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Another week, another batch of interesting new business ideas from around the world: a thumb-sized floatation device from the UK, a video game for Middle Eastern players, a German fashion brand that sells by invitation only, and more. Our next edition is due on 28 November 2007. In the meantime, check out our daily postings on www.springwise.com, send us your tips, and please don't forget to tell your friends and colleagues about us. Much appreciated! |
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While there are plenty of reminder services online that help people remember anniversaries and birthdays, few connect to the physical world. Which is where Boston-based Jack Cards comes in: a company that delivers pre-scheduled, ready-to-go greeting cards to the card sender, just in time for them to add a personal message and drop the card in the mailbox. Customers register on jackcards.com, enter important dates for their family and friends and select cards for each person/date. Jack Cards offers a range of cards created by over 40 independent designers. Members schedule when they'd like the cards delivered—1, 2 or 4 weeks in advance—and select whether they would like the envelopes to be pre-stamped, pre-addressed, or both. Jack Cards takes care of the rest and even sends an email reminder to make sure customers don't forget to post the cards they've ordered and received. Membership is free and cards start at USD 1.50, plus postage and delivery (normal shipping rate is USD 0.99 per shipment). While entering all of the necessary data might be a bit of a chore, it's a one-off time investment that helps customers unload the worry of letting an important date slip by unnoticed, and turns them into thoughtful, organized people who recognize the personal touch of a handwritten paper greeting. Since this is the kind of business that demands localization (language, local holidays, national postage), it's an enticing opportunity for entrepreneurs in other parts of the world. Basic requirements: a knack for logistics and a good eye for design. And, um... major greeting card manufacturers—why aren't you already doing this? (Related: Talking gift tags.) Website: www.jackcards.com
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The internet, which has succeeded in democratizing so many other parts of life, has now set its sights on one of society’s most stalwart professions: democratic lawmakers. A recently launched Australian political party called Senator On-Line promises to let its members vote on every bill that comes before the nation’s parliament. The party’s representative then votes in accordance with the majority. Talk about direct democracy! Anyone enraged by the power of special interest groups, back-room deal making and partisan bickering will be struck by the compelling alternative Senator On-Line presents. The party has no political agenda or platform, remains independent of lobbying groups and vows to help its members decide how to vote on issues with impartial online information detailing the pros and cons of any particular stance. Some might argue that such an extreme form of direct democracy could easily take on a dark side. What’s to prevent party members from voting against needed taxes, for example? Similarly, could they vote to strip away the rights of minority groups? An FAQ on the party’s website attempts to answer these questions. To prevent a malevolent majority from taking over the country, Senator On-Line will only field candidates in Australia’s Senate (upper house), whose powers are limited to approving and rejecting bills. Under Australia’s parliamentary system, it’s the lower house, the House of Representatives, that proposes and debates bills. Still, web-based democracy is an untested idea. And like all social communities or networks, Senator On-Line and its imitators will likely evolve in unexpected ways. Special interest groups might shift their efforts from lobbying legislators to reaching out directly to grass roots party members, who—for good or ill—may be more susceptible to their message. Candidates and their parties have traditionally provided a check when their rivals make false statements. With a web-based democracy, that role would likely fall more urgently on the press and on watchdog groups. On the other hand, the gridlock that exists in many of the world’s legislative bodies remains in dire need of new thinking. And as the web continues to grow in importance, political parties are bound to rely on it more and more. No direct business opportunities connected to this concept (for now), but the model should be of interest to anyone tracking the workings of online crowds and communities. And anyone who'd like to start their online party ;-) Website: www.senatoronline.org.au
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As featured on BBC's Dragons' Den last night, young entrepreneur James Halliburton is bringing an innovative solution to market for boaters who are worried about losing valuable items overboard. Waterbuoy is a tiny device that combines a miniature gas tank with a trigger mechanism, a balloon and a light. Once the Waterbuoy hits the water, the gas inflates the balloon and the submerged item is pulled up to the water's surface. Aiding retrieval at night, an integrated LED light switches on and keeps flashing for 24 hours. Despite its diminutive size, the Waterbuoy can lift up to 1 kg in weight, making it useful for more than just keys. Anything—cameras, phones, GPS units—can be stored in a dry bag attached to the Waterbuoy's snap-on hook for safe retrieval. So, what happened in the den? Dragons Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones agreed to invest GBP 100,000 each for a combined equity stake of 20%. Their interest was piqued not only by the current Waterbuoy product, but also by the possibility of designing larger versions that would be able to help keep pets, people and even entire boats afloat. Waterbuoys are sold for GBP 12.99 from water-buoy.com, available for dispatch later this month, and are set to be stocked in UK stores early 2008. Time to get in on distribution! Website: www.water-buoy.com
