What Company Is Offering:
MindBites, your place on the web to learn directly from other real people and share what you know with the world. A self-publishing platform and social marketplace for instructional content.
How It Works:
MindBites enables people to share their unique knowledge, skills and passions through audio and video lessons, earning money for themselves or for charity. The result is a unique community of discovery with content that simply can't be found anywhere else – from Teaching your Baby Sign Language, to Cooking Tandori Chicken, to Surviving a Knife Attack. By enabling people to learn, connect and share as never before, MindBites promises to revolutionize the way the world shares knowledge. MindBites – What do you know? .
MindBites is a place where anyone can design, create and post instructional content for sale. They offer real people, individuals like you, a self-publishing platform to share their knowledge, skills and passions with others through audio and video lessons. These lessons can be promoted and previewed across the web, where others can purchase and download them using credits costing as low as $1.69. The result is an inspiring community of discovery that hopes to revolutionize the way the world shares knowledge.
With customized titles, descriptions, and preview images, your lessons are promoted with ease and professionalism to a worldwide audience. Additionally, authors can upload auxialliary materials to compliment their lesson, such as text documents, pictures, and graphs.
Users are then able to browse, preview and purchase the author's lessons using credits purchased at MindBites for as low as $1.69. Once purchased, the media files are available to be viewed in the user's browser or downloaded for future use. Documentation of these purchases can be found under your MyMindBites page.
More at:http://www.mindbites.com/
Monday, December 24, 2007
LetterMeLater.com
What Company Is Offering:
LetterMeLater.com allows you to send emails to anyone you wish, with the ability to have them sent at any future date and time you choose.
A feature missing from every email service is the ability to schedule when an email gets sent - you must click the "send" button at the exact moment of delivery.
How It Works:
With this service, you can write emails with your existing email address, and they will get sent at the exact date, or dates that you specify - down to the minute.
Unique Features:
# Send emails later from your own email program!.
# Create HTML emails! Use rich content to add style and structure.
# Send emails from any of your email addresses.
# Send recurring emails.
# Share your letters! See what others have shared.
# Your email will be the return address on the emails you send.
# Import your contacts and create group mailing lists.
# Send emails with carbon copies 'cc' and blind carbon copies 'bcc'.
# Manage your emails, and edit them before they get sent if necessary.
# The time of day to send can be specified in your local time.
# No advertisements will be sent with your emails.
# Send scheduled text messages to your cell phone!.
More at:http://www.lettermelater.com/
LetterMeLater.com allows you to send emails to anyone you wish, with the ability to have them sent at any future date and time you choose.
A feature missing from every email service is the ability to schedule when an email gets sent - you must click the "send" button at the exact moment of delivery.
How It Works:
With this service, you can write emails with your existing email address, and they will get sent at the exact date, or dates that you specify - down to the minute.
Unique Features:
# Send emails later from your own email program!.
# Create HTML emails! Use rich content to add style and structure.
# Send emails from any of your email addresses.
# Send recurring emails.
# Share your letters! See what others have shared.
# Your email will be the return address on the emails you send.
# Import your contacts and create group mailing lists.
# Send emails with carbon copies 'cc' and blind carbon copies 'bcc'.
# Manage your emails, and edit them before they get sent if necessary.
# The time of day to send can be specified in your local time.
# No advertisements will be sent with your emails.
# Send scheduled text messages to your cell phone!.
More at:http://www.lettermelater.com/
GigTide is the next generation of resume development --Get Noticed ,Get Hired
What Company Is Offering:
GigTide.com is an online resume builder containing resume samples and writing tips - A complete online resume development and job-seeker solution. Users can build, post and manage resumes, contacts, cover letters and portfolios online. GigTide’s intuitive, easy-to-use interface, resume writing tips, resume examples, resume samples, spell checking, tracking features and stunningly designed resume.
How It Works:
GigTide.com is an online resume builder containing resume samples and writing tips - A complete online resume development and job-seeker solution. Users can build, post and manage resumes, contacts, cover letters and portfolios online. GigTide’s intuitive, easy-to-use interface, resume writing tips, resume examples, resume samples, spell checking, tracking features and stunningly designed resume templates help job-seekers prepare unique employment resumes and stand out from the competition. Users can build and store unlimited resumes, contacts, cover letters and web links for a monthly subscription fee as low as $8.25. GigTide.com is offering free subscription until January 1st, 2008.
GigTide’s interface takes users through a simple resume development process of choosing a resume template, entering in information such as a professional objective, work history, education, etc., previewing and saving. Throughout the process, users can review formatting information to evaluate whether a chronological, functional or combination format is most appropriate for them. Resume writing tips, a reference list of action verbs, resume examples and suggestions throughout the process help users create professional, well-written resumes and cover letters. Users can also create and manage an online portfolio which is automatically integrated into the resume. Online resumes can then be distributed to prospective employers who can access the resume online, download a PDF or Word version, view a portfolio and contact the applicant with one click of a mouse.
The tracking and dashboard reporting system allows users to enter and manage unlimited contacts, track how many people are viewing their resumes and where the visitors are coming from. “Job-seekers taking advantage of GigTide’s services no longer have to wonder if anyone is paying attention to their applications,” said Johnson. “GigTide is the next generation of resume development and the first place job-seekers should go to jump-start their career search in 2008.”
More at:http://www.gigtide.com/
GigTide.com is an online resume builder containing resume samples and writing tips - A complete online resume development and job-seeker solution. Users can build, post and manage resumes, contacts, cover letters and portfolios online. GigTide’s intuitive, easy-to-use interface, resume writing tips, resume examples, resume samples, spell checking, tracking features and stunningly designed resume.
How It Works:
GigTide.com is an online resume builder containing resume samples and writing tips - A complete online resume development and job-seeker solution. Users can build, post and manage resumes, contacts, cover letters and portfolios online. GigTide’s intuitive, easy-to-use interface, resume writing tips, resume examples, resume samples, spell checking, tracking features and stunningly designed resume templates help job-seekers prepare unique employment resumes and stand out from the competition. Users can build and store unlimited resumes, contacts, cover letters and web links for a monthly subscription fee as low as $8.25. GigTide.com is offering free subscription until January 1st, 2008.
GigTide’s interface takes users through a simple resume development process of choosing a resume template, entering in information such as a professional objective, work history, education, etc., previewing and saving. Throughout the process, users can review formatting information to evaluate whether a chronological, functional or combination format is most appropriate for them. Resume writing tips, a reference list of action verbs, resume examples and suggestions throughout the process help users create professional, well-written resumes and cover letters. Users can also create and manage an online portfolio which is automatically integrated into the resume. Online resumes can then be distributed to prospective employers who can access the resume online, download a PDF or Word version, view a portfolio and contact the applicant with one click of a mouse.
The tracking and dashboard reporting system allows users to enter and manage unlimited contacts, track how many people are viewing their resumes and where the visitors are coming from. “Job-seekers taking advantage of GigTide’s services no longer have to wonder if anyone is paying attention to their applications,” said Johnson. “GigTide is the next generation of resume development and the first place job-seekers should go to jump-start their career search in 2008.”
More at:http://www.gigtide.com/
EasySearchLive---Next Generation Search
What Company Is Offering:
Live View Adds a new dimension to the search results they supply, By opening a Live View window below a listing using the link next to the flashing Green Button you can surf the listed site and locate the information you seek without leaving the results page.
How It Works:
The Live View window acts like a mini-browser and you can open multiple Live Views on the same page.
Email Link allows you to instantly share a listing with up to 5 of your friends and include a personal note as well.
More at:http://www.easysearchlive.com/
Live View Adds a new dimension to the search results they supply, By opening a Live View window below a listing using the link next to the flashing Green Button you can surf the listed site and locate the information you seek without leaving the results page.
How It Works:
The Live View window acts like a mini-browser and you can open multiple Live Views on the same page.
Email Link allows you to instantly share a listing with up to 5 of your friends and include a personal note as well.
More at:http://www.easysearchlive.com/
ProWorkflow is a powerful solution, which has the potential to increase your companies productivity
What Company Is Offering:
ProWorkflow is a fast, easy to use project management, workflow and time tracking solution for small to medium businesses. The application has been designed from the ground up with your most important asset in mind: Your staff!.
How It Works:
ProWorkflow enables you to keep accurate time-keeping records, organize, plan, and delegate jobs and tasks whilst using the timeline to have an overview of company activity. The information ProWorkflow collects allows you to measure and analyze your company performance so that you can streamline to improve profit margins.
ProWorkflow helps to make the most of your company's time, by efficiently managing your workflow. Managing time effectively within your company will help deliver projects on time, on budget and increase profits. ProWorkflow is a web-based solution, full of features, that is easily accessed from any location, and allows you to see the activity within your company in real-time.
Whether you need to manage projects, track time, view a timeline, store information, assign work to staff or contractors, or simply regain control, ProWorkflow will come to the rescue!
ProWorkflow has a reporting section that allows you to produce reports on any particular project, client history, current work in progress, or staff performance. All reports can export to XML and CSV.
These reports also include invoice ready information for projects. This allows you to quickly view an outline of all time spent during a project, as well as what requires invoicing and how much income is due for payment.
If you are a small company without an accounting package, ProWorkflow is a great tool to use while you grow. Whether you are large or small, ProWorkflow reporting allows you to measure and analyze areas within your company that you can streamline to improve productivity and profits.
ProWorkflow is a powerful solution, which has the potential to increase your productivity substantially, equating to better quality, and faster delivery of projects. The ProWorkflow 'Professional' solution has been designed for small to medium companies, and the 'Enterprise' release designed to be a solid platform to integrate into larger firms. For an affordable price, you can have a tool that will save you tens of thousands.
More at:http://www.proworkflow.com/
ProWorkflow is a fast, easy to use project management, workflow and time tracking solution for small to medium businesses. The application has been designed from the ground up with your most important asset in mind: Your staff!.
How It Works:
ProWorkflow enables you to keep accurate time-keeping records, organize, plan, and delegate jobs and tasks whilst using the timeline to have an overview of company activity. The information ProWorkflow collects allows you to measure and analyze your company performance so that you can streamline to improve profit margins.
ProWorkflow helps to make the most of your company's time, by efficiently managing your workflow. Managing time effectively within your company will help deliver projects on time, on budget and increase profits. ProWorkflow is a web-based solution, full of features, that is easily accessed from any location, and allows you to see the activity within your company in real-time.
Whether you need to manage projects, track time, view a timeline, store information, assign work to staff or contractors, or simply regain control, ProWorkflow will come to the rescue!
ProWorkflow has a reporting section that allows you to produce reports on any particular project, client history, current work in progress, or staff performance. All reports can export to XML and CSV.
These reports also include invoice ready information for projects. This allows you to quickly view an outline of all time spent during a project, as well as what requires invoicing and how much income is due for payment.
If you are a small company without an accounting package, ProWorkflow is a great tool to use while you grow. Whether you are large or small, ProWorkflow reporting allows you to measure and analyze areas within your company that you can streamline to improve productivity and profits.
ProWorkflow is a powerful solution, which has the potential to increase your productivity substantially, equating to better quality, and faster delivery of projects. The ProWorkflow 'Professional' solution has been designed for small to medium companies, and the 'Enterprise' release designed to be a solid platform to integrate into larger firms. For an affordable price, you can have a tool that will save you tens of thousands.
More at:http://www.proworkflow.com/
Who knew that writing a cookbook about how to disguise veggies in a meal could be a make her millionaire?
Who knew that writing a cookbook about how to disguise veggies in a meal could be a winning formula?
Missy Chase Lapine recently appeared on The Big Idea TV show. Turns out she has such a passion for family and food that she quit her day job.
The former publisher of Eating Well magazine says the book is about how she developed a “hiding technique” to get her daughters, both picky eaters to eat what she gave them.
Missy was propelled into action after reading an inspiring quote on a card that said, “Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.” As Missy chimed in saying, “The response has been incredible” Donny enlisted her to talk about the details of her phenomenal success.
Here’s are some of the things Missy mentioned: She’s sold 120,000 copies of her book, “The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals,” since April 2007. The book has been on the New York Times Bestseller List. Missy just signed with a licensing firm. Frozen Entries are coming soon. She is filming a TV pilot. Missy received a 6-figure advance for a Sneaky Chef Men’s book to be released next year.
All this from putting veggies in food!
More at:http://tunedin.entrepreneur.com/2007/10/24/sneaky-food-chef-rakes-in-a-fortune/
Missy Chase Lapine recently appeared on The Big Idea TV show. Turns out she has such a passion for family and food that she quit her day job.
The former publisher of Eating Well magazine says the book is about how she developed a “hiding technique” to get her daughters, both picky eaters to eat what she gave them.
Missy was propelled into action after reading an inspiring quote on a card that said, “Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.” As Missy chimed in saying, “The response has been incredible” Donny enlisted her to talk about the details of her phenomenal success.
Here’s are some of the things Missy mentioned: She’s sold 120,000 copies of her book, “The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals,” since April 2007. The book has been on the New York Times Bestseller List. Missy just signed with a licensing firm. Frozen Entries are coming soon. She is filming a TV pilot. Missy received a 6-figure advance for a Sneaky Chef Men’s book to be released next year.
All this from putting veggies in food!
More at:http://tunedin.entrepreneur.com/2007/10/24/sneaky-food-chef-rakes-in-a-fortune/
Evite.com ---Personal Private Planner ---Use It For Your Xmas Party
What Company Is Offering:
Evite.com is the top online destination for invitations. A free service, Evite.com estimates it saves party planners millions of dollars in paper invitations and postage each month. With party-planning tools and content, the site helps hosts be more successful while saving even more money and time.Evite.com is the leading social event planning site on the Web, facilitating more than 16 million invitations to more than 450,000 events each month. Evite.com offers everything a host needs to throw a great event, from free online invitations to planning checklists to a budget estimator and drink calculator.
How It Works:
Evite.com works like a personal party planner, without the cost. Evite guides party hosts through every step of the event planning process – from deciding on the party specifica and inviting guests to preparing the party to finalizing the menu and sending eCard thank-you notes after the event.
Some of the planning tools include:
Checklists for every event. The checklist tool at Evite.com helps hosts keep track of all their party tasks. This convenient tool provides hosts with a list of tasks and dates associated to each task.
Budget Estimator. Before deciding how big to make an event or even agreeing to be the host, consumers can calculate out how much the entire event will cost by using Evite.com’s budget estimator. By simply plugging in event type, number of guests and the estimated duration time, potential hosts can calculate a true estimate of the overall cost.
Invitation flair. With new designs always available, Evite.com offers options to fit every party. Additionally, hosts can design their own invitation by uploading images and different design components.
Drink Calculator. Whether a host is planning a casual get-together or a formal affair, the drink calculator provides an estimate of how many beverages are needed, depending on the number of guests and whether light, average or heavy drinkers are invited.
My Notebook. Save planning ideas, menus, checklists and other relevant party details in the personalized notebook, which helps keep hosts’ party information organized and in one location.
eCards. Evite.com’s free eCards are perfect for sending guests or the host a thank-you note after a party.
More at:http://www.evite.com/
Evite.com is the top online destination for invitations. A free service, Evite.com estimates it saves party planners millions of dollars in paper invitations and postage each month. With party-planning tools and content, the site helps hosts be more successful while saving even more money and time.Evite.com is the leading social event planning site on the Web, facilitating more than 16 million invitations to more than 450,000 events each month. Evite.com offers everything a host needs to throw a great event, from free online invitations to planning checklists to a budget estimator and drink calculator.
How It Works:
Evite.com works like a personal party planner, without the cost. Evite guides party hosts through every step of the event planning process – from deciding on the party specifica and inviting guests to preparing the party to finalizing the menu and sending eCard thank-you notes after the event.
Some of the planning tools include:
Checklists for every event. The checklist tool at Evite.com helps hosts keep track of all their party tasks. This convenient tool provides hosts with a list of tasks and dates associated to each task.
Budget Estimator. Before deciding how big to make an event or even agreeing to be the host, consumers can calculate out how much the entire event will cost by using Evite.com’s budget estimator. By simply plugging in event type, number of guests and the estimated duration time, potential hosts can calculate a true estimate of the overall cost.
Invitation flair. With new designs always available, Evite.com offers options to fit every party. Additionally, hosts can design their own invitation by uploading images and different design components.
Drink Calculator. Whether a host is planning a casual get-together or a formal affair, the drink calculator provides an estimate of how many beverages are needed, depending on the number of guests and whether light, average or heavy drinkers are invited.
My Notebook. Save planning ideas, menus, checklists and other relevant party details in the personalized notebook, which helps keep hosts’ party information organized and in one location.
eCards. Evite.com’s free eCards are perfect for sending guests or the host a thank-you note after a party.
More at:http://www.evite.com/
The evolution of Web search---Interview With Google's Director Of Research "Peter Norving"
As director of research at Google, Peter Norvig is intimately involved in the attempt to manage the world's information.An expert on artificial intelligence, he has taught at universities, held research jobs in the corporate world and at NASA, and cowritten the influential textbook AI: A Modern Approach.
