The core task for non-random entrepreneurship is effectively managing the uncertainty inherent in trying something new. Uncertainty is the flip side of the fat rewards sought both by entrepreneurs and established enterprises. The uncertainty facing entrepreneurs comes in a variety of forms—risk, complexity, ignorance, and indeterminism. While financial investors can make use of methods including syndication, insurance, and diversification to reduce uncertainty and risk, these are not available to entrepreneurs and managers. What, then, are the alternatives? Sull dismisses three common approaches: jumping onto an opportunity with no guidance; avoiding all risk; and operating in perpetual fire-fighting mode. Based on five years of study, Sull outlines an iterative experimentation model consisting of three steps.
Moved by Karl Popper’s mode of the scientific method as a process of conjectures and refutations, Sull sets out his view of disciplined entrepreneurships in three steps: Formulate a working hypothesis, assemble resources, and design and run experiments. The first step involves forming a model of the opportunity, the resources it requires, the value that success would create, and a plan to pursue it. To help entrepreneurs formulate a working hypothesis despite multiple kinds and levels of uncertainty, Sull urges them to “keep it fluid”; “be sure you have the right to an opinion”; and “identify deal killers and big bets.”
For step two—assemble resources—Sull says that the iterative experimentation approach can ease the difficult, time-consuming, easily-botched process of pulling resources away from their current uses. He suggests raising enough money to fund the next round of experiments, stabilizing the business model before making key hires; and outsourcing functions that distract you from critical experiments. On the second point, he notes research indicating that hiring too early can mean that firms “get the perfect CEO for the wrong business model.”
The final step—design and run experiments—involves understanding and applying a distinction between “partial experiments” and “holistic experiments”, then staging those experiments while avoiding “experiment creep”. Sull defines an experiment as “a test designed to reduce sources of uncertainty critical to the success of a new venture before deciding to commit additional resources.” Partial experiments enable the entrepreneur to uncover information about a single variable, whereas holistic experiments test multiple variables and interactions on a small scale. Sull believes that this process of iterative experimentation can bring discipline to entrepreneurship without snuffing out its essential spirit.
Via-Manyworlds
Saturday, November 10, 2007
I Do...Now I Don't, a site that matches people who are looking to sell engagement rings they no longer need
What Company Is Offering:
This social network is all about commiserating with others that have broken off their engagements or gotten a divorce. (I Do...Now I Don't), a site that matches people who are looking to sell engagement rings they no longer need or want with buyers who are in the market for a great deal. A home for people to share their relationship disasters or successes, vent about their ex's or rave about their newly single sex, provide tips on surviving a breakup or tips on how to do the breaking up and much, much more.
How It Works:
Users can share stories and advice without being judged.At least, that’s the ideal way to look at things. In reality, there’s fewer situations that receive more judgment. But the hope is that since you’re in a community with others in the same boat, you’re more likely to find others with a similar perspective. Most of the functions of this site operate in a similar manner to your average social network. There are blogs, photo albums, friending, private messages, featured articles, and the whole bit.
Why Is It Different:
What makes this network stand out from the rest (aside from the topic) is the top charts for break up songs and the auction section where you can get rid of that shiny, sparkling reminder of the relationship that just didn’t work out–the ring. Now we over at Mashable are not sure if this site is funny, or kind of sad. I kind of wish that the site would impose more of a sense of humor with its presentation–that would actually make it easier to get involved with the community. But there’s one thing you can’t deny about this site: it takes a very honest approach to the reality of relationships.
Other than commiserating, the advice given would be good for those that are in a serious relationship, or are about to get married. And that goes for the auction site too. It’s the people that are about to get married that would be buying up these second-hand rings. That being said, I Do…Now I Don’t would benefit from a little more appeal to those that are actually still with their significant other. The wedding industry is growing exponentially, and this site could take better advantage of that fact, even with its realistic approach to relationships. Blabbermash is another relationship advice site that’s recently launched.
More at:http://www.idonowidont.com/
This social network is all about commiserating with others that have broken off their engagements or gotten a divorce. (I Do...Now I Don't), a site that matches people who are looking to sell engagement rings they no longer need or want with buyers who are in the market for a great deal. A home for people to share their relationship disasters or successes, vent about their ex's or rave about their newly single sex, provide tips on surviving a breakup or tips on how to do the breaking up and much, much more.
How It Works:
Users can share stories and advice without being judged.At least, that’s the ideal way to look at things. In reality, there’s fewer situations that receive more judgment. But the hope is that since you’re in a community with others in the same boat, you’re more likely to find others with a similar perspective. Most of the functions of this site operate in a similar manner to your average social network. There are blogs, photo albums, friending, private messages, featured articles, and the whole bit.
Why Is It Different:
What makes this network stand out from the rest (aside from the topic) is the top charts for break up songs and the auction section where you can get rid of that shiny, sparkling reminder of the relationship that just didn’t work out–the ring. Now we over at Mashable are not sure if this site is funny, or kind of sad. I kind of wish that the site would impose more of a sense of humor with its presentation–that would actually make it easier to get involved with the community. But there’s one thing you can’t deny about this site: it takes a very honest approach to the reality of relationships.
Other than commiserating, the advice given would be good for those that are in a serious relationship, or are about to get married. And that goes for the auction site too. It’s the people that are about to get married that would be buying up these second-hand rings. That being said, I Do…Now I Don’t would benefit from a little more appeal to those that are actually still with their significant other. The wedding industry is growing exponentially, and this site could take better advantage of that fact, even with its realistic approach to relationships. Blabbermash is another relationship advice site that’s recently launched.
More at:http://www.idonowidont.com/
TeethYou---Share Shopping Experience
What Company Is Offering:
TeethYou is a network that gets people connected with friends, strangers and others who share what they have just bought lately. It is to share not only what products you bought, but also how you feel the life.
TeethYou gives shopping fans a place for showing off what they’ve actually purchased.
Taiwan-based TeethYou, aims to help shoppers around the globe share the details of what they’ve just bought.
How it Works:
To list a purchase, users enter a short description of the item along with its price and any post-purchase thoughts about it; photos can be uploaded as well. Registering on TeethYou is free, and all entries are broadcast instantly on MSN. TeethYou also functions as a social network, allowing users to make friends and track their purchases. Wish lists can be created as well.
The concept is a good one: Sharing the details of actual purchases could appeal to shopping addicts and ‘casual voyeurs’ alike, tapping into a common interest in things like What’s in my bag photos on Flickr. Savvy marketers should be interested, too—what better way to get the pulse of your customers? Could be a good one to bring to a market near you....
More at: www.teethyou.com
TeethYou is a network that gets people connected with friends, strangers and others who share what they have just bought lately. It is to share not only what products you bought, but also how you feel the life.
TeethYou gives shopping fans a place for showing off what they’ve actually purchased.
Taiwan-based TeethYou, aims to help shoppers around the globe share the details of what they’ve just bought.
How it Works:
To list a purchase, users enter a short description of the item along with its price and any post-purchase thoughts about it; photos can be uploaded as well. Registering on TeethYou is free, and all entries are broadcast instantly on MSN. TeethYou also functions as a social network, allowing users to make friends and track their purchases. Wish lists can be created as well.
The concept is a good one: Sharing the details of actual purchases could appeal to shopping addicts and ‘casual voyeurs’ alike, tapping into a common interest in things like What’s in my bag photos on Flickr. Savvy marketers should be interested, too—what better way to get the pulse of your customers? Could be a good one to bring to a market near you....
More at: www.teethyou.com
MerchantCircle Got $10MM in Funding from Square 1 Bank and Equity Investors
About Company:
MerchantCircle helps you tap into the power of the Local Internet to reach these potential local customers, who are online right now, searching for deals, recommendations and information in your community. We created simple tools to help you to promote your products and services, and designed our site to get your business listed higher in search engine results on engines such as Google and Yahoo.(I reviewd this site 2days back).
How Much they Got From VCs:
The largest and fastest growing online network of local business owners in the nation, has received $10MM in funding from Square 1 Bank and equity investors Rustic Canyon Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Disney’s Steamboat Ventures, and from new financing partners IAC (NASDAQ: IACI - News) among others. The funding validates the company’s business model and allows MerchantCircle to pursue acquisition opportunities becoming available. The deal dramatically accelerates MerchantCircle’s strategy to become the most effective channel for connecting local businesses with local consumers.
What VCs Says:
The innovation of MerchantCircle’s “merchant-first” business model is the type of advanced vision that sustains the success of our region,” said Ron Kundich, SVP Manager, Square 1 Bank Silicon Valley, “I have been impressed by MerchantCircle’s strong growth and look forward to a long term partnership.”
How They Are Progressing:
MerchantCircle has attracted more than 300,000 local merchants in eighteen months. Local business owners use MerchantCircle to create web sites, manage their online reputation, write blogs, send newsletters, publish coupons, and connect with other business owners in their communities. In their new relationship with Square 1 Bank, Merchant Circle will gain access to Square 1’s full network of banking services, comprehensive financial expertise and signature service.
More At:http://www.merchantcircle.com/
MerchantCircle helps you tap into the power of the Local Internet to reach these potential local customers, who are online right now, searching for deals, recommendations and information in your community. We created simple tools to help you to promote your products and services, and designed our site to get your business listed higher in search engine results on engines such as Google and Yahoo.(I reviewd this site 2days back).
How Much they Got From VCs:
The largest and fastest growing online network of local business owners in the nation, has received $10MM in funding from Square 1 Bank and equity investors Rustic Canyon Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Disney’s Steamboat Ventures, and from new financing partners IAC (NASDAQ: IACI - News) among others. The funding validates the company’s business model and allows MerchantCircle to pursue acquisition opportunities becoming available. The deal dramatically accelerates MerchantCircle’s strategy to become the most effective channel for connecting local businesses with local consumers.
What VCs Says:
The innovation of MerchantCircle’s “merchant-first” business model is the type of advanced vision that sustains the success of our region,” said Ron Kundich, SVP Manager, Square 1 Bank Silicon Valley, “I have been impressed by MerchantCircle’s strong growth and look forward to a long term partnership.”
How They Are Progressing:
MerchantCircle has attracted more than 300,000 local merchants in eighteen months. Local business owners use MerchantCircle to create web sites, manage their online reputation, write blogs, send newsletters, publish coupons, and connect with other business owners in their communities. In their new relationship with Square 1 Bank, Merchant Circle will gain access to Square 1’s full network of banking services, comprehensive financial expertise and signature service.
More At:http://www.merchantcircle.com/
Fandango----Lauches Its Application On Facebook
What is Fandango:
Fandango, the largest movie ticketing service, sells tickets to approximately 15,000 screens and 1,300 theaters. One of the Web's top movie destinations (according to Nielsen//NetRatings), Fandango entertains and informs moviegoers with reviews, commentary and trailers, and offers the ability to quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and buy tickets up to 45 days in advance.
Updates:
The leading moviegoer destination, announced a new application on Facebook Platform, enabling movie studios, film distributors, production companies, theaters and other organizations with Facebook Pages to enhance their movie-related content with showtimes and ticketing capabilities (along with other value-added features for moviegoers who access these pages).
Facebook Pages allow users to interact and affiliate with organizations and businesses, like movie studios, in the same way they interact with other user profiles.
For consumers, this new relationship provides Facebook's 52 million active users with direct access to show times and ticketing for more than 15,000 screens in the Fandango network (representing the widest selection of theaters in the United States). The new application will enable Fandango users to invite their Facebook friends to join them at the movies.Fandango's application was built on Facebook Platform, a development platform that enables companies and engineers to integrate with Facebook and gain access to millions of users. Platform was recently expanded to Facebook Pages, allowing businesses and organizations on Facebook to add applications onto their pages and enable users to interact with them.
More at:http://www.fandango.com/
Fandango, the largest movie ticketing service, sells tickets to approximately 15,000 screens and 1,300 theaters. One of the Web's top movie destinations (according to Nielsen//NetRatings), Fandango entertains and informs moviegoers with reviews, commentary and trailers, and offers the ability to quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and buy tickets up to 45 days in advance.
Updates:
The leading moviegoer destination, announced a new application on Facebook Platform, enabling movie studios, film distributors, production companies, theaters and other organizations with Facebook Pages to enhance their movie-related content with showtimes and ticketing capabilities (along with other value-added features for moviegoers who access these pages).
Facebook Pages allow users to interact and affiliate with organizations and businesses, like movie studios, in the same way they interact with other user profiles.
For consumers, this new relationship provides Facebook's 52 million active users with direct access to show times and ticketing for more than 15,000 screens in the Fandango network (representing the widest selection of theaters in the United States). The new application will enable Fandango users to invite their Facebook friends to join them at the movies.Fandango's application was built on Facebook Platform, a development platform that enables companies and engineers to integrate with Facebook and gain access to millions of users. Platform was recently expanded to Facebook Pages, allowing businesses and organizations on Facebook to add applications onto their pages and enable users to interact with them.
More at:http://www.fandango.com/
Ebyte.com ----For Sharing ,Searching,Computer Hardware And Electronics Products
What Company is Offering:
Build your own custom search results. You can easily do this by tagging products with the keywords you want. All products are taggable, and all tagged keywords are used to weigh products in search results and can be used to build your own custom search for the products you want.
How It Works:
Ebyte.com provides a way to easily search and browse through a huge catalog of computer hardware and electronics products, while providing a dynamic platform for users to share their knowledge and opinions about products, interact with a community of tech enthusiasts, and recommend products to others.
If you are passionate about technology, Ebyte.com is waiting for you. They’ve recently released version 2 of Ebyte.com. With it comes many improvements and added features to the site. Most importantly they have improved the checkout process dramatically. They have made it even easier for you to place orders and choose different secure payment methods. And also you don’t have to be a member to order on Ebyte.com.
More at:http://www.ebyte.com/
Build your own custom search results. You can easily do this by tagging products with the keywords you want. All products are taggable, and all tagged keywords are used to weigh products in search results and can be used to build your own custom search for the products you want.
How It Works:
Ebyte.com provides a way to easily search and browse through a huge catalog of computer hardware and electronics products, while providing a dynamic platform for users to share their knowledge and opinions about products, interact with a community of tech enthusiasts, and recommend products to others.
