Springwise Updates

Innovations and updates from businesses previously featured on Springwise.

It’s always exciting to hear about the progress made by businesses that we’ve previously featured. Here are some updates from founders who have all got in touch to share their latest news:

Sickweather

Harnessing data from social media can produce a lot of interesting avenues for predictive technology, and Baltimore-based Sickweather is a prime example. Using keywords from status updates and their geolocation, the startup enables anyone to see trending contagious illnesses in their area to give them time to take precautions. Last year, the team launched a campaign to reach out to investors through crowdfunding site AppStori, but unfortunately failed to reach its target. Undeterred, a Facebook app for the platform was launched in April this year.

GreenGoose

Prescreen

Netflix has brought video-on-demand into the mainstream, but startups such as Prescreen looked well placed to provide an alternative for those that prefer independent film over high-budget blockbusters. Prescreen favored little-known and emerging artists as well as limiting its selection to give filmmakers a greater chance of getting their content seen. However, the startup closed its initial beta testing in May last year and has decided not to continue. Prescreen managed to reach 115,000 subscribers at its peak, indicating that the market is there. Could you pick up the torch?

Sickweather

Fiverr

Israel-based Fiverr has been enabling anyone to buy microtasks for USD 5 a pop since we wrote about the site in 2010. In June this year, it re-invented itself, launching a slick new site that comes with extra features such as its Mission Control dashboard, which gives sellers key statistics to monitor their success. Now boasting millions of users in over 200 countries, the team has also grown to 70 strong with offices in both Tel Aviv and New York.

Prescreen

Autolib

Paris led the way back in 2007 when it launched its citywide Vélib’ bike rental system, and Autolib’ – which also hails from Paris – is now making large strides towards a similar system for electric vehicles. We covered the startup back in 2009, and the scheme was inaugurated in 2011, with 65,000 registered users currently taking advantage of its fleet of 1,750 cars. Autolib’ has also began to spread the idea into other continents, with the system launching in Indianapolis in 2014.

Fiverr

Autolib