TR: Google has many innovative products, but the look and feel of Web search hasn't changed much in 10 years. Why?
Peter Norvig: We've hit on something that people mostly liked. We weren't the first to do it. Go back to Excite and the search engines before: you have a box, and you get a list of 10 results, with a little bit of information accompanying each result. We've just stuck with that.
TR: What has changed?
PN: The scale. There's probably a thousand times more information. It used to be just Web pages; now it's video, pictures, blogs, and all sorts of media and formats. Also, the immediacy has changed. When I started, we were updating the index once a month. We thought of it as a library catalogue, a long-term thing. Now we're seeing it more as up-to-the-minute media. When news breaks, you want to be able to read it in minutes, not in days, weeks, or months.
TR: You claim that Google's accuracy is pretty good. How do you know how good it is, and how do you make it better?
PN: We test it in lots of ways. At the grossest level, we track what users are clicking on. If they click on the number-one result, and then they're done, that probably means they got what they wanted. If they're scrolling down, page after page, and reformulating the query, then we know the results aren't what they wanted. Another way we do it is to randomly select specific queries and hire people to say how good our results are. These are just contractors that we hire who give their judgment. We train them on how to identify spam and other bad sites, and then we record their judgments and track against that. It's more of a gold standard because it's someone giving a real opinion, but of course, since there's a human in the loop, we can't afford to do as much of it. We also invite people into the labs, or sometimes we go into homes and observe them as they do searches. It provides insight into what people are having difficulty with.
TR: Companies such as Ask and Powerset are betting that the future is in natural-language search, which lets people use real, useful sentences instead of potentially ambiguous keywords. What is Google doing with natural language?
PN: We think what's important about natural language is the mapping of words onto the concepts that users are looking for. But we don't think it's a big advance to be able to type something as a question as opposed to keywords. Typing "What is the capital of France?" won't get you better results than typing "capital of France." But understanding how words go together is important. To give some examples, "New York" is different from "York," but "Vegas" is the same as "Las Vegas," and "Jersey" may or may not be the same as "New Jersey." That's a natural-language aspect that we're focusing on. Most of what we do is at the word and phrase level; we're not concentrating on the sentence. We think it's important to get the right results rather than change the interface.
TR: How much will Google search become personalized to individual users?
PN: We're doing some of that in various places. One good example is in news personalization, where we give recommendations for news articles. There, it's easier to do than in larger Web databases, because there's a limited number of news stories. We track what news stories you look at, and we compare it to other people. And that seems to work out well. It's harder to apply it to something as vast as the whole Web, but we're starting with the easy parts.
TR: Where do you see Google search in two to five years?
PN: You'll see integration of various kinds of content. We're getting into speech recognition and all the kinds of interfaces on phones, where you have a tiny screen and awkward keyboard. You'll see that gaining in importance. You'll see integration of our various properties. We used to put the onus on the user and ask them if they wanted Web search or image search or video search. Now we're trying to solve that for them and serve up the results in a way that makes sense.
Via-TR
TR: Google has many innovative products, but the look and feel of Web search hasn't changed much in 10 years. Why?
Peter Norvig: We've hit on something that people mostly liked. We weren't the first to do it. Go back to Excite and the search engines before: you have a box, and you get a list of 10 results, with a little bit of information accompanying each result. We've just stuck with that.
TR: What has changed?
PN: The scale. There's probably a thousand times more information. It used to be just Web pages; now it's video, pictures, blogs, and all sorts of media and formats. Also, the immediacy has changed. When I started, we were updating the index once a month. We thought of it as a library catalogue, a long-term thing. Now we're seeing it more as up-to-the-minute media. When news breaks, you want to be able to read it in minutes, not in days, weeks, or months.
TR: You claim that Google's accuracy is pretty good. How do you know how good it is, and how do you make it better?
PN: We test it in lots of ways. At the grossest level, we track what users are clicking on. If they click on the number-one result, and then they're done, that probably means they got what they wanted. If they're scrolling down, page after page, and reformulating the query, then we know the results aren't what they wanted. Another way we do it is to randomly select specific queries and hire people to say how good our results are. These are just contractors that we hire who give their judgment. We train them on how to identify spam and other bad sites, and then we record their judgments and track against that. It's more of a gold standard because it's someone giving a real opinion, but of course, since there's a human in the loop, we can't afford to do as much of it. We also invite people into the labs, or sometimes we go into homes and observe them as they do searches. It provides insight into what people are having difficulty with.
TR: Companies such as Ask and Powerset are betting that the future is in natural-language search, which lets people use real, useful sentences instead of potentially ambiguous keywords. What is Google doing with natural language?
PN: We think what's important about natural language is the mapping of words onto the concepts that users are looking for. But we don't think it's a big advance to be able to type something as a question as opposed to keywords. Typing "What is the capital of France?" won't get you better results than typing "capital of France." But understanding how words go together is important. To give some examples, "New York" is different from "York," but "Vegas" is the same as "Las Vegas," and "Jersey" may or may not be the same as "New Jersey." That's a natural-language aspect that we're focusing on. Most of what we do is at the word and phrase level; we're not concentrating on the sentence. We think it's important to get the right results rather than change the interface.
TR: How much will Google search become personalized to individual users?
PN: We're doing some of that in various places. One good example is in news personalization, where we give recommendations for news articles. There, it's easier to do than in larger Web databases, because there's a limited number of news stories. We track what news stories you look at, and we compare it to other people. And that seems to work out well. It's harder to apply it to something as vast as the whole Web, but we're starting with the easy parts.
TR: Where do you see Google search in two to five years?
PN: You'll see integration of various kinds of content. We're getting into speech recognition and all the kinds of interfaces on phones, where you have a tiny screen and awkward keyboard. You'll see that gaining in importance. You'll see integration of our various properties. We used to put the onus on the user and ask them if they wanted Web search or image search or video search. Now we're trying to solve that for them and serve up the results in a way that makes sense.
Via-TR
Bravos are electronic awards that you can send out by email
What Company Is Offering:
Bravos are electronic awards that you can send out by email. You can draw your own Bravos or pick from a selection of pre-made illustrations.
Bravo Bucks, or Bruckos for short, are a simple currency.
Updates:
Once the system is fully up and running, you’ll be able to grab an API and make Bravos (their name for the awards) for your site. Suggestions from next.yahoo.com includes ideas such as commenter of the day, 100th post, 2 years of membership and so on. People will then be able to use the awards wherever they like such as on their blog.It seems Yahoo thinks that the idea of earning achievement badges on video game systems is such a cool idea that people on the web want to have their success noted in some way also.
More at: http://bravo.yahoo.com/
Bravos are electronic awards that you can send out by email. You can draw your own Bravos or pick from a selection of pre-made illustrations.
Bravo Bucks, or Bruckos for short, are a simple currency.
Updates:
Once the system is fully up and running, you’ll be able to grab an API and make Bravos (their name for the awards) for your site. Suggestions from next.yahoo.com includes ideas such as commenter of the day, 100th post, 2 years of membership and so on. People will then be able to use the awards wherever they like such as on their blog.It seems Yahoo thinks that the idea of earning achievement badges on video game systems is such a cool idea that people on the web want to have their success noted in some way also.
More at: http://bravo.yahoo.com/
Fanurio is an organization and billing tool for freelancers
What Company is Offering:
Fanurio is a time tracking and billing application designed to help freelancers manage their work and be paid for it. It runs both on Mac OS X and Windows.
How It Works:
Fanurio is an organization and billing tool for freelancers. It helps you keep track of how many hours you’ve logged on a project and stay organized while working. It also creates invoices. The set-up is straight-forward and easy to use. Enter the details of your business—contact info, what you do, rates, and taxes. After that, you’re ready to get working. For each project, you’ll create a project folder complete with a thorough listing of items and expenses, as well as your rate (you can choose if it’s hourly, flat, or simply non-billable). The next step is timing. Fanurio comes with a stylish little mini-view timer that tracks how long you’ve been working (or not).
More at:http://www.fanurio.com/
Fanurio is a time tracking and billing application designed to help freelancers manage their work and be paid for it. It runs both on Mac OS X and Windows.
How It Works:
Fanurio is an organization and billing tool for freelancers. It helps you keep track of how many hours you’ve logged on a project and stay organized while working. It also creates invoices. The set-up is straight-forward and easy to use. Enter the details of your business—contact info, what you do, rates, and taxes. After that, you’re ready to get working. For each project, you’ll create a project folder complete with a thorough listing of items and expenses, as well as your rate (you can choose if it’s hourly, flat, or simply non-billable). The next step is timing. Fanurio comes with a stylish little mini-view timer that tracks how long you’ve been working (or not).
More at:http://www.fanurio.com/
ShangBy takes you to the best stores in Shanghai
What Company is Offering:
Through their revolutionary video shopping concept, they broadcast a live video feed from different retail stores in Shanghai. Those shopping with them watch the video feed at their computer, while interacting directly with the retailer and their shopping agent, Nina in a conference call. They have also made it possible for people to "buy anytime" through their secure e-commerce website!”
How It Works:
ShangBy takes you to the best stores in Shanghai. You can shop anytime online and be assured each item was selected and priced by a ShangBy customer. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee forever!
You can also shop live during our "Open Hours" most evenings from 6PM PST / 8 PM CST. Viewers can call in dialing 1 866 212 0875 to ask questions, express their delight or concerns, and even get down to some proper Shanghai price wrangling. If you miss the live show you can still shop browsing through the site’s catalogue.Once you’ve decided to go for that pearl cream or silk handbag, simply give Shangby a call. A 15% handling fee plus $30 shipping for all orders under $400. If you shop live you can get host Nina to try on an item, bargain for a lower rate, and joke with the shop owners.
More at:http://www.shangby.com/
Through their revolutionary video shopping concept, they broadcast a live video feed from different retail stores in Shanghai. Those shopping with them watch the video feed at their computer, while interacting directly with the retailer and their shopping agent, Nina in a conference call. They have also made it possible for people to "buy anytime" through their secure e-commerce website!”
How It Works:
ShangBy takes you to the best stores in Shanghai. You can shop anytime online and be assured each item was selected and priced by a ShangBy customer. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee forever!
You can also shop live during our "Open Hours" most evenings from 6PM PST / 8 PM CST. Viewers can call in dialing 1 866 212 0875 to ask questions, express their delight or concerns, and even get down to some proper Shanghai price wrangling. If you miss the live show you can still shop browsing through the site’s catalogue.Once you’ve decided to go for that pearl cream or silk handbag, simply give Shangby a call. A 15% handling fee plus $30 shipping for all orders under $400. If you shop live you can get host Nina to try on an item, bargain for a lower rate, and joke with the shop owners.
More at:http://www.shangby.com/
Map My Tracks is the easy way to accurately map or share in real-time, your location over land, sea or air using your mobile phone
What Company Is Offering:
Map My Tracks is the easy way to accurately map or share in real-time, your location over land, sea or air using your mobile phone.Map My Tracks is all about training smarter and improving sporting performance. It’s about sharing your sporting passion with the others in real-time. It’s about making training fun.
How It Works:
Map My Tracks turns your mobile phone into your personal real-time GPS tracking device. Using a mobile phone with built-in GPS or an external GPS receiver you can map and track your location in real-time. Map My Tracks brings a new insight into your sporting activity, provides a competitive edge and makes training fun. Map My Tracks let your friends, competitors or parents know where you are right now.
It’s ideal for tracking activities like sailing, cycling, running, canoeing, skiing, walking, windsurfing, orienteering, mountaineering, horse riding, hang gliding, gliding, snowboarding, paragliding, hot air ballooning or just for fun to show your friends where you are right now. You can use it in any country. Just make sure that your phone has access to a data network (i.e., you can use the internet on your mobile phone).
Each time you start tracking you have the option to make it private. Private tracks are only seen by you.
You will need a Bluetooth GPS receiver that will connect with Map My Tracks Mobile on your phone.
More at:http://www.mapmytracks.com/
Map My Tracks is the easy way to accurately map or share in real-time, your location over land, sea or air using your mobile phone.Map My Tracks is all about training smarter and improving sporting performance. It’s about sharing your sporting passion with the others in real-time. It’s about making training fun.
How It Works:
Map My Tracks turns your mobile phone into your personal real-time GPS tracking device. Using a mobile phone with built-in GPS or an external GPS receiver you can map and track your location in real-time. Map My Tracks brings a new insight into your sporting activity, provides a competitive edge and makes training fun. Map My Tracks let your friends, competitors or parents know where you are right now.
It’s ideal for tracking activities like sailing, cycling, running, canoeing, skiing, walking, windsurfing, orienteering, mountaineering, horse riding, hang gliding, gliding, snowboarding, paragliding, hot air ballooning or just for fun to show your friends where you are right now. You can use it in any country. Just make sure that your phone has access to a data network (i.e., you can use the internet on your mobile phone).
Each time you start tracking you have the option to make it private. Private tracks are only seen by you.
You will need a Bluetooth GPS receiver that will connect with Map My Tracks Mobile on your phone.
More at:http://www.mapmytracks.com/
Treemo--Web+Mobile application that allows users to upload and share their original videos, photos, and music
What Company is Offering:
Treemo is a web and mobile application that allows users to upload and share their original videos, photos, and music. Users program their own channel and share with their friends, strangers, and the world.
Treemo is a online and mobile community dedicated to sharing digital media, empowering self-expression, and transforming creativity into action. By offering an ever-evolving gallery of video, audio, photography, words, and visual art, Treemo inspires visitors to create their own digital expressions, and to share those creations with the world - on the web and on mobile phones.
How It Works:
Treemo offers innovative tools that make it easy to post, manage, and share all manner of digital creations in your own multimedia channel.Treemo provides equal access to everyone - by recycling unused digital gear, we provide a voice for people with something to say and no way to say it.Treemo is web-based with no additional software to download. They will have optional software tools in the future that integrate with video and photo applications and/or search your hard drive for photos, video and music and allow for easy upload.
Who Is Backing Them:
The Treemo team is comprised of passionate individuals, pioneers in creating Internet and mobile applications with companies like Mobliss, MountainZone, MSN, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, McCaw, Lucent, and a wheelbarrow full of others.
More at:http://www.treemo.com/
Treemo is a web and mobile application that allows users to upload and share their original videos, photos, and music. Users program their own channel and share with their friends, strangers, and the world.
Treemo is a online and mobile community dedicated to sharing digital media, empowering self-expression, and transforming creativity into action. By offering an ever-evolving gallery of video, audio, photography, words, and visual art, Treemo inspires visitors to create their own digital expressions, and to share those creations with the world - on the web and on mobile phones.
How It Works:
Treemo offers innovative tools that make it easy to post, manage, and share all manner of digital creations in your own multimedia channel.Treemo provides equal access to everyone - by recycling unused digital gear, we provide a voice for people with something to say and no way to say it.Treemo is web-based with no additional software to download. They will have optional software tools in the future that integrate with video and photo applications and/or search your hard drive for photos, video and music and allow for easy upload.
Who Is Backing Them:
The Treemo team is comprised of passionate individuals, pioneers in creating Internet and mobile applications with companies like Mobliss, MountainZone, MSN, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, McCaw, Lucent, and a wheelbarrow full of others.
More at:http://www.treemo.com/
Sunday, December 23, 2007
TrueThinker is the world's first web-based intelligent web site
What Company Is Offering:
TrueThinker is the world's first web-based intelligent web site.TrueThinker.com, a new tool for intelligent web site organization.
It will change the way knowledge is organized, sought from the Internet, co-created and shared virtually person-to-person as well as via on-site communities.TrueThinker will allow everyone access to technology where they can create value locally and globally. It will level the playing field and advance wisdom.
How It Works:
TrueThinker.com has three prime components- My TrueThinker, My Knowledge Bank and My Communities that allow you to organize and manage all of your links.
TrueThinker is a constructed software environment (a website) with an embedded form of their proprietary AutoGnome Technology adapted for the Web (Internet) and known as a WebGnome. A WebGnome is an intelligent agent residing in this environment which, with its continuous adaptive learning by mimicking the user's behavior in Reality, will grow into a like-minded replica (MindClone) of the user-self acting in the Virtual Reality (CyberWorld) of the Internet. The most effective means of interacting in this Virtual Reality will be through one's virtual-self, i.e. one's WebGnome. TrueThinker will continue to evolve from its initial capabilities of knowledge organization (learning), to knowledge creation (thinking), and knowledge applications (acting).
Every time you conduct a search and save a URL into one of your folders you are training your WebGnome in TrueThinker. Simply stated, just use it and you are training it and teaching it what is relevant to you as information that you select from the data that exist on search engines.
More at:http://www.truethinker.com/
TrueThinker is the world's first web-based intelligent web site.TrueThinker.com, a new tool for intelligent web site organization.
