next level. People use Vator.tv to get their ideas or needs discovered or to find, discover and connect with others in networks of interest.
More at:http://www.vator.tv/
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/
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
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/
(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/
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/
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
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/
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/
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/
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