September 6, 2007
Priming the Web 2.0 pumps
We spoke too soon - the Silicon Valley well that keeps dishing up new Web 2.0 companies appears not to be bottomless after all.
This morning we reported that this year’s "coming out" season in the Valley, where new tech companies and products jostle to get attention, is going to be hectic. Some 150 new companies and products are scheduled to be unveiled at three big showcase events in California over the next six weeks. Bubble, anyone?
We worried about whether there would be enough good ideas to go round, but Munjal Shah of Like.com, who is now safely past this launch stage himself, reassured us: "There are probably enough to cover all three."
Turns out that may be too optimistic. Late yesterday we got an email from O’Reilly, one of the backers of next month’s Web 2.0 Summit, on the hunt for candidates for its own "launchpad" event. While the judges "have received some submissions, they’d like to see more," it said, adding:
Know any cool start-ups with Web-based technology that are looking for funding? Or existing companies that haven’t gone public yet?
Let’s see. I make it about six weeks to the event. All we need to do is find a couple of good Web developers, cobble together a fancy app to run on Facebook, pull an appropriate name from this Web 2.0 name generator, and it’s off to the races. Anyone with me?
A bit cynical, but right on the point. There are a lot of Start-Up’s out there with a fancy idea, but NO NEW TECHNOLOGY or even a sound idea how to make revenue, and God forbid - break even.
There’s a few Gems though, Like POWNCE, who are a forerunner in developing AIR Applications (Adobe desperately looking for more such companies: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5081896946) or
LAST.FM who actually aspires to both objectives too.
Another one you should keep an eye on is eBlizz, an upstart company out of Santa Monica (http://www.eblizz.com). This company has developed a whole new platform for SN Aggregation, Sharing of complex/multiple content (ScapBooks) and Entertainment folded into a Desktop App with a strong Web Backend.
I’m sure if you keep looking Richards, you’ll see ther are a few Gems in the mud worth looking at. Web2.0 is a phenomena everyone tries to jump on to because it looks like big bucks.
Posted by: Göran Askeljung | September 6th, 2007 at 9:59 pm | Report this commentBut like in any new Market or technology space, the bonanza will go through a couple of cycles and then mellow out as investors learn what the Market forces are.
You’r Six Week app won’t stand a chance now I’m afraid.
Still too early for web 2 companies to ride on early success of Youtube, Myspace and Facebook, as market still struggling to understand the business model i.e. revenue model of those.
Posted by: Online Market Research Company | September 10th, 2007 at 3:30 pm | Report this commentWE have to wait and watch for this but surely there are a hope in web.2 companies.
Posted by: payday loans uk | September 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm | Report this comment