It will change the way knowledge is organized, sought from the Internet, co-created and shared virtually person-to-person as well as via on-site communities.TrueThinker will allow everyone access to technology where they can create value locally and globally. It will level the playing field and advance wisdom.
How It Works:
TrueThinker.com has three prime components- My TrueThinker, My Knowledge Bank and My Communities that allow you to organize and manage all of your links.
TrueThinker is a constructed software environment (a website) with an embedded form of their proprietary AutoGnome Technology adapted for the Web (Internet) and known as a WebGnome. A WebGnome is an intelligent agent residing in this environment which, with its continuous adaptive learning by mimicking the user's behavior in Reality, will grow into a like-minded replica (MindClone) of the user-self acting in the Virtual Reality (CyberWorld) of the Internet. The most effective means of interacting in this Virtual Reality will be through one's virtual-self, i.e. one's WebGnome. TrueThinker will continue to evolve from its initial capabilities of knowledge organization (learning), to knowledge creation (thinking), and knowledge applications (acting).
Every time you conduct a search and save a URL into one of your folders you are training your WebGnome in TrueThinker. Simply stated, just use it and you are training it and teaching it what is relevant to you as information that you select from the data that exist on search engines.
More at:http://www.truethinker.com/
Modern Agenda is a free guide for the Modern Design enthusiast, tracking Modern Architecture, Shops and Events
What Company is Offering:
Modern Agenda is a free guide for the Modern Design enthusiast, tracking Modern Architecture, Shops and Events.
How It Will Helpful:
The site aims to become the definitive resource for all things Modern. The site was created by Michael Gurley--Chicago native and Modernist junky.
Have you ever wanted to know:
Where are the Modern Design shops in a city?
When is the next Modern Auction?
What organizations promote and preserve Modern design?
Where are the important Modern buildings in a city?
What magazines report on Modern design?
More at:http://www.modernagenda.com/
Modern Agenda is a free guide for the Modern Design enthusiast, tracking Modern Architecture, Shops and Events.
How It Will Helpful:
The site aims to become the definitive resource for all things Modern. The site was created by Michael Gurley--Chicago native and Modernist junky.
Have you ever wanted to know:
Where are the Modern Design shops in a city?
When is the next Modern Auction?
What organizations promote and preserve Modern design?
Where are the important Modern buildings in a city?
What magazines report on Modern design?
More at:http://www.modernagenda.com/
Neurona.it is a FREE virtual Community created to promote networking among professionals and academics of the marketing and sales arena
What Company is Offering:
Neurona.it is a FREE virtual Community created to promote networking among professionals and academics of the marketing and sales arena.
How It Works:
With this new tailor-made service, they offer you the unique possibility to create your own personal and professional network of contacts with the objective to expand the knowledge and best practices in marketing.
Neurona.it is not about selling services or products… it is about people!. Neurona.it is about facilitating YOUR network with fellow professionals, about helping YOU to get the advice or assistance you need.
As an option, you will be able to expand your network and contact other professional.
Neurona.it is open to anyone working, or simply interested, in the marketing or sales communities. To participate in Neurona.it is easy, simply register (for FREE!), tell us about yourself and your contacts and start looking for other profiles of interest to you… then invite them to be part of your personal network.
Whom It Will Help Most:
Neurona.it can be useful for:
Moving your professional career forward.
Searching for partners and collaborators.
Enlarging your portfolio of clients and/or suppliers.
Contacting people you trust to ask for expert advice.
Finding a new job in the marketing and sales fields.
More at:http://www.neurona.it/
Neurona.it is a FREE virtual Community created to promote networking among professionals and academics of the marketing and sales arena.
How It Works:
With this new tailor-made service, they offer you the unique possibility to create your own personal and professional network of contacts with the objective to expand the knowledge and best practices in marketing.
Neurona.it is not about selling services or products… it is about people!. Neurona.it is about facilitating YOUR network with fellow professionals, about helping YOU to get the advice or assistance you need.
As an option, you will be able to expand your network and contact other professional.
Neurona.it is open to anyone working, or simply interested, in the marketing or sales communities. To participate in Neurona.it is easy, simply register (for FREE!), tell us about yourself and your contacts and start looking for other profiles of interest to you… then invite them to be part of your personal network.
Whom It Will Help Most:
Neurona.it can be useful for:
Moving your professional career forward.
Searching for partners and collaborators.
Enlarging your portfolio of clients and/or suppliers.
Contacting people you trust to ask for expert advice.
Finding a new job in the marketing and sales fields.
More at:http://www.neurona.it/
Keywordspy---Increase your Ad Campaign revenue by finding the most profitable keywords
What Company Is Offering:
Increase your Ad Campaign revenue by finding the most profitable keywords.
Get access to over a billion keywords in their database.
How it Works:
Know your competitor's online marketing strategies
You can also earn and even surpass what your competitors are making with Google Adwords and Overture. KeywordSpy gives you the key to their success: a good ad-campaign with the right keywords.
Beat them at their own game
Now that you know what keywords competitors are using and how it generates money for them, you can use those keywords to drive traffic to your site and give your business the exposure it needs.
All is done with only 2 clicks
How about a list of profitable keywords in seconds? KeywordSpy gives you all the keywords you need with just a simple click. The second click would enable you to download the keyword results using a text or excel file format. It's THAT easy.
How It Will Be Helpful For Companies:
There are more than 1 billion keywords searched every month by users around the world. Finding the correct ones for your website is not an easy task. Hundreds of hours must be spent in searching for the right keywords for one ad campaign.
Your competitors know best, why not let them do all the hard work by spending time and money on keywords you in turn will use for your ad campaign. With just a few clicks you can create a large targeted keyword campaign. Only use keywords that are proven to generate sales and save money.
Companies with a much larger list of keywords drive more traffic to their sites compared to those who have less. KeywordSpy helps drive traffic from competing sites to your own instantly, resulting in optimum exposure at the least amount of time and costs.
More at:http://www.keywordspy.com/
Increase your Ad Campaign revenue by finding the most profitable keywords.
Get access to over a billion keywords in their database.
How it Works:
Know your competitor's online marketing strategies
You can also earn and even surpass what your competitors are making with Google Adwords and Overture. KeywordSpy gives you the key to their success: a good ad-campaign with the right keywords.
Beat them at their own game
Now that you know what keywords competitors are using and how it generates money for them, you can use those keywords to drive traffic to your site and give your business the exposure it needs.
All is done with only 2 clicks
How about a list of profitable keywords in seconds? KeywordSpy gives you all the keywords you need with just a simple click. The second click would enable you to download the keyword results using a text or excel file format. It's THAT easy.
How It Will Be Helpful For Companies:
There are more than 1 billion keywords searched every month by users around the world. Finding the correct ones for your website is not an easy task. Hundreds of hours must be spent in searching for the right keywords for one ad campaign.
Your competitors know best, why not let them do all the hard work by spending time and money on keywords you in turn will use for your ad campaign. With just a few clicks you can create a large targeted keyword campaign. Only use keywords that are proven to generate sales and save money.
Companies with a much larger list of keywords drive more traffic to their sites compared to those who have less. KeywordSpy helps drive traffic from competing sites to your own instantly, resulting in optimum exposure at the least amount of time and costs.
More at:http://www.keywordspy.com/
HomeMaxima.com
What Company Is Offering:
HomeMaxima.com provides three innovative bidding platforms: For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Auction, Property Auction and Agent Commission Bidding. HomeMaxima.com is the first to create an auction platform accommodating diversified groups of sellers: individual sellers and their agents, banks, lenders and new home builders. HomeMaxima.com optimizes real estate transactions for buyers and sellers. This real-time and leveled playing environment is a win-win-win solution for property sellers, buyers and agents/brokers.
How It Works:
The seller is the property owner. When listing, seller side should set auction starting time a few weeks into the future. This will allow time for preview and for qualifying buyers. Any time during preview and before auction ended, seller can set "approved bidders" to allow qualified bidders to bid. Seller can set auction start date at any desired future time and auction duration has range from 1 to 30 days. If property is not sold, seller can repost (fresh posting) or relist property.
Individual or organization buyer can directly bid on FSBO auction. If the FSBO listing includes Buyer's Agent Commission (owner pays), buyer may use agent's support in real estate transaction. Buyer should pay an in-person visit and preview interested property before bidding.
FSBO Auction service is a FREE of charge for sellers (property owners). When the auction is ended and Reserve Price is met, the winning buyer pays HomeMaxima.com a transaction fee of 0.75% of property sales price.
More at:http://www.homemaxima.com/
HomeMaxima.com provides three innovative bidding platforms: For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Auction, Property Auction and Agent Commission Bidding. HomeMaxima.com is the first to create an auction platform accommodating diversified groups of sellers: individual sellers and their agents, banks, lenders and new home builders. HomeMaxima.com optimizes real estate transactions for buyers and sellers. This real-time and leveled playing environment is a win-win-win solution for property sellers, buyers and agents/brokers.
How It Works:
The seller is the property owner. When listing, seller side should set auction starting time a few weeks into the future. This will allow time for preview and for qualifying buyers. Any time during preview and before auction ended, seller can set "approved bidders" to allow qualified bidders to bid. Seller can set auction start date at any desired future time and auction duration has range from 1 to 30 days. If property is not sold, seller can repost (fresh posting) or relist property.
Individual or organization buyer can directly bid on FSBO auction. If the FSBO listing includes Buyer's Agent Commission (owner pays), buyer may use agent's support in real estate transaction. Buyer should pay an in-person visit and preview interested property before bidding.
FSBO Auction service is a FREE of charge for sellers (property owners). When the auction is ended and Reserve Price is met, the winning buyer pays HomeMaxima.com a transaction fee of 0.75% of property sales price.
More at:http://www.homemaxima.com/
Collective Intellect-- - -Turn social media into business intelligence
What Company Is Offering:
Collective Intellect is the only real-time provider of data on social media. They provide you actionable, data-driven intelligence on the impact of user-generated content across blogs, social networks and message boards, as well as traditional media.
Social media is now a mainstream phenomenon in which critical word-of-mouth moves quickly and virally. Knowing who is saying what about stocks, brands, campaigns or businesses online is now crucial intelligence.
How It Works:
Collective Intellect, Inc. specializes in comprehensively tracking, filtering and ranking media content for the Fortune 500. The founders have worked in Business Intelligence for years, creating tools to solve the problem of filtering unstructured information.
Building customized technology tools lets us help our customers gain a competitive business advantage using New Media throughout their organization. Across blogs, discussion boards and social networking websites, Collective Intellect uses a combination of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and old-fashioned human ingenuity to identify emerging New Media and traditional media content. This approach produces more comprehensive, timely and relevant results than what you can pull using traditional web search tools. Collective Intellect also builds topic-based community platforms which foster corporate interaction with the millions of New Media denizens.
Who Is Behind The Company:
Don Springer, President and CEO
Mr. Springer is a successful entrepreneur who founded two previous companies and returned more than 500% to his investors. Prior to Collective Intellect, he was General Manager of the Business Process Optimization Group at webMethods. During his tenure, he led more than 40% revenue growth in consecutive quarters, reaching an annualized run-rate of $30M for his business group. Mr. Springer co-founded Dante Software, a venture capital-backed company acquired by webMethods (WEBM) in the fall of 2003. Prior to Dante Software, he was a co-founder of iauthentic, a natural products e-commerce portal acquired by Whole Foods Markets in 1999. Mr. Springer has worked for Silicon Graphics, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Augat Inc., an electronics component manufacturer now part of Tyco. He has an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and a B.S. in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia.
More at:http://www.collectiveintellect.com/
Collective Intellect is the only real-time provider of data on social media. They provide you actionable, data-driven intelligence on the impact of user-generated content across blogs, social networks and message boards, as well as traditional media.
Social media is now a mainstream phenomenon in which critical word-of-mouth moves quickly and virally. Knowing who is saying what about stocks, brands, campaigns or businesses online is now crucial intelligence.
How It Works:
Collective Intellect, Inc. specializes in comprehensively tracking, filtering and ranking media content for the Fortune 500. The founders have worked in Business Intelligence for years, creating tools to solve the problem of filtering unstructured information.
Building customized technology tools lets us help our customers gain a competitive business advantage using New Media throughout their organization. Across blogs, discussion boards and social networking websites, Collective Intellect uses a combination of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and old-fashioned human ingenuity to identify emerging New Media and traditional media content. This approach produces more comprehensive, timely and relevant results than what you can pull using traditional web search tools. Collective Intellect also builds topic-based community platforms which foster corporate interaction with the millions of New Media denizens.
Who Is Behind The Company:
Don Springer, President and CEO
Mr. Springer is a successful entrepreneur who founded two previous companies and returned more than 500% to his investors. Prior to Collective Intellect, he was General Manager of the Business Process Optimization Group at webMethods. During his tenure, he led more than 40% revenue growth in consecutive quarters, reaching an annualized run-rate of $30M for his business group. Mr. Springer co-founded Dante Software, a venture capital-backed company acquired by webMethods (WEBM) in the fall of 2003. Prior to Dante Software, he was a co-founder of iauthentic, a natural products e-commerce portal acquired by Whole Foods Markets in 1999. Mr. Springer has worked for Silicon Graphics, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Augat Inc., an electronics component manufacturer now part of Tyco. He has an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and a B.S. in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia.
More at:http://www.collectiveintellect.com/
PlayFirst is creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands
What Company Is Offering:
PlayFirst is a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands.
How It Works:
Committed to building casual gameplay rich in story and character, PlayFirst works with talented internal and external developers to bring mass market games to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, mobile, handheld and console. The company's portfolio includes the world-renowned Diner Dash® franchise as well as top-selling games such as Wedding Dash, Chocolatier, and Dream Chronicles.
Who Is Behind The Company:
John Welch is a co-founder and the President and CEO of PlayFirst, a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands. One of the most visible figures in the casual games industry today, John is responsible for the strategic direction of the company.
Prior to forming PlayFirst, John spent five years at Shockwave.com (now owned by Viacom) as the company's Vice President of Games and Product where he drove the product strategy and acquisitions for the site. John helped build Shockwave.com into one of the Internet's top games portals and discovered some of the top independent game developers in the world. Before Shockwave, John worked at SEGA where he led the specification effort for the Sega Dreamcast Network. He has also served as a steering committee member of the International Game Developers Association's (IGDA) Online Games and Casual Games groups.
More at:http://www.playfirst.com/
PlayFirst is a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands.
How It Works:
Committed to building casual gameplay rich in story and character, PlayFirst works with talented internal and external developers to bring mass market games to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, mobile, handheld and console. The company's portfolio includes the world-renowned Diner Dash® franchise as well as top-selling games such as Wedding Dash, Chocolatier, and Dream Chronicles.
Who Is Behind The Company:
John Welch is a co-founder and the President and CEO of PlayFirst, a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands. One of the most visible figures in the casual games industry today, John is responsible for the strategic direction of the company.
Prior to forming PlayFirst, John spent five years at Shockwave.com (now owned by Viacom) as the company's Vice President of Games and Product where he drove the product strategy and acquisitions for the site. John helped build Shockwave.com into one of the Internet's top games portals and discovered some of the top independent game developers in the world. Before Shockwave, John worked at SEGA where he led the specification effort for the Sega Dreamcast Network. He has also served as a steering committee member of the International Game Developers Association's (IGDA) Online Games and Casual Games groups.
More at:http://www.playfirst.com/
Post your resume and get paid when employers email
What Company is Offering:
Post your resume and get paid when employers email. Their service is intended to accelerate the hiring process by reducing the delay between identification and initial contact with a candidate.
There is no guarantee that the result will be a hire, however, they feel that the entire process is benefitted by increasing the responsiveness of the candidate.
They charge employers for the enhanced communication. Employers pay an initial fee upon funding their account and also pay a surcharge on each successful candidate connection.
How It Works:
bonfireJOBS provides an enhanced candidate employer connection through cash incentives paid by employers to candidates.
It's a simple process:
candidates post their profile information (which may include all or part of their resume),
employers search and only contact those candidates in whom there is significant interest,
candidate will respond with statement of interest or disinterest,
funds transferred from employer to candidate.
How Is It Different:
Most websites collect referrals by requesting that you enter the email addresses of your friends or colleagues. This information is stored in their databases and is used to follow-up and potentially annoy the person you referred.
They provide you with a referral link which you can mail directly to your friends. We value your private connections and will not know the recipient until they decide to sign up and join our website. This just seems like a better approach to us.
More at:http://bonfirejobs.com/
Post your resume and get paid when employers email. Their service is intended to accelerate the hiring process by reducing the delay between identification and initial contact with a candidate.
There is no guarantee that the result will be a hire, however, they feel that the entire process is benefitted by increasing the responsiveness of the candidate.
They charge employers for the enhanced communication. Employers pay an initial fee upon funding their account and also pay a surcharge on each successful candidate connection.
How It Works:
bonfireJOBS provides an enhanced candidate employer connection through cash incentives paid by employers to candidates.
