Minnov8

Showcasing Minnesota Technology Innovation

Swarmcast to Lay Off Half the Company

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Minneapolis-based Swarmcast has been in the business video streaming since 2002, but according to Dan Rayburn at BusinessofVideo.com, they’re laying off half the company:

Last week, rumors started circulating that Swarmcast was going out of business and had laid off all of their employees. While the company is not out of business yet, they did make some major layoffs and have changed their focus. I had a call with Christian Wilhelm over the weekend who is the chairman of the company and now runs their day-to-day operations. Christian said that at the end of December, more than 50% of the employees were let go and that about ten people still remain with the company, mostly engineers who work remotely. In addition, all of the executives are now gone, including the founder Justin Chapweske who left over a year ago, although some of the execs are still consulting to the company on a limited basis.

Sad to see a promising company and technology go by the wayside just as video online is becoming so mission-critical for virtually every company and individual.

Minnesota Startup Community: The Time Has Come For Less Talk and More Walk

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“I wonder what the conversations will be like a year from now.” This is a paraphrase of a statement Doug Pollei made at the recent MinneBar hosted by Best Buy, which he said to me at the end of a startup session led by Luke Francl.

I heard some folks say how they look forward to a year from now to look back and see what has been accomplished within our startup community. I did not take the comment that way.

Most days and in most ways I am an optimist — my glass is half full and usually running over. Want proof? I have been attending Gopher football games for 28 years. (Or, hmm…maybe that makes me something other than an optimist?)

During this particular session at MinneBar there were many thoughts on what could be done to support, make better, and grow our startup community.

I hate to be one the one to rain on the parade, but almost all of those things were suggested in May of 2008 at the last MinneBar, and very few if any have been acted upon, nor have any noticeable results been achieved.

Hence the title of this post: we need to stop talking and start walking.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: We welcome guest blogger Paul DeBettignies for this post.  Please tweet your questions to @Minnov8 now so we can answer them on our Minnov8 Gang podcast tomorrow,  on which Paul will be our guest.  Please add the hashtag #MNwalkthetalk.)…  [Read More…]

Minnov8 Gang 63: A Conversation on Cloud Computing

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Talk about cloud computing is on the lips of people from startups to enterprise to the government, and Minnesota has a world-class thought leader right here in our midst. The Minnov8 Gang chatted with George Reese about his perspectives, books, upcoming events, and what he thinks about software-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service and how API’s fit in to this whole shebang.

Hosts: This Week’s Show Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson.
Music by Midnight Music Quartet and the tune is, “Sweet Lorraine”.

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The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:22 — 34.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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About George Reese (@GeorgeReese):  George Reese is the founder of two Minneapolis-based companies, enStratus Networks LLC (maker of high-end cloud infrastructure management tools) and Valtira LLC (maker of the Valtira Online Marketing Platform). Over the past 15 years, George has authored a number of technology books, including MySQL Pocket Reference, Database Programming with JDBC and Java, Java Database Best Practices, and Cloud Application Architectures.

Throughout the Internet era, George has spent his career building enterprise tools for developers and delivering solutions to the marketing domain. He was an influential force in the evolution of online gaming through the creation of a number of Open Source MUD libraries and he created the first JDBC driver in 1996—the Open Source mSQL-JDBC. Most recently, George has been involved in the development of systems to support the deployment of transactional web applications in the cloud.

George holds a BA in Philosophy from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois. He currently lives in Minnesota with his wife Monique and his daughters Kyra and Lindsey.

Discussed during the show notes:


DIY Mobile Coupons with MixMobi

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mixmobi_logoThere’s no doubt that mobile marketing is hot right now and one of the hottest segments is mobile coupons. While there are multiple services providing the design and delivery of those coupons, Kwingo‘s Lisa Foote and her partners saw a need for a “do-it-yourself” option for businesses. Enter their new sister company MixMobi.