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In most of the medical community, house calls disappeared years ago, scheduling can be a nightmare and fees are mysterious things that typically get revealed only after a service has been performed. Not so with Dr. Jay Parkinson, a Williamsburg, Brooklyn doctor who aims to turn traditional doctoring on its ear. Dr. Parkinson only just hung up his virtual shingle in September, but he's already received press coverage nationwide (sadly, we're admittedly late to the game on this one). And with good reason: he has no office; many consultations are by e-mail, video chat or IM; and he only treats residents between 18 and 39, preferably in Williamsburg. For all face-to-face visits, 31-year-old Parkinson goes to a patient's work or home ("no more wasted time surrounded by coughing people in waiting rooms"). He also treats patients with an eye toward finding the most reasonable health care prices. Patients pay an annual fee of USD 500, which includes an initial consultation plus two additional face-to-face visits as needed. For each extra service, Parkinson's rates are clearly spelled out ahead of time for those with and without health insurance. Much like the mobile warriors we've written about, an office-less lifestyle affords Parkinson a certain level of freedom, and saves him money on rent and staff. His doctor bag contains his iPhone, MacBook, stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, otoscope, opthalmoscope, thermometer and blood drawing supplies, which is enough equipment to perform a sound diagnosis in most cases. (Other symptoms of a thoroughly modern MD: Parkinson built his own website, blogs about health care issues and is a popular photographer on Flickr.) Why did he choose to set up his practice this way? Parkinson explains: "First, I feel an easily accessible physician is the best way to optimize your health. Second, healthcare and traditional health insurance is too expensive in NYC. I’m doing my part to make it more affordable for you. Third, I feel that the healthcare industry profits largely by keeping cost information from you. I think this is extremely unethical. The industry takes advantage of people when they are in need and willing to pay anything to get back on their feet. I will absolutely not let this happen to you when you are my patient." Combining the benefits of an old-fashioned, small-town doctor with the convenience of web technology—sounds good to us! Doctors in the rest of the world: How about you....? Website: www.jayparkinsonmd.com
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One of the first lessons in Entrepreneurship 101 is to find an underserved market and serve it, and that's just what BreakAway Games and Quirkat have done with their Arabian Lords PC video game. Inspired by the rise of Islam between the 7th and 13th centuries, Arabian Lords is a bilingual strategy game targeted specifically at Middle Eastern players. Gamers take the role of an enterprising merchant lord, and through a combination of strategy and city-building, they try to grow their influence from just one palace to an entire ancient empire. As they gain prestige and wealth, they must engage in competition and shrewd diplomacy against rival factions while keeping their own customers and citizens happy and their communities thriving. Beggars, thieves and vandals can be sent to sabotage an opponent, for example, while musicians, poets and bards can be used to help a market flourish. Players are rewarded for successful negotiation and leadership, not military might or violence. Arabian Lords just launched in August, and is available across the Middle East. BreakAway is also considering launching the game in the US to tap into the Arab American market. Both Arabic and English versions are included on the CD, and gamers can match wits with up to four other players online or via a local network. Eleven scenarios are included, with detailed graphics and real-time action. Mahmoud Khasawneh, CEO of Quirkat, explains: “This is the first time an established player like BreakAway has expanded its development effort in partnership with a Middle Eastern studio like Quirkat, to bring to the region a unique blend of gaming quality and cultural and historical references. We are proud to be part of this pioneering effort and we hope to continue this partnership by producing more titles with Middle Eastern flavour. The demand is certainly there, and it is refreshing to see a game of this quality address regional storylines.” There are almost 200 million consumers in the Middle Eastern region today, and more than 33 million of them are online, according to Internet World Stats.* Where else are these savvy consumers being underserved....? Website: www.arabianlords.com Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen * Note that Internet World Stats uses a fairly narrow definition of the Middle East, including only the following countries: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine (West Bank), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
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We've featured music industry innovators SellaBand several times over the past year and a half (1, 2 and 3), so we were pleased to hear that they've just reached a new milestone. To recap: fans sponsor unknown bands and artists by buying one of the band's shares, or parts. Once a band has raised USD 50,000 by selling 5,000 parts, SellaBand sets up a professional recording session. The recorded songs are sold to new fans, and both the artists and owners of their parts (Believers) receive a share of the income generated through music sales and advertising revenues. This week, Believers who own parts in Cubworld, Nemesea, Second Person and Maitreya will receive their first payout. The money is transferred to their Believer Balance. They can use it to buy parts in new bands, or have the money paid into their PayPal account. While the first payout isn't massive (in SellaBand's words: "Enough to buy a beer at the pub, or maybe even a round or two"), it's a sign that SellaBand's crowdfunding and crowdrewarding model is working as planned. Ad revenues are expected to grow over the next few months, as SellaBand is working on deals with media agencies for countries outside their main three markets—the Netherlands, United States and United Kingdom. Time for other crowdingsourcing and crowdfunding ventures to start rewarding their faithful followers and 'citizen marketers'? Website: www.sellaband.com