It's a simple process:
candidates post their profile information (which may include all or part of their resume),
employers search and only contact those candidates in whom there is significant interest,
candidate will respond with statement of interest or disinterest,
funds transferred from employer to candidate.
How Is It Different:
Most websites collect referrals by requesting that you enter the email addresses of your friends or colleagues. This information is stored in their databases and is used to follow-up and potentially annoy the person you referred.
They provide you with a referral link which you can mail directly to your friends. We value your private connections and will not know the recipient until they decide to sign up and join our website. This just seems like a better approach to us.
More at:http://bonfirejobs.com/
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The behavior of computer-generated crowds in movies and video games could soon appear much more realistic
The behavior of computer-generated crowds in movies and video games could soon appear much more realistic, thanks to new software that gives each character a complex personality of its own.
The software has been demonstrated in a simulation of Pennsylvania Station, in New York City, depicting more than 1,000 commuters, law-enforcement officers, entertainers, and tourists going about their business. Each individual demonstrates complex, rational behaviors that collectively create a much more lifelike representation of human activity, says Demetri Terzopoulos, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Los Angeles.
This sort of realism is important in games and motion pictures, says Norm Badler, director of the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation at the University of Pennsylvania. Even though simulated crowds tend to form part of the backdrop to the foreground action, they will stand out if their behavior is unrealistic, he says. "The whole animation should look plausible."
Until recently, crowd-animation algorithms have typically been based on some form of flocking activity, in which each character moves in a particular way depending upon how its neighbors move. This works fine for depictions of animal behavior, such as the well-known wildebeest stampede in Disney's The Lion King, says Terzopoulos. But in simulated humans that should evince some cognitive capacity, this sort of movement can appear aimless and random, says Badler.
The "autonomous pedestrians" designed by Terzopoulos and graduate student Wei Shao, on the other hand, are governed by three different layers of behavior. A motion layer handles basic movement, such as walking, running, standing, and sitting. On top of this sits a reactive layer, which allows the characters to respond to obstacles or other characters they encounter; it also enables them to perform simple behaviors that people normally take for granted, such as walking around a bench in order to sit on it.
But where the real complexity comes from is the top, cognitive layer. "This is where the agent is able to think ahead about what it's going to do in the future," says Terzopoulos. "It's a comprehensive cognitive model of people from the ground up."
For example, a character may be charged with the simple task of catching a train. But it knows that, in order to perform this task, it must carry out a number of subgoals, such as purchasing a ticket and finding the train platform. In fact, even these subgoals can have further subgoals, such as finding the ticket office and choosing the shortest ticket line to stand in.
This is a complex planning problem that can be exacerbated by a character's failure or success in meeting each of its subgoals, says Terzopoulos. "If you want to catch a train, but there are no tickets left, then you have to replan and maybe buy a ticket for a later train."
To make characters' behavior still richer, animators can also give them desires, which might make them stop off to buy a soda from a vending machine or pause to watch some street entertainers. Terzopoulos's software even manages to capture the way in which two crowds of people, moving through a narrow corridor, naturally form two opposing lanes.
More at:http://www.technologyreview.com/player/07/12/19RoweVideo/2.aspx
The software has been demonstrated in a simulation of Pennsylvania Station, in New York City, depicting more than 1,000 commuters, law-enforcement officers, entertainers, and tourists going about their business. Each individual demonstrates complex, rational behaviors that collectively create a much more lifelike representation of human activity, says Demetri Terzopoulos, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Los Angeles.
This sort of realism is important in games and motion pictures, says Norm Badler, director of the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation at the University of Pennsylvania. Even though simulated crowds tend to form part of the backdrop to the foreground action, they will stand out if their behavior is unrealistic, he says. "The whole animation should look plausible."
Until recently, crowd-animation algorithms have typically been based on some form of flocking activity, in which each character moves in a particular way depending upon how its neighbors move. This works fine for depictions of animal behavior, such as the well-known wildebeest stampede in Disney's The Lion King, says Terzopoulos. But in simulated humans that should evince some cognitive capacity, this sort of movement can appear aimless and random, says Badler.
The "autonomous pedestrians" designed by Terzopoulos and graduate student Wei Shao, on the other hand, are governed by three different layers of behavior. A motion layer handles basic movement, such as walking, running, standing, and sitting. On top of this sits a reactive layer, which allows the characters to respond to obstacles or other characters they encounter; it also enables them to perform simple behaviors that people normally take for granted, such as walking around a bench in order to sit on it.
But where the real complexity comes from is the top, cognitive layer. "This is where the agent is able to think ahead about what it's going to do in the future," says Terzopoulos. "It's a comprehensive cognitive model of people from the ground up."
For example, a character may be charged with the simple task of catching a train. But it knows that, in order to perform this task, it must carry out a number of subgoals, such as purchasing a ticket and finding the train platform. In fact, even these subgoals can have further subgoals, such as finding the ticket office and choosing the shortest ticket line to stand in.
This is a complex planning problem that can be exacerbated by a character's failure or success in meeting each of its subgoals, says Terzopoulos. "If you want to catch a train, but there are no tickets left, then you have to replan and maybe buy a ticket for a later train."
To make characters' behavior still richer, animators can also give them desires, which might make them stop off to buy a soda from a vending machine or pause to watch some street entertainers. Terzopoulos's software even manages to capture the way in which two crowds of people, moving through a narrow corridor, naturally form two opposing lanes.
More at:http://www.technologyreview.com/player/07/12/19RoweVideo/2.aspx
Cellportraits---Find Perfect And Unique Gifts
What Company Is Offering:
The narcissistic artist you're shopping for is sure to be entranced by a new and utterly unique work of art: his own DNA portrait. Just send in a few drops of blood, and Phil Fisette, an immunologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder of Cell Portraits, will search your loved one's cells for an aesthetic arrangement of chromosomes to immortalize on film. The images are then custom-colored to the client's preference, generating a modern piece of art. Prices range from $250 to $500.
Cell Portraits is based in Madison, WI. They specialize in providing clients with a picture of their chromosomes (microscopic structures of DNA inside the cells of the body) so they can be displayed as art. Their art is truly unique in that the chromosome images used in each piece are an actual picture of the clients DNA or genetic material. They work with each client to capture the natural photogenic beauty of their (or a loved one’s) chromosomes to create a work of art that is as unique as it is personal.
How It Works:
Select size, color, and print material preferences via the online order form.
You will receive an email confirming your preferences along with an attached instruction manual (pdf format) to acquaint you with the blood collection process.
A ChromoKit™ for the collection of your cell sample will be sent to the address that you provide.
Place 2 drops of blood into the provided sample collection tube and add the cell-growth medium.
Send your sample back to Cell Portraits via a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope that is included with the kit.
More at:http://www.cellportraits.com/
The narcissistic artist you're shopping for is sure to be entranced by a new and utterly unique work of art: his own DNA portrait. Just send in a few drops of blood, and Phil Fisette, an immunologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder of Cell Portraits, will search your loved one's cells for an aesthetic arrangement of chromosomes to immortalize on film. The images are then custom-colored to the client's preference, generating a modern piece of art. Prices range from $250 to $500.
Cell Portraits is based in Madison, WI. They specialize in providing clients with a picture of their chromosomes (microscopic structures of DNA inside the cells of the body) so they can be displayed as art. Their art is truly unique in that the chromosome images used in each piece are an actual picture of the clients DNA or genetic material. They work with each client to capture the natural photogenic beauty of their (or a loved one’s) chromosomes to create a work of art that is as unique as it is personal.
How It Works:
Select size, color, and print material preferences via the online order form.
You will receive an email confirming your preferences along with an attached instruction manual (pdf format) to acquaint you with the blood collection process.
A ChromoKit™ for the collection of your cell sample will be sent to the address that you provide.
Place 2 drops of blood into the provided sample collection tube and add the cell-growth medium.
Send your sample back to Cell Portraits via a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope that is included with the kit.
More at:http://www.cellportraits.com/
Argus Information & Advisory Services closed a significant investment led by Oak Investment Partners
What Company Is Offering:
Argus Information & Advisory Services, LLC provides information, scoring solutions and advisory services to financial institutions. Argus clients include the largest credit card issuers and largest consumer financial services providers. Argus products and services assist financial institutions in making marketing and risk management decisions. Argus helps these institutions manage the tradeoffs among price, product, risk and customer behavior along the customer lifecycle to increase profitability.
How Much They Got From VCs :
Argus Information & Advisory Services announced that it closed a significant investment led by Oak Investment Partners, a leading growth equity firm with a 30-year history of investing in high growth industry innovators. The investment will be used to expand Argus' product offering, develop its international presence, enhance its technology platform, and expand its workforce to support its growing client base.
About VCs:
Oak Investment Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm with a total of $8.4 billion in committed capital. The primary investment focus is on high growth opportunities in communications, information technology, financial services information technology, Internet new media, healthcare services, and consumer retail. With a 30-year history, Oak has achieved a strong track record as a stage-independent investor funding more than 450 companies at key points in their lifecycle. Oak has been involved in the formation of companies, funded spinouts of operating divisions and technology assets, and provided growth equity to mid- and late-stage private businesses and to public companies through PIPE investments. Oak has helped innovators exploit new business opportunities and anticipate trends through long-term relationships that endure the changing economic landscape.
www.oakvc.com
More at:www.argusinformation.com
Argus Information & Advisory Services, LLC provides information, scoring solutions and advisory services to financial institutions. Argus clients include the largest credit card issuers and largest consumer financial services providers. Argus products and services assist financial institutions in making marketing and risk management decisions. Argus helps these institutions manage the tradeoffs among price, product, risk and customer behavior along the customer lifecycle to increase profitability.
How Much They Got From VCs :
Argus Information & Advisory Services announced that it closed a significant investment led by Oak Investment Partners, a leading growth equity firm with a 30-year history of investing in high growth industry innovators. The investment will be used to expand Argus' product offering, develop its international presence, enhance its technology platform, and expand its workforce to support its growing client base.
About VCs:
Oak Investment Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm with a total of $8.4 billion in committed capital. The primary investment focus is on high growth opportunities in communications, information technology, financial services information technology, Internet new media, healthcare services, and consumer retail. With a 30-year history, Oak has achieved a strong track record as a stage-independent investor funding more than 450 companies at key points in their lifecycle. Oak has been involved in the formation of companies, funded spinouts of operating divisions and technology assets, and provided growth equity to mid- and late-stage private businesses and to public companies through PIPE investments. Oak has helped innovators exploit new business opportunities and anticipate trends through long-term relationships that endure the changing economic landscape.
www.oakvc.com
More at:www.argusinformation.com
Big Stage --create and integrate a life-like 3D avatar of themselves into everything from famous movie scenes, TV shows and video games etc
What Company Is Offering:
Big Stage is a media company whose breakthrough technology allows users to easily create and integrate a life-like 3D avatar of themselves into everything from famous movie scenes, TV shows and video games, to music videos, short video clips, virtual worlds, still images, user-generated content, instant messages, emails, social networks and more - instantly. Big Stage will launch to consumers in the second quarter of 2008.
How It Works:
Big Stage , the service requires that users upload three pictures of themselves with a digital camera, and the Big Stage tool quickly converts them into a life-like 3D avatar. The proprietary technology automatically maps the contours of a user’s face to generate a replica of the user, fully equipped for animation, according to the company.
After users create and style their avatars, they can drop them into the library of Big Stage-enabled user and professionally created content. This highly personalized content can then be shared by users across social networks, mobile phones and other platforms, according to Big Stage.
More at: www.bigstage.com
Big Stage is a media company whose breakthrough technology allows users to easily create and integrate a life-like 3D avatar of themselves into everything from famous movie scenes, TV shows and video games, to music videos, short video clips, virtual worlds, still images, user-generated content, instant messages, emails, social networks and more - instantly. Big Stage will launch to consumers in the second quarter of 2008.
How It Works:
Big Stage , the service requires that users upload three pictures of themselves with a digital camera, and the Big Stage tool quickly converts them into a life-like 3D avatar. The proprietary technology automatically maps the contours of a user’s face to generate a replica of the user, fully equipped for animation, according to the company.
After users create and style their avatars, they can drop them into the library of Big Stage-enabled user and professionally created content. This highly personalized content can then be shared by users across social networks, mobile phones and other platforms, according to Big Stage.
More at: www.bigstage.com
Planaganza---For Planning Your Xmas Events And More
What Company Is Offering:
Planaganza is an online community that brings together event hosts and event vendors to plan memorable events.
Planaganza, the place for life’s events, was created to help individuals, organizations and socialites plan events by sharing ideas with and gathering ideas from other Planaganza members. Members create event pages that chronicle their planning, track invites, log RSVPs, organize event registration and provide event information to attendees.
Planaganza will introduce a comprehensive set of tools to let even the most amateur event planner craft a flawless event, meeting or gathering. Planaganza even lets you plan for those special life events like having a baby, going on a family vacation or remodeling your home!.
How It Works:
Planaganza offers several features to help make your event planning as simple as possible. You can upload pictures, create blogs and of course invite guests all with a few clicks. You also have access to a comprehensive vendor review database comprised of comments and ratings from people just like you! So if you’re stuck on which photographer to hire, read the vendor reviews and find out what other users think.
Planaganza is for any event you can plan in life. It’s not just for large conferences, expensive weddings or 10,000 people galas. Although it can be used to plan those events as well, Planaganza is also for your wine and cheese socials, your superbowl parties and your rowing team’s sports banquet. You don’t have to just plan the extravaganzas of life you can also Planaganza! Planaganza is just a play on the word extravaganza to let our users know that the site is accessible to all, for all events and socials.
More at:http://www.planaganza.com/
Planaganza is an online community that brings together event hosts and event vendors to plan memorable events.
Planaganza, the place for life’s events, was created to help individuals, organizations and socialites plan events by sharing ideas with and gathering ideas from other Planaganza members. Members create event pages that chronicle their planning, track invites, log RSVPs, organize event registration and provide event information to attendees.
Planaganza will introduce a comprehensive set of tools to let even the most amateur event planner craft a flawless event, meeting or gathering. Planaganza even lets you plan for those special life events like having a baby, going on a family vacation or remodeling your home!.
How It Works:
Planaganza offers several features to help make your event planning as simple as possible. You can upload pictures, create blogs and of course invite guests all with a few clicks. You also have access to a comprehensive vendor review database comprised of comments and ratings from people just like you! So if you’re stuck on which photographer to hire, read the vendor reviews and find out what other users think.
Planaganza is for any event you can plan in life. It’s not just for large conferences, expensive weddings or 10,000 people galas. Although it can be used to plan those events as well, Planaganza is also for your wine and cheese socials, your superbowl parties and your rowing team’s sports banquet. You don’t have to just plan the extravaganzas of life you can also Planaganza! Planaganza is just a play on the word extravaganza to let our users know that the site is accessible to all, for all events and socials.
More at:http://www.planaganza.com/
The Original Social Network
About Company:
There are so many different social networks out there, some good, and some bad. Imagine getting the best features of every single one of them, and putting them into one standard platform, and making it truly free and open for everyone to use.
Developers can extend the tosn platform, users can manipulate it to increase the return on investment to them. True centres of influence are revealed and rightly benefit from their exposure, through a matrix of win-win scenarios.
Front of mind awareness is exponentially increased by the use of our proprietary platform, which we’ve rolled out to every single country in the globe. Customised and tweaked to suit each socio-economic environment.
With grand plans to offer the network as true open source, with absolutely no restrictions on use, as soon as we’ve exited our BETA stage, there is no better time to get involved.
More at:http://www.theoriginalsocialnetwork.com/
There are so many different social networks out there, some good, and some bad. Imagine getting the best features of every single one of them, and putting them into one standard platform, and making it truly free and open for everyone to use.
Developers can extend the tosn platform, users can manipulate it to increase the return on investment to them. True centres of influence are revealed and rightly benefit from their exposure, through a matrix of win-win scenarios.
Front of mind awareness is exponentially increased by the use of our proprietary platform, which we’ve rolled out to every single country in the globe. Customised and tweaked to suit each socio-economic environment.
With grand plans to offer the network as true open source, with absolutely no restrictions on use, as soon as we’ve exited our BETA stage, there is no better time to get involved.
More at:http://www.theoriginalsocialnetwork.com/
ooVoo is the next evolution in online communication ---Video Messaging
What Company Is Offering:
ooVoo is the next evolution in online communication — a remarkably easy way to have a face-to-face video conversation with friends, family or colleagues, no matter where they are in the world.
How It Works:
ooVoo is a free program that uses technology to bring affordable and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.
ooVoo is a great way to connect with friends, family, and colleagues using full video and sound. Organize a family get-together, share breaking news, or heckle your friends during your favorite sporting event. It's easy.
Talk is cheap. Actually, it's free. With unlimited one-to-one and multiparty video calling (with up to five participants), you can eliminate long distance and local phone charges.
You just need a broadband Internet connection to see your friends talk to you. For your friends to see and hear you, all you need is a webcam, microphone, and speakers (headset recommended).