If you are passionate about technology, Ebyte.com is waiting for you. They’ve recently released version 2 of Ebyte.com. With it comes many improvements and added features to the site. Most importantly they have improved the checkout process dramatically. They have made it even easier for you to place orders and choose different secure payment methods. And also you don’t have to be a member to order on Ebyte.com.
More at:http://www.ebyte.com/
GotCast.com---Promote Yourself,Get Cast And Become Famous
What Company Is Offering:
GotCast simply brings both undiscovered stars and Hollywood Executives to the same place. Now you can get in front of the Casting Directors and Agents that can launch your career.
Until now, getting there was nearly impossible for everyone.
Aside from moving to Hollywood and hoping to get discovered, the only chance you may have had was to show up at a talent competition or send a video to a TV Network - both of these never seem to work. At the same time, Casting Directors from major networks and top Talent Agents are constantly trying to find new talent to appear on their shows, and they are having just as hard of a time finding you!
How It Works:
Gotcast helps you create your unique identity by uploading your photos and audition videos.
Once you have your profile setup, you can audition for one of our castings. Once you’ve entered, work to get as many votes you can so that you become a finalist. And don’t worry, you’re not on your own… GotCast has great tools that you can use to reach out to all of your fans!
Our Top 10 talent profiles move onto a final round where Hollywood Casting Directors and Agents review their audition videos and ultimately choose one winner to work on a specific on-camera role. That winner is flown out to Hollywood where they meet face to face with people within the industry; they experience Hollywood like a star, and finally work on their project.
More at:http://www.gotcast.com/
GotCast simply brings both undiscovered stars and Hollywood Executives to the same place. Now you can get in front of the Casting Directors and Agents that can launch your career.
Until now, getting there was nearly impossible for everyone.
Aside from moving to Hollywood and hoping to get discovered, the only chance you may have had was to show up at a talent competition or send a video to a TV Network - both of these never seem to work. At the same time, Casting Directors from major networks and top Talent Agents are constantly trying to find new talent to appear on their shows, and they are having just as hard of a time finding you!
How It Works:
Gotcast helps you create your unique identity by uploading your photos and audition videos.
Once you have your profile setup, you can audition for one of our castings. Once you’ve entered, work to get as many votes you can so that you become a finalist. And don’t worry, you’re not on your own… GotCast has great tools that you can use to reach out to all of your fans!
Our Top 10 talent profiles move onto a final round where Hollywood Casting Directors and Agents review their audition videos and ultimately choose one winner to work on a specific on-camera role. That winner is flown out to Hollywood where they meet face to face with people within the industry; they experience Hollywood like a star, and finally work on their project.
More at:http://www.gotcast.com/
TheFoundBin.com----Searh For Your Lost And Found Items
What Company Is Offering:
TheFoundBin.com is the largest online collection of free lost and found listings. With the fastest growing lost and found community they fight to help stop lost stuff!Search the largest online listing of lost and found items! Whether you lost your dog, your cat, your favorite watch ... or your brother, we can help you find it!
100% FREE for everyone!
Powerful mapping feature makes searching a breeze
As anonymous as you want it to be.
Send auto alerts to local BinPoint locations to find your item fast.
How It Works:
Start your search for your lost and found items using the search box to the left.For example,Shelter Info
Every second counts! Don't spend countless hours or even days driving to or contacting every local organization in your area. Let us do the work for you. Good samaritan and other volunteer organizations are typically overworked and underfunded. Oftentimes the chance that they'll have adequate room for your pet are slim.
TheFoundBin.com makes it easy for you and for them. Once you're realized your pet may be lost, log on to TheFoundBin.com and register your pet for free! Upon registering, an automated e-mail will be sent to registered local shelters, rescue groups, and other lost animal organizations in your area, alerting them to your lost pet. If your pet is found, you'll be notified directly either via e-mail or phone (depending on your preference when registering). It's fast, easy, and free!
More at:http://www.thefoundbin.com/
TheFoundBin.com is the largest online collection of free lost and found listings. With the fastest growing lost and found community they fight to help stop lost stuff!Search the largest online listing of lost and found items! Whether you lost your dog, your cat, your favorite watch ... or your brother, we can help you find it!
100% FREE for everyone!
Powerful mapping feature makes searching a breeze
As anonymous as you want it to be.
Send auto alerts to local BinPoint locations to find your item fast.
How It Works:
Start your search for your lost and found items using the search box to the left.For example,Shelter Info
Every second counts! Don't spend countless hours or even days driving to or contacting every local organization in your area. Let us do the work for you. Good samaritan and other volunteer organizations are typically overworked and underfunded. Oftentimes the chance that they'll have adequate room for your pet are slim.
TheFoundBin.com makes it easy for you and for them. Once you're realized your pet may be lost, log on to TheFoundBin.com and register your pet for free! Upon registering, an automated e-mail will be sent to registered local shelters, rescue groups, and other lost animal organizations in your area, alerting them to your lost pet. If your pet is found, you'll be notified directly either via e-mail or phone (depending on your preference when registering). It's fast, easy, and free!
More at:http://www.thefoundbin.com/
Domodomain---Transforms Anonymous Website Clicks Into Actionable Sales And Marketing Intelligence
What Company Is Offering:
Domodomain Professional is an on-demand website lead prospecting and generation tool for anyone who would benefit from identifying and profiling the business visitors to their company web site.
How It Works:
Domodomain transforms anonymous website clicks into actionable sales and marketing intelligence with no software to install. Domodomain transforms the concept of Web Analytics, from a statistical analysis tool into a window onto visitor browsing experience. Domodomain's easy-to-use service provides actionable web visitor intelligence to enhance any CRM platform, marketing or sales activity. Domodomain provides visitor company names and information, playback of the visit and an intuitive analysis of the products and services in which the visitor appeared to show an interest during the browsing session.
More at:http://www.domodomain.com/
Domodomain Professional is an on-demand website lead prospecting and generation tool for anyone who would benefit from identifying and profiling the business visitors to their company web site.
How It Works:
Domodomain transforms anonymous website clicks into actionable sales and marketing intelligence with no software to install. Domodomain transforms the concept of Web Analytics, from a statistical analysis tool into a window onto visitor browsing experience. Domodomain's easy-to-use service provides actionable web visitor intelligence to enhance any CRM platform, marketing or sales activity. Domodomain provides visitor company names and information, playback of the visit and an intuitive analysis of the products and services in which the visitor appeared to show an interest during the browsing session.
More at:http://www.domodomain.com/
Friday, November 9, 2007
HotSwap---Post Video Ads Of Cars Online
What Company Is Offering:
HotSwap gives users a way to post video ads of their cars online, YouTube-style. Anyone can shoot a video of their car with a cell phone cam or other digital camera and upload it to the site, along with still images and a description of the car. HotSwap also throws in some useful search tools for prospective buyers. Shoppers can search for cars by their mileage and colour, for example, or post questions about the vehicle for all to view and negotiate an offer online.
How It Works:
HotSwap’s founders, who met as graduate students at the University of California, are making the site pay by providing their video services to large-scale car dealers, including AutoNation. The site has already attracted some heavy-hitting investors, including Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak and the co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, Red McCombs.
How Is It Different:
What really separates HotSwap from the crowd of online-classified purveyors is the friendly feel of the site: more visually appealing than Craigslist, and not as commercial as cars.com. HotSwap’s organizers even advise sellers not to edit their videos into slick presentations, saying the home-produced uploads give viewers a more believable impression of a vehicle being sold. Believability isn’t a word often associated with used car sales, and it could end up being the biggest factor in HowSwap’s success. And something for anyone in online sales to learn from.
More at:http://www.hotswap.com/
HotSwap gives users a way to post video ads of their cars online, YouTube-style. Anyone can shoot a video of their car with a cell phone cam or other digital camera and upload it to the site, along with still images and a description of the car. HotSwap also throws in some useful search tools for prospective buyers. Shoppers can search for cars by their mileage and colour, for example, or post questions about the vehicle for all to view and negotiate an offer online.
How It Works:
HotSwap’s founders, who met as graduate students at the University of California, are making the site pay by providing their video services to large-scale car dealers, including AutoNation. The site has already attracted some heavy-hitting investors, including Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak and the co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, Red McCombs.
How Is It Different:
What really separates HotSwap from the crowd of online-classified purveyors is the friendly feel of the site: more visually appealing than Craigslist, and not as commercial as cars.com. HotSwap’s organizers even advise sellers not to edit their videos into slick presentations, saying the home-produced uploads give viewers a more believable impression of a vehicle being sold. Believability isn’t a word often associated with used car sales, and it could end up being the biggest factor in HowSwap’s success. And something for anyone in online sales to learn from.
More at:http://www.hotswap.com/
Home Equity Share ----The online marketplace for real estate co-ownership
What Company Is Offering:
Home Equity Share is the online marketplace for real estate co-ownership. We help home buyers overcome the high price of real estate by matching them with investors, allowing both parties to co-own property and enjoy the benefits.
How It Works:
Use Home Equity Share to find a real-estate partner, calculate your profit potential, and complete the Equity Sharing Agreement, all for free. At HomeEquityShare.com, a Web site that matches prospective home buyers with real-estate investors, individuals making successful connections receive a free equity-share agreement.
How Equity Sharing Works:
In equity-sharing, the occupant is required by the Internal Revenue Service to pay rent to the investor for the portion of the property that the investor owns. The amount depends first on what the property could rent for in the open market. Say the fair-market rental value is $2,000 and the investor's ownership stake is 20%. That means $400 a month is owed to the investor.
Then, if the investor pays for expenses such as insurance, maintenance, association dues and property taxes, the rent can just be considered reimbursement for those costs.
The investor can deduct those expenses from his or her taxable income in an amount equal to—and in some cases exceeding—the rental income. If the deductible expenses, which are considered "passive" investment losses, add up to more than the rent, the excess may be carried over to future years or taken as a deduction against other passive investment gains such as those arising from other rental income or the eventual sale of the property.
The success of co-ownership arrangements hinges on having a well-crafted equity-sharing .
More at:http://www.homeequityshare.com/
Home Equity Share is the online marketplace for real estate co-ownership. We help home buyers overcome the high price of real estate by matching them with investors, allowing both parties to co-own property and enjoy the benefits.
How It Works:
Use Home Equity Share to find a real-estate partner, calculate your profit potential, and complete the Equity Sharing Agreement, all for free. At HomeEquityShare.com, a Web site that matches prospective home buyers with real-estate investors, individuals making successful connections receive a free equity-share agreement.
How Equity Sharing Works:
In equity-sharing, the occupant is required by the Internal Revenue Service to pay rent to the investor for the portion of the property that the investor owns. The amount depends first on what the property could rent for in the open market. Say the fair-market rental value is $2,000 and the investor's ownership stake is 20%. That means $400 a month is owed to the investor.
Then, if the investor pays for expenses such as insurance, maintenance, association dues and property taxes, the rent can just be considered reimbursement for those costs.
The investor can deduct those expenses from his or her taxable income in an amount equal to—and in some cases exceeding—the rental income. If the deductible expenses, which are considered "passive" investment losses, add up to more than the rent, the excess may be carried over to future years or taken as a deduction against other passive investment gains such as those arising from other rental income or the eventual sale of the property.
The success of co-ownership arrangements hinges on having a well-crafted equity-sharing .
More at:http://www.homeequityshare.com/
Frame Media Got $2 million in series A funding
About Company:
FrameChannel, Frame Media's leading Web-service platform, enables wireless digital frame owners to program the delivery of dynamic content from a number of different sources. Users have the ability to select, program and manage personal photos, along with content from hundreds of content feeds including sports, traffic and entertainment news. According to a recent IDC study, "the 2.8 million digital frames sold in 2006 are predicted to grow to 42.3 million units by 2011, most of which will be Wi-Fi enabled."(1)( I reviewd this site before).
How Much They Got From VCs:
They have $2 million in series A funding. Funding was co-led by CommonAngels and Longworth Venture Partners.
What's the purpose of raising fund:
Frame Media will use the capital to advance its position as the leading Web platform to manage content for wireless digital picture frames. Frame Media is currently working with a number of major frame manufacturers and semiconductor companies to ensure their products will be compatible with FrameChannel in time for the holiday season. Additionally, this funding will allow Frame Media to begin a hiring initiative. The company expects to expand its workforce across all departments.
more at:http://www.framemedia.com/
FrameChannel, Frame Media's leading Web-service platform, enables wireless digital frame owners to program the delivery of dynamic content from a number of different sources. Users have the ability to select, program and manage personal photos, along with content from hundreds of content feeds including sports, traffic and entertainment news. According to a recent IDC study, "the 2.8 million digital frames sold in 2006 are predicted to grow to 42.3 million units by 2011, most of which will be Wi-Fi enabled."(1)( I reviewd this site before).
How Much They Got From VCs:
They have $2 million in series A funding. Funding was co-led by CommonAngels and Longworth Venture Partners.
What's the purpose of raising fund:
Frame Media will use the capital to advance its position as the leading Web platform to manage content for wireless digital picture frames. Frame Media is currently working with a number of major frame manufacturers and semiconductor companies to ensure their products will be compatible with FrameChannel in time for the holiday season. Additionally, this funding will allow Frame Media to begin a hiring initiative. The company expects to expand its workforce across all departments.
more at:http://www.framemedia.com/
Zoogmo----Your Online Backup Community
What Company says:
At Zoogmo our mission is to create solutions that help encourage people to proactively backup their precious data BEFORE disaster strikes. Zoogmo makes backup cool by using existing internet connections, available space on computers and your great relationships with your friends to automatically and securely back up your files for FREE to a place you trust.
How It Works:
Zoogmo is secure and easy to use. It operates by backing up your data over the internet or within a LAN to your own computers or the computers of your trusted friends, family and colleagues. Zoogmo gives you free, unlimited offsite backup. No monthly fees to use some company’s bandwidth and servers since we efficiently use disc space you have and bandwidth you are already paying for. Where else can you get so much goodness for free?
Is It Safe:
Before your files leave your computer, they are fully encrypted and remain that way crossing the internet and while stored on your partners’ computers. No one but you, neither Zoogmo nor your backup partners, has access to .
More at:http://www.zoogmo.com/faq.htm
At Zoogmo our mission is to create solutions that help encourage people to proactively backup their precious data BEFORE disaster strikes. Zoogmo makes backup cool by using existing internet connections, available space on computers and your great relationships with your friends to automatically and securely back up your files for FREE to a place you trust.
