Walden Invests in Telekenex
We are pleased to announce that we have invested the first institutional capital in Telekenex, a profitable, business-grade IP service provider for small to medium-sized businesses. Here are the details.
Standards Procedure
The final release of the open source GPL version 3 license is about to go live, and Palamida CEO Mark Tolliver has been very popular with reporters who are trying to gauge the impact of the shift.
"GPL 3 will certainly force awareness of licensing issues to grow, tools like ours or others that can detect and report on licenses and incompatibilities will be a standard part of peoples' IP use and software development environment," Tolliver said.
"To operate without that in this world of increasingly complex licensing will be more difficult and more risky."
"GPL 3 will certainly force awareness of licensing issues to grow, tools like ours or others that can detect and report on licenses and incompatibilities will be a standard part of peoples' IP use and software development environment," Tolliver said.
"To operate without that in this world of increasingly complex licensing will be more difficult and more risky."
Clay Aiken and Ron Sexsmith? Yikes!
The New York Times features Pandora in an article about Internet radio and calls it the "simplest option." It also highlights Pandora's superior personalization.
Now that the free ad-supported service has been operational for 15 months, it can use the behavioral data of its six million listeners to add a new layer of suggestion. For instance, even if, on paper, the musicologists think it logical to pair a song by the “American Idol” superstar Clay Aiken with one by the Canadian folk balladeer Ron Sexsmith, several hundred listeners may give the juxtaposition a vote of no confidence. Tim Westergren, a Pandora co-founder, says the database now contains half a billion useful points of “contextual feedback.”
H5 Is Cool
H5 Technologies was one of only four companies included in a report by Gartner entitled Cool Vendors in Content Management, 2007.
Said Gartner Senior Research Director Debra Logan, "Any method or technology that can reliably and transparently help with a process, and thus reduce the amount of time lawyers spend on it, doesn’t have far to go to make it a worthwhile investment. H5 acknowledges that it is tackling a complex set of issues and bringing high-level expertise to bear on the problem."
Here's a link to the press release.
Said Gartner Senior Research Director Debra Logan, "Any method or technology that can reliably and transparently help with a process, and thus reduce the amount of time lawyers spend on it, doesn’t have far to go to make it a worthwhile investment. H5 acknowledges that it is tackling a complex set of issues and bringing high-level expertise to bear on the problem."
Here's a link to the press release.
The Source
Palamida announced today that it has increased the size of its compliance library even further. This library now includes:
- Over 780,000 open source project versions
- 140,000 unique open source projects
- 10 million Java names
- Over 392 million open source files
- Nearly 7 billion source code snippets
- Over 390 million binary files
Thinking Ahead
When I go to BestBuy, I am just as interested in the products that miss as the gadgets that everybody wants. Consider the Kodak EasyShare C743, which CNET rates as one of "the worst tech of Q4 2006." One word comes to mind when you hold this camera in your hand: cheap.
Consumer electronics companies end up making cameras like the C743 because they don't have an efficient way to test consumer interest in different product attributes. Traditional focus groups are difficult and expensive to organize, and sample sizes are small. Online panels help companies gather feedback much more quickly, but they often suffer from sample bias. (The problem of "professional respondents" - or people who take particular pleasure in participating in as many panels as possible - is well-known.)
Market Insight takes a different approach. This Palo Alto startup operates six free product advisors on MyProductAdvisor.com that help consumers pick the best product for their needs. One example is TVs. If you've ever tried to buy a High Definition set, you know that number of choices is bewildering. Market Insight's TV advisor steps you through the various choices and allows you to rate the importance of different product attributes through the use of sliders. The consumer data that Market Insight gathers through these product advisors is rich, immediate, and unbiased, and it enables Market Insight customers like General Motors, Palm, and Intel design and market products that customers in the market actually want.
Traditional market research is reactionary. It relies on small sets of dated data; it is project-based; and it is primarily used to optimize products that are already out in the market. But as the consumer feedback loop continues to shorten, it will become more and more expensive for companies like Kodak to market short-sighted products like the C743. Forward-looking, strategic market research will become the norm, not the exception.
