Archives for 2006

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Blogs and Wikis Are the New Web

Posted on September 22, 2006 ·

Traditional web sites are so 20th Century – Blogs and Wikis bring them to life, and they are easier to set up. Perhaps not surprisingly, a Web 2.0-focused VC, Union Square Ventures was one of the first to replace their entire Web site with a blog – read the rationale of the switch. Corporate web sites soon followed suit, just look at Architel and Return Path as examples. Now, for some shameless self-promotion, my earlier tips on the subject: Blogs To Replace Personal Web sites.

In Wikis are the Instant Intranet I also talked about how companies can set up a living-breathing Intranet, one that people can actually use, not just passively read by deploying a wiki: ” in the large corporate environment a wiki can be a lively collaborative addition to the Intranet (see the wiki effect by Socialtext CEO Ross Mayfield), but for smaller, nimble, less hierarchical business a wiki is The Intranet.” (note: I am not just speculating on this: been there, done that in my prior life).

Now Sydney-based Customware raised the bar:

The entire web site (not only the Intranet, but the customer-facing web) is built on a wiki – Confluence by Atlassian. (hat tip: Mike Cannon-Brookes)

Update (9/28): The Atlassian Blog points to several other wiki-powered sites that look-and-feel like traditional websites.

Update (9/22): Just as soon as I posted this article, I saw this pic on Rod Boothby’s blog:

Itensil, short for “Information Utensils” builds “a self-service technology that we’re calling Team Wikiflow that captures collective intelligence and delivers it as reusable team processes.”

I have to admit I haven’t heard of Itensil – it will be exciting to meet them, as well as Atlassian, Socialtext, Zoho, ConnectBeam, EchoSign and many other companies in the collaboration space at the Office 2.0 Conference.

Update (4/12/07): Here’s a list of corporate websites powered by CustomerVision’s BizWiki.


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Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Collaboration, Enterprise Software, Software, Technology · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Bay Area Business Hall of Shame

Posted on September 20, 2006 ·

(Updated)
This is NOT a joke: on the heels of the widening HP Spy Scandal deposed (?) Chairman and Chief Spy Patricia Dunn is still scheduled to be inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame at a $500-a-piece Gala Dinner at the Westin St. Francis.  The other inductee is former Chevron Chairman & CEO George M. Keller.

I don’t know Mr. Keller, but I don’t believe he is involved in any dishonorable activities, and frankly, if I were him, I would feel very-very inconvenient right now.  Perhaps to the point of rejecting the “honor” of sharing the pedestal with HP’s Master Spy.   

Fellow Hall of Famers, HP Founders William  Hewlett & David Packard must be turning in their graves now that that the Executive who did the most to destroy their company’s reputation is being honored along with them.   Other business legends in the Hall of Fame must feel the same: Eugene Kleiner & Thomas J. Perkins, William Hambrecht, Charles Schwab, Gordon Moore, George Lucas, Larry Sonsini.  As we know, at least Mr Sonsini and Mr Perkins were subject to HP’s pretexting – this must make for cozy dinner company 🙂

If Patricia Dunn had any decency left, she would not provoke further attention and public outcry by accepting the honor and attending the Gala,   But for all we know now, she plans to. 

Perhaps the other participants will save the day and boycott what would otherwise become the Bay Area Business Hall of Shame… (?)

Update (9/21):  Apparently no-one “saved the day”  Patricia Dunn was toasted and inducted yesterday.

Related articles:

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Filed Under: Bay Area, Business, Politics, Technology ·
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Colbert Beats Chuck Norris in Budapest

Posted on September 16, 2006 ·

About two months ago the Government of Hungary announced a public online poll to determine the name of a new bridge to be built over the river Danube in Budapest. They probably expected a famous Hungarian statesmen, hero, poet or musician’s name to emerge at the top of the list.

The only problem was, they left the vote wide open, and in the early rounds Chuck Norris took the lead. That is, until Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert sensed a historic opportunity: he called his loyal viewers to vote on him.

They certainly did, and when the poll was closed, Steven Colbert beat out Chuck Norris, John Stewart and all famous Hungarians, accumulating over 17 million votes.  That’s only a mere 7 million votes than the entire population of Hungary.

To announce the results, Hungary’s Ambassador to the US, Andras Simonyi came to the show.

He handed Colbert an official document pronouncing him the winner of the contest.  He also spelled out two minor conditions:

  • Colbert has to become fluent in Hungarian
  • Colbert has to be dead

The first one may not be such a deal, after Colbert correctly pronounced the word “bridge: in Hungarian, the Ambassador declared him fluent enough.  The second condition is a bit tougher: unlike the US, Hungarians name their public places after deceased famous people. That said, Hungarians are entrepreneurial enough to find some solution.  The Ambassador provided Colbert with a Hungarian passport and some Hungarian currency, inviting him to the construction site:  “Once you’re there, we’ll find a way to deal with this minor issue… “

Will Colbert take the chance?