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In this perpetually time-crunched era, it's no secret that finding time for personal grooming services like haircuts and manicures can be a challenge. We've already covered a few examples of the quick haircut solutions that have emerged—HairPODs are the most recent one—and now there's :10 Minute Manicure for those whose nails need some speedy attention. Unlike Nail Taxi, which brings its nail salon to consumers on demand, :10 Minute Manicure is focusing on areas where consumers are likely to be, such as airports and busy commercial centres. It opened its first salon in January 2006 in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, and has since opened 10 more salons in airports and commercial locations throughout North America. Services available range from 10-minute manicures all the way up to 90-minute full-set services, along with add-ons like waxing, massage and reflexology. :10 Minute Manicure's sleek, contemporary airport salons are designed specifically for travelling customers, with features like secure luggage storage, comfortable seating with a view of the terminal, a clean air/aromatherapy environment and retail cosmetic products geared for travellers. Lorraine O’Neil, CEO of the Miami-based company, explains: “Business and leisure travellers are always looking for ways to save time by taking care of personal needs once they arrive at the airport. :10 Minute Manicure is addressing this growing nationwide demand by offering high-quality personal care for the most underserved airport passenger segment: women business travellers.” It seems to be succeeding, too: the company's Cincinnati airport salon quickly became one of the airport’s highest-grossing concessions, averaging USD 1,800 per square foot in its first year. :10 Minute Manicure now operates salons of various sizes in some of the world’s busiest airports, including JFK International and Toronto Pearson International, and it plans to add six more locations in the next six months. It also hopes to roll out a franchise program soon. One to bring to an airport near you...? Website: www.10minutemanicure.com Spotted by: RK
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Now that the YouTube era of internet content is well under way, with video playing an ever-increasing role in everything from social networking to political elections, it's time for verticalization to usher in the next stage. Right on cue, Magnify has launched a service that helps web publishers bring subject-specific video channels to their own websites. Launched in beta version about a year ago, Magnify features a meta-search tool that combs the web for videos matching a site's specific focus, such as aviation, soccer or college life. Users can also upload their own video content, and the resulting mix is available for sharing, rating and ranking by the community as well as integrating into playlists. Magnify provides the templates and controls publishers need each step along the way, including site design and customization; video search, uploading, storage, bandwidth and sharing; and advertising, community, statistics and network tools. The service is free to users and its business model is based on shared advertising revenue with the websites that use its service. Magnify has grown from 20 sites to more than 2,000 user-generated video channels since its launch. The site's creators explain: "We built Magnify because we believe that everyone has a story to tell and we wanted to give you a platform to tell that story with video. We wanted to make it easy for you to get video and easy for you to share video with the people that make your site or blog so great—your members and visitors." By enabling video and fostering increased user interaction, Magnify brings critical functionality to sites competing for attention in a rich-media Internet environment where the bar is higher every day. It also marks the next stage of the video era: general sites have had their day—now it's time for the niche, vertical contenders to take hold. Let the diversification proceed! (Related: Launch your own mobile network.) Website: www.magnify.net Spotted by: Peter Yu
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Megaphone has devised a novel way to make mega-screen advertisements draw crowds. Anyone within view of a large video display managed by Megaphone can join in a simple video game by calling in with their cell phones, with their phones serving as makeshift game controllers. As a video on Megaphone’s website demonstrates, those linked into the game can fire weapons at space-alien attackers while seeing their own avatar along with those of other players. The graphics look like vintage ’70s video games, which has a certain retro appeal. And keeping the games simple makes it easy for anyone to join in. Megaphone’s founders note that their current games offer only a hint at what’s possible. They see applications for their interactive displays in clubs, concerts, movie theatres, sports stadiums and world-famous urban locations such Times Square in New York or the Shibuya crossing in Tokyo. Among the possible features: crowds playing at two separate locations could compete with one another. Besides gaming, the displays could also serve as makeshift voting booths or a way for concert goers to select a performer’s next song. The essential appeal is audience participation on a massive scale. Participants get a sense they’re contributing to a larger effort, in the same way stadium goers continue to enjoy creating the wave during sporting events. With multitudes of users participating, everyone also retains some needed anonymity. If you play poorly, no one will know. ;-) And Megaphone is yet another example of harnessing cell phones to enhance a marketing effort. Last September we profiled a feature at VFestival that let festival goers download applications such as blinking screens intended to help people find each other. Similarly, a UK ad firm we wrote about in August lets cell-phone carrying pedestrians download product information, songs and ring tones from the company’s storefront video displays. No doubt there’s a long list of major advertisers the world over who are eager to see more. Website: www.playmegaphone.com Spotted by: Ozgur Alaz