Consumer electronics companies end up making cameras like the C743 because they don't have an efficient way to test consumer interest in different product attributes. Traditional focus groups are difficult and expensive to organize, and sample sizes are small. Online panels help companies gather feedback much more quickly, but they often suffer from sample bias. (The problem of "professional respondents" - or people who take particular pleasure in participating in as many panels as possible - is well-known.)
Market Insight takes a different approach. This Palo Alto startup operates six free product advisors on MyProductAdvisor.com that help consumers pick the best product for their needs. One example is TVs. If you've ever tried to buy a High Definition set, you know that number of choices is bewildering. Market Insight's TV advisor steps you through the various choices and allows you to rate the importance of different product attributes through the use of sliders. The consumer data that Market Insight gathers through these product advisors is rich, immediate, and unbiased, and it enables Market Insight customers like General Motors, Palm, and Intel design and market products that customers in the market actually want.
Traditional market research is reactionary. It relies on small sets of dated data; it is project-based; and it is primarily used to optimize products that are already out in the market. But as the consumer feedback loop continues to shorten, it will become more and more expensive for companies like Kodak to market short-sighted products like the C743. Forward-looking, strategic market research will become the norm, not the exception.
Buzzworthy
An interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal about "buzz sites" like Digg. [Subscription required.]
Though it can take hundreds or thousands of votes to make it onto the hot list at these sites, the Journal's analysis found that a substantial number of submissions originated with a handful of users. At Digg, which has 900,000 registered users, 30 people were responsible for submitting one-third of postings on the home page. At Netscape.com, a single user named "STONERS" -- in real life, computer programmer Ed Southwood of Dayton, Ohio -- was behind fully 217 stories over the two-week period, or 13% of all stories that reached the most popular list. (Netscape, which gained fame with its namesake browser, is now owned by Time Warner's AOL unit and operates a news site.)
On Reddit, one of the most influential users is 12-year-old Adam Fuhrer. At his desktop computer in his parents' home in the quiet northern Toronto suburb of Thornhill, Mr. Fuhrer monitors more than 100 Web sites looking for news on criminal justice, software releases -- and the Toronto Maple Leafs, his favorite hockey team. When Microsoft launched its Vista operating system this year, he submitted stories that discussed its security flaws and price tag, which attracted approving votes from more than 500 users.
Though it can take hundreds or thousands of votes to make it onto the hot list at these sites, the Journal's analysis found that a substantial number of submissions originated with a handful of users. At Digg, which has 900,000 registered users, 30 people were responsible for submitting one-third of postings on the home page. At Netscape.com, a single user named "STONERS" -- in real life, computer programmer Ed Southwood of Dayton, Ohio -- was behind fully 217 stories over the two-week period, or 13% of all stories that reached the most popular list. (Netscape, which gained fame with its namesake browser, is now owned by Time Warner's AOL unit and operates a news site.)
On Reddit, one of the most influential users is 12-year-old Adam Fuhrer. At his desktop computer in his parents' home in the quiet northern Toronto suburb of Thornhill, Mr. Fuhrer monitors more than 100 Web sites looking for news on criminal justice, software releases -- and the Toronto Maple Leafs, his favorite hockey team. When Microsoft launched its Vista operating system this year, he submitted stories that discussed its security flaws and price tag, which attracted approving votes from more than 500 users.
DivineCaroline.com Is Live
Real Girls Media has officially launched DivineCaroline.com, "a place where women come together to express themselves, find answers and share life through storytelling." Check it out!
Let's Get Small
Who says bigger is better? Here's an excerpt from Matt's latest piece on SandHill.com:
We continue to hear entrepreneurs tell us that they can find very few good firms willing to lead a deal that needs less than $5 million. In my experience, some of the best founders don't want or need a first round that size. I am hoping that more funds will focus on small, early deals as we have been doing here at Walden.
We continue to hear entrepreneurs tell us that they can find very few good firms willing to lead a deal that needs less than $5 million. In my experience, some of the best founders don't want or need a first round that size. I am hoping that more funds will focus on small, early deals as we have been doing here at Walden.
Glamming It Up
The trend is Glam's friend. Today, the company announced that it had taken second place on comScore's Media Metrix Top Ten Women's Web Properties list for December 2006. Glam Media recorded 8 million US unique visitors in December, representing more than a 100% increase over the month of November and an increase of over 2,666% year-over-year. As a result, Glam was the fastest-growing of top 500 Web properties in 2006 according to Media Metrix.