Purchase a webcam or headset at the ooVoo Store.
Video allows a face-to-face experience. It's the next best thing to being there in-person. Make a connection, enhance collaboration, and improve communication. See your baby nephew wearing the new outfit you sent him, share the joy of your friend's new job or watch a client's reaction to your sales pitch.
How It Will Help Business People:
ooVoo is a great business tool. Research shows that video increases audience attention and builds speaker credibility while tightening bonds and teamwork in a business environment. Video makes information easier to understand, reduces meeting fatigue, and makes it easy to identify who is speaking. Use it to connect to remote offices, to join board meetings, and to meet with colleagues.
More at:http://www.oovoo.com/
ooVoo is the next evolution in online communication — a remarkably easy way to have a face-to-face video conversation with friends, family or colleagues, no matter where they are in the world.
How It Works:
ooVoo is a free program that uses technology to bring affordable and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.
ooVoo is a great way to connect with friends, family, and colleagues using full video and sound. Organize a family get-together, share breaking news, or heckle your friends during your favorite sporting event. It's easy.
Talk is cheap. Actually, it's free. With unlimited one-to-one and multiparty video calling (with up to five participants), you can eliminate long distance and local phone charges.
You just need a broadband Internet connection to see your friends talk to you. For your friends to see and hear you, all you need is a webcam, microphone, and speakers (headset recommended).
Purchase a webcam or headset at the ooVoo Store.
Video allows a face-to-face experience. It's the next best thing to being there in-person. Make a connection, enhance collaboration, and improve communication. See your baby nephew wearing the new outfit you sent him, share the joy of your friend's new job or watch a client's reaction to your sales pitch.
How It Will Help Business People:
ooVoo is a great business tool. Research shows that video increases audience attention and builds speaker credibility while tightening bonds and teamwork in a business environment. Video makes information easier to understand, reduces meeting fatigue, and makes it easy to identify who is speaking. Use it to connect to remote offices, to join board meetings, and to meet with colleagues.
More at:http://www.oovoo.com/
Friday, December 21, 2007
Emsense-- Track people's emotional responses to advertisements
What Company Is Offering:
The company has developed a sensor-laden headset that tracks brain activity using a single electroencephalography sensor (EEG) at the forehead, and other sensors that monitor breathing rate, head motion, heart rate, blink rate, and skin temperature--all of which can be indicators of whether a person is engaged or excited. In addition, says Hans Lee, chief technology officer at Emsense, his team has built proprietary algorithms that find meaning from the data collected by the sensors.Founded in 2004, the company was originally developed to build an EEG-based video-game controller.Recently, though, the team found that using its technology for market research is more lucrative. And, as the political season ramps up, the company is testing its system internally on campaign ads.
How It Works:
Emsense contacts potential testers in its database of about 5,000 people. These testers go to Emsense testing centers, scattered throughout the country, where they put on the headset and sit down to watch television or play a game. From the headset's data, the company's algorithms deduce a handful of coarse assessments about a tester's experience: when she has positive or negative feelings, whether or not she is concentrating, if she is excited, and, for games, how much she is engaged with it. Emsense then produces charts that qualitatively show these responses throughout the experience.
For instance, in a commercial for a detergent, an advertiser shows a pregnant woman, who is wearing a pink shirt, eating ice cream. A few seconds into the ad, she drops ice cream on her shirt, scoops it up with her spoon, and continues to eat. Toward the end of the commercial, the product is introduced, and the stain removed. According to Emsense's data, women tend to respond negatively to the first part of the ad, apparently growing distressed as the woman drops the ice cream and scoops it up. When the product name is introduced and the stain removed, women's responses turn more positive. Men, however, respond positively when the woman drops ice cream, but they remain neutral throughout the rest of the commercial. This is evidence, that the commercial works well with its intended audience--namely, women.
Their technology allows us to collect moment-by-moment metrics while avoiding the cognitive bias that can interfere with self-reporting and focus groups. Emsense spent about four years collecting data on how viewers reacted to specific events in commercials and games, such as an intense battle scene, or a joke or a sales pitch in an ad. The company used this data to build mathematical models describing how physiological signals change in response to specific events. The technology, he claims, can let a game maker know the point at which people get sucked into a game and the point at which they lose interest. An advertiser can learn if its sales pitch comes at a time when commercial watchers have a positive or a negative feeling about the ad.
More at:http://www.emsense.com/
The company has developed a sensor-laden headset that tracks brain activity using a single electroencephalography sensor (EEG) at the forehead, and other sensors that monitor breathing rate, head motion, heart rate, blink rate, and skin temperature--all of which can be indicators of whether a person is engaged or excited. In addition, says Hans Lee, chief technology officer at Emsense, his team has built proprietary algorithms that find meaning from the data collected by the sensors.Founded in 2004, the company was originally developed to build an EEG-based video-game controller.Recently, though, the team found that using its technology for market research is more lucrative. And, as the political season ramps up, the company is testing its system internally on campaign ads.
How It Works:
Emsense contacts potential testers in its database of about 5,000 people. These testers go to Emsense testing centers, scattered throughout the country, where they put on the headset and sit down to watch television or play a game. From the headset's data, the company's algorithms deduce a handful of coarse assessments about a tester's experience: when she has positive or negative feelings, whether or not she is concentrating, if she is excited, and, for games, how much she is engaged with it. Emsense then produces charts that qualitatively show these responses throughout the experience.
For instance, in a commercial for a detergent, an advertiser shows a pregnant woman, who is wearing a pink shirt, eating ice cream. A few seconds into the ad, she drops ice cream on her shirt, scoops it up with her spoon, and continues to eat. Toward the end of the commercial, the product is introduced, and the stain removed. According to Emsense's data, women tend to respond negatively to the first part of the ad, apparently growing distressed as the woman drops the ice cream and scoops it up. When the product name is introduced and the stain removed, women's responses turn more positive. Men, however, respond positively when the woman drops ice cream, but they remain neutral throughout the rest of the commercial. This is evidence, that the commercial works well with its intended audience--namely, women.
Their technology allows us to collect moment-by-moment metrics while avoiding the cognitive bias that can interfere with self-reporting and focus groups. Emsense spent about four years collecting data on how viewers reacted to specific events in commercials and games, such as an intense battle scene, or a joke or a sales pitch in an ad. The company used this data to build mathematical models describing how physiological signals change in response to specific events. The technology, he claims, can let a game maker know the point at which people get sucked into a game and the point at which they lose interest. An advertiser can learn if its sales pitch comes at a time when commercial watchers have a positive or a negative feeling about the ad.
More at:http://www.emsense.com/
A new set of software and services released by Swarmcast could help improve the quality of online video
What Company Is Offering:
Swarmcast is dedicated to transforming the Internet into a reliable medium for distributing high-quality video. The company mission is to enable content providers to engage global audiences through high-quality viewing experiences.
How It Works:
Swarmcast's multi-source streaming platform enables the delivery of HD video, rock solid live and on-demand streaming, and accelerated downloads, while managing delivery costs. They are currently powering some of the most demanding media destinations on the Internet. Enabling content providers to scale to millions of simultaneous users, Swarmcast offers the most reliable distribution of high quality viewing experiences over the Internet.
Who Is Behind The Company:
1.Justin is the original inventor of "file swarming," a content delivery method that breaks large files into smaller data packets to efficiently exchange them over the Internet. In 2001, Justin founded Swarmcast to develop and market his file swarming technology. He was awarded a patent in 2007 for file swarming, which includes technologies commonly referred to as peer-to-peer, grid content delivery and multi-source streaming.
2.Ry4an co-founded Swarmcast with Justin Chapweske in 2001. He is an expert in file transfer and content delivery technologies, and played an integral role in writing the code for mutli-source streaming technology. Ry4an holds the position of CTO at Swarmcast, and is responsible for all aspects of the company's technical direction. His key functions include overseeing operations and software development, as well as coordinating with the business development team to create Swarmcast's long-term product roadmap. With more than a decade of software engineering experience, Ry4an honed his talents at a select group of companies.
Recent Updates:
A new set of software and services released last week by Minneapolis-based Swarmcast could help improve the quality of online video. Dubbed Autobahn HD for Flash, the product offers to speed often-congested video downloads and improve picture quality for many viewers.
http://www.swarmcast.com/
Swarmcast is dedicated to transforming the Internet into a reliable medium for distributing high-quality video. The company mission is to enable content providers to engage global audiences through high-quality viewing experiences.
How It Works:
Swarmcast's multi-source streaming platform enables the delivery of HD video, rock solid live and on-demand streaming, and accelerated downloads, while managing delivery costs. They are currently powering some of the most demanding media destinations on the Internet. Enabling content providers to scale to millions of simultaneous users, Swarmcast offers the most reliable distribution of high quality viewing experiences over the Internet.
Who Is Behind The Company:
1.Justin is the original inventor of "file swarming," a content delivery method that breaks large files into smaller data packets to efficiently exchange them over the Internet. In 2001, Justin founded Swarmcast to develop and market his file swarming technology. He was awarded a patent in 2007 for file swarming, which includes technologies commonly referred to as peer-to-peer, grid content delivery and multi-source streaming.
2.Ry4an co-founded Swarmcast with Justin Chapweske in 2001. He is an expert in file transfer and content delivery technologies, and played an integral role in writing the code for mutli-source streaming technology. Ry4an holds the position of CTO at Swarmcast, and is responsible for all aspects of the company's technical direction. His key functions include overseeing operations and software development, as well as coordinating with the business development team to create Swarmcast's long-term product roadmap. With more than a decade of software engineering experience, Ry4an honed his talents at a select group of companies.
Recent Updates:
A new set of software and services released last week by Minneapolis-based Swarmcast could help improve the quality of online video. Dubbed Autobahn HD for Flash, the product offers to speed often-congested video downloads and improve picture quality for many viewers.
http://www.swarmcast.com/
Mvolve is the telecoms directory and information resource hub--Networking Community Of Professionals
What Company Is Offering:
Mvolve is the telecoms directory and information resource hub, underpinned by a vibrant networking community of professionals.
How It Works:
Companies that register their business within the directory have the functionality for their employees to attach their personal profiles to the company listing.
Companies can publish a free listing, or they can take one of the various levels of paid sponsorships, including: Category; Platinum; Gold; Silver; or Bronze. Within each category, and via search results, companies are displayed first via listing level, then by chronological order. This provides the incentive for companies to register early to gain their required positioning.
There are currently 60 core categories with a total of 174 sub categories. Each Category has an average of at least three sub-categories.
Unique Features:
Telecoms most comprehensive company and services directory. A highly influential and vibrant directory of industry professionals/ decision makers.White papers/ case studies downloads library RFP search and distribution.User generated news feeds.Executive search and recruitment boards.
More at:http://www.mvolve.com/
Mvolve is the telecoms directory and information resource hub, underpinned by a vibrant networking community of professionals.
How It Works:
Companies that register their business within the directory have the functionality for their employees to attach their personal profiles to the company listing.
Companies can publish a free listing, or they can take one of the various levels of paid sponsorships, including: Category; Platinum; Gold; Silver; or Bronze. Within each category, and via search results, companies are displayed first via listing level, then by chronological order. This provides the incentive for companies to register early to gain their required positioning.
There are currently 60 core categories with a total of 174 sub categories. Each Category has an average of at least three sub-categories.
Unique Features:
Telecoms most comprehensive company and services directory. A highly influential and vibrant directory of industry professionals/ decision makers.White papers/ case studies downloads library RFP search and distribution.User generated news feeds.Executive search and recruitment boards.
More at:http://www.mvolve.com/
uTest is global marketplace for software application testing coupled with a Pay Per Bug business model
What Company Is Offering:
uTest is revolutionizing traditional software testing by introducing the first global marketplace for software application testing coupled with a Pay Per Bug business model. Companies in need of software QA testing will be able to access professional testers on-demand through our Global Community for the purpose of quality assuring and testing software release prior to market launch.
How It Works:
uTest provides software companies with significant benefits including higher quality software releases, reduction in product release cycle time and overall product time to market while improving overall customer satisfaction. We also provides software companies with significant cost savings including reduction in QA costs by minimizing help desk costs, handling peak QA periods effectively and improving overall quality of released application.
The uTest testing platform is all Web-based - accessible anywhere, anytime, from any computer screen by customers and testers. It enables application vendors to load/publish their application, test scripts and testing information to the secure uTestTM Testing Platform. The interface is easy to use and allows companies to self manage QA cycles, projects and processes.
More at:http://www.utest.com/
uTest is revolutionizing traditional software testing by introducing the first global marketplace for software application testing coupled with a Pay Per Bug business model. Companies in need of software QA testing will be able to access professional testers on-demand through our Global Community for the purpose of quality assuring and testing software release prior to market launch.
How It Works:
uTest provides software companies with significant benefits including higher quality software releases, reduction in product release cycle time and overall product time to market while improving overall customer satisfaction. We also provides software companies with significant cost savings including reduction in QA costs by minimizing help desk costs, handling peak QA periods effectively and improving overall quality of released application.
The uTest testing platform is all Web-based - accessible anywhere, anytime, from any computer screen by customers and testers. It enables application vendors to load/publish their application, test scripts and testing information to the secure uTestTM Testing Platform. The interface is easy to use and allows companies to self manage QA cycles, projects and processes.
More at:http://www.utest.com/
Venture capitalists trnds for 2008
Venture capitalists are forecasting an active year for the industry with high growth in the CleanTech sector, an improving IPO market and fewer venture firms in 2008. These predictions are among the top line findings of the NVCA 2008 Predictions Survey. The results also show concerns about global investments in certain regions including China. Additionally, the industry believes fund sizes will become larger and returns for limited partners of venture capital funds will improve in both the short and long term horizons.
"For venture capital firms, 2008 will be the year we begin to see larger funds raised at a faster pace, as many firms in the industry will focus on sectors that have increasing capital requirements such as life sciences and clean technology," said Mark Heesen, president of the NVCA. "These sectors will not be exclusively U.S.-based, but have a world-wide platform which will require more time and more capital than ever before. That said, the other end of the spectrum -- seed and early stage investment and smaller, regionally focused firms -- will also be very active, particularly in the Internet and new media spaces. By its very nature, venture capital investment is long term so the ultimate winning strategy won't be clear for some time," Heesen added.
The NVCA survey was conducted in early December and includes the predictions of more than 170 venture capitalists from across the United States.
Investment Trends
Venture capitalists are predicting moderate investment growth next year with 71 percent of respondents pegging 2008 venture investment levels to be between $20-29 billion, with the average forecast at $27 billion, which would be on par with 2007 investment levels. A quarter of the respondents predict venture capital investment will be higher, in the $30-39 billion range.
Venture capitalists overwhelmingly predict (80 percent) that the CleanTech sector will attract higher levels of venture financing in 2008.
However, 61 percent of respondents also believe that the CleanTech sector will be overvalued next year. Other sectors of growth include media and entertainment (65 percent predict higher levels), biotech, and Internet specific companies (55 percent respectively). Investment in the medical devices and wireless telecom are expected to grow moderately with more than half the respondents predicting static or declining investment in these sectors. Fifty percent of venture capitalists predict a decline in semiconductor investing while 21 percent see declines in software. Accordingly, both industries are projected to be undervalued in 2008.
In terms of international investing, while there is a general assumption that global markets will continue attracting U.S. venture dollars, domestic venture capitalists are skeptical about quality deal opportunities in pockets of the world. Thirty-seven percent of respondents say they are leery about investing in South America while 28 percent are hesitant to invest money into China next year. Eastern Europe also causes concern for 17 percent of the venture capitalists surveyed.
Venture Capital Fundraising
Most respondents believe the industry will consolidate further in 2008 with 57 percent predicting the number of venture firms will decrease next year. Those that remain will be raising the same size or larger funds according to 84 percent of venture capitalists polled. Only 16 percent believe funds will be smaller next year.
Venture-Backed Exits -- IPOs and Acquisitions
While 59 percent of the venture capitalists are predicting further IPO market recovery, 44 percent see that recovery taking place at the same or a slower pace than 2007. Twenty-two percent see a flat IPO market and 19 percent believe the market will weaken for venture-backed companies.
Most venture capitalists still see the U.S. exchanges as holding the greatest promise for venture-backed company listings. Seventy percent cited NASDAQ as holding the most potential for venture-backed listings in 2008; 19 percent say AIM has most promise; followed by the Hong Kong (16 percent) and Shenzhen Exchanges (15 percent).
In the acquisitions market, the venture industry is split on how deal values will trend. Thirty-five percent say valuations will be higher; 27 percent say lower; and 38 percent say they will remain the same. However, the majority of respondents (55 percent) believe deal volume will increase.
Alternative Asset Performance
When asked about short term performance of other alternative asset classes, large majorities of respondents forecast a dip in returns. Venture capitalists overwhelmingly agree that short term performance will decline in the real estate (78 percent), buyout (70 percent), and hedge fund (73 percent) industries. However, most are optimistic about short term venture returns. Seventy-seven percent of venture capitalists believe their industry's short term performance will improve.