How It Works:
Zoogmo is secure and easy to use. It operates by backing up your data over the internet or within a LAN to your own computers or the computers of your trusted friends, family and colleagues. Zoogmo gives you free, unlimited offsite backup. No monthly fees to use some company’s bandwidth and servers since we efficiently use disc space you have and bandwidth you are already paying for. Where else can you get so much goodness for free?
Is It Safe:
Before your files leave your computer, they are fully encrypted and remain that way crossing the internet and while stored on your partners’ computers. No one but you, neither Zoogmo nor your backup partners, has access to .
More at:http://www.zoogmo.com/faq.htm
Fring---For Free Mobile Calls
What Company Is Offering:
fring™ is a free mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat (IM) to other ‘fringsters’ and PC-based services including Skype®, Google Talk™, ICQ, MSN® Messenger and Twitter, using free Wi-Fi or your 3G or GPRS internet data plan instead of costly mobile airtime minutes.
With fring, you’ll gain benefits previously only found only on the PC and get empowered with mobility as never before: make cheap mobile internet calls, see who’s online before dialing with contact availability indicators (presence), live chat instead of SMS, engage in multiple conversations simultaneously, view conversation history and more! Take all your fring, Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter buddies with you wherever you go and view them, along with your regular phone contacts, from one integrated and searchable contact list.
How It Works:
The fring™ mobile VoIP solution is designed to optimize the embedded internet capabilities within the subscriber's handset. The fring™ solution establishes a Peer-To-Peer VoIP connection between calling parties, enabling true VoIP sessions between fring enabled handsets and also between handsets and PCs.
fring™ is based on a unique thin-client technology that for the first time enables true VoIP over 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks. fring™ dynamically adapts itself to the optimal network and handset characteristics while enabling seamless roaming VoIP on multiple networks. The dedicated three-sided P2P network architecture has been developed to support near telco-grade voice quality and network efficiency.
fring™ leverages the Internet connectivity traditionally used for mobile email retrieval and web browsing to provide mobile-VoIP communications so users can talk and instant message for free!:
fring automatically roams between Wi-Fi and 3G networks, you can effortlessly login to recognized Wi-Fi hotspots, mindlessly gaining access to the best network for optimal call quality and savings.
More at:http://www.fring.com/
fring™ is a free mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat (IM) to other ‘fringsters’ and PC-based services including Skype®, Google Talk™, ICQ, MSN® Messenger and Twitter, using free Wi-Fi or your 3G or GPRS internet data plan instead of costly mobile airtime minutes.
With fring, you’ll gain benefits previously only found only on the PC and get empowered with mobility as never before: make cheap mobile internet calls, see who’s online before dialing with contact availability indicators (presence), live chat instead of SMS, engage in multiple conversations simultaneously, view conversation history and more! Take all your fring, Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter buddies with you wherever you go and view them, along with your regular phone contacts, from one integrated and searchable contact list.
How It Works:
The fring™ mobile VoIP solution is designed to optimize the embedded internet capabilities within the subscriber's handset. The fring™ solution establishes a Peer-To-Peer VoIP connection between calling parties, enabling true VoIP sessions between fring enabled handsets and also between handsets and PCs.
fring™ is based on a unique thin-client technology that for the first time enables true VoIP over 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks. fring™ dynamically adapts itself to the optimal network and handset characteristics while enabling seamless roaming VoIP on multiple networks. The dedicated three-sided P2P network architecture has been developed to support near telco-grade voice quality and network efficiency.
fring™ leverages the Internet connectivity traditionally used for mobile email retrieval and web browsing to provide mobile-VoIP communications so users can talk and instant message for free!:
fring automatically roams between Wi-Fi and 3G networks, you can effortlessly login to recognized Wi-Fi hotspots, mindlessly gaining access to the best network for optimal call quality and savings.
More at:http://www.fring.com/
MerchantCircle----Business Marketing
What Company Is Offering:
They are a privately-funded business based in Silicon Valley, dedicated to helping local businesses get more customers quickly, easily and cost effectively. They know you've got a business to run, and you can't spare millions of dollars and extra employees to manage your advertising and marketing efforts. We don't think you should have to. Instead, let us help you.
How It Works:
MerchantCircle helps you tap into the power of the Local Internet to reach these potential local customers, who are online right now, searching for deals, recommendations and information in your community. They created simple tools to help you to promote your products and services, and designed our site to get your business listed higher in search engine results on engines such as Google and Yahoo. They developed free tools that help you develop a dynamic business listing and raise your visibility in search results. Moreover, we offer additional affordable service packages that leave phone book ads in the dust for a fraction of your budget.
Who Is Backing This Site:
MerchantCircle is led by an experienced team and funded by investors who share our vision and believe in the power of local businesses. Our backers include Rustic Canyon Partners, Scale Venture Partners and Disney's Steamboat Ventures, who each bring their specialized expertise to help us develop and improve your MerchantCircle experience.
Rustic Canyon has a deep understanding of small business advertising, earned in part through their experiences with the LA Times and City Search. Rustic Canyon was established in September 1999 to invest a portion of the funds created by a recapitalization of The Times Mirror Company (since acquired by the Tribune Company). Their Managing Partner, Tom Unterman, previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Times Mirror, where he supervised its investments, including an active venture capital investment program that included companies such as Netscape, City Search, and WebTV.
Scale Venture Partners employs a thesis-based strategy to identify innovative development-stage technology and healthcare investments. The ScaleVP team works with technology and healthcare companies to accelerate their growth and become more valuable to entrepreneurs, investors and consumers. Based in Foster City, California, the ScaleVP team collectively offers decades of technology and venture industry experience to development-stage companies in hardware, software, healthcare and medical devices. Representative portfolio companies include Alimera, Frontbridge, Glu Mobile, Good Technology, Monolithic Power Systems, Omniture, Orexigen, Placeware, ScanSafe, Seattle Genetics, Somaxon, Wayport and Xceive. For more information, visit www.scalevp.com
Disney's Steamboat Ventures helps companies succeed in emerging media and entertainment markets, and has extensive experience in advertising and developing truly local experiences. Disney owns an interest in 72 ABC radio stations, 10 television stations and many theme parks. In addition, Steamboat Ventures has an extensive investment portfolio, including advertising companies Quigo, who helps advertisers reach millions of targeted customers, and FastClick, (now ValueClick Media,) one of the first online advertising networks.
More at:http://www.merchantcircle.com/
They are a privately-funded business based in Silicon Valley, dedicated to helping local businesses get more customers quickly, easily and cost effectively. They know you've got a business to run, and you can't spare millions of dollars and extra employees to manage your advertising and marketing efforts. We don't think you should have to. Instead, let us help you.
How It Works:
MerchantCircle helps you tap into the power of the Local Internet to reach these potential local customers, who are online right now, searching for deals, recommendations and information in your community. They created simple tools to help you to promote your products and services, and designed our site to get your business listed higher in search engine results on engines such as Google and Yahoo. They developed free tools that help you develop a dynamic business listing and raise your visibility in search results. Moreover, we offer additional affordable service packages that leave phone book ads in the dust for a fraction of your budget.
Who Is Backing This Site:
MerchantCircle is led by an experienced team and funded by investors who share our vision and believe in the power of local businesses. Our backers include Rustic Canyon Partners, Scale Venture Partners and Disney's Steamboat Ventures, who each bring their specialized expertise to help us develop and improve your MerchantCircle experience.
Rustic Canyon has a deep understanding of small business advertising, earned in part through their experiences with the LA Times and City Search. Rustic Canyon was established in September 1999 to invest a portion of the funds created by a recapitalization of The Times Mirror Company (since acquired by the Tribune Company). Their Managing Partner, Tom Unterman, previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Times Mirror, where he supervised its investments, including an active venture capital investment program that included companies such as Netscape, City Search, and WebTV.
Scale Venture Partners employs a thesis-based strategy to identify innovative development-stage technology and healthcare investments. The ScaleVP team works with technology and healthcare companies to accelerate their growth and become more valuable to entrepreneurs, investors and consumers. Based in Foster City, California, the ScaleVP team collectively offers decades of technology and venture industry experience to development-stage companies in hardware, software, healthcare and medical devices. Representative portfolio companies include Alimera, Frontbridge, Glu Mobile, Good Technology, Monolithic Power Systems, Omniture, Orexigen, Placeware, ScanSafe, Seattle Genetics, Somaxon, Wayport and Xceive. For more information, visit www.scalevp.com
Disney's Steamboat Ventures helps companies succeed in emerging media and entertainment markets, and has extensive experience in advertising and developing truly local experiences. Disney owns an interest in 72 ABC radio stations, 10 television stations and many theme parks. In addition, Steamboat Ventures has an extensive investment portfolio, including advertising companies Quigo, who helps advertisers reach millions of targeted customers, and FastClick, (now ValueClick Media,) one of the first online advertising networks.
More at:http://www.merchantcircle.com/
BricaBox----For Publishing And Connecting Information
What Company Is Offering:
NewYork based BricaBox launched an interesting publishing platform at BlogWorldExpo providing enhanced features for blogs and wikis with large directories. Early examples of content produced using the alpha version include a New York Tech Directory and a listing of eating establishments throughout NYC created by CEO Nick Westheimer.
How It Works:
Using their technology, anyone can make a website about topic or collection of information they want. Then, anyone in the world can visit that site, use the information as a resource, and even add more information to it. Think about it like wikipedia, only smarter; or like a blogging platform, only more versatile.
Why Is It Differnt:
BricaBox, culminates some diverse elements previously spread across numerous platforms. For example, BricaBox enables users to add maps instantaneously for collaboration on data outside of text and images. This lessens the need for embedding and regurgitation of commentary from different community outlets. Take a look at the previously mentioned Nate’s List, which documents opinionated reviews of the “awesomest places to get food and drinks in New York City.
More at:http://www.bricabox.com/
NewYork based BricaBox launched an interesting publishing platform at BlogWorldExpo providing enhanced features for blogs and wikis with large directories. Early examples of content produced using the alpha version include a New York Tech Directory and a listing of eating establishments throughout NYC created by CEO Nick Westheimer.
How It Works:
Using their technology, anyone can make a website about topic or collection of information they want. Then, anyone in the world can visit that site, use the information as a resource, and even add more information to it. Think about it like wikipedia, only smarter; or like a blogging platform, only more versatile.
Why Is It Differnt:
BricaBox, culminates some diverse elements previously spread across numerous platforms. For example, BricaBox enables users to add maps instantaneously for collaboration on data outside of text and images. This lessens the need for embedding and regurgitation of commentary from different community outlets. Take a look at the previously mentioned Nate’s List, which documents opinionated reviews of the “awesomest places to get food and drinks in New York City.
More at:http://www.bricabox.com/
DotComPreneur.com---Internet Business Or Internet Entrepreneur
What Company Is About:
DotComPreneur is defined as a person who aspires to start, build or grow an Internet business, such as an Internet entrepreneur or someone who operates an online venture. This includes bloggers, Internet marketers, domain name investors, joint venture brokers, affiliate marketers, webmasters, information product creators, etc.
How It Works:
Dotcompreneur.com has detailed and innovative information that will help you glide through sticky situations or propel to the next level of success. The idea is that all news and information related to this subject are organized into easily searchable categories. Site visitors can check out the weekly section, “Monday Momentum,” to find tips and ideas on how to start the week off with a bang, not a bad word. Internet entrepreneurs who are looking for the real tactical goods can check out “Tools of the Trade” and “Secrets of Success” where accomplished and experienced business people give their best advice and hints. Also, since this is a dotcom site, there are tons of articles on blogging and how to work with Adsense and other programs.
More at:http://dotcompreneur.com/
DotComPreneur is defined as a person who aspires to start, build or grow an Internet business, such as an Internet entrepreneur or someone who operates an online venture. This includes bloggers, Internet marketers, domain name investors, joint venture brokers, affiliate marketers, webmasters, information product creators, etc.
How It Works:
Dotcompreneur.com has detailed and innovative information that will help you glide through sticky situations or propel to the next level of success. The idea is that all news and information related to this subject are organized into easily searchable categories. Site visitors can check out the weekly section, “Monday Momentum,” to find tips and ideas on how to start the week off with a bang, not a bad word. Internet entrepreneurs who are looking for the real tactical goods can check out “Tools of the Trade” and “Secrets of Success” where accomplished and experienced business people give their best advice and hints. Also, since this is a dotcom site, there are tons of articles on blogging and how to work with Adsense and other programs.
More at:http://dotcompreneur.com/
Thursday, November 8, 2007
FounderContact.com----For Connecting You To Other Investors And Business Professionals
What Company Is Offering:
With a life time free country membership at foundercontact you can expand rapidly your international network with close to 8,000 business owners that have an extended business profile at their website.
How It Works:
FounderContact.com is a community that connects you to other investors and business professionals. Many businesses today have an influence in more than one country it is time for you to expand your network and becoming part of the FounderContact.com community is a great way to do that. At the moment FounderContact.com has specific country directories for; Canada and the US, India, Holland, France, and the UK. There are other individuals who are part of the community that are from other countries and they are listed in the International contact section. Besides networking with other members, FounderContact.com offers many services that could help your business. FounderContact.com offers services in; accounting, business plan improvement, business plan outsourcing, finding capital, computer animation, human recourses, information security, online marketing, and more. If you want your business network to expand, then take advantage of FounderContact.com and be part of a proactive, innovated community.
More at:http://foundercontact.com/
With a life time free country membership at foundercontact you can expand rapidly your international network with close to 8,000 business owners that have an extended business profile at their website.
How It Works:
FounderContact.com is a community that connects you to other investors and business professionals. Many businesses today have an influence in more than one country it is time for you to expand your network and becoming part of the FounderContact.com community is a great way to do that. At the moment FounderContact.com has specific country directories for; Canada and the US, India, Holland, France, and the UK. There are other individuals who are part of the community that are from other countries and they are listed in the International contact section. Besides networking with other members, FounderContact.com offers many services that could help your business. FounderContact.com offers services in; accounting, business plan improvement, business plan outsourcing, finding capital, computer animation, human recourses, information security, online marketing, and more. If you want your business network to expand, then take advantage of FounderContact.com and be part of a proactive, innovated community.