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It appears there are no limits on consumers' desire for exclusivity, and Claseo is making the most of that trend with an invitation-only line of clothing. Launched earlier this year, Claseo bills itself as the world's first closed shopping community, where purchases can be made on the site only by those who have been invited. Each member of Claseo is given a limited number of invitations to share with friends, who must enter an invitation code and make a purchase in order to become members themselves. Once they've done that, they gain access to Claseo's fashion label and an online lifestyle portal; the inviting member, meanwhile, is credited with a EUR 10 discount on their next purchase. All Claseo items are emblazoned with a unique, visible identification code. Not only does that code allow members to recognize one another in a crowd, but it also enables them to learn more about each other. By entering the code seen on another member's shirt on Claseo’s website (or mobile site), a user can learn that person's name. Members can connect through Claseo's online portal, which features profiles, messaging and photo galleries, as well as exchange information and tips on a variety of fashion and lifestyle topics. Claseo also picks up on the customer-made trend by inviting members to submit design suggestions and vote on new collection ideas, thereby helping to shape the brand and its products; those whose design ideas are adopted get a share in the profits. The site's product line so far includes just its summer collection of polo shirts, but dress shirts, rugby shirts and dinner jackets are on the way. Claseo is currently also forging partnership arrangements with leading clubs and fashion stores around the world for extended member benefits, beginning with Munich's P1 Lounge & Club. We've written about shopping-oriented social networks before, but Claseo's combination of exclusivity and customer input take the concept to a whole new level. If Claseo can charge EUR 79 for a simple polo shirt, just think what this model could do for you! Website: www.claseo.com Spotted by: Susanna Haynie
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Rentometer was launched by Massachusetts-based Investment Instruments' iiProperties site about a year ago to give property managers a way to calibrate the rents they charge, but it may be even more useful for consumers. Users simply enter the rental address, monthly rent, number of bedrooms and units in the building, and Rentometer tells them if they are paying too much, too little or just the right amount according to the local market. It uses data already available from public sources, but it mashes it up with Google Maps to make it conveniently accessible and useful. A set of application programming interfaces (APIs) lets property managers and others put the Rentometer tool on their own sites, and listings can be advertised on the Rentometer as well, free of charge. Rentometer currently serves just the United States, Canada and London, but the potential for this type of service clearly extends worldwide. It's a great illustration of how combining the right pieces of information in the right place can make them infinitely more useful than they would be otherwise. It's becoming a mashed up world out there—next, how about combining Rentometer with something like Hubbuzz for a 360 view of the rental climate...? Website: www.rentometer.com Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen
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Anyone who's ever had a song stuck in his or her head (and who hasn't?) but was unable to place the title or artist is bound to think Midomi pure genius. Users need only sing, hum or whistle a few bars into their computer microphones, and this online search engine can match the tune against its evergrowing musical library. The customer then has the option to purchase the track and can connect with others who share the same musical interests. Like any rich Web 2.0 venture, the Midomi experience is enhanced by its members. Users can create profiles including information on their favourite artists or genres. Members can send messages, pictures and videos to one another and make recommendations to others with similar tastes. They also can perform and rate one another's renditions of their favourite songs, making Midomi a platform for not just discovering the name of a particular tune that keeps rattling through your head, but for discovering new talent as well. Currently available in six languages and with more than two million licensed music tracks and a growing collection of user-created files, Midomi still has lots of potential for further enhancements, such as allowing for customers to call in from and download songs directly to their mobile devices—sort of a cross between Midomi and Shazam, which we featured several years back (Shazam didn’t recognize hummed renditions; it needed to ‘hear’ the original version). There could be some potential for partnerships as well, not to mention widgets to promote the site through personal web spaces and blogs. Moreover, once customers get spoiled by a site that allows them to look up songs based on just the snippets they can remember, one has to wonder if there might be room for similar databases for looking up movies, television shows and even commercials by just saying a few lines. Website: www.midomi.com Spotted by: Peter Yu and Theresa Duffy
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