Pandora Goes Social
Check out today's Techcrunch for a discussion of Pandora's new social networking capabilities.
Stand Up and Be Counted
Interesting news from the Census Bureau's 2007 Abstract of the United States ...
Among adults, 97 million Internet users sought news online last year, 92 million bought a product, 91 million made a travel reservation, 16 million used a social or professional networking site and 13 million created a blog.
Among adults, 97 million Internet users sought news online last year, 92 million bought a product, 91 million made a travel reservation, 16 million used a social or professional networking site and 13 million created a blog.
Glam Raises $18.5 Million Series C Round
Here are the details ...
"In one year from launch, Glam Media has created a unique online media company reaching over 7 Million unique visitors a month," said Samir Arora, chairman and founder of Glam Media. "Glam's vision is to bring together the best content from traditional and indie publishers with emotive brand advertising to create the first contextual Web network."
"In one year from launch, Glam Media has created a unique online media company reaching over 7 Million unique visitors a month," said Samir Arora, chairman and founder of Glam Media. "Glam's vision is to bring together the best content from traditional and indie publishers with emotive brand advertising to create the first contextual Web network."
Speak Up!
Yesterday, Larry Marcus spoke on panels at Digital Living Room and an IBDNetwork event. Here are the details:
DIGITAL LIVING ROOM
Shaping the Landscape for the Digital Living Room
What are the business opportunities and challenges facing solution providers for the digital living room? We evaluate the dominant technologies, applications and services all competing to control the consumers' access to content. Broadband Internet, consumer electronics devices, mobile and wireless; portable players; networks. How do we determine the economic value of these services and products against digital rights protections for content owners? Our experts give an overview of nearterm and longterm predictions for the digital home market to help you develop a successful strategy.
Moderator: Michael Stroud, CEO iHollywood Forum
Nick Chakalos, Senior Director, Software Product Management
Connected Home Solutions, Motorola, Inc
Evan Young, Director of Broadband Services, Tivo
Stuart Cleary, Director, Broadband Content Services, Verisign
Jay Gill, S. Manager IBSG Service Provider Solutions, Cisco
Larry Marcus, Managing Director, WaldenVC
IBDNETWORK
VC Outlook for 2007
Join IBDNetwork for its last event in 2006 featuring four venture firms who will discuss and defend their views on the 2007 tech market. In this roundtable discussion, feel free to contribute your own thoughts but be prepared to back them up!
Discussion points include:
- What sectors are poised for growth?
- What sectors are poised for consolidation?
- Top favorite companies?
MODERATOR:
Mark Albert, Partner, Perkins Coie
PANELISTS:
BA Venture Partners - Sharon Wienbar
SAP Ventures - Jai Das
WaldenVC - Larry Marcus
DIGITAL LIVING ROOM
Shaping the Landscape for the Digital Living Room
What are the business opportunities and challenges facing solution providers for the digital living room? We evaluate the dominant technologies, applications and services all competing to control the consumers' access to content. Broadband Internet, consumer electronics devices, mobile and wireless; portable players; networks. How do we determine the economic value of these services and products against digital rights protections for content owners? Our experts give an overview of nearterm and longterm predictions for the digital home market to help you develop a successful strategy.
Moderator: Michael Stroud, CEO iHollywood Forum
Nick Chakalos, Senior Director, Software Product Management
Connected Home Solutions, Motorola, Inc
Evan Young, Director of Broadband Services, Tivo
Stuart Cleary, Director, Broadband Content Services, Verisign
Jay Gill, S. Manager IBSG Service Provider Solutions, Cisco
Larry Marcus, Managing Director, WaldenVC
IBDNETWORK
VC Outlook for 2007
Join IBDNetwork for its last event in 2006 featuring four venture firms who will discuss and defend their views on the 2007 tech market. In this roundtable discussion, feel free to contribute your own thoughts but be prepared to back them up!
Discussion points include:
- What sectors are poised for growth?
- What sectors are poised for consolidation?
- Top favorite companies?
MODERATOR:
Mark Albert, Partner, Perkins Coie
PANELISTS:
BA Venture Partners - Sharon Wienbar
SAP Ventures - Jai Das
WaldenVC - Larry Marcus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)