Currently in private beta with a public launch scheduled before the holidays, Minnov8 got a look at the new service. In an effort to develop a product that answers a need first and foremost, Foote explained that MixMobi was born out of feedback from Kwingo customers who were looking for easy production and distribution of a coupon campaign.

lisafooteShe noted that MixMobi delivers three important benefits. “Immediacy; the ability to design and deploy a coupon without the need of a graphic designer or agency. Ease; anyone can design a coupon. There are no programming skils needed. If you can send an email you can design and launch a coupon.” and finally she noted, “Reporting; once the coupon is launched tracking can begin in a matter of minutes via an easy to read dashboard.”

The MixMobi program allows for the user to log onto an account and create campaigns with the use of simple text fields, drop-down menus, and templates that can include user artwork and colors. Once the coupon and campaign are created a link to the coupon is generated. That link can be immediately deployed via Twitter, or by simply cutting and pasting the link into an SMS message, email, websites, etc. “We started with Twitter because of the ease of deployment” noted Foote. “More services are on the way.” The coupon is viewable on any web enabled device…and with the multitude of platforms out there right now, you know this is not always the easiest of feats.  (See the demo video below.)

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8vLfSVuDZM

The principals at MixMobi, including Foote, Brad Roberts, and Kelly Heikilla, are looking to monetize their service in two ways. First, by targeting small to mid-size businesses who can purchase and design campaigns at varying levels of service. For example, $19.95 will allow a business to launch 2 offers per month with up to 2500 page views each. “We feel this is a very competitive price point in this space.” noted Foote. Of course, what’s a web start-up without a free-use level. MixMobi offers such a beast with one offer per month and 1000 page views.

The second road to profit for MixMobi is the targeting of large agencies or retailers who wish to purchase a software license that allows them to launch multiple campaigns across multiple brands and time frames.

The shakedown of MixMobi is privately underway with three clients and will be for at least 30 days. So far, “Feedback has been positive.” according to Foote, and she hopes to see it live in time for the holidays…which in retail terms could mean as soon as Halloween.

MN Light Rail Gets a New Brain

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trainapp

Entrepreneurs go with their gut when they see a need and have the skills or moxie to fill it with some innovative technology or approach. When developer Andy Atkinson, a light rail rider, found himself uncertain as to whether his train was on time or when others might be available if he happened to want to catch one earlier than usual, he knew that the GPS-enabled iPhone in his hand was the perfect device to deliver an application that would fix this problem…and he had the skills to create it.

Enter Train Brain. This $1.99 iPhone application (available here in the iTunes store) is for Twin Cities Metro Transit light rail riders. Though you can walk around with a paper schedule in your pocket or pull up a PDF of that schedule on your iPhone, with a couple of taps Train Brain can tell you when the next train is scheduled from the station you’re standing in, how much the fare will cost and and a countdown for the trains arrival.

I had a chance to talk with Andy this week and find out more about this guy and why he created the application. He told me the backstory I alluded to in the opening paragraph along with being a bit self-deprecating about the limited nature of the app and that it wasn’t “complicated.” I’d beg to differ since “perfect is the enemy of good” and what he’s already delivered meets the need squarely and is a tool that will delight Light Rail riders.

Turns out Andy is a web application developer, Objective-C coder and has the technical chops to put out this first Train Brain version and to keep it going (he has lots of ideas and next steps in mind for it). You can read more of his thoughts on his technical blog here and I’m sure he’ll talk more about his new gig with Tightrope Media Systems (a recent Minnedemo presenter) and the great work they’re doing in digital signage and broadcast when he’s able to do so.

One of the things that came up in our conversation was the design of the website and application. I’ve yet to meet a solid developer who’d admit to possessing any modicum of strength in graphic design. Andy was quick to point out that the website and application design I was praising (as clean, functional and fresh) was done by Nate Kadlac Design and Nate deserved the praise.

The only thing that came to mind after talking to Andy was this: Metro Transit ought to buy this app and get behind it. With the future continued rollout of light rail in the Twin Cities, likely delays as the system expands, there is no question riders will need better tools to manage their ridership instead of just a PDF of a paper schedule or, God forbid, having to carry a schedule around in your pocket.