A significant number of survey participants predict declines in the long term performance of the buyout and hedge fund industries. Forty-three and 51 percent predict declines in these respective industries over the long term. However, forty-seven percent of the respondents say real estate long term returns will improve. Also, most venture capitalists are optimistic about the venture industry's long term performance with 80 percent predicting an improvement in the next 5 to 10 years.
Via-AVM
"For venture capital firms, 2008 will be the year we begin to see larger funds raised at a faster pace, as many firms in the industry will focus on sectors that have increasing capital requirements such as life sciences and clean technology," said Mark Heesen, president of the NVCA. "These sectors will not be exclusively U.S.-based, but have a world-wide platform which will require more time and more capital than ever before. That said, the other end of the spectrum -- seed and early stage investment and smaller, regionally focused firms -- will also be very active, particularly in the Internet and new media spaces. By its very nature, venture capital investment is long term so the ultimate winning strategy won't be clear for some time," Heesen added.
The NVCA survey was conducted in early December and includes the predictions of more than 170 venture capitalists from across the United States.
Investment Trends
Venture capitalists are predicting moderate investment growth next year with 71 percent of respondents pegging 2008 venture investment levels to be between $20-29 billion, with the average forecast at $27 billion, which would be on par with 2007 investment levels. A quarter of the respondents predict venture capital investment will be higher, in the $30-39 billion range.
Venture capitalists overwhelmingly predict (80 percent) that the CleanTech sector will attract higher levels of venture financing in 2008.
However, 61 percent of respondents also believe that the CleanTech sector will be overvalued next year. Other sectors of growth include media and entertainment (65 percent predict higher levels), biotech, and Internet specific companies (55 percent respectively). Investment in the medical devices and wireless telecom are expected to grow moderately with more than half the respondents predicting static or declining investment in these sectors. Fifty percent of venture capitalists predict a decline in semiconductor investing while 21 percent see declines in software. Accordingly, both industries are projected to be undervalued in 2008.
In terms of international investing, while there is a general assumption that global markets will continue attracting U.S. venture dollars, domestic venture capitalists are skeptical about quality deal opportunities in pockets of the world. Thirty-seven percent of respondents say they are leery about investing in South America while 28 percent are hesitant to invest money into China next year. Eastern Europe also causes concern for 17 percent of the venture capitalists surveyed.
Venture Capital Fundraising
Most respondents believe the industry will consolidate further in 2008 with 57 percent predicting the number of venture firms will decrease next year. Those that remain will be raising the same size or larger funds according to 84 percent of venture capitalists polled. Only 16 percent believe funds will be smaller next year.
Venture-Backed Exits -- IPOs and Acquisitions
While 59 percent of the venture capitalists are predicting further IPO market recovery, 44 percent see that recovery taking place at the same or a slower pace than 2007. Twenty-two percent see a flat IPO market and 19 percent believe the market will weaken for venture-backed companies.
Most venture capitalists still see the U.S. exchanges as holding the greatest promise for venture-backed company listings. Seventy percent cited NASDAQ as holding the most potential for venture-backed listings in 2008; 19 percent say AIM has most promise; followed by the Hong Kong (16 percent) and Shenzhen Exchanges (15 percent).
In the acquisitions market, the venture industry is split on how deal values will trend. Thirty-five percent say valuations will be higher; 27 percent say lower; and 38 percent say they will remain the same. However, the majority of respondents (55 percent) believe deal volume will increase.
Alternative Asset Performance
When asked about short term performance of other alternative asset classes, large majorities of respondents forecast a dip in returns. Venture capitalists overwhelmingly agree that short term performance will decline in the real estate (78 percent), buyout (70 percent), and hedge fund (73 percent) industries. However, most are optimistic about short term venture returns. Seventy-seven percent of venture capitalists believe their industry's short term performance will improve.
A significant number of survey participants predict declines in the long term performance of the buyout and hedge fund industries. Forty-three and 51 percent predict declines in these respective industries over the long term. However, forty-seven percent of the respondents say real estate long term returns will improve. Also, most venture capitalists are optimistic about the venture industry's long term performance with 80 percent predicting an improvement in the next 5 to 10 years.
Via-AVM
Cellyspace---Mobile Greetings For Xmas
What Company Is Offering:
Cellyspace is the world’s first integrated online tool to create and send both SMS (text) and MMS (multimedia) messages to family, friends and customers.
Cellyspace is a mobile multi-media social service/online toolset that allows users and advertisers to compose and distribute customized multimedia messages (MMS) to cell phones from their PC's.
How It Works:
You can send MMS content that contains Audio, Video, Text and Image slideshows. They also offer Broadcast Messaging that allow subscribers to opt-in to get your MMS and SMS blasts sent to them daily, weekly or monthly. You can use our service to personalize your own mobile phone or to humor, inspire, promote or just to say ‘Hello!’ to all of your friends, family, fans, networks and customers. Cellyspace also allows bands to sell their ringtones in concert and on their social network pages.
After you’ve composed and saved your content on Cellyspace, they give you the option to create a unique name for your content – we call this name a keycode - and then you promote it with our tools and on your web site, on MySpace, in your print/audio/video media and any other promotional methods you currently use for promotion.
Mobile customers get your content sent to their phone by texting your unique keycode to Cellyspace’s shortcode. They will then be able to receive your content on their phone, view it right away and store it for later viewing (handset dependent).
To help you promote your content, Cellyspace gives you the option for your publicly available content, to copy and paste automatically generated html code or link onto your online site(s). This is a useful promotional tool and very simple to do.
More at:http://www.cellyspace.com/
Cellyspace is the world’s first integrated online tool to create and send both SMS (text) and MMS (multimedia) messages to family, friends and customers.
Cellyspace is a mobile multi-media social service/online toolset that allows users and advertisers to compose and distribute customized multimedia messages (MMS) to cell phones from their PC's.
How It Works:
You can send MMS content that contains Audio, Video, Text and Image slideshows. They also offer Broadcast Messaging that allow subscribers to opt-in to get your MMS and SMS blasts sent to them daily, weekly or monthly. You can use our service to personalize your own mobile phone or to humor, inspire, promote or just to say ‘Hello!’ to all of your friends, family, fans, networks and customers. Cellyspace also allows bands to sell their ringtones in concert and on their social network pages.
After you’ve composed and saved your content on Cellyspace, they give you the option to create a unique name for your content – we call this name a keycode - and then you promote it with our tools and on your web site, on MySpace, in your print/audio/video media and any other promotional methods you currently use for promotion.
Mobile customers get your content sent to their phone by texting your unique keycode to Cellyspace’s shortcode. They will then be able to receive your content on their phone, view it right away and store it for later viewing (handset dependent).
To help you promote your content, Cellyspace gives you the option for your publicly available content, to copy and paste automatically generated html code or link onto your online site(s). This is a useful promotional tool and very simple to do.
More at:http://www.cellyspace.com/
ClayValet is a personal shopping service---They Shop For You
What Company Is Offering:
ClayValet is a personal shopping service.Real people read your requests.
They recommend good products, give advice, and find bargains.
How It Works:
Think of something you want to buy and tell us about it on our Home page. After you enter your request, you will be prompted to create an account by choosing a user name and a password. They'll also ask for your email address (so they can send you the report when it's written) and a zip code that can help us calculate tax & shipping costs.
Their shoppers are normal people who are experienced and comfortable with online shopping. They are not experts themselves, but they know where to look, how to compare prices and whom to trust. They enlist them to shop on your behalf, guide them to use the right resources, and assemble their findings into a useful report for you. Anyone who wants to experience the luxury of having someone else shop for them. Their users come from many zip codes and many walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they have better things to do than spend hours shopping online.
There is no cost to sign up for ClayValet, and every user can submit up to five free requests every week. They do plan to start charging for this service eventually.
How Is It Different:
Sites like Google Products and Amazon are great, because they provide LOTS of options. But many people get overwhelmed by so many options and can't afford the time and energy to research every online purchase. ClayValet offers a great alternative! We enlist real people to solve your problems, and—unlike using a search engine—you actually get a better response if you provide a lengthy, detailed request. Our shoppers can interpret your needs and recommend a product that fits.
More at:http://clayvalet.com/
ClayValet is a personal shopping service.Real people read your requests.
They recommend good products, give advice, and find bargains.
How It Works:
Think of something you want to buy and tell us about it on our Home page. After you enter your request, you will be prompted to create an account by choosing a user name and a password. They'll also ask for your email address (so they can send you the report when it's written) and a zip code that can help us calculate tax & shipping costs.
Their shoppers are normal people who are experienced and comfortable with online shopping. They are not experts themselves, but they know where to look, how to compare prices and whom to trust. They enlist them to shop on your behalf, guide them to use the right resources, and assemble their findings into a useful report for you. Anyone who wants to experience the luxury of having someone else shop for them. Their users come from many zip codes and many walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they have better things to do than spend hours shopping online.
There is no cost to sign up for ClayValet, and every user can submit up to five free requests every week. They do plan to start charging for this service eventually.
How Is It Different:
Sites like Google Products and Amazon are great, because they provide LOTS of options. But many people get overwhelmed by so many options and can't afford the time and energy to research every online purchase. ClayValet offers a great alternative! We enlist real people to solve your problems, and—unlike using a search engine—you actually get a better response if you provide a lengthy, detailed request. Our shoppers can interpret your needs and recommend a product that fits.
More at:http://clayvalet.com/
Oversee.net--Online Solutions For Advertisers,Publishers And Consumers
About Company:
Oversee.net is a technology-driven company whose products deliver quality through a mix of technology and deep knowledge of online advertising. We are experts in driving quality traffic on the internet.
The company has over 150 employees who work to deliver innovative online marketing solutions every day. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Company is an industry leader, and has grown organically since its inception. By using knowledge of internet traffic and developing proprietary technology that focuses on optimized utilization of the Internet, the Company has achieved leadership positions in three core areas: direct navigation, lead generation and online advertising solutions.
How It Works;
1.DomainSponsor is the leader in domain monetization, a service that enables domain owners to maximize earnings on the traffic generated to their domains. This traffic is generated by direct navigation — when users search through the address bar, finding relevant results at a given domain without a search engine.
DomainSponsor features the highest traffic conversions in the industry, and uses proprietary optimization technology to produce the most relevant and profitable results, in the form of custom landing pages for each domain.
2.As a leading consumer financial services portal, Low.com is committed to helping users find the lowest cost and most reputable purchase, refinance and home equity loans.
Low.com is focused on providing information on low mortgage interest rates to consumers and great service to its clients. We connect highly-motivated consumers with financial institutions, resulting in leads that generate among the highest percentage of closed loans in our industry. Our Account Managers are former mortgage professionals who understand that the mortgage business is fueled by qualified customers who are motivated to enter into home purchases, refinancing, or other financial transactions.
3.Revenue.net represents leading advertisers and publishers in specialized search-based campaigns. Our innovations in search marketing channel volumes of qualified consumer traffic to our clients' websites. Drawing on Oversee.net’s expertise in driving traffic, Revenue.net ensures that marketers reach their audiences and publishers reach their target ad revenues, creating a valuable partnership for both.
More at:http://oversee.net/
Oversee.net is a technology-driven company whose products deliver quality through a mix of technology and deep knowledge of online advertising. We are experts in driving quality traffic on the internet.
The company has over 150 employees who work to deliver innovative online marketing solutions every day. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Company is an industry leader, and has grown organically since its inception. By using knowledge of internet traffic and developing proprietary technology that focuses on optimized utilization of the Internet, the Company has achieved leadership positions in three core areas: direct navigation, lead generation and online advertising solutions.
How It Works;
1.DomainSponsor is the leader in domain monetization, a service that enables domain owners to maximize earnings on the traffic generated to their domains. This traffic is generated by direct navigation — when users search through the address bar, finding relevant results at a given domain without a search engine.
DomainSponsor features the highest traffic conversions in the industry, and uses proprietary optimization technology to produce the most relevant and profitable results, in the form of custom landing pages for each domain.
2.As a leading consumer financial services portal, Low.com is committed to helping users find the lowest cost and most reputable purchase, refinance and home equity loans.
Low.com is focused on providing information on low mortgage interest rates to consumers and great service to its clients. We connect highly-motivated consumers with financial institutions, resulting in leads that generate among the highest percentage of closed loans in our industry. Our Account Managers are former mortgage professionals who understand that the mortgage business is fueled by qualified customers who are motivated to enter into home purchases, refinancing, or other financial transactions.
3.Revenue.net represents leading advertisers and publishers in specialized search-based campaigns. Our innovations in search marketing channel volumes of qualified consumer traffic to our clients' websites. Drawing on Oversee.net’s expertise in driving traffic, Revenue.net ensures that marketers reach their audiences and publishers reach their target ad revenues, creating a valuable partnership for both.
More at:http://oversee.net/
Kyte social communications platform enables partners – including media companies, social networks and mobile operators has raised $15 million
What Company Is Offering:
The Kyte social communications platform enables partners – including media companies, social networks and mobile operators – to offer their users an easy way to create embedded interactive channels and produce multimedia shows in real-time from their mobile phones or the web that are broadcast to multiple destinations including social networks, blogs and other mobile phones. Using the hosted platform and developer API, Kyte partners provide their users with an exciting way to stay connected through a next-generation social communications experience.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Kyte announced it has raised $15 million in a second round of funding. The round was led by Telefónica, the world’s fourth largest global telecommunications firm, with Nokia Growth Partners, the global private equity and venture capital management arm of Nokia, and DoCoMo Capital, Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT DoCoMo, Inc., the leading mobile communication company based in Japan, also participating. Other investors in this round include Swisscom, Holtzbrinck Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurveston.
Purpose Of Raising Fund:
The investments from these global wireless leaders will serve to further the development and distribution of Kyte’s award-winning social communications platform. Kyte itself is not a destination, but an enabling communications platform that allows partners, through a Kyte-powered service, to offer users an easy way to share pictures and video from their mobile phone or the web that are instantly broadcast to multiple destinations, including websites, blogs, social networks and other mobile phones.
What VCs Says About Company:
We are investing in Kyte because we see them as a groundbreaking company, tying together multimedia creation and consumption in real-time across multiple platforms,” said Rob Trice of Nokia Growth Partners. “Kyte sits at the crossroads of multiple trends in consumer-generated content and we are excited to be a part of the growth of this innovative company.
For more : http://www.kyte.tv.
The Kyte social communications platform enables partners – including media companies, social networks and mobile operators – to offer their users an easy way to create embedded interactive channels and produce multimedia shows in real-time from their mobile phones or the web that are broadcast to multiple destinations including social networks, blogs and other mobile phones. Using the hosted platform and developer API, Kyte partners provide their users with an exciting way to stay connected through a next-generation social communications experience.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Kyte announced it has raised $15 million in a second round of funding. The round was led by Telefónica, the world’s fourth largest global telecommunications firm, with Nokia Growth Partners, the global private equity and venture capital management arm of Nokia, and DoCoMo Capital, Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT DoCoMo, Inc., the leading mobile communication company based in Japan, also participating. Other investors in this round include Swisscom, Holtzbrinck Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurveston.
Purpose Of Raising Fund:
The investments from these global wireless leaders will serve to further the development and distribution of Kyte’s award-winning social communications platform. Kyte itself is not a destination, but an enabling communications platform that allows partners, through a Kyte-powered service, to offer users an easy way to share pictures and video from their mobile phone or the web that are instantly broadcast to multiple destinations, including websites, blogs, social networks and other mobile phones.
What VCs Says About Company:
We are investing in Kyte because we see them as a groundbreaking company, tying together multimedia creation and consumption in real-time across multiple platforms,” said Rob Trice of Nokia Growth Partners. “Kyte sits at the crossroads of multiple trends in consumer-generated content and we are excited to be a part of the growth of this innovative company.
For more : http://www.kyte.tv.
nvohk will enable consumers to get more involved and participate in business decision-making and environmental causes
What Company Is Offering:
nvohk is pronounced 'invoke' [in-vohk] which means to call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration. In this case, our member base is the 'higher power'.
nvohk fills a critical gap in the lifestyle brand arena. nvohk will enable consumers to get more involved and participate in business decision-making and environmental causes. It will provide consumers with an entertaining and sustainable platform for making a meaningful and positive impact on the environment by putting members in the driver’s seat and allowing them to drive the nvohk brand to a profitable venture that will contribute 10% of net profits to member selected environmental charities.
How It Works:
Anyone that is 13 years old or older can become an nvohk member. They welcome anyone with creativity, vision and an interest in shaping a new company and/or a desire to improve our environment.
nvohk will offer an annual membership for $50. If members wish to continue participating in nvohk beyond their first year, they must renew their membership by paying their $50 annual fee. However, members are under no obligation to participate in nvohk for any specific length of time.
Once 20,000 members have joined and paid the annual membership fee, they will receive an exclusive nvohk t-shirt. In addition, members will receive reward points based on the Company's profitability. These reward points (like airline miles, but you can actually use them) can be used to purchase nvohk product!
