Ideation on social media, venture capital and startups 
Leveraging Ideas
December 2006
The Archives
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12.30.062006: Almost a Wrap. New Year, New Name, New Location
My Experiences2006 was my first year as a blogger. I didn’t start until September, but I still managed to get in over a hundred entries, or about 5 posts per week. I’m still getting my flow and formatting down“ I think I tend to be long winded, but I promise to shorten-up in 2007. As I start a new semester (I’m an MBA student) I will be taking: Personal Wealth Management, Venture Capital, Advanced Corporate Finance and Managerial Communication. In addition to discussing my own observations, I hope to comment on the wisdom I acquire in the classroom. I’m also helping a ...
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12.28.06Do Old Fogies “Get” Web 2.0?
Social Networking, Tech'nomicsI just received a newsletter from a local D.C. business organization. Within the newsletter, the group’s president recaps the year and provides a response to Time’s Person of the Year selection. To highlight an example of a 2.0 company the president chose LinkedIn.com. Here is what he said: Get yourself into the Web 2.0 world now!“ One of the most prolific and successful business applications of Web 2.0 is LinkedIn.com. This site allows you to take the first step in on-line publishing and allows you to publish on your favorite topic: "You". You post who you are and keep your information current. ...
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12.21.06I Think Dell Forgot to Include the Powercord…
Tech'nomicsWhen did printer manufacturers decide to stop including the cord connecting the printer to the computer when you purchase a new printer? I assume at some point a decision was made by one of the big players, maybe Dell, to stop including cords and everyone else followed suit. Perhaps manufacturers assumed that printers had reached a critical mass: cords conformed to an industry standard, with the majority of sales being repeat customers. Following this logic, when someone buys a printer it is to replace an older one, meaning they can take the cord from their old printer and apply it to ...
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12.18.06Facebook Worth $8 Billion Dollars?
Campus Chatter, Social Networking, Tech'nomicsHow do you value a social network? I just completed final exams, finishing a nice 2 hour exam on corporate finance. When I got home, I glance at Techcrunch and saw Michael Arrington writing that Facebook is quoted as stating it’s an $8 billion dollar company. To be fair, Arrington has no link to that statement, so I am not sure if it’s a misprint or otherwise. However, a link to Bloomberg does quote Facebook executives mentioning a possible future IPO. All this talk got me thinking. The tradition method for valuing a company based on free cash flows obviously does not ...
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12.18.06Why Suppliers Matter
Tech'nomicsI am a huge fan of Cloudveil Jackets“ borderline obsessed. However, I recently encountered an interesting occurrence that highlights the necessity for good relationships with suppliers for businesses of all varieties. In Cloudveil’s fall catalogue, a new jacket called the Wild Wooly caught my eye. What I liked about the Wild Wooly was that it could simultaneously fly as city-business-acceptable coat, but still retain the core engineering of a tough Teton valley tested piece of gear. I decided I wanted one. First I went to Cloudveil online“ no Wild Wooly. Then I searched Google for ’Wild Wooly.’ Again, nothing. As a last resort ...
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12.15.06A Long Week Made More Fun
My Experiences, Pop CultureIt has been a long week of exams and I have one more to go. I spent the night at Starbucks; not exactly a fun Friday night. Here are two things that have made this otherwise hellish week a bit more fun: 1. Charlie the Unicorn The video is absolutely ’out there’ but look for it to hit cult status soon. I watched it. Then I watched it again. It appears to be created by Flimcow. It gets a mention here, has made the Urban Dictionary as an entry and appears on Myspace. [youtube]XnJAozfBq7w[/youtube] 2. Maine: Home of Mainiacs Having grown up in Maine, I ...
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12.15.06Part II: A Case for Social Media Consulting Bluefly.com
Social MediaSo, how can social media help Bluefly.com? Social media focuses on building community and engaging users through a more personalized online experience. The reason embracing social media is essential for companies like Bluefly, is because the more engaged are the customers, the more money the customers will spend on products. Keep someone on a website for long enough and he or she will eventually make a purchase. Get them talking about your site with friends and you will virally (and cheaply) drive traffic. Embrace a feel-good mission and your community will rally around you: Mike Sabbat from Small Marvel mentions ...
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12.13.06Part I: A Case for Social Media Consulting Bluefly.com
Social MediaI just finished a financial statement analysis report on Bluefly, Inc (BFLY) for a class. I plan to post a few entries on Bluefly because I find the firm fascinating and I think it is a really interesting example of a firm that could, through the proper use of social media, truly boost its reputation, sales and stock price. Background: Bluefly is an online clothing retailer who specializes in high-end designer clothes sold at discounted prices. Basically, Bluefly is an online outlet store. What is fascinating about Bluefly is its complete and utter reliance on technology in order to conduct business. ...
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12.12.06Predicting Breakout Seasons: Fact or Fiction?
Tech'nomicsThe Hardball Times has stated that Boston Redsox’s Outfielder, Wily Mo Pena was voted the major league baseball player most likely to have a break-out season in 2007. Peter Gammons has predicted breakout seasons before Here is a writer for the Portland Trailblazers who seems to have some insights If there is a way to predict the probability of success for something or someone unproven, I think marketers (and VCs) will be all over it. Yet, when I looked, I could not find any information describing how such a seemingly "break-through" statistic is calculated My issue is that a breakout season inherently implies RANDOMNESS. Especially ...
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12.10.06Marketing, Rain Makers & Reindeer. Starbucks Does Holidays Right.
Brands and MarketingAs I arrived at class the other day I heard from a classmate about an interesting marketing ploy. Starbucks in Washington, DC is apparently paying an individual to drive around with a latte on the roof of his car (undoubtedly permanently affixed). As he drives around Dupont Circle, na??ve pedestrians and other drivers yell at him, ’Mr., you have a coffee on your hood!’ The jolly driver emphatically responds with a big smile, ’Yes, I know! Happy Holidays from Starbucks!’ Here is a photo of the same ploy used in San Francisco: Hmmm cool idea, but I’m not sure about the ROI. Although, the ROMA ...
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