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Filed Under: Humor, Misc ·
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Socializr – Yawnr?

Posted on September 13, 2006 ·

Since I was the first one to “discover” Socializr (see Socializr – Friendster 2.0?) I figured I should report it is now out with a “gamma” release.  I guess we shouldn’t read too much into what gamma means, since Auren Hoffman recently saw the alpha version… he thinks  “this is going to be a great company.”

He probably knows why – I don’t.   Perhaps I am just too cynical… but I can’t get excited by yet-another-social-networking site. So rather than a boring attempt to describe it, here’s a detailed review on Vested Ventures.

 

Hm… I wonder if $1.5m funding should be enough to get a decent logo … or did they spend all the money on hiring   babes  Exec Assistants ?  Oh, well, perhaps by the time they get to the Zeta release:-)  

The company’s Founder is none other but Jonathan Abrams whose previous startup, Friendster seems to be coming back from the ashes, having been granted a wide, generic patent on online social networking.

The layout is boring, but the Socializr-ers (wow, how do you say that?) certainly have humor:

Our motto: “Don’t be boring.” (because Google already took “Don’t be evil.”)

Founded in 1848, during the California Gold Rush, Socializr, Inc. is located in San Francisco, California, and was originally used by prospectors, miners, and gamblers to coordinate outings to popular saloons. This mysterious company is now run by a large team of magic elves, and assisted by junior computer programmer Jonathan Abrams.

Socializr is a “Web 3.1” company. “Web 3.1” is an arbitrary and silly label like “Web 2.0”, but even sillier, and 55% cooler! And everyone knows nothing works right until the 3.1 version.

Update (9/14):  TechCrunch appears to have a similar assessment.

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Filed Under: Business, Social Networking, Software, Startups, Technology ·
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Lame Executive Search "Matches"

Posted on September 12, 2006 ·

Long ago I’ve established a profile on BlueSteps.com.  It’s dormant, I did not bother to go back and de-activate it, the occasional email does not bother me.  This morning I am ROFLMAO having received the following “match against my profile”:

Function:  Finance and Accounting/CFO
Industry:  Hospitals
Region:  Augusta, GA, Georgia, United States
Salary:  $100,000 – $150,000

There’s not a single bit in this search that would match my profile.  This is simply pathetic.

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Filed Under: Business, Software, Technology ·
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Lame Half-steps at HP

Posted on September 12, 2006 ·
  • Patricia Dunn continues as Chairman of the Board for 4 months.  She should be out immediately.
  • She will remain on the Board as Director even after January.  What a joke.
  • Mark Hurd will be the new Chairman while keeping his CEO position. He may be the savior of HP and untainted by the current scandal, but the separation of CEO and Chairman roles is a fundamental principle of good Corporate Governance.

Bad. Bad. Bad.  I guess Robert is right: HP still has a major ethical problem.

Update (9/12): Management guru Tom Peters weighs in: 

“Your watch. Your responsibility. That’s the whole damn point of a chain of command—in Iraq or Palo Alto.
Step down, Ms Dunn.”

(hat tip:Paul Kedroskyy)

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Filed Under: Bay Area, Business ·
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The End of the Internet

Posted on September 12, 2006 ·

Please read this Public Service Announcement.
(hat tip: Brian Solis)

Filed Under: Humor ·
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SVASE VC Breakfast Club in San Francisco

Posted on September 11, 2006 ·

I’ll be moderating another SVASE VC Breakfast Club meeting on Thursday, Sep 14th in San Francisco.  As usual, it’s an informal round-table where up to 10 entrepreneurs get to deliver a pitch, then answer questions and get critiqued by a VC Partner. We’ve had VC’s from Draper Fisher, Hummer Winblad, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mohr Davidow, Emergence Capital …etc.

Thursday’s featured VC is John Parsons, General Partner, The Halo Funds. The Zvents post has all the info and a map, and if you plan to attend, please register here.

These sessions are a valuable opportunity for Entrepreneurs, most of whom would probably have a hard time getting through the door to VC Partners. Since I’ve been through quite a few of these sessions, both as Entrepreneur and Moderator, let me share a few thoughts:

  • It’s a pressure-free environment, with no Powerpoint presentations, Business Plans…etc, just casual conversation, but it does not mean you should come unprepared!
  • Bring an Executive Summary, some VC’s like it, others don’t.
  • Follow a structure, don’t just talk freely about what you would like to do, or even worse, spend all your time describing the problem, without addressing what your solution is.
  • Don’t forget “small things” like the Team, Product, Market..etc.
  • It would not hurt to mention how much you are looking for, and how you would use the funds…
  • Write down and practice your pitch, and prepare to deliver a compelling story in 3 minutes. You will have about 5, but believe me, whatever your practice time was, when you are on the spot, you will likely take twice as long to deliver your story. The second half of your time-slot is Q&A with the VC.
  • Last, but not least, please be on time! I am not kidding… some of you know why I even have to bring this up.