Members get 25% off all nvohk products purchased from nvohk.com.
Aside from these tangible benefits, members will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are providing considerable and meaningful support to leading environmental organizations.
Basically, you can get free products, 25% off any products you buy and the privilege of participating in developing and managing a new eco-friendly clothing company.
More at:http://www.projectnvohk.com/
nvohk is pronounced 'invoke' [in-vohk] which means to call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration. In this case, our member base is the 'higher power'.
nvohk fills a critical gap in the lifestyle brand arena. nvohk will enable consumers to get more involved and participate in business decision-making and environmental causes. It will provide consumers with an entertaining and sustainable platform for making a meaningful and positive impact on the environment by putting members in the driver’s seat and allowing them to drive the nvohk brand to a profitable venture that will contribute 10% of net profits to member selected environmental charities.
How It Works:
Anyone that is 13 years old or older can become an nvohk member. They welcome anyone with creativity, vision and an interest in shaping a new company and/or a desire to improve our environment.
nvohk will offer an annual membership for $50. If members wish to continue participating in nvohk beyond their first year, they must renew their membership by paying their $50 annual fee. However, members are under no obligation to participate in nvohk for any specific length of time.
Once 20,000 members have joined and paid the annual membership fee, they will receive an exclusive nvohk t-shirt. In addition, members will receive reward points based on the Company's profitability. These reward points (like airline miles, but you can actually use them) can be used to purchase nvohk product!
Members get 25% off all nvohk products purchased from nvohk.com.
Aside from these tangible benefits, members will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are providing considerable and meaningful support to leading environmental organizations.
Basically, you can get free products, 25% off any products you buy and the privilege of participating in developing and managing a new eco-friendly clothing company.
More at:http://www.projectnvohk.com/
AutoDealersPoint allows small car dealerships to sign up for a monthly account that helps them to launch their own website with a full inventory
What Company Says:
We can take your current dealership website and turn it into a high functioning online presence with e-commerce and e-marketing capabilities. Don’t have a website yet? No problem. Pick from our templates and have your dealership website up and selling in a matter of days.
How It Works:
AutoDealersPoint allows small car dealerships to sign up for a monthly account that helps them to launch their own website with a full inventory of the vehicles on their lots. The service provides an easy-to-use method for creating a website that any dealership can utilize. It works similarly to other web services that allow individuals to create their own websites for blogging, photo sharing, or selling merchandise.
AutoDealersPoint provides many varied features for dealership websites, including ready-made templates that a dealership can easily choose from. Customization of the site includes uploading a logo, creating a personalized URL, adding testimonials, scheduling appointments, featuring a car of the week, and much more. You can also change your template at any time, and additional features that aren't already available can be created and added to the site at an additional fee. The interface is specifically designed for dealerships so that you can advertise your inventory on the Internet without having to constantly worry about maintaining a website. Just create an account and upload your vehicle inventory.
Not only does AutoDealersPoint help dealerships create their own websites, but it also helps with marketing and increasing leads to the new site. AutoDealersPoint offers lead management, search engine optimization, a newsletter subscription tool, and advertising management. It can also export your inventory to Cars.com or Autotrader.com so that it reaches as many consumers as possible.
More at:http://www.autodealerspoint.com/
We can take your current dealership website and turn it into a high functioning online presence with e-commerce and e-marketing capabilities. Don’t have a website yet? No problem. Pick from our templates and have your dealership website up and selling in a matter of days.
How It Works:
AutoDealersPoint allows small car dealerships to sign up for a monthly account that helps them to launch their own website with a full inventory of the vehicles on their lots. The service provides an easy-to-use method for creating a website that any dealership can utilize. It works similarly to other web services that allow individuals to create their own websites for blogging, photo sharing, or selling merchandise.
AutoDealersPoint provides many varied features for dealership websites, including ready-made templates that a dealership can easily choose from. Customization of the site includes uploading a logo, creating a personalized URL, adding testimonials, scheduling appointments, featuring a car of the week, and much more. You can also change your template at any time, and additional features that aren't already available can be created and added to the site at an additional fee. The interface is specifically designed for dealerships so that you can advertise your inventory on the Internet without having to constantly worry about maintaining a website. Just create an account and upload your vehicle inventory.
Not only does AutoDealersPoint help dealerships create their own websites, but it also helps with marketing and increasing leads to the new site. AutoDealersPoint offers lead management, search engine optimization, a newsletter subscription tool, and advertising management. It can also export your inventory to Cars.com or Autotrader.com so that it reaches as many consumers as possible.
More at:http://www.autodealerspoint.com/
Fame Game---Connecting With Influential People
What Company Is Offering:
The data represents the networks of capital, influence, and attention that drive NY’s cultural economy. Providing universal access to that information, and making the sharing/usage of it social and participatory and relevant to a broader range of cultural participants may facilitate new connections between people, new ideas in culture, more party invitations and real world socialization, and a livelier public-cultural space.
How It Works:
The site maps the connections between about 100,000 New York City residents and 2,500 organizations, which the founders claim represents the cultural economy of NYC. It shows how influential figures are connected through pictures, and very soon, through creative work. The site allows you to navigate between public events, organizations, and the people that are affiliated with them. It gives you a rough approximation of who is getting talked about in the local media, who is out on the town the most, and for what.
Most importantly, it puts all the artists, capitalists, fashionistas, filmmakers, actors, socialites, journalists, architects, and businessmen in the context of the same network. We don’t really see these separate scenes, or the varying levels of attention on different names, as being a material distinction. We all deal with the final product of our culture.
The data represents the networks of capital, influence, and attention that drive NY’s cultural economy. Providing universal access to that information, and making the sharing/usage of it social and participatory and relevant to a broader range of cultural participants may facilitate new connections between people, new ideas in culture, more party invitations and real world socialization, and a livelier public-cultural space.
More at:http://www.famegame.com/
The data represents the networks of capital, influence, and attention that drive NY’s cultural economy. Providing universal access to that information, and making the sharing/usage of it social and participatory and relevant to a broader range of cultural participants may facilitate new connections between people, new ideas in culture, more party invitations and real world socialization, and a livelier public-cultural space.
How It Works:
The site maps the connections between about 100,000 New York City residents and 2,500 organizations, which the founders claim represents the cultural economy of NYC. It shows how influential figures are connected through pictures, and very soon, through creative work. The site allows you to navigate between public events, organizations, and the people that are affiliated with them. It gives you a rough approximation of who is getting talked about in the local media, who is out on the town the most, and for what.
Most importantly, it puts all the artists, capitalists, fashionistas, filmmakers, actors, socialites, journalists, architects, and businessmen in the context of the same network. We don’t really see these separate scenes, or the varying levels of attention on different names, as being a material distinction. We all deal with the final product of our culture.
The data represents the networks of capital, influence, and attention that drive NY’s cultural economy. Providing universal access to that information, and making the sharing/usage of it social and participatory and relevant to a broader range of cultural participants may facilitate new connections between people, new ideas in culture, more party invitations and real world socialization, and a livelier public-cultural space.
More at:http://www.famegame.com/
QuarkRank provides the information for making decisions at the point of purchase
What Company Is Offering:
QuarkRank provides the information for making decisions at the point of purchase. Proprietary technology lies at the core of QuarkRank's ability to automatically summarize the opinions of millions of consumer reviews on the internet.
How It Works:
QuarkRank is an intelligent engine which crawls the web for opinions on various products/services and automatically summarize them feature-by-feature using its proprietary natural language processing technique. QuarkRank provides smart information which any website/store can use. Currently they provide smart data for [camera, cellphone, mp3player, flatpaneltv]. They are aggressively adding new data categories.
Unique Features:
Reviews gathered and combined at one place!.
QuarkRank, no. of reviews for a product/service.
Top 5 feature, Worst 3 feature, All features that people talk about a product/service. For example : sound quality, design, screen of a Mp3 player.
Feature score, buzz and SNIPPETS from reviews which have opinion about a feature.
How It Will Be Helpful:
Your customers will feel confident in making purchase decision at your site, without going to competitors, and at the same time reducing the return rate of impulse purchases.
Wouldn't it be great if your users can find the information at one place? What if they could quickly and easily compare various choices, feature-for-feature? QuarkRank provides this service today.
More at:http://www.quarkrank.com/
QuarkRank provides the information for making decisions at the point of purchase. Proprietary technology lies at the core of QuarkRank's ability to automatically summarize the opinions of millions of consumer reviews on the internet.
How It Works:
QuarkRank is an intelligent engine which crawls the web for opinions on various products/services and automatically summarize them feature-by-feature using its proprietary natural language processing technique. QuarkRank provides smart information which any website/store can use. Currently they provide smart data for [camera, cellphone, mp3player, flatpaneltv]. They are aggressively adding new data categories.
Unique Features:
Reviews gathered and combined at one place!.
QuarkRank, no. of reviews for a product/service.
Top 5 feature, Worst 3 feature, All features that people talk about a product/service. For example : sound quality, design, screen of a Mp3 player.
Feature score, buzz and SNIPPETS from reviews which have opinion about a feature.
How It Will Be Helpful:
Your customers will feel confident in making purchase decision at your site, without going to competitors, and at the same time reducing the return rate of impulse purchases.
Wouldn't it be great if your users can find the information at one place? What if they could quickly and easily compare various choices, feature-for-feature? QuarkRank provides this service today.
More at:http://www.quarkrank.com/
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Netcooler is a site that organizes community-generated and rated news, gossip, and Q&A about companies
What Company is offering:
Netcooler is a site that organizes community-generated and rated news, gossip, and Q&A about companies.
Tap into it to find out what people are saying about your company, or one you're thinking about joining!
How It Works:
Netcooler marries the prototypical workplace with some powerful new communication tools.From the moment of launch, folks could interact with their existing contacts and networks to inform, talk, ask, answer, vote… in short, organize information around companies and other places of work. The site is open to all, so with enough people contributing, communities are built around these workplaces. As each community becomes more active and robust, its value as a resource to folks also grows.
A community member posts an article from the press or a blog, to share news with everyone else (like they might do on digg.com, or reddit.com — except that on Netcooler, the principle of organization is the company, as opposed to a news category). Others can comment on how the news is or is not relevant, true, important, etc. Each news item can be promoted or demoted by each user (don’t worry, you can change your mind!); and each comment can likewise be promoted or demoted based on the reader’s agreement or disagreement. Each user’s voice can be heard, and the aggregate vote tallies tell us what the community thinks, as a whole.
More at:http://www.netcooler.com/
Netcooler is a site that organizes community-generated and rated news, gossip, and Q&A about companies.
Tap into it to find out what people are saying about your company, or one you're thinking about joining!
How It Works:
Netcooler marries the prototypical workplace with some powerful new communication tools.From the moment of launch, folks could interact with their existing contacts and networks to inform, talk, ask, answer, vote… in short, organize information around companies and other places of work. The site is open to all, so with enough people contributing, communities are built around these workplaces. As each community becomes more active and robust, its value as a resource to folks also grows.
A community member posts an article from the press or a blog, to share news with everyone else (like they might do on digg.com, or reddit.com — except that on Netcooler, the principle of organization is the company, as opposed to a news category). Others can comment on how the news is or is not relevant, true, important, etc. Each news item can be promoted or demoted by each user (don’t worry, you can change your mind!); and each comment can likewise be promoted or demoted based on the reader’s agreement or disagreement. Each user’s voice can be heard, and the aggregate vote tallies tell us what the community thinks, as a whole.
More at:http://www.netcooler.com/
A fast growing, carrier-independent, mobile video company delivering web videos to cell phones
What Company Is Offering:
A fast growing, carrier-independent, mobile video company delivering web videos to cell phones. mywaves is the fastest-growing mobile video destination for consumers, driving millions to its mobile site each day. Consumers from around the world can browse through 300,000 channels of professional, user-generated and personal videos and have their favorites automatically updated and delivered to their phones. The service also helps users discover content by connecting them to a vast international mobile community of people with a shared passion for entertainment.
The free service works globally across all 3G, EDGE, BREW and EV-DO carriers as well as most video-capable mobile phones.
How It Works:
You can browse all mywaves channels from your phone. You can even subscribe to new channels, create auto channels, and search!.
mywaves provides advertisers and content owners an entirely new level of reach and engagement with the mobile consumer. In just its first year, mywaves has amassed the largest mobile video audience in the world, with users from over 175 countries accessing the service. Most users tune in to watch mywaves video weekly with average viewing times of 25 minutes per session. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, mywaves is led by a team from Yahoo, Napster, Danger, Palm and TiVo. The company is funded by venture capital firm, Menlo Ventures.
More at:http://www.mywaves.com/
A fast growing, carrier-independent, mobile video company delivering web videos to cell phones. mywaves is the fastest-growing mobile video destination for consumers, driving millions to its mobile site each day. Consumers from around the world can browse through 300,000 channels of professional, user-generated and personal videos and have their favorites automatically updated and delivered to their phones. The service also helps users discover content by connecting them to a vast international mobile community of people with a shared passion for entertainment.
The free service works globally across all 3G, EDGE, BREW and EV-DO carriers as well as most video-capable mobile phones.
How It Works:
You can browse all mywaves channels from your phone. You can even subscribe to new channels, create auto channels, and search!.
mywaves provides advertisers and content owners an entirely new level of reach and engagement with the mobile consumer. In just its first year, mywaves has amassed the largest mobile video audience in the world, with users from over 175 countries accessing the service. Most users tune in to watch mywaves video weekly with average viewing times of 25 minutes per session. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, mywaves is led by a team from Yahoo, Napster, Danger, Palm and TiVo. The company is funded by venture capital firm, Menlo Ventures.
More at:http://www.mywaves.com/
ClearStay.com -- Trusted Source Of Vacation Rentals On The Web
What Company Is Offering:
ClearStay.com is the easiest way to find, choose and book a vacation rental online and the most trusted source of vacation rentals on the Web. They offer thousands of vacation rental homes, condos, cabins, cottages and villas from coast to coast. The rentals on ClearStay.com are from professional vacation rental managers who take great care to ensure that guests have the best possible vacation.
How It Works:
ClearStay provides descriptions, photos, rates and availability information that is always accurate by tightly integrating with the systems that managers use for all their vacation rental bookings. That integration means that the information you see is always correct and up to date.There are two ways that vacation rental managers can have their homes listed on ClearStay:
1.Vacation rental managers who use the EscapiaONE vacation rental software platform can have their units included on ClearStay without any additional work required by them. All of the information on ClearStay is seamlessly integrated with their back office vacation rental software. Managers with a premium listing will get not only email leads from prospective renters but also online bookings.
2.Vacation rental managers using a property management system other than Escapia can also list on ClearStay.com and get email leads from interested renters. We offer easy-to-use web tools that let you add your listings to ClearStay and join the premier directory on the web for vacation rental mangers
Who Is Behind Them:
ClearStay.com is from Escapia, Inc. the leader in online technology solution for vacation rental managers.
More at:http://www.clearstay.com/
ClearStay.com is the easiest way to find, choose and book a vacation rental online and the most trusted source of vacation rentals on the Web. They offer thousands of vacation rental homes, condos, cabins, cottages and villas from coast to coast. The rentals on ClearStay.com are from professional vacation rental managers who take great care to ensure that guests have the best possible vacation.
How It Works:
ClearStay provides descriptions, photos, rates and availability information that is always accurate by tightly integrating with the systems that managers use for all their vacation rental bookings. That integration means that the information you see is always correct and up to date.There are two ways that vacation rental managers can have their homes listed on ClearStay:
1.Vacation rental managers who use the EscapiaONE vacation rental software platform can have their units included on ClearStay without any additional work required by them. All of the information on ClearStay is seamlessly integrated with their back office vacation rental software. Managers with a premium listing will get not only email leads from prospective renters but also online bookings.
2.Vacation rental managers using a property management system other than Escapia can also list on ClearStay.com and get email leads from interested renters. We offer easy-to-use web tools that let you add your listings to ClearStay and join the premier directory on the web for vacation rental mangers
Who Is Behind Them:
ClearStay.com is from Escapia, Inc. the leader in online technology solution for vacation rental managers.
More at:http://www.clearstay.com/
sMoneybox is a simple online wallet which enables documentation of your earnings and expenses
What Company Is Offering:
sMoneybox is a simple online wallet which enables documentation of your earnings and expenses.sMoneybox is FREE. sMoneybox enables to handle records via mobile phones. You can find access to mobile version too.sMoneybox enables to set regular payments. You choose a start date of regular payment and recurrence. You can choose from three predefined periods (day, week, month) and one in which you can set a number of days after which regular payment will be repeated. sMoneybox also enables to send notices about regular payments.
How It Works:
There are three ways to display your spending.
1.On the page with records there is a filter on the right side which enables to select only those records you wish to see. The filter control is very simple, though it is a powerful tool. This way enables to display individual records and thus you get exact overview of each item.