More at:http://foundercontact.com/
Brightegg---Grow your online business without spending thousands
What Company Is Offering:
Brightegg is privately owned and operated by Digiwize, a new media company specializing in custom web applications, web design and consulting. Since 2003, Digiwize has been passionately developing, creating and consulting many successful organizations and businesses looking to create a better user experience online. Brightegg is an extension of the ultimate Digiwize vision: give organizations a better way to build, manage and market a premier, highly successful website at a cost effective price.
How It Works:
Brightegg targets organizations that want to grow online without spending thousands of dollars or hiring a full-time programmer, web designer and marketing expert. Brightegg and their experienced designer community offer premier, sophisticated web designs that businesses use to build their website. Once launched, businesses can easily manage their entire website in-house, market themselves using a multitude of features and collect leads and client information through a dedicated database. Brightegg members sign on to build a cost-effective website. They stay with Brightegg to grow their business. Brightegg is built on a smart web platform that learns from its community and members.
More at:http://www.brightegg.com/
Brightegg is privately owned and operated by Digiwize, a new media company specializing in custom web applications, web design and consulting. Since 2003, Digiwize has been passionately developing, creating and consulting many successful organizations and businesses looking to create a better user experience online. Brightegg is an extension of the ultimate Digiwize vision: give organizations a better way to build, manage and market a premier, highly successful website at a cost effective price.
How It Works:
Brightegg targets organizations that want to grow online without spending thousands of dollars or hiring a full-time programmer, web designer and marketing expert. Brightegg and their experienced designer community offer premier, sophisticated web designs that businesses use to build their website. Once launched, businesses can easily manage their entire website in-house, market themselves using a multitude of features and collect leads and client information through a dedicated database. Brightegg members sign on to build a cost-effective website. They stay with Brightegg to grow their business. Brightegg is built on a smart web platform that learns from its community and members.
More at:http://www.brightegg.com/
The Qloud --Online Music Service Got VCs Funding
What Company Is Offering:
The Qloud My Music application is a revolutionary music service that delivers online music to users how they want it – legal, cost-free, DRM-free, on-demand and linked to their personal music libraries – and where they want it – inside social networks where they can share music with and discover it through their friends.
How It Works:
By simply installing the My Music Facebook application users immediately can see and legally play entire songs and videos from their complete iTunes libraries inside of Facebook for free. My Music also allows users to see and play online the iTunes libraries of their friends, view and exchange playlists with their friends, browse and play the most popular songs among their friends and social groups, and add their friends’ songs to their own online libraries.
How Much They Got From Vcs And Who is Behind This Site:
Investors and board members in Qloud, including the founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, who discovered U2 and Bob Marley and was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; the founder of Launch Music, Dave Goldberg, who most recently headed Yahoo! Music; the former head of AOL’s online music properties, Jim Bankoff, who will now serve as Qloud’s chairman; Ted Leonsis, Vice Chairman Emeritus of AOL and Chairman of Revolution Money; and music industry executives Paul Vidich, formerly EVP Strategy and Business Development of Warner Music; and Tom Ryan, formerly Global SVP of Digital and Mobile Strategy of EMI Music. Qloud was co-founded by former AOLers Toby Murdock and Mike Lewis.
What's Different Features:
Qloud’s service features an online jukebox with unlimited, streaming music and videos played on-demand. Qloud delivers this new and exciting music experience by embedding content from licensed providers, such as YouTube, Revver and Brightcove, and then making this content available to consumers in easy to navigate locations. Qloud also features deep social networking tools and a powerful, community-based music discovery system driven by the Qloud iTunes plug-in. This plug-in recreates a user’s iTunes library in a browser and enables users to explore the iTunes libraries of other Qloud users.
More at:http://blog.qloud.com/
The Qloud My Music application is a revolutionary music service that delivers online music to users how they want it – legal, cost-free, DRM-free, on-demand and linked to their personal music libraries – and where they want it – inside social networks where they can share music with and discover it through their friends.
How It Works:
By simply installing the My Music Facebook application users immediately can see and legally play entire songs and videos from their complete iTunes libraries inside of Facebook for free. My Music also allows users to see and play online the iTunes libraries of their friends, view and exchange playlists with their friends, browse and play the most popular songs among their friends and social groups, and add their friends’ songs to their own online libraries.
How Much They Got From Vcs And Who is Behind This Site:
Investors and board members in Qloud, including the founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, who discovered U2 and Bob Marley and was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; the founder of Launch Music, Dave Goldberg, who most recently headed Yahoo! Music; the former head of AOL’s online music properties, Jim Bankoff, who will now serve as Qloud’s chairman; Ted Leonsis, Vice Chairman Emeritus of AOL and Chairman of Revolution Money; and music industry executives Paul Vidich, formerly EVP Strategy and Business Development of Warner Music; and Tom Ryan, formerly Global SVP of Digital and Mobile Strategy of EMI Music. Qloud was co-founded by former AOLers Toby Murdock and Mike Lewis.
What's Different Features:
Qloud’s service features an online jukebox with unlimited, streaming music and videos played on-demand. Qloud delivers this new and exciting music experience by embedding content from licensed providers, such as YouTube, Revver and Brightcove, and then making this content available to consumers in easy to navigate locations. Qloud also features deep social networking tools and a powerful, community-based music discovery system driven by the Qloud iTunes plug-in. This plug-in recreates a user’s iTunes library in a browser and enables users to explore the iTunes libraries of other Qloud users.
More at:http://blog.qloud.com/
Hidden City Games has raised $15 million in VCs funding
What Company Is Offering:
Bella Sara trading cards feature self-esteem-boosting messages and fantastic, imaginative illustrations of horses inspired by both fantasy and nature. The most recent Bella Sara card sets, Northern Lights and Ancient Lights, also feature horses based on Norse, Celtic, Greek and Roman mythology. Each Bella Sara horse-themed trading card can be activated in a magical online world for girls at http://www.bellasara.com, a virtual playground that features horse grooming, jumping, and riding games, plus puzzles, coloring books, interactive storybooks and more.
Inspired by her daughter’s love for horses, Danish social worker Gitte Odder Braendgaard developed Bella Sara to encourage young girls to acknowledge and express their feelings rather than invest too much of their identities in their physical appearence.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Hidden City Games, worldwide distributor of Bella Sara™ trading cards and online world for girls,has raised $15 million in strategic venture capital from Rustic Canyon Partners and Trinity Ventures. The funds will be used to expand the Bella Sara website and for marketing and new product development.
What VCs Says:
With more than 30 million trading cards sold worldwide and more than 1 million registered website users, Bella Sara is the first trading card game to capture the hearts and minds of girls,” said Michael Song, a partner at Rustic Canyon Partners, an $800 million venture fund focused on supporting early-stage technology companies. Mr. Song joins the Hidden City Games board of directors.
“As the online casual games market continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth, Bella Sara has a distinct advantage with 65,000 retail points of sale worldwide, all driving traffic to www.bellasara.com,” said Gus Tai, general partner at Trinity Ventures, which was one of the first institutional investors in Starbucks and which recently sold its portfolio company Photobucket, a web 2.0 darling, to News Corporation. “Peter Adkison understands how to build a global retail footprint, and we are bullish on his plans to leverage Bella Sara’s in-store presence to grow its registered-user base,” continued Mr. Tai, who joins Mr. Song on Hidden City’s board of directors.
Rustic Canyon Partners and Trinity Ventures also funded casual game publisher PlayFirst, Inc. and game publisher/developer Trion World Network.
More at:http://www.bellasara.com/
Bella Sara trading cards feature self-esteem-boosting messages and fantastic, imaginative illustrations of horses inspired by both fantasy and nature. The most recent Bella Sara card sets, Northern Lights and Ancient Lights, also feature horses based on Norse, Celtic, Greek and Roman mythology. Each Bella Sara horse-themed trading card can be activated in a magical online world for girls at http://www.bellasara.com, a virtual playground that features horse grooming, jumping, and riding games, plus puzzles, coloring books, interactive storybooks and more.
Inspired by her daughter’s love for horses, Danish social worker Gitte Odder Braendgaard developed Bella Sara to encourage young girls to acknowledge and express their feelings rather than invest too much of their identities in their physical appearence.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Hidden City Games, worldwide distributor of Bella Sara™ trading cards and online world for girls,has raised $15 million in strategic venture capital from Rustic Canyon Partners and Trinity Ventures. The funds will be used to expand the Bella Sara website and for marketing and new product development.
What VCs Says:
With more than 30 million trading cards sold worldwide and more than 1 million registered website users, Bella Sara is the first trading card game to capture the hearts and minds of girls,” said Michael Song, a partner at Rustic Canyon Partners, an $800 million venture fund focused on supporting early-stage technology companies. Mr. Song joins the Hidden City Games board of directors.
“As the online casual games market continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth, Bella Sara has a distinct advantage with 65,000 retail points of sale worldwide, all driving traffic to www.bellasara.com,” said Gus Tai, general partner at Trinity Ventures, which was one of the first institutional investors in Starbucks and which recently sold its portfolio company Photobucket, a web 2.0 darling, to News Corporation. “Peter Adkison understands how to build a global retail footprint, and we are bullish on his plans to leverage Bella Sara’s in-store presence to grow its registered-user base,” continued Mr. Tai, who joins Mr. Song on Hidden City’s board of directors.
Rustic Canyon Partners and Trinity Ventures also funded casual game publisher PlayFirst, Inc. and game publisher/developer Trion World Network.
More at:http://www.bellasara.com/
BigSmarty---The World's Most Exciting Investment Club
What Company Is Offering:
BigSmarty is the World’s Most Exciting Investment Club. Members Invest in PersonalDevelopment,Financial future Community.
How It Works:
By becoming a member of BigSmarty’s Investment Club you will..
LEARN by:
Competing in exciting fantasy stock trading tournaments in real time.
Viewing other member’s portfolios to gain insight into successful trading .
Sharing strategies and ideas with other members.
Practicing newfound skills risk free .
EARN by:
Winning cash prizes from competing in BigSmarty trading tournaments
Winning cash prizes in Fantasy tournaments by choosing the winners
Winning matching cash bonuses by referring other members
Applying your improved skills to the real world stock market
More at:http://www.bigsmarty.com/
BigSmarty is the World’s Most Exciting Investment Club. Members Invest in PersonalDevelopment,Financial future Community.
How It Works:
By becoming a member of BigSmarty’s Investment Club you will..
LEARN by:
Competing in exciting fantasy stock trading tournaments in real time.
Viewing other member’s portfolios to gain insight into successful trading .
Sharing strategies and ideas with other members.
Practicing newfound skills risk free .
EARN by:
Winning cash prizes from competing in BigSmarty trading tournaments
Winning cash prizes in Fantasy tournaments by choosing the winners
Winning matching cash bonuses by referring other members
Applying your improved skills to the real world stock market
More at:http://www.bigsmarty.com/
Gloofi---The First Web3.0 Search Engine
What Company Is Offering:
gloofi is the first Web 3.0 Search Engine currently in existance. gloofi contains human and Semantic search capability, tag/keyword translation, personalized search, and user generated content. With all the new functionalities, and powerful capabilities of gloofi, you may never again feel good about using the old search engines.
How It Works:
gloofi has a unique point system which rewards users for entering content into the database, approving content, reviewing content, helping other gloofi users, and taking an active part in expanding gloofi globally.gloofi will give away 1 million reward points - totaling about 10% of total gloofi ownership. These reward points will eventually be translated into shares of ownership in gloofi.
More at:http://www.gloofi.com/
gloofi is the first Web 3.0 Search Engine currently in existance. gloofi contains human and Semantic search capability, tag/keyword translation, personalized search, and user generated content. With all the new functionalities, and powerful capabilities of gloofi, you may never again feel good about using the old search engines.
How It Works:
gloofi has a unique point system which rewards users for entering content into the database, approving content, reviewing content, helping other gloofi users, and taking an active part in expanding gloofi globally.gloofi will give away 1 million reward points - totaling about 10% of total gloofi ownership. These reward points will eventually be translated into shares of ownership in gloofi.
More at:http://www.gloofi.com/
RealDealDocs--For Access To Millions Of Corporate/Transactional Documents And Deals
What Company Is Offering:
RealDealDocs provides lawyers with extraordinary access to hundreds of thousands of corporate/transactional documents and millions of deal clauses, created by attorneys from leading U.S. firms.
RealDealDocs organizes the filings for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to the smallest of small caps. We then strip away superfluous information so you get just the exhibits and clauses you need, organized the way you want to find them.
How It Works:
RealDealDocs lets you dictate exactly the kind of document you’re seeking. Say you were looking for a few good examples of a patent license agreement. Using simple pull-down menus, select "Intellectual property" as the document type and "patent license agreement" as the subtype.
You can modify that further with full text search or by choosing additional search fields; in seconds, RealDealDocs returns dozens of examples, prepared by top law firms for leading public companies. Actual document titles, parties involved, law firms and governing law are all listed, so you can quickly judge if the document is useful.
Another click and the document opens on your screen. You don't receive scores of irrelevant hits that match surface criteria, hits that must then be opened, evaluated and dismissed. With RealDealDocs, you get the section of a filing – the work product – which you really need.
More at:http://realdealdocs.com/
RealDealDocs provides lawyers with extraordinary access to hundreds of thousands of corporate/transactional documents and millions of deal clauses, created by attorneys from leading U.S. firms.
RealDealDocs organizes the filings for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to the smallest of small caps. We then strip away superfluous information so you get just the exhibits and clauses you need, organized the way you want to find them.
How It Works:
RealDealDocs lets you dictate exactly the kind of document you’re seeking. Say you were looking for a few good examples of a patent license agreement. Using simple pull-down menus, select "Intellectual property" as the document type and "patent license agreement" as the subtype.
You can modify that further with full text search or by choosing additional search fields; in seconds, RealDealDocs returns dozens of examples, prepared by top law firms for leading public companies. Actual document titles, parties involved, law firms and governing law are all listed, so you can quickly judge if the document is useful.
Another click and the document opens on your screen. You don't receive scores of irrelevant hits that match surface criteria, hits that must then be opened, evaluated and dismissed. With RealDealDocs, you get the section of a filing – the work product – which you really need.