Here’s a participating Entrepreneur’s feedback about a previous event.

See you in San Francisco!Zbutton 

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Filed Under: Bay Area, Business, Social Networking, Startups ·
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Size Matters

Posted on September 9, 2006 ·

Apparently Katie Couric is not the only one who can easily lose 20 pounds by some photo-processing wizardry. The magic is available to anyone, and it does not even require a conspiring press department, or even Photoshop knowledge.

The slimming goodness comes to you thanks to HP, the company that introduced a line of digital cameras that can slim anyone’s waistline.

The demo video on HP’s site is worth watching. (hat tip: Ho John Lee).

I see unlimited potential here: if you can slim, why not add, too, at the right places? We can all have a custom-tailored body. And to be PC and balanced, yes, guys could use some “enhancement” too… no, not *that* ..Were talking about decent pics here…although reading this, who knows what the norm is anymore….

Well, since you brought it up, how about 9 inches? Isn’t that too big?

(Seeing the photo of The Swiss Army Giant Knife) I think we can agree that 9 inches are too big to be useful…

Back to the HP cameras, this is the kind of enhancement I had in mind, but without the steroids or hard work. Oh, and not in 12 weeks, but 12 seconds.

Warning to journalists, writers and corporate Board members: if you received a camera as a gift from HP, have it *de-bugged*. According to leaks from usually well-informed sources, some units included HP’s experimental feature: the camera may listen in on your electronic communication and secretly report back to HP HQ.

Update (827/07):  According to this TechCrunch story, FotoFlexer now allows you to make body parts look larger or smaller 😉

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Filed Under: Business, Humor, Marketing / PR, Misc ·
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Your Neighborhood Bank Becomes Your Trusted SaaS Provider

Posted on September 8, 2006 ·

If you’re like me, you haven’t talked to a bank teller for years, in fact haven’t set foot inside a branch for a long time. Why should you? You do all your banking online. (?) But you probably wouldn’t think of your bank as *The* Software as a Service provider to run your entire small business…

That’s exactly what Fokus bank pulled off in Norway, in cooperation with 24SevenOffice and Bluegarden. The new, innovative bundle is probably the first of its kind in the World: single sign-on Web solution for your banking and all other business software needs. (hat tip: Espen Antonsen)

Let me reiterate: it’s not just online banking, but a full hosted business system. Given all the trouble I had just getting Quicken / Microsoft Money to work with several major US banks, I have a hard time imagining them come forward with such revolutionary offering. Key benefits to:

  • Customers
    • Trust, security. SaaS is not as widely accepted in Europe as in the US, and certainly the key issue is that flexible new products come from lesser known smaller providers, which SMB’s see as a major risk. Having the bank manage your data is a reassuring solution.
  • The Bank
    • Customer retention, in fact competitive advantage to attract businesses away from other banks. In a world when it’s easy to switch banks for the sake of higher interest, Fokus will have a virtual lock on its customers: that of convenience.
  • 24SevenOffice
    • Access to Fokus banks 200,000 customers; prospectively using it as a vehicle to penetrate the Danish Market since Fokus is owned by Danske Bank. Marketing/PR value of launching a “World First”

This is not the first innovative deal coming from 24SevenOffice: previously they teamed up with Telenor, a leading Scandinavian telco to create a 3G “Mobile Office“.

I’ve been following 24SevenOffice for quite a while (and have received occasional updates from Staale Risa, COO), largely due to my obsession with “Enterprise” functionality to small businesses. I can count on a single hand (two fingers?) the number of All-in-One SaaS providers with comparable breadth of functionality: CRM + ERP + Office .

My only wish is that the company entered the US market sooner. Recently they launched an International version, accessible to US customers, but frankly, that’s about the one thing coming from 24SevenOffice that I am unimpressed with. It removes the key value proposition of being a full-rounded, integrated solution ( a’la NetSuite but more) and positions the system as a lower-cost CRM competing head-on with SalesForce.com. Well, I have news for my European friends: this version does not compete with Salesforce, but with the dozens of other challengers. Personally, I think it’s a marketing blunder.

That said I know the company is working on porting their full system (think accounting, HR ..etc) to US requirements and a full blown US launch is in the works …. stay tuned.

Update (9/8): To access the full 24SevenOffice site, trick the system by selecting a European country, e.g. the UK. You still have to do some digging, a lot of logistic functions are hidden under Financials.
There’s also a neat demo here.


Filed Under: Business, Enterprise Software, ERP / CRM, Marketing / PR, SaaS, SMB / SME, Software, Startups, Technology · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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