Minnov8 Gang Podcast #50: A Chat with MNCup’s Dan Mallin

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danmallinThe Minnesota Cup is an effort to identify, reward and kickstart Minnesota entrepreneurial effort and the Gang is pleased to have its co-founder, Dan Mallin, on the podcast. Dan gives us an overview of what transpired last night (the event at the U of MN where the finalists were announced) and it was quite enlightening.

This Week’s Show Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott and Graeme Thickins (Phil Wilson is on assignment shooting video for the upcoming MIMA Summit).

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The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 49:54 — 28.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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Discussed during the show:

+ The winners in each category at the Minnesota Cup:
– Bio: Pursuit Vascular
– Green: Packet Power
– Social: Rural Renewable Energy Alliance
– HiTech: Alvenda
– General: Drazil Juice
– Student: ManCave

+ Minnesota Cup Review Board mentioned on the podcast is here

+ Graeme’s Flickr photoset from the MNCup event

+ RAIN Makers Conference, 9/23-24

+ MIMA Summit, October 5th

FanChatter Goes to the Valley, Tapped by ‘American Idol’ for Startups: Y Combinator

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FanChatter-logoHere’s a story many in Minnesota have been waiting to hear — including several of you out there in the local developer and ad communities who knew something was up. FanChatter-clients Yes, our friends at Minneapolis startup FanChatter have finally gone public with what they’ve been doing for the past four months.  FanChatter is a site that “helps sports franchises and other businesses create a more profitable level of fan involvement through real-time content sharing.”  (More on the company’s About page.)  In April, it was chosen as one of the lucky few to be accepted into the summer program of Y Combinator (YC). Though the actual numbers aren’t announced, I’ve heard only 30 startups were chosen out of almost 1000 that applied. YC is an organization founded in 2005 that does seed funding for startups. Here’s how it explains what that means:

“Seed funding is the earliest stage of venture funding.  It pays your expenses while you’re getting started. Some companies may need no more than seed funding. Others will go through several rounds.  There is no right answer; how much funding you need depends on the kind of company you start.  At Y Combinator, our goal is to get you through the first phase. This usually means: get you to the point where you’ve built something impressive enough to raise money on a larger scale.  Then we introduce you to later stage investors or occasionally even acquirers.” (More on Y Combinator’s About page.)

YC’s application process is well explained on their site, a process FanChatter went through earlier this year, before their selection in mid-April.  After sitting on this story for some time, waiting for the TechCrunch post to break first (which is the normal way YC companies get announced), what follows is the result of a phone and email interview I did over the past few days with FanChatter founders Marty Wetherall and Luke Francl, who remain in Silicon Valley through August. (The third founder, Norm Orstad, was not available.) …  [Read More…]

Minutebids: Get Free Bids on Commercial Property Services

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minutebidsDo you own commercial real-estate or manage commercial property? Probably not – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be paying attention to local Minnesota web startup Minutebids.com and the brains behind it:  Jon Coudron, Jeremy Raadt, Jerad Parish, and Seth Heiserman.

Minutebids is a free service for property owners/managers that saves them time by streamlining the process of obtaining multiple bids from reputable local service providers for property maintenance needs. Think lawn-care, snow removal, parking lot maintenance, landscaping, etc.

Of course there already are established players in this space, notably ServiceMagic.com (turn your speakers down) & ServiceLive.com – owned by IAC & Sears holding corp, respectively.  Yet Minutebids has some unique competitive advantages that, when added together, make it a compelling alternative:

  • A focus on commercial property: neither service is clearly targeting commercial property owners/managers.
  • Pay for performance model vs. pay per lead model: service providers only pay for bona-fide, actionable, and closed leads – contrary to the pricing model of the other two.
  • Service wizard with Microsoft Virtual Earth integration through the Bing Map API: This allows RFP’s to be uploaded/submitted painlessly and for service providers to bid projects online, in real time, without having to do a site visit/walk through. The competition doesn’t even come close to this feature.
  • Option to combine multiple properties and service types into one request: This saves the owner/manager time and increases the likely- hood for volume discounts. Again, unique to minutebids.