More at:http://realdealdocs.com/
Virtual Ventures--You Use Their Virtual Money To Invest But Get Real Money In Return
What Company Says:
Evaluate real technologies developed within Fortune 500 companies. Play the role of a venture capitalist by evaluating the commercial potential of each one. "Invest" in the technologies you think will be commercialized.
How It Works:
You're investing in real technologies with real futures. After you make your "investment", track the process of bringing the technology to market. Earn a return on your investment when a company licenses the technology.It is free to play! You use our virtual money to invest.
Fluid Innovation is innovation that flows from the inventor to the company that is best able to bring it to market.
Fluid Innovation, Inc helps market-leading enterprises generate revenue by discovering, assessing, and licensing their internally developed technologies to companies that commercialize and market them. At the core of Fluid Innovation are two products that help accelerate the innovation process: Fluid Licensing SystemSM, a hosted application to manage ideas within a company, and Virtual VenturesSM, a prediction market community to assess the commercial viability and value of ideas.
More at:http://www.virtualventures.com/
http://www.fluidinnovation.com/
Evaluate real technologies developed within Fortune 500 companies. Play the role of a venture capitalist by evaluating the commercial potential of each one. "Invest" in the technologies you think will be commercialized.
How It Works:
You're investing in real technologies with real futures. After you make your "investment", track the process of bringing the technology to market. Earn a return on your investment when a company licenses the technology.It is free to play! You use our virtual money to invest.
Fluid Innovation is innovation that flows from the inventor to the company that is best able to bring it to market.
Fluid Innovation, Inc helps market-leading enterprises generate revenue by discovering, assessing, and licensing their internally developed technologies to companies that commercialize and market them. At the core of Fluid Innovation are two products that help accelerate the innovation process: Fluid Licensing SystemSM, a hosted application to manage ideas within a company, and Virtual VenturesSM, a prediction market community to assess the commercial viability and value of ideas.
More at:http://www.virtualventures.com/
http://www.fluidinnovation.com/
The Hire Hub ----Hire Anything
What Company Is Offering:
The Hire Hub is a community marketplace for hiring almost anything between members. Rather than having to buy the thing you need, you can now hire it from a fellow member. If you've got your own things then you can hire them out and earn some money from them.
How It Works:
The Hire Hub is the place to find items for hire.
Why buy if you'll hardly use it?.
Earn money from the stuff you already have.
Re-use is environmentally better than manufacture.
More at:http://www.thehirehub.co.uk/
The Hire Hub is a community marketplace for hiring almost anything between members. Rather than having to buy the thing you need, you can now hire it from a fellow member. If you've got your own things then you can hire them out and earn some money from them.
How It Works:
The Hire Hub is the place to find items for hire.
Why buy if you'll hardly use it?.
Earn money from the stuff you already have.
Re-use is environmentally better than manufacture.
More at:http://www.thehirehub.co.uk/
Chicini----For Finding What's Hot Trends In Future
What Company Is Offering:
Chicini is your source for all of the products, places, and trends that people will be buzzing about. You decide what's going to be in as we separate the trendsetters from the pretenders. At Chicini, it's all about finding what's hot for tomorrow... today.
How It Works:
You can vote whether you think a posted item is “chic” or “weak”, and these votes determine whether the posted items make it to the A-list or the C-list. Unlike Digg, you can actually purchase items from the site. Chictini also has a social network set up where you can create a pretty detailed profile page. You can list all of the basic personal details, see the last ten posted items by that person, leave them comments, create a detailed bio, include contact info, and have people join your “clique.” You can even post a song to your profile. Check out the top chicsters (the ones with the most points from their posted trends), see who’s currently online, and who has recently joined the site. With each trend you can see an enlarged image and add comments. They also have Chictini TV where they currently have a post on the hotspot Teany and an interview with the owner. For people looking for what will be popular tomorrow, check out Chictini.
More at:http://www.chictini.com/
Chicini is your source for all of the products, places, and trends that people will be buzzing about. You decide what's going to be in as we separate the trendsetters from the pretenders. At Chicini, it's all about finding what's hot for tomorrow... today.
How It Works:
You can vote whether you think a posted item is “chic” or “weak”, and these votes determine whether the posted items make it to the A-list or the C-list. Unlike Digg, you can actually purchase items from the site. Chictini also has a social network set up where you can create a pretty detailed profile page. You can list all of the basic personal details, see the last ten posted items by that person, leave them comments, create a detailed bio, include contact info, and have people join your “clique.” You can even post a song to your profile. Check out the top chicsters (the ones with the most points from their posted trends), see who’s currently online, and who has recently joined the site. With each trend you can see an enlarged image and add comments. They also have Chictini TV where they currently have a post on the hotspot Teany and an interview with the owner. For people looking for what will be popular tomorrow, check out Chictini.
More at:http://www.chictini.com/
Feedcompany---For Promoting Your Company
What Company Is Offering:
Feed Company is a new video optimization company in Los Angeles, California that helps advertisers and entertainment companies get their video exposed on popular blogs, social video networks, and P2P.
They help you become of the video sharing community they’re a part of. To think more like a media company than an advertiser selling a product.
How It Works:
Feed Company helps you to create a successful video for internet marketing purposes, and then works with you to aid in determining on which websites and blogs your video should be displayed. Aside from planning and distribution, Feed Company will also help you promote your video within the chosen sites, and provide you with the means necessary to report on your campaign’s results. Feed Company has previously served such swell-known clients such as iDeutsch and Warner Brothers Records.
More at:http://feedcompany.com/
Feed Company is a new video optimization company in Los Angeles, California that helps advertisers and entertainment companies get their video exposed on popular blogs, social video networks, and P2P.
They help you become of the video sharing community they’re a part of. To think more like a media company than an advertiser selling a product.
How It Works:
Feed Company helps you to create a successful video for internet marketing purposes, and then works with you to aid in determining on which websites and blogs your video should be displayed. Aside from planning and distribution, Feed Company will also help you promote your video within the chosen sites, and provide you with the means necessary to report on your campaign’s results. Feed Company has previously served such swell-known clients such as iDeutsch and Warner Brothers Records.
More at:http://feedcompany.com/
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Millennial Media --Mobile Advertising Company Got $15 million in B-round financing
What Company Is Offering:
Media is defining the mobile advertising experience. Leveraging our deep expertise in advertising and mobile technologies, Millennial Media partners brands and agencies with mobile audiences in a dynamic environment that delivers richer advertising experiences to millions of mobile users.
Millennial Media operates industry-leading mobile ad networks designed specifically to best meet the diverse needs of agencies, brands, and direct marketers.
How It Works:
Millennial Media is a mobile advertising company that uses its deep understanding of mobile consumers, technologies and media to sell performance based advertising solutions to advertisers. They have superior mobile ad-serving and optimization technologies which offer publishers a differentiated way to monetize their mobile content audience. Their offering demystifies the advertising opportunity for all involved parties.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $15 million in B-round financing to aggressively extend its leadership position in the fast-growing mobile advertising industry.
What's the purpose of raising fund:
The company plans to intensify its investment in delivering solutions to advertisers and agencies to reach consumers via mobile devices and build on its position as a leading mobile ad network. Millennial Media's additional growth initiatives include sales and international business development to complement its premier network.
More at:http://www.millennialmedia.com/
Media is defining the mobile advertising experience. Leveraging our deep expertise in advertising and mobile technologies, Millennial Media partners brands and agencies with mobile audiences in a dynamic environment that delivers richer advertising experiences to millions of mobile users.
Millennial Media operates industry-leading mobile ad networks designed specifically to best meet the diverse needs of agencies, brands, and direct marketers.
How It Works:
Millennial Media is a mobile advertising company that uses its deep understanding of mobile consumers, technologies and media to sell performance based advertising solutions to advertisers. They have superior mobile ad-serving and optimization technologies which offer publishers a differentiated way to monetize their mobile content audience. Their offering demystifies the advertising opportunity for all involved parties.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $15 million in B-round financing to aggressively extend its leadership position in the fast-growing mobile advertising industry.
What's the purpose of raising fund:
The company plans to intensify its investment in delivering solutions to advertisers and agencies to reach consumers via mobile devices and build on its position as a leading mobile ad network. Millennial Media's additional growth initiatives include sales and international business development to complement its premier network.
More at:http://www.millennialmedia.com/
hlola.com---For Knowing Which Is Your Profitable Keywords
What Company Is Offering:
HLOLA lets you setup your PPC campaigns using Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, or MSN AdCenter, and within days it unveils valuable information.
HLOLA not only tells you what are your profitable keywords, but also shows your long-tail keywords (the exact search phrases people were looking for). If that's not enough, it also displays each long-tail keyword's conversion rate and ROI separately, so you can start using those individual keywords in your PPC campaigns and pay less per click.
How It Works:
HLOLA's state-of-the-art technology records clicks' origin and let you know where in the world are your conversion coming from, so you can better target your campaigns. This is particularly handy when advertising to a global market. HLOLA doesn't settle in letting you know your click's originated country, but goes all the way breaks down the states and regions for you.HLOLA lets you know when your campaigns converts, so if you see that the majority of your conversions occurs on regular business hours - you can pause your campaigns at nights. If Sundays never converts - why advertise on a Sunday? Best of all, HLOLA adjusts all conversion according to your time zone so you don't have to do any calculations.
More at:http://hlola.com/
HLOLA lets you setup your PPC campaigns using Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, or MSN AdCenter, and within days it unveils valuable information.
HLOLA not only tells you what are your profitable keywords, but also shows your long-tail keywords (the exact search phrases people were looking for). If that's not enough, it also displays each long-tail keyword's conversion rate and ROI separately, so you can start using those individual keywords in your PPC campaigns and pay less per click.
How It Works:
HLOLA's state-of-the-art technology records clicks' origin and let you know where in the world are your conversion coming from, so you can better target your campaigns. This is particularly handy when advertising to a global market. HLOLA doesn't settle in letting you know your click's originated country, but goes all the way breaks down the states and regions for you.HLOLA lets you know when your campaigns converts, so if you see that the majority of your conversions occurs on regular business hours - you can pause your campaigns at nights. If Sundays never converts - why advertise on a Sunday? Best of all, HLOLA adjusts all conversion according to your time zone so you don't have to do any calculations.
More at:http://hlola.com/
The Point --Where People Can Come Together To Solve The Problems That Are Too Big Or Time Consuming To Solve Alone
What Company Is Offering:
The Point is a community where people can come together to solve the problems that are too big or time-consuming to solve alone.
The Point is a groundbreaking way to use the Internet that helps groups of like-minded people get things done. How? No one is obligated to do anything unless a campaign reaches its “tipping point.” At the tipping point, everyone springs into action, knowing they have the numbers to make a difference.
How It Works:
The Point serves a collection of interests that seem unrelated on the surface – from planning a party to boycotting a multi-national corporation. Generally, they will make group action more efficient. But The Point’s true power is its effect on the relationship between individuals and organizations. By allowing individuals to more easily express their democratic preferences, The Point will shift the balance of power back towards individuals, away from the companies, governments, and organizations that exist to serve them.
Who is Behind This Site:
Behind The Point is an exceptional team of developers, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. Founded in Chicago by Andrew Mason and launched in September 2007, The Point is privately owned and funded.
Andrew Mason, Founder / CEO
Andrew’s first entrepreneurial venture was at the age of 15, when he launched Bagel Express, a Saturday morning bagel delivery service. Andrew graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a degree in music. In January 2006, Andrew joined InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK) as the lead developer of their internal print procurement software. Andrew left InnerWorkings in the fall of 2006 to attend the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, where he was granted resources to develop Policy Tree, a policy debate visualization Web application. Upon receiving an unexpected investment offer, Andrew left school to start The Point.
Jeremy Pepper, Director of Communications
Jeremy is responsible for traditional and social media programs, as well as community outreach and marketing. Jeremy has a decade’s worth of experience in high-technology, consumer technology and consumer public relations, and is one of the world’s earliest and well-known PR bloggers and social media strategists. His POP! PR Jots is one of the most popular PR blogs, writing on topics affecting the marketing and public relations industries.
Prior to The Point, Jeremy worked at Weber Shandwick with clients across the board on the development of social media campaigns and strategies; such companies included Cisco, BEA Systems, General Motors, MasterCard International, Verizon Wireless and VeriSign.
More at:https://www.thepoint.com/
The Point is a community where people can come together to solve the problems that are too big or time-consuming to solve alone.
The Point is a groundbreaking way to use the Internet that helps groups of like-minded people get things done. How? No one is obligated to do anything unless a campaign reaches its “tipping point.” At the tipping point, everyone springs into action, knowing they have the numbers to make a difference.
How It Works:
The Point serves a collection of interests that seem unrelated on the surface – from planning a party to boycotting a multi-national corporation. Generally, they will make group action more efficient. But The Point’s true power is its effect on the relationship between individuals and organizations. By allowing individuals to more easily express their democratic preferences, The Point will shift the balance of power back towards individuals, away from the companies, governments, and organizations that exist to serve them.
Who is Behind This Site:
Behind The Point is an exceptional team of developers, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. Founded in Chicago by Andrew Mason and launched in September 2007, The Point is privately owned and funded.
Andrew Mason, Founder / CEO
Andrew’s first entrepreneurial venture was at the age of 15, when he launched Bagel Express, a Saturday morning bagel delivery service. Andrew graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a degree in music. In January 2006, Andrew joined InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK) as the lead developer of their internal print procurement software. Andrew left InnerWorkings in the fall of 2006 to attend the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, where he was granted resources to develop Policy Tree, a policy debate visualization Web application. Upon receiving an unexpected investment offer, Andrew left school to start The Point.
Jeremy Pepper, Director of Communications
Jeremy is responsible for traditional and social media programs, as well as community outreach and marketing. Jeremy has a decade’s worth of experience in high-technology, consumer technology and consumer public relations, and is one of the world’s earliest and well-known PR bloggers and social media strategists. His POP! PR Jots is one of the most popular PR blogs, writing on topics affecting the marketing and public relations industries.
Prior to The Point, Jeremy worked at Weber Shandwick with clients across the board on the development of social media campaigns and strategies; such companies included Cisco, BEA Systems, General Motors, MasterCard International, Verizon Wireless and VeriSign.