2.On the page with statistics it is possible to display charts of earnings, expenses, money flows, money in categories, etc. Charts provide a quality, quick and comprehensive overview. Each chart has an explanation for more precise description. Again, it is possible to use filters to specify your selection.
3.On the page with statistics there are also overviews in purely text form. These overviews are suitable for printing. Moreover, they add new information to charts.
sMoneybox is a very flexible system. It is only up to you how much of it you will use. For example, if you want only one account you won't have to deal with account settings. You can hide the filtering panel in the list of records. Category, budget and regular payment settings doesn't have to be used. The system could offer a very simple tool but also a really complex system which provides you with possibilities to gain total and comprehensible overview over your finance.
More at:http://www.smoneybox.com/
sMoneybox is a simple online wallet which enables documentation of your earnings and expenses.sMoneybox is FREE. sMoneybox enables to handle records via mobile phones. You can find access to mobile version too.sMoneybox enables to set regular payments. You choose a start date of regular payment and recurrence. You can choose from three predefined periods (day, week, month) and one in which you can set a number of days after which regular payment will be repeated. sMoneybox also enables to send notices about regular payments.
How It Works:
There are three ways to display your spending.
1.On the page with records there is a filter on the right side which enables to select only those records you wish to see. The filter control is very simple, though it is a powerful tool. This way enables to display individual records and thus you get exact overview of each item.
2.On the page with statistics it is possible to display charts of earnings, expenses, money flows, money in categories, etc. Charts provide a quality, quick and comprehensive overview. Each chart has an explanation for more precise description. Again, it is possible to use filters to specify your selection.
3.On the page with statistics there are also overviews in purely text form. These overviews are suitable for printing. Moreover, they add new information to charts.
sMoneybox is a very flexible system. It is only up to you how much of it you will use. For example, if you want only one account you won't have to deal with account settings. You can hide the filtering panel in the list of records. Category, budget and regular payment settings doesn't have to be used. The system could offer a very simple tool but also a really complex system which provides you with possibilities to gain total and comprehensible overview over your finance.
More at:http://www.smoneybox.com/
Part of It --They invite artists to design a t-shirt that supports a cause they feel strongly about
What Company Says:
Part of It stems from our belief that artists (and conscientious consumers) can make a positive difference in the world by supporting causes close to their heart. Expressions of protest, simple declarations, moving graphics that encourage conversation and dialogue—there are many ways to enter into and encourage civic discourse. They believe activism can be fun, personal, beautiful and engaging; they can all play a part in making a better world for ourselves, for our communities, and for future generations.
How It Works:
The causes, charities, and nonprofits selected by artists are the heart of Part of It. Whether local, regional, or international, the work of these organizations targets issues that matter to the artists. Consumers are another part of this equation. When you purchase a product, your money goes to supporting the cause and to continuing the Part of It project. We encourage you to learn more about the organization that benefits from your purchase.
They invite artists to design a t-shirt that supports a cause they feel strongly about, a graphic that can stir change, or an image that can raise awareness or perhaps simply start a conversation. We are interested in ripple effects, and in encouraging artists (and consumers) to see how they and their beliefs can play a part in supporting organizations whose work matters to them. The artists participating in Part of It come from diverse backgrounds and their work illuminates the intersection of personal beliefs and artistic expression.
More at:http://www.partofit.org/
Part of It stems from our belief that artists (and conscientious consumers) can make a positive difference in the world by supporting causes close to their heart. Expressions of protest, simple declarations, moving graphics that encourage conversation and dialogue—there are many ways to enter into and encourage civic discourse. They believe activism can be fun, personal, beautiful and engaging; they can all play a part in making a better world for ourselves, for our communities, and for future generations.
How It Works:
The causes, charities, and nonprofits selected by artists are the heart of Part of It. Whether local, regional, or international, the work of these organizations targets issues that matter to the artists. Consumers are another part of this equation. When you purchase a product, your money goes to supporting the cause and to continuing the Part of It project. We encourage you to learn more about the organization that benefits from your purchase.
They invite artists to design a t-shirt that supports a cause they feel strongly about, a graphic that can stir change, or an image that can raise awareness or perhaps simply start a conversation. We are interested in ripple effects, and in encouraging artists (and consumers) to see how they and their beliefs can play a part in supporting organizations whose work matters to them. The artists participating in Part of It come from diverse backgrounds and their work illuminates the intersection of personal beliefs and artistic expression.
More at:http://www.partofit.org/
Vuze is high-res IPTV platform got $20 million in its C round of funding
What Company Is Offering:
Vuze is the world's most popular entertainment platform for DVD-quality and HD video content.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Vuze, the rapidly growing high-res IPTV platform, announced it has secured $20 million in its C round of funding. This round is led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with existing investors Redpoint Ventures, Greycroft Partners, BV Capital, and Jarl Mohn participating. As a result of the investment, TiVo Co-Founder and former CEO Mike Ramsay joins the Vuze Board of Directors.
How This Company Is Going:
With an installed base of 15 million unique client downloads in its first 11 months, 500,000 new viewers joining per week and more than 100 content partners to date, Vuze is experiencing unprecedented organic growth. Vuze attracts and features high quality content from a growing roster of global television networks, premier production studios and thousands of maverick content creators, on the most advanced, most open entertainment platform ever created. Vuze is a Red Herring 100 Award Winner, recently named one of the top 100 tech startups of 2007. Vuze, Inc, formerly known as Azureus, Inc., is headquartered in Palo Alto, with offices in Los Angeles and New York.
About VCs:
New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a leading venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs create and build major new enterprises that use technology to improve the way we live, work and play. Since its founding in 1978, the firm has adhered to the same core principles: supporting its entrepreneurs, providing an excellent return to its limited partners, and operating in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and respect. NEA focuses on investments at all stages of a company’s development, from seed stage through IPO. With approximately $8.5 billion in capital committed to its affiliated funds, NEA’s experienced management team has invested in more than 550 companies, of which more than 160 have gone public and more than 230 have been acquired. NEA has U.S.-based offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Chevy Chase, Maryland; and Menlo Park, California. In addition, New Enterprise Associates (India) Pvt. Ltd. has an office in Bangalore, India and New Enterprise Associates (Beijing) Ltd. has offices in Beijing and Shanghai, China. For information, visit www.nea.com.
More at:http://www.vuze.com/
Vuze is the world's most popular entertainment platform for DVD-quality and HD video content.
How Much They Got From VCs:
Vuze, the rapidly growing high-res IPTV platform, announced it has secured $20 million in its C round of funding. This round is led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with existing investors Redpoint Ventures, Greycroft Partners, BV Capital, and Jarl Mohn participating. As a result of the investment, TiVo Co-Founder and former CEO Mike Ramsay joins the Vuze Board of Directors.
How This Company Is Going:
With an installed base of 15 million unique client downloads in its first 11 months, 500,000 new viewers joining per week and more than 100 content partners to date, Vuze is experiencing unprecedented organic growth. Vuze attracts and features high quality content from a growing roster of global television networks, premier production studios and thousands of maverick content creators, on the most advanced, most open entertainment platform ever created. Vuze is a Red Herring 100 Award Winner, recently named one of the top 100 tech startups of 2007. Vuze, Inc, formerly known as Azureus, Inc., is headquartered in Palo Alto, with offices in Los Angeles and New York.
About VCs:
New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a leading venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs create and build major new enterprises that use technology to improve the way we live, work and play. Since its founding in 1978, the firm has adhered to the same core principles: supporting its entrepreneurs, providing an excellent return to its limited partners, and operating in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and respect. NEA focuses on investments at all stages of a company’s development, from seed stage through IPO. With approximately $8.5 billion in capital committed to its affiliated funds, NEA’s experienced management team has invested in more than 550 companies, of which more than 160 have gone public and more than 230 have been acquired. NEA has U.S.-based offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Chevy Chase, Maryland; and Menlo Park, California. In addition, New Enterprise Associates (India) Pvt. Ltd. has an office in Bangalore, India and New Enterprise Associates (Beijing) Ltd. has offices in Beijing and Shanghai, China. For information, visit www.nea.com.
More at:http://www.vuze.com/
GainSpan is a technology innovator got $20 million in VCs funding
What Company Is Offering:
GainSpan is a technology innovator and leader in Wi-Fi semiconductor and software solutions that provide years of battery life for sensors and other connected devices. GainSpan brings Wi-Fi sensor networks to life with breakthrough technology that leverages the ubiquitous Wi-Fi infrastructure and enables Wi-Fi devices to run up to 10 years on an AA battery. GainSpan solutions enable people to save money, save energy and work smarter.
How Much They Got From VCs:
GainSpan, an innovator in Wi-Fi® sensor network technology, announced it has completed its series B funding round, raising a total of $20 million. The round is being led by Opus Capital with participation from returning investors including Intel Capital, New Venture Partners, OVP Venture Partners and Sigma Partners. Opus General Partner Carl Showalter will join the GainSpan board of directors.
Purpose Of Raising Funds:
GainSpan will use the additional funding for continued technology innovation, global business expansion and new market penetration. The company plans to expand its global sales and marketing force and will target several new and emerging markets beyond its initial industrial and commercial automation focus. Funds will also be used for product development, both to expand its Wi-Fi semiconductor product family and to continue developing solutions around both software and silicon architectures.
About VCs:
Opus Capital is a venture capital firm with more than $1 billion capital under management, investing in committed, high integrity entrepreneurs building early-stage technology companies. The team has participated in the successful outcomes of more than 80 companies (including 50 IPOs) in the U.S. and in Israel including AirGate PCS, Electronics for Imaging, FedEx, Genesys, Harmonic, Precept Software and Vantive. Opus Capital is headquartered on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit http://www.opuscapitalvc.com.
More at:http://www.gainspan.com.
GainSpan is a technology innovator and leader in Wi-Fi semiconductor and software solutions that provide years of battery life for sensors and other connected devices. GainSpan brings Wi-Fi sensor networks to life with breakthrough technology that leverages the ubiquitous Wi-Fi infrastructure and enables Wi-Fi devices to run up to 10 years on an AA battery. GainSpan solutions enable people to save money, save energy and work smarter.
How Much They Got From VCs:
GainSpan, an innovator in Wi-Fi® sensor network technology, announced it has completed its series B funding round, raising a total of $20 million. The round is being led by Opus Capital with participation from returning investors including Intel Capital, New Venture Partners, OVP Venture Partners and Sigma Partners. Opus General Partner Carl Showalter will join the GainSpan board of directors.
Purpose Of Raising Funds:
GainSpan will use the additional funding for continued technology innovation, global business expansion and new market penetration. The company plans to expand its global sales and marketing force and will target several new and emerging markets beyond its initial industrial and commercial automation focus. Funds will also be used for product development, both to expand its Wi-Fi semiconductor product family and to continue developing solutions around both software and silicon architectures.
About VCs:
Opus Capital is a venture capital firm with more than $1 billion capital under management, investing in committed, high integrity entrepreneurs building early-stage technology companies. The team has participated in the successful outcomes of more than 80 companies (including 50 IPOs) in the U.S. and in Israel including AirGate PCS, Electronics for Imaging, FedEx, Genesys, Harmonic, Precept Software and Vantive. Opus Capital is headquartered on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit http://www.opuscapitalvc.com.
More at:http://www.gainspan.com.
PlayFirst, Inc., a leading publisher of casual games raised $16.5 million in its Series C financing
What Company Is Offering:
PlayFirst is a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands. Committed to building casual game play rich in story and character, PlayFirst works with talented internal and external developers to bring mass market games to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, mobile, handheld and console.
The company's portfolio includes the world-renowned Diner Dash® franchise, as well as top-selling games such as Wedding Dash(TM), Chocolatier®, and Dream Chronicles(TM). Founded in 2004, PlayFirst is funded by Mayfield Fund, Trinity Ventures, Rustic Canyon Partners and DCM.
How Much They Got From VCs:
PlayFirst, Inc., a leading publisher of casual games, announced that it has raised $16.5 million in its Series C financing round led by DCM. Existing investors, including Mayfield Fund, Trinity Ventures and Rustic Canyon Partners, also participated in the round. Previously, PlayFirst raised a total of $10 million in its Series A and B rounds, bringing the current total of venture capital raised to $26.5 million.
Purpose Of Raising Funds:
PlayFirst plans to use the funding to accelerate both web and game development and to satisfy the increasing and ever-evolving demand for high-quality casual game experiences. Based on the initial success from new business models and new brands including Chocolatier®, Dream Chronicles(TM) and Wedding Dash(TM), PlayFirst will continue to expand and shape the casual games market.
How Is Market Of That Kind Company:
According to analyst firm DFC Intelligence, the casual games/online games market is expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2012. David Cole, analyst, DFC Intelligence, said, "Innovative companies willing to diversify platforms, create quality content, move beyond the $20 business model and introduce innovations like microtransactions to casual games will continue to drive this industry forward."
About VCs:
DCM is an early stage venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs building world-class technology companies. The firm's partners manage US$1.6 billion and have funded leading technology companies including 2Wire, 51job, @Motion (Openwave), About.com (The New York Times Co.), All About, Arroyo (Cisco), Clearwire, Dang Dang, eDreams (TA), Foundry Networks, HireRight, Internap, IPivot (Intel), JCI, Neopath Networks (Cisco), Neutral Tandem, nQuire (Siebel), PGP Corporation, Recourse Technologies (Symantec), Sigmatel, SMIC, Sling Media (EchoStar), Trion World Network, Inc., and Vimicro. DCM offers hands-on operational guidance and access to an extensive network of resources, including close relationships with many of the Pacific Rim's leading companies and investors.
For more information, at http://www.dcm.com.
For more information visit www.playfirst.com and www.dinerdash.com.
PlayFirst is a leading publisher focused on creating shared casual game experiences around lasting original brands. Committed to building casual game play rich in story and character, PlayFirst works with talented internal and external developers to bring mass market games to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, mobile, handheld and console.
The company's portfolio includes the world-renowned Diner Dash® franchise, as well as top-selling games such as Wedding Dash(TM), Chocolatier®, and Dream Chronicles(TM). Founded in 2004, PlayFirst is funded by Mayfield Fund, Trinity Ventures, Rustic Canyon Partners and DCM.
How Much They Got From VCs:
PlayFirst, Inc., a leading publisher of casual games, announced that it has raised $16.5 million in its Series C financing round led by DCM. Existing investors, including Mayfield Fund, Trinity Ventures and Rustic Canyon Partners, also participated in the round. Previously, PlayFirst raised a total of $10 million in its Series A and B rounds, bringing the current total of venture capital raised to $26.5 million.
Purpose Of Raising Funds:
PlayFirst plans to use the funding to accelerate both web and game development and to satisfy the increasing and ever-evolving demand for high-quality casual game experiences. Based on the initial success from new business models and new brands including Chocolatier®, Dream Chronicles(TM) and Wedding Dash(TM), PlayFirst will continue to expand and shape the casual games market.
How Is Market Of That Kind Company:
According to analyst firm DFC Intelligence, the casual games/online games market is expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2012. David Cole, analyst, DFC Intelligence, said, "Innovative companies willing to diversify platforms, create quality content, move beyond the $20 business model and introduce innovations like microtransactions to casual games will continue to drive this industry forward."
About VCs:
DCM is an early stage venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs building world-class technology companies. The firm's partners manage US$1.6 billion and have funded leading technology companies including 2Wire, 51job, @Motion (Openwave), About.com (The New York Times Co.), All About, Arroyo (Cisco), Clearwire, Dang Dang, eDreams (TA), Foundry Networks, HireRight, Internap, IPivot (Intel), JCI, Neopath Networks (Cisco), Neutral Tandem, nQuire (Siebel), PGP Corporation, Recourse Technologies (Symantec), Sigmatel, SMIC, Sling Media (EchoStar), Trion World Network, Inc., and Vimicro. DCM offers hands-on operational guidance and access to an extensive network of resources, including close relationships with many of the Pacific Rim's leading companies and investors.
For more information, at http://www.dcm.com.
For more information visit www.playfirst.com and www.dinerdash.com.
myMapBlog.com --Blog Map For Travellers
What Company Is Offering:
myMapBlog.com is a service for all fellow travellers.
How It Works:
If you are travelling the world or planning to do so, sign up with myMapBlog to let your family and friends know where you are. You will be able to update your own map Blog from every internet café around the globe to show everyone how awesome your trip is.
Just by clicking on the map you will add a ‘dot’ there and write about that place.
It is as easy as it sounds, and the best: it is free!.
More at:http://www.mymapblog.com/
myMapBlog.com is a service for all fellow travellers.
How It Works:
If you are travelling the world or planning to do so, sign up with myMapBlog to let your family and friends know where you are. You will be able to update your own map Blog from every internet café around the globe to show everyone how awesome your trip is.
Just by clicking on the map you will add a ‘dot’ there and write about that place.
It is as easy as it sounds, and the best: it is free!.
More at:http://www.mymapblog.com/
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