Minutebids has gone from concept, through R&D, to their recent beta launch (mid July) in less than six months and they’ve clearly established themselves as “better than the rest”. Their next step is to work directly with local service providers and property owners/managers to iron out any kinks, listen & lean from said users, and otherwise evolve as they prepare for their nation-wide roll-out campaign.

Time is of the essence as Minutebids must close-in on the incumbents before they discover the Minutebids difference for themselves, and thus potentially implement the very same feature-sets and technologies that minutebids is using to differentiate itself.  This is a common challenge faced by any startup that’s not first to market, and  in this case, I’d place my bets on the startup side with consideration to drive and agility.  Plus: how do you re-engineer your pricing model in the middle of the game if you’re ServiceMagic or ServiceLive? Remember, the primary differentiating factor is the Minutebids pay for performance approach to lead generation–a fundamental difference.

According to co-founder Jon Coudron, the market for commercial RE services is at-least a $40 billion/year industry and he’s not shy about his ambitions:

“We want to dominate this market segment and want to talk if you think you can help us”

It’s the NGIN that will make TST Media go

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tstmediaA company started in Eau Claire WI, TSTMedia, has moved to the Twin Cities in order to capitalize upon the talent pool, venture capital and (I assume) the balmy winter weather and to get faster access to Minnov8.

Seriously, this company has a uniquely strong value proposition that has already put them on the map in Eau Claire and in several markets where organizations have adopted TSTMedia’s offerings for mission-critical sports websites.

Founded in 2004, TSTMedia started off as a web development shop but focused their efforts around the sports passions of college buddies and co-founders Justin Kaufenberg (CEO) and Carson Kipfer (COO). Quickly they identified that the sports niche was woefully underserved and filled with group and collaboration needs not being addressed in the marketplace.

They quickly began moving forward with Team Sport Technologies, building out sports-specific web applications. The applications enabled amateur sports organizations to efficiently manage a website with little or no previous technical knowledge. TST Media, under the Team Sport Technologies brand, then released a complete roster of sports specific products for hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, football, volleyball, swimming and others.

The websites they built and delivered for sports clients included a combination of online tools (online registration, interactive multi-team calendars, highly sophisticated statistic engines, etc.) that made publishing website content, sharing information and communicating with members extremely easy.

In 2009, they combined their Ruby on Rails experience, knowledge of the sports domain, and the engine they’d already created to make it brain-dead-simple for non-technical users to deliver a great team or organization website, and consolidated their various organization products and features into a single platform called NGIN.  …  [Read More…]

Yugma Struggles

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yugmaIn a time when the global economy is still in a relative holding pattern, gas prices remain high and more of us are turning to internet-based products and services to meet our needs less expensively and with more power, I assumed that Yugma‘s strong value proposition and rock-solid technology would be ones that would carry them quickly toward profitability.

Turns out that’s not the case.

Though I consulted with Yugma in 2006 and learned first-hand how many competitive offerings there are in the screensharing and web conferencing space, I still was enamored by Yugma and its cross-platform support, along with the ease of use they built in to using it. I’ve kept tabs on their progress for the last couple of years, taking great pains to not write about challenges and difficulties they were facing which I’d learned previously from founder Lingaraj Mishra, since confidences are a key part of my value system and an obvious imperative for the management consulting work I do with clients (i.e., I keep my mouth shut).

An unfortunate turn of events occurred recently when a letter to shareholders was publicly outed by WebConferencingTest and they did this press release stating why they were removing Yugma from their rankings (which I learned about today via this post at SkypeJournal and then learned more from this article at TMCNet).

I reached out to Lingaraj today to get the straight skinny from him about what’s occurring, what’s next, and whether Yugma really does have one foot in the dead pool with the other one poised to step in.  …  [Read More…]