More at:https://www.thepoint.com/
Travature ---Online Service That Integrates Travel Information
What Company Is Offering:
Travature is a simple, yet powerful online service that integrates travel information. Our goal is to help travelers by taking the headache out of trip planning and travel research. As avid travelers, we were tired of sifting through dozens of websites to find relevant travel information. We believe, that the travel community needs a better way to connect and aggregate travel information. What's more we believe that travel information should be trustworthy and unbiased, something beyond the usual company agenda of trying to sell you something. A travel site built for and around the travel community.
How It Works:
Travature.com gives you a number of options to help you with your travels. There is a flight search that helps you find good deals online. There is a travel guide section that includes articles and other useful information about a destination. You can look at restaurant reviews to find the best place to dine when you are on your vacation. There is a mashup section that gives you a brief summary of a destination. The mashup section includes a google map, weather and climate information, a historical background, visa requirements, communication tips, cultural information, government information, currency information, and much more.
More at:http://travature.com/
Travature is a simple, yet powerful online service that integrates travel information. Our goal is to help travelers by taking the headache out of trip planning and travel research. As avid travelers, we were tired of sifting through dozens of websites to find relevant travel information. We believe, that the travel community needs a better way to connect and aggregate travel information. What's more we believe that travel information should be trustworthy and unbiased, something beyond the usual company agenda of trying to sell you something. A travel site built for and around the travel community.
How It Works:
Travature.com gives you a number of options to help you with your travels. There is a flight search that helps you find good deals online. There is a travel guide section that includes articles and other useful information about a destination. You can look at restaurant reviews to find the best place to dine when you are on your vacation. There is a mashup section that gives you a brief summary of a destination. The mashup section includes a google map, weather and climate information, a historical background, visa requirements, communication tips, cultural information, government information, currency information, and much more.
More at:http://travature.com/
thebestintheworld.com---For Finding Best Products And Services
What Company Is Offering:
A place where you can find the best current products or services in the world.
Maybe you want to treat your family or loved one to the best holiday in the world or even settle a dispute amongst friends about which actually is the current best mobile phone in the world. Or finally convince your friends that your football team IS the best in the world. They have a directory set up with thebestsintheworld.com domain names that link directly to the BEST in the world for each category.
How It Works:
Go to your address bar. Just type thebest****intheworld.com, replacing **** with any product/service you want, on the address bar above! Do you want the best coffee in the world? You want to know which is the best car in the world?
Visit the site and search of the best products and services. You can search by the alphabetical list of best products and services or you can type in the name of what you are looking for. When you search for the best product/service you re brought to the website of the result. TheBestInTheWorld.com rates the best products and services by 3 requirements; they must currently be in the list of the top 5 or 10 products/services they provide, the product/service must be provided worldwide, and there must be a concrete track record of satisfied clients and customers.
More at:http://thebestsintheworld.com/
A place where you can find the best current products or services in the world.
Maybe you want to treat your family or loved one to the best holiday in the world or even settle a dispute amongst friends about which actually is the current best mobile phone in the world. Or finally convince your friends that your football team IS the best in the world. They have a directory set up with thebestsintheworld.com domain names that link directly to the BEST in the world for each category.
How It Works:
Go to your address bar. Just type thebest****intheworld.com, replacing **** with any product/service you want, on the address bar above! Do you want the best coffee in the world? You want to know which is the best car in the world?
Visit the site and search of the best products and services. You can search by the alphabetical list of best products and services or you can type in the name of what you are looking for. When you search for the best product/service you re brought to the website of the result. TheBestInTheWorld.com rates the best products and services by 3 requirements; they must currently be in the list of the top 5 or 10 products/services they provide, the product/service must be provided worldwide, and there must be a concrete track record of satisfied clients and customers.
More at:http://thebestsintheworld.com/
Draftmix.com---For Fantasy Sports
What Company Is Offering:
Draftmix.com is the next step in the evolution of fantasy sports. While other fantasy sports sites keep rehashing the same old formula, they're constantly working to make the game easy and engaging.
How It Works:
They're currently the only site offering live drafts all day every day throughout each sport's season. They offer short term, hands off leagues, so you won't be penalized if you can't login five times a day to manage teams. And they offer guaranteed cash prizes with a simple, easy to understand structure.
More at:http://www.draftmix.com/
Draftmix.com is the next step in the evolution of fantasy sports. While other fantasy sports sites keep rehashing the same old formula, they're constantly working to make the game easy and engaging.
How It Works:
They're currently the only site offering live drafts all day every day throughout each sport's season. They offer short term, hands off leagues, so you won't be penalized if you can't login five times a day to manage teams. And they offer guaranteed cash prizes with a simple, easy to understand structure.
More at:http://www.draftmix.com/
Network Detecting Tool---Yougetsignal.com
What Company Is Offering:
The network location tool is a utility that approximates and displays the geophysical location of your network address using Google Maps. The location database, provided by MaxMind, is 98% accurate on a country level and 70% accurate on a city level for the US within a 25 mile radius. Fun searches: digg.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, thepiratebay.org, and cia.gov.
How It Works:
MaxMind provides its geolocation technology through the GeoIP brand. By accurately pinpointing the location of Internet customers and visitors by country, geographic region, down to the granular detail of city in real-time, MaxMind enables online businesses to have a valuable marketing tool as well as the ability to customize their websites to better serve clients. There are currently more than 2,000 clients using GeoIP.
MaxMind's industry-leading minFraud service is aimed at helping merchants prevent fraud from online card not present transactions.
More at:http://www.yougetsignal.com/
http://www.maxmind.com/
The network location tool is a utility that approximates and displays the geophysical location of your network address using Google Maps. The location database, provided by MaxMind, is 98% accurate on a country level and 70% accurate on a city level for the US within a 25 mile radius. Fun searches: digg.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, thepiratebay.org, and cia.gov.
How It Works:
MaxMind provides its geolocation technology through the GeoIP brand. By accurately pinpointing the location of Internet customers and visitors by country, geographic region, down to the granular detail of city in real-time, MaxMind enables online businesses to have a valuable marketing tool as well as the ability to customize their websites to better serve clients. There are currently more than 2,000 clients using GeoIP.
MaxMind's industry-leading minFraud service is aimed at helping merchants prevent fraud from online card not present transactions.
More at:http://www.yougetsignal.com/
http://www.maxmind.com/
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Songza--Music Search
What Company Is Offering:
Songza is a new music search engine that lets you hear the songs that you search.
How It Works:
You can search for music, choose what you want to hear, and build up a play list. For each song you come across, there are a few options: add to your play list, rate it, play it immediately, or share it with friends. The share option branches off into a few more options, which let you send the song to someone, link it, watch the YouTube video, and embed the clip on your own website.
Songs that are on your playlist can be rearranged with drag’n'drop capabilities, and the current song that’s playing will offer links to the discography and for purchasing the song. These look to all be currently provided by Google links.
It’s clear that Songza is moving in the direction of providing a multimedia experience for your music search, which could be built upon in several different directions, from a social network to a semantic search tree that branches off in multiple directions.
More at:http://songza.com/
Songza is a new music search engine that lets you hear the songs that you search.
How It Works:
You can search for music, choose what you want to hear, and build up a play list. For each song you come across, there are a few options: add to your play list, rate it, play it immediately, or share it with friends. The share option branches off into a few more options, which let you send the song to someone, link it, watch the YouTube video, and embed the clip on your own website.
Songs that are on your playlist can be rearranged with drag’n'drop capabilities, and the current song that’s playing will offer links to the discography and for purchasing the song. These look to all be currently provided by Google links.
It’s clear that Songza is moving in the direction of providing a multimedia experience for your music search, which could be built upon in several different directions, from a social network to a semantic search tree that branches off in multiple directions.
More at:http://songza.com/
Azaleos -E-Mail Manager Got $10 million in venture funding
What Company is offering:
Azaleos, which helps corporations manage, update and archive e-mail.Azaleos provides enterprise-class managed e-mail solutions that combine an on-premises, physical or virtual appliance with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week remote managed services, ensuring 99.9+% high availability, business continuity and optimized performance of your Microsoft Exchange 2003, Exchange 2007, or Mobile Access environment.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $10 million in venture funding and named former Microsoft Corp. Chief Information Officer Rick Devenuti to its board.
The funds were provided by existing investors Ignition Partners and Second Avenue Partners, partly because the company wanted to quickly tap a market that is developing as corporations upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Exchange. Azaleos raised the money in less than 30 days, with Chief Executive Phil van Etten saying that it would have taken six to eight months to attract new investors in Silicon Valley.
What VCs Says:
"The reason we needed to go so quick is that we have recognized that there is a shift in the way folks are approaching e-mail," van Etten said.
Historically, van Etten said, corporations were not interested in outsourcing e-mail systems to third parties. But, he said, the tide has started to shift as millions of customers upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Exchange 2007, which was released late last year. As they upgrade, van Etten said, corporations are looking for ways to make sure that Exchange runs smoothly, patches are installed quickly and e-mails are archived properly for regulatory purposes. Van Etten said the goal is to provide those services in a more cost-effective manner that doesn't consume the time of network administrators.
"If you think of (e-mail) in terms of a utility, like electricity, you wouldn't really have someone making sure the lights are on. You would outsource that," said van Etten, who joined the company last year. "As people think of e-mail, they think of it as more of a utility and something you turn on and use it and pay for it."
How They Are Performing:
To date, Azaleos has delivered more than 100 million messages and is currently managing about 300,000 messages every day. Customers include K2, Coinstar, Zumiez and at least five undisclosed Fortune 1000 companies. Its largest customer is a Pennsylvania-based steel manufacturer.Azaleos charges anywhere from $15,000 to $110,000 for its hardware device, with a $12 monthly service charge for each e-mail address. It then charges an additional $6 per month for mobile e-mail services and $4 per month for e-mail archiving.
More at:http://www.azaleos.com/
Azaleos, which helps corporations manage, update and archive e-mail.Azaleos provides enterprise-class managed e-mail solutions that combine an on-premises, physical or virtual appliance with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week remote managed services, ensuring 99.9+% high availability, business continuity and optimized performance of your Microsoft Exchange 2003, Exchange 2007, or Mobile Access environment.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They got $10 million in venture funding and named former Microsoft Corp. Chief Information Officer Rick Devenuti to its board.
The funds were provided by existing investors Ignition Partners and Second Avenue Partners, partly because the company wanted to quickly tap a market that is developing as corporations upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Exchange. Azaleos raised the money in less than 30 days, with Chief Executive Phil van Etten saying that it would have taken six to eight months to attract new investors in Silicon Valley.
What VCs Says:
"The reason we needed to go so quick is that we have recognized that there is a shift in the way folks are approaching e-mail," van Etten said.
Historically, van Etten said, corporations were not interested in outsourcing e-mail systems to third parties. But, he said, the tide has started to shift as millions of customers upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Exchange 2007, which was released late last year. As they upgrade, van Etten said, corporations are looking for ways to make sure that Exchange runs smoothly, patches are installed quickly and e-mails are archived properly for regulatory purposes. Van Etten said the goal is to provide those services in a more cost-effective manner that doesn't consume the time of network administrators.
"If you think of (e-mail) in terms of a utility, like electricity, you wouldn't really have someone making sure the lights are on. You would outsource that," said van Etten, who joined the company last year. "As people think of e-mail, they think of it as more of a utility and something you turn on and use it and pay for it."
How They Are Performing:
To date, Azaleos has delivered more than 100 million messages and is currently managing about 300,000 messages every day. Customers include K2, Coinstar, Zumiez and at least five undisclosed Fortune 1000 companies. Its largest customer is a Pennsylvania-based steel manufacturer.Azaleos charges anywhere from $15,000 to $110,000 for its hardware device, with a $12 monthly service charge for each e-mail address. It then charges an additional $6 per month for mobile e-mail services and $4 per month for e-mail archiving.
More at:http://www.azaleos.com/
Business Idea With Difference
Last August a New York-based small business called Sooloos started shipping - not showing, but actually shipping - the Sooloos, a custom designed and built, ultra-high-end, digital music system that starts at $12,900. But if you buy one, chances are good you'll spend $15,000 or more for the system you really want. That doesn't include speakers, amplifiers and other indispensable items (throw in another $10,000 minimum for that stuff).
The germ for Sooloos (the name is both palindromic and "ambidromic" - the same back and forth and upside down) was created in 2004 when Sooloos CEO, Enno Vandermeer, a successful Web programmer and engineer, began working with friends who wanted to digitize their collections of 2,000 to 5,000 CDs.
"We quickly found that if we wanted our audio to stay uncompressed, and there were 10,000 records, there was no way to listen to them," says Vandermeer, 36. Existing digital audio could not store the uncompressed music files he insisted on for highest-quality audio. Standard hard drives weren't fast, large or quiet enough.
Components found in most computers, PC and Macs, produced simply awful sound. There were noisy fans to manage. And the music information - track names and such - was difficult to organize and access on such a scale.
To get from idea to business, Vandermeer survived two years of boot-strapped, internally financed R&D - he says a low seven figures has been invested to date. He divided his attention between American and Asian designers and manufacturers and built a prototype: a fanless, diskless, purpose-built audio computer groomed for best-of-breed sound that could sit elegantly into any decor.
And once he saw what he had done, Vandermeer decided to go strictly high-end. "We saw that we could only realistically ship a few hundred units in our first year," he says. "And to get past our hard expenses we had to keep margins very high."
So while there is a chance that Sooloos could find a wider market - the interface could be licensed, for example - Vandermeer decided to target the super high-end, custom audio installer market. Reaching the industry's biggest spenders meant inventing a multi-room feature that can send different feeds to different rooms in a home or office - a must for high cost, custom-installed systems.
I stopped in at Sooloos' New York City showroom to see what Enno was up to. And right away I could sense the appeal. The unit features an elegant, light gray metallic finish and stacks like many better audio components. There are no moving parts, just a 17-inch touch screen, also done in light gray.
Actual album-cover imagery - not text like in an iPod - is the backbone of the interface. I simply browsed the music stored by touching the album images, not unlike the experience of browsing an old-fashioned jukebox or even a record store. I intuitively panned right or left through the collection. It was as if I had magical control over the records.
When I arrived at Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," there was the master himself playing his trumpet on the cover. I touched that cover, and, voila, up came the tracks and then the music in all its uncompressed glory.
To my ears, the sound quality was extraordinary for a digital player but nowhere close to master analog vinyls. Granted I'm a vinyl snob, and I should note that other hardcore audiophiles have embraced Sooloos.
"I believe in what they are doing, says Jeff Joseph, president of Joseph Audio, a manufacturer of premium speakers in Melville, N.Y. "Sooloos has found a way for anybody to find their way through their music without giving up a bit of quality. Not even Apple does that."
More at:http://sooloos.com/
Via-CNNmoney
The germ for Sooloos (the name is both palindromic and "ambidromic" - the same back and forth and upside down) was created in 2004 when Sooloos CEO, Enno Vandermeer, a successful Web programmer and engineer, began working with friends who wanted to digitize their collections of 2,000 to 5,000 CDs.
"We quickly found that if we wanted our audio to stay uncompressed, and there were 10,000 records, there was no way to listen to them," says Vandermeer, 36. Existing digital audio could not store the uncompressed music files he insisted on for highest-quality audio. Standard hard drives weren't fast, large or quiet enough.
Components found in most computers, PC and Macs, produced simply awful sound. There were noisy fans to manage. And the music information - track names and such - was difficult to organize and access on such a scale.
To get from idea to business, Vandermeer survived two years of boot-strapped, internally financed R&D - he says a low seven figures has been invested to date. He divided his attention between American and Asian designers and manufacturers and built a prototype: a fanless, diskless, purpose-built audio computer groomed for best-of-breed sound that could sit elegantly into any decor.
And once he saw what he had done, Vandermeer decided to go strictly high-end. "We saw that we could only realistically ship a few hundred units in our first year," he says. "And to get past our hard expenses we had to keep margins very high."
So while there is a chance that Sooloos could find a wider market - the interface could be licensed, for example - Vandermeer decided to target the super high-end, custom audio installer market. Reaching the industry's biggest spenders meant inventing a multi-room feature that can send different feeds to different rooms in a home or office - a must for high cost, custom-installed systems.
I stopped in at Sooloos' New York City showroom to see what Enno was up to. And right away I could sense the appeal. The unit features an elegant, light gray metallic finish and stacks like many better audio components. There are no moving parts, just a 17-inch touch screen, also done in light gray.
Actual album-cover imagery - not text like in an iPod - is the backbone of the interface. I simply browsed the music stored by touching the album images, not unlike the experience of browsing an old-fashioned jukebox or even a record store. I intuitively panned right or left through the collection. It was as if I had magical control over the records.
When I arrived at Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," there was the master himself playing his trumpet on the cover. I touched that cover, and, voila, up came the tracks and then the music in all its uncompressed glory.
To my ears, the sound quality was extraordinary for a digital player but nowhere close to master analog vinyls. Granted I'm a vinyl snob, and I should note that other hardcore audiophiles have embraced Sooloos.
"I believe in what they are doing, says Jeff Joseph, president of Joseph Audio, a manufacturer of premium speakers in Melville, N.Y. "Sooloos has found a way for anybody to find their way through their music without giving up a bit of quality. Not even Apple does that."
More at:http://sooloos.com/
Via-CNNmoney
Zilok--Centralizd Online Rental Marketplace
What Company Is Offering:
Zilok is a centralized online rental marketplace. Zilok allows anyone, individuals as well as professionals, to rent stuff out or offer for stuff for rent with a few clicks of the mouse.
Whether you need a hand-drill for a weekend, a luxury handbag for an evening or a bike for a week, you simply need to select the item for rent at the most convenient location available.
How It Works:
Through your account, you can register your items that you want to put up for rental, along with their descriptions.
Describe each item precisely (picture, description, location, category, practical details etc). The specific rental contract that you want to include on the website will be done through tab. For each item or product, a calendar shows when it is available for rental at the requested time. You can make a reservation request for times when it is shown to be available. The owner then confirms the reservation by email. You can also search by dates of availability.At the beginning of the rental, go to the pick-up point to get the item(s) and to work out final details of the rental with the owner. This step and whatever follows is strictly between the owner and the renter -- Zilok is no longer part of the process at this point.
More at:http://us.zilok.com/
Zilok is a centralized online rental marketplace. Zilok allows anyone, individuals as well as professionals, to rent stuff out or offer for stuff for rent with a few clicks of the mouse.
Whether you need a hand-drill for a weekend, a luxury handbag for an evening or a bike for a week, you simply need to select the item for rent at the most convenient location available.
How It Works:
Through your account, you can register your items that you want to put up for rental, along with their descriptions.
Describe each item precisely (picture, description, location, category, practical details etc). The specific rental contract that you want to include on the website will be done through tab. For each item or product, a calendar shows when it is available for rental at the requested time. You can make a reservation request for times when it is shown to be available. The owner then confirms the reservation by email. You can also search by dates of availability.At the beginning of the rental, go to the pick-up point to get the item(s) and to work out final details of the rental with the owner. This step and whatever follows is strictly between the owner and the renter -- Zilok is no longer part of the process at this point.
More at:http://us.zilok.com/
ThinkPassenger Got $8.3 Million In VCs Funding
What Company Is Offering:
The Los-Angeles-based technology leader in on-demand customer collaboration.
Think Passenger combines cutting-edge social media, community building and collaboration technologies to enable companies to collaborate with customers within private online communities.
How It Works:
Based on current Web 2.0 technologies, Passenger enables brand marketers to create private and secure communities to generate and refine new product ideas, gain contextual insight and drive customer advocacy like never before. The company's advanced analytics engine allows companies of all sizes to collect, synthesize and distill real world conversations into actionable business decisions.
How Much They Got from Vcs:
StarVest venture capital firm that is funding and building the next generation of technology-enabled business services companies, today announced its participation in an $8.3 million series B financing round in Think Passenger, Inc. , the Los-Angeles-based technology leader in on-demand customer collaboration. StarVest participated with previous investor Shelter Capital Partners and new investor Steamboat Ventures, the venture capital arm of The Walt Disney Company.
VC detail:http://www.starvestpartners.com/
What Vcs says:
StarVest Partners says, "Passenger's differentiated technology and proven success with customers fits perfectly into our investment strategy and we look forward to helping them expand their customer base while continuing to build their brand."
More at:http://www.thinkpassenger.com/
The Los-Angeles-based technology leader in on-demand customer collaboration.
Think Passenger combines cutting-edge social media, community building and collaboration technologies to enable companies to collaborate with customers within private online communities.
How It Works:
Based on current Web 2.0 technologies, Passenger enables brand marketers to create private and secure communities to generate and refine new product ideas, gain contextual insight and drive customer advocacy like never before. The company's advanced analytics engine allows companies of all sizes to collect, synthesize and distill real world conversations into actionable business decisions.
How Much They Got from Vcs:
StarVest venture capital firm that is funding and building the next generation of technology-enabled business services companies, today announced its participation in an $8.3 million series B financing round in Think Passenger, Inc. , the Los-Angeles-based technology leader in on-demand customer collaboration. StarVest participated with previous investor Shelter Capital Partners and new investor Steamboat Ventures, the venture capital arm of The Walt Disney Company.
VC detail:http://www.starvestpartners.com/
What Vcs says:
StarVest Partners says, "Passenger's differentiated technology and proven success with customers fits perfectly into our investment strategy and we look forward to helping them expand their customer base while continuing to build their brand."
More at:http://www.thinkpassenger.com/
MotorsportMad.com--Upload Any Video Clips Of Motorsport
What Company is Offering:
MotorsportMad.com allows users to upload and view motorsport video clips of all categories and from all over the world. Any video clips that are motorsport related can be uploaded allowing users to share their experience of their favourite and most outrageous motorsport video clips. There is a huge range of categories from rally video clips, motorbike video clips, Nascar video clips, F1 video clips, crashes, street racing, models, car shows, and many more motorsport video clips.
How It Works:
There is a vast category list of motor sport videos such as; NASCAR, Rally Cross, Street Racing, Motorbike, GT racing, Drifting, Champ racing, Indy racing and more. You can browse through the videos by category, or the more recently added, or the top rated videos, or most recently viewed videos. If you like a video take a look at the users and see what other videos the user has added or subscribe to the users videos. If you are a user you can rate the other videos, send them a message, or add them as a friend. MotorSportMad.com is simple and easy to use, it is a community to watch cool motor videos, meet some new people and nothing else.
More at:http://www.motorsportmad.com/
MotorsportMad.com allows users to upload and view motorsport video clips of all categories and from all over the world. Any video clips that are motorsport related can be uploaded allowing users to share their experience of their favourite and most outrageous motorsport video clips. There is a huge range of categories from rally video clips, motorbike video clips, Nascar video clips, F1 video clips, crashes, street racing, models, car shows, and many more motorsport video clips.
How It Works:
There is a vast category list of motor sport videos such as; NASCAR, Rally Cross, Street Racing, Motorbike, GT racing, Drifting, Champ racing, Indy racing and more. You can browse through the videos by category, or the more recently added, or the top rated videos, or most recently viewed videos. If you like a video take a look at the users and see what other videos the user has added or subscribe to the users videos. If you are a user you can rate the other videos, send them a message, or add them as a friend. MotorSportMad.com is simple and easy to use, it is a community to watch cool motor videos, meet some new people and nothing else.
More at:http://www.motorsportmad.com/
Figurine Market specializes in the sales of highly collectible figurines
What Company Is Offering:
Figurine Market specializes in the sales of highly collectible figurines. The collectible figurine market is one of the more lucrative collectibles market. It averages 38% annual returns, making it a solid investment for even the beginning investor.
How It Works:
FigurineMarket.com features figurines that are auctioned on eBay. You can search for figurines by browsing through the vast category list which includes figurine categories such as; Coca Cola, Betty Boop, Disney characters, Dolphins, Peanuts characters, frogs, Comic book characters, horses, elephants, and more. Or you can search by typing in a key word and seeing what results the search has. Once you find a figurine that you are interested in buying you click on the image if the figurine and you are directed to eBay, where you get more information on the figurine, place a bid on the figurine or buy it right away.
More at:http://www.figurinemarket.com/
Figurine Market specializes in the sales of highly collectible figurines. The collectible figurine market is one of the more lucrative collectibles market. It averages 38% annual returns, making it a solid investment for even the beginning investor.
How It Works:
FigurineMarket.com features figurines that are auctioned on eBay. You can search for figurines by browsing through the vast category list which includes figurine categories such as; Coca Cola, Betty Boop, Disney characters, Dolphins, Peanuts characters, frogs, Comic book characters, horses, elephants, and more. Or you can search by typing in a key word and seeing what results the search has. Once you find a figurine that you are interested in buying you click on the image if the figurine and you are directed to eBay, where you get more information on the figurine, place a bid on the figurine or buy it right away.
More at:http://www.figurinemarket.com/
eqiyeah.com ---Connecting Professionals
What Company Says:
We had a vision - to create a one-stop solution for seeking, finding, and managing all types of professional relationships. It continues to grow with hundreds and even thousands of new members each and every day. Finally, professionals have a relaxed and safe environment to meet other professionals all over the globe. Best of all, eqiyeah!com is open 24 hours a day, offering a social life that fits anyone's schedule.
How It Works:
To help members make quality connections, they've created extended profile questions that delve further into personalities, likes and dislikes as well as lifestyles. Their team has also added a personalized, interactive Workshop to help members hone their skills most relevant to the relationships they're seeking. The evolution of eqiyeah!com goes on - with changes, improvements and features constantly in the works to make our site the very best in the online professionals industry.
Why is It Different:
eqiyeah!com offers more than a static directory of professionals looking to connect with other professionals. People join for a sense of community - the ability to be amongst other people with similar mindsets and desires. Without the limitations of geography, our members can develop relationships and enjoy all types of encounters with members from around the world.
More at:http://www.eqiyeah.com/
We had a vision - to create a one-stop solution for seeking, finding, and managing all types of professional relationships. It continues to grow with hundreds and even thousands of new members each and every day. Finally, professionals have a relaxed and safe environment to meet other professionals all over the globe. Best of all, eqiyeah!com is open 24 hours a day, offering a social life that fits anyone's schedule.
How It Works:
To help members make quality connections, they've created extended profile questions that delve further into personalities, likes and dislikes as well as lifestyles. Their team has also added a personalized, interactive Workshop to help members hone their skills most relevant to the relationships they're seeking. The evolution of eqiyeah!com goes on - with changes, improvements and features constantly in the works to make our site the very best in the online professionals industry.
Why is It Different:
eqiyeah!com offers more than a static directory of professionals looking to connect with other professionals. People join for a sense of community - the ability to be amongst other people with similar mindsets and desires. Without the limitations of geography, our members can develop relationships and enjoy all types of encounters with members from around the world.
More at:http://www.eqiyeah.com/
TextBack 4 TextBooks to help inform you anytime and anywhere
What Company Is Offering:
TextBack 4 TextBooks to help inform you anytime and anywhere. Save money and spend it on things more fun! No need to wait until you get online to find cheap textbooks. Begin your search while you're at the campus bookstore. Be sure to save 4INFO short code in your phone.
How It Works:
While in the bookstore simply send keyword "ISBN" followed by the 10 digit ISBN number to short code 4INFO (44636). Isn’t it better to text the ISBN to confirm you have the right textbook when you go online? After you send a text message they store the book on the website in a mobile cart so can purchase online from Amazon Market Place. They also send you a text with online pricing and the title. Giving you confidence knowing you have the right textbook. You don't have to sign up or join. More importantly, you don't have to give them your cell phone number. They place a numeric code in their response messages. All you need do is enter the code on the site and they will display all of the books for you. The system is good for any book not just textbooks. Technical professionals can use the system for those expensive tech books too.
More at:http://textback.net/
TextBack 4 TextBooks to help inform you anytime and anywhere. Save money and spend it on things more fun! No need to wait until you get online to find cheap textbooks. Begin your search while you're at the campus bookstore. Be sure to save 4INFO short code in your phone.
How It Works:
While in the bookstore simply send keyword "ISBN" followed by the 10 digit ISBN number to short code 4INFO (44636). Isn’t it better to text the ISBN to confirm you have the right textbook when you go online? After you send a text message they store the book on the website in a mobile cart so can purchase online from Amazon Market Place. They also send you a text with online pricing and the title. Giving you confidence knowing you have the right textbook. You don't have to sign up or join. More importantly, you don't have to give them your cell phone number. They place a numeric code in their response messages. All you need do is enter the code on the site and they will display all of the books for you. The system is good for any book not just textbooks. Technical professionals can use the system for those expensive tech books too.
More at:http://textback.net/
ZoomInfo--For Fresh Organized Information On Industries,Companies,People,Products,Services,Jobs
What Company Is Offering:
ZoomInfo is the premier business information search engine, with profiles on more than 37 million people and 3.5 million companies. ZoomInfo delivers fresh and organized information on industries, companies, people, products, services and jobs
ZoomInfo, the people search engine that gets its data from gathering biographical information on just about everyone, whether you know about it or not.
How It Works:
You’ll need to first visit ZoomInfo in order for it to have your cookie. Additionally, you’ll have to have a general presence on the web, whether this be for social networking, your own website, or any type of e-commerce activity. So when you purchase an item from a company’s website, it could then work with ZoomInfo to compare “cookie notes” in order to provide more targeted ads to you, online, via email, and the next time you visit the company’s website.
Its New Features:
They are launching an advertising network. And in going along with the current trend of tempting fate when it comes to controversial activity with web surfer’s cookies, ZoomInfo will be offering up these cookies to companies looking to provide more targeted ads.
More at:http://zoominfo.com/
ZoomInfo is the premier business information search engine, with profiles on more than 37 million people and 3.5 million companies. ZoomInfo delivers fresh and organized information on industries, companies, people, products, services and jobs
ZoomInfo, the people search engine that gets its data from gathering biographical information on just about everyone, whether you know about it or not.
How It Works:
You’ll need to first visit ZoomInfo in order for it to have your cookie. Additionally, you’ll have to have a general presence on the web, whether this be for social networking, your own website, or any type of e-commerce activity. So when you purchase an item from a company’s website, it could then work with ZoomInfo to compare “cookie notes” in order to provide more targeted ads to you, online, via email, and the next time you visit the company’s website.
Its New Features:
They are launching an advertising network. And in going along with the current trend of tempting fate when it comes to controversial activity with web surfer’s cookies, ZoomInfo will be offering up these cookies to companies looking to provide more targeted ads.
More at:http://zoominfo.com/
Monday, November 5, 2007
Wise Mapping is the web mind mapping tool
What Company Is Offering:
Wise Mapping is the web mind mapping tool that leverages the power of Mind Maps mixing new technologies like vectorial languages and the power of the whole Web 2.0 concept.
How It Works:
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making.
It is an image-centered diagram that represents semantic or other connections between portions of information. By presenting these connections in a radial, non-linear graphical manner, it encourages a brainstorming approach to any given organizational task, eliminating the hurdle of initially establishing an intrinsically appropriate or relevant conceptual framework to work within.
A mind map is similar to a semantic network or cognitive map but there are no formal restrictions on the kinds of links used.
The elements are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts and they are organized into groupings, branches, or areas. The uniform graphic formulation of the semantic structure of information on the method of gathering knowledge, may aid recall of existing memories.
How is It Useful For Us:
Users will be able to create and read their mind maps from everywhere whenever it's needed. Once you have your mind map created the features that distinguish WiseMapping appears: Embed it in your own web page, blog or post, "Wise it" linking documents to it, "Share it" to anyone in the world.
More at:http://www.wisemapping.com/
Wise Mapping is the web mind mapping tool that leverages the power of Mind Maps mixing new technologies like vectorial languages and the power of the whole Web 2.0 concept.
How It Works:
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making.
It is an image-centered diagram that represents semantic or other connections between portions of information. By presenting these connections in a radial, non-linear graphical manner, it encourages a brainstorming approach to any given organizational task, eliminating the hurdle of initially establishing an intrinsically appropriate or relevant conceptual framework to work within.
A mind map is similar to a semantic network or cognitive map but there are no formal restrictions on the kinds of links used.
The elements are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts and they are organized into groupings, branches, or areas. The uniform graphic formulation of the semantic structure of information on the method of gathering knowledge, may aid recall of existing memories.
How is It Useful For Us:
Users will be able to create and read their mind maps from everywhere whenever it's needed. Once you have your mind map created the features that distinguish WiseMapping appears: Embed it in your own web page, blog or post, "Wise it" linking documents to it, "Share it" to anyone in the world.
More at:http://www.wisemapping.com/
RVS Ventures, Acquired beRecruited.com
What Company is offering:
beRecruited provides a platform for student athletes to connect and interact with college coaches across the nation, giving students the tools to research and build profiles of verified athletic and academic information, as well as providing coaches with a vast, searchable database of potential recruits. To date, beRecruited has more than 100,000 registered student-athletes, 8,000 college coaches and 7,000 high school & club coaches.
About VCs Deal:
RVS Ventures, Inc., the investment company of entrepreneur Raymond Sozzi, and Madison Parker Capital, LLC, a Boston-based private equity firm, acquired beRecruited.com in October, 2007 and formed beRecruited, Inc. As part of the growth strategy, the Company hired former ESPN.com executive Jeff Cravens as president.
Who Is Behind This Company:
1.
Raymond Sozzi, Chairman
Raymond Sozzi is CEO and Chairman of the Board of RVS Ventures, Inc., a private equity and consulting firm. He also sits on the Board of Directors of several private companies and non-profit organizations. Over the past 10 years, he has orchestrated nearly $200 million in acquisitions and public and private company financings. In 1992, he founded Student Advantage, Inc., a leading youth media and marketing company. For more than 10 years, he served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, charting the company's growth to more than 500 employees and nearly $75 million in revenue. Sozzi has appeared in more than 200 different publications, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and Ad Age. He was featured by BrandWeek as a Marketer of the Next Generation and in Chief Executive Magazine as one of the top 10 up and coming CEO's in America. In 1999, Sozzi was recognized by Ernst and Young, USA Today and Dow Jones as the nation's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Sozzi, a graduate of Dartmouth College, began his career as an associate consultant for Bain & Company.
2.Jeff Cravens, President
With more than 10 years of executive management in online businesses, Cravens joined beRecruited.com in October 2007. He joined the business after serving as Vice President/General manager of ESPN360.com. Cravens oversaw the successful relaunch of ESPN360.com, with a strategic programming focus on live events and an enhanced user interface. ESPN360.com is ESPN's premier broadband service distributed to more than 17 million homes. Cravens was responsible for overseeing ESPN's programming on other digital platforms, including Video On Demand, Digital Downloads (iTunes),online pay-per-view programming and other emerging digital platforms.
More at:http://www.berecruited.com/
beRecruited provides a platform for student athletes to connect and interact with college coaches across the nation, giving students the tools to research and build profiles of verified athletic and academic information, as well as providing coaches with a vast, searchable database of potential recruits. To date, beRecruited has more than 100,000 registered student-athletes, 8,000 college coaches and 7,000 high school & club coaches.
About VCs Deal:
RVS Ventures, Inc., the investment company of entrepreneur Raymond Sozzi, and Madison Parker Capital, LLC, a Boston-based private equity firm, acquired beRecruited.com in October, 2007 and formed beRecruited, Inc. As part of the growth strategy, the Company hired former ESPN.com executive Jeff Cravens as president.
Who Is Behind This Company:
1.
Raymond Sozzi, Chairman
Raymond Sozzi is CEO and Chairman of the Board of RVS Ventures, Inc., a private equity and consulting firm. He also sits on the Board of Directors of several private companies and non-profit organizations. Over the past 10 years, he has orchestrated nearly $200 million in acquisitions and public and private company financings. In 1992, he founded Student Advantage, Inc., a leading youth media and marketing company. For more than 10 years, he served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, charting the company's growth to more than 500 employees and nearly $75 million in revenue. Sozzi has appeared in more than 200 different publications, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and Ad Age. He was featured by BrandWeek as a Marketer of the Next Generation and in Chief Executive Magazine as one of the top 10 up and coming CEO's in America. In 1999, Sozzi was recognized by Ernst and Young, USA Today and Dow Jones as the nation's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Sozzi, a graduate of Dartmouth College, began his career as an associate consultant for Bain & Company.
2.Jeff Cravens, President
With more than 10 years of executive management in online businesses, Cravens joined beRecruited.com in October 2007. He joined the business after serving as Vice President/General manager of ESPN360.com. Cravens oversaw the successful relaunch of ESPN360.com, with a strategic programming focus on live events and an enhanced user interface. ESPN360.com is ESPN's premier broadband service distributed to more than 17 million homes. Cravens was responsible for overseeing ESPN's programming on other digital platforms, including Video On Demand, Digital Downloads (iTunes),online pay-per-view programming and other emerging digital platforms.
More at:http://www.berecruited.com/
Wikitravel--Your Complete Holiday Or Travel Guide
What Is Wikitravel:
Wikitravel is a project to create a free, complete, up-to-date and reliable world-wide travel guide. It is built in collaboration by Wikitravellers from around the globe.
How It Works:
To create Wikitravel we have to use a tool called Wiki which lets any Internet reader create, update, edit, and illustrate any article on the Web site. We all share our pieces of knowledge, edit them, distill them, and assemble them into a pleasing and cohesive whole. The more people that use the Edit link, the better Wikitravel becomes.
What's Its Purpose:
Whenever travellers meet each other on the road, they swap info about the places they came from and ask questions about places they're going. We want to make it easy to share that knowledge and let others share it; our copyleft license means that the facts you know can spread far and wide.
More at:http://wikitravel.org/
Wikitravel is a project to create a free, complete, up-to-date and reliable world-wide travel guide. It is built in collaboration by Wikitravellers from around the globe.
How It Works:
To create Wikitravel we have to use a tool called Wiki which lets any Internet reader create, update, edit, and illustrate any article on the Web site. We all share our pieces of knowledge, edit them, distill them, and assemble them into a pleasing and cohesive whole. The more people that use the Edit link, the better Wikitravel becomes.
What's Its Purpose:
Whenever travellers meet each other on the road, they swap info about the places they came from and ask questions about places they're going. We want to make it easy to share that knowledge and let others share it; our copyleft license means that the facts you know can spread far and wide.
More at:http://wikitravel.org/
Today's Dreamers Are Tommorrow's Entrepreneurs
Barclays Local Business research reveals untapped potential of today’s workforce. Workers caught staring into space at their desk or ‘away with the fairies’ during business meetings are a mass of untapped, entrepreneurial talent, according to research from Barclays Local Business.
The latest survey by Barclays Local Business reveals how employees showing signs of distraction are likely to get out and start their own business, as nearly half of today’s UK business bosses (44 per cent) admit to having plotted their entrepreneurial future whilst daydreaming in the work place of a previous employer.
Although an increasing number of bosses are paranoid about employees wasting time at work on social networking sites like Facebook, it appears they cannot stop employees from dreaming of a more productive and satisfying future in their working life.
John Davis, marketing director for Barclays Local Business said: “This survey highlights what many bosses have probably suspected for a long time – that for some employees, their current job is the last thing on their mind when they are at work. However, whilst they may be wasting their employer’s time they are not necessarily being idle; as they are planning for their own future. For budding entrepreneurs, the routine of their day-job can spark dreams of going onto bigger and better things.”
These dreamers turned entrepreneurs clearly know the value of downtime with only eight per cent interrupting their holidays to come up with a killer small business idea. Similarly, just six per cent were prepared to think about being their own boss in between pints down the pub. It’s also no surprise then that the survey also reveals that almost 40 per cent of UK business bosses view plain old common sense as the winning ingredient for ongoing success.
Davis added: “For employers there is nothing more frustrating than letting untapped talent slip through the net as staff showing entrepreneurial signs provide huge benefits and help small, medium or larger companies grow. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to any boss that they shouldn’t take their eye off the ball when it comes to keeping their staff interested and engaged and developing their people.”
The survey also uncovers the concerns keeping aspiring entrepreneurs awake at night; just under 40 per cent admit to feeling nervous about giving up the financial stability of a full time job, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) worry about getting into debt. Added pressure on their home life was also a worry for six per cent.
Via-USPR
The latest survey by Barclays Local Business reveals how employees showing signs of distraction are likely to get out and start their own business, as nearly half of today’s UK business bosses (44 per cent) admit to having plotted their entrepreneurial future whilst daydreaming in the work place of a previous employer.
Although an increasing number of bosses are paranoid about employees wasting time at work on social networking sites like Facebook, it appears they cannot stop employees from dreaming of a more productive and satisfying future in their working life.
John Davis, marketing director for Barclays Local Business said: “This survey highlights what many bosses have probably suspected for a long time – that for some employees, their current job is the last thing on their mind when they are at work. However, whilst they may be wasting their employer’s time they are not necessarily being idle; as they are planning for their own future. For budding entrepreneurs, the routine of their day-job can spark dreams of going onto bigger and better things.”
These dreamers turned entrepreneurs clearly know the value of downtime with only eight per cent interrupting their holidays to come up with a killer small business idea. Similarly, just six per cent were prepared to think about being their own boss in between pints down the pub. It’s also no surprise then that the survey also reveals that almost 40 per cent of UK business bosses view plain old common sense as the winning ingredient for ongoing success.
Davis added: “For employers there is nothing more frustrating than letting untapped talent slip through the net as staff showing entrepreneurial signs provide huge benefits and help small, medium or larger companies grow. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to any boss that they shouldn’t take their eye off the ball when it comes to keeping their staff interested and engaged and developing their people.”
The survey also uncovers the concerns keeping aspiring entrepreneurs awake at night; just under 40 per cent admit to feeling nervous about giving up the financial stability of a full time job, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) worry about getting into debt. Added pressure on their home life was also a worry for six per cent.
Via-USPR
Skillfights---A platform for carrying out different kinds of digital competition
What Company Is Offering:
Skillfights.com offers a platform for carrying out different kinds of digital competition, rated by the community through votes.
How It Works:
Users have the possibilities to search, join and create competitions. Those can be of different nature, for example they can search for the best image, flash, video, soundfile or text.
More at:http://skillfights.com/
Skillfights.com offers a platform for carrying out different kinds of digital competition, rated by the community through votes.
How It Works:
Users have the possibilities to search, join and create competitions. Those can be of different nature, for example they can search for the best image, flash, video, soundfile or text.
More at:http://skillfights.com/
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