Deal Radar 2008: Local Marketers

As startups invent new business models to monetize their offerings, one that has become popular is the Cost Per Action (CPA) model. Here’s a company that is trying CPA in the local advertising market. >>>

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Deal Radar 2008: Mevio

Digital entertainment network Mevio bills itself as users’ personal Internet TV, music and radio network. Originally known as PodShow, the company was founded in 2004 by former MTV VJ Adam Curry and technology and media executive and former songwriter/producer Ron Bloom, to help people download and publish podcasts. In a bid to re-brand itself, the company changed its name to Mevio and launched a new site and “vertical entertainment networks” targeting specific demographics. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: EchoSign

EchoSign is the web’s No. 1 electronic signature service. It cuts the time it takes for documents to be signed and delivered electronically to just minutes; companies no longer need to wait for weeks to get back signed contracts. All users need to do is email the document, so the other party can e-sign it or print, sign and fax it. All parties then receive a PDF copy, and EchoSign handles the filing of the documents. There are various levels of membership. Fewer than five signatures are free, with other packages ranging from $12.95 to $299 a month depending on the number of users. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Fotolia

Today’s Deal Radar company is New York-based Fotolia, a microstock photography site. The site offers quality images at low prices and is stiff competition for traditional stock photography sites such as Getty and Corbis as well as microstock photography sites such as iStockphoto and SnapVillage. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: GameDuell

GameDuell was launched in 2003 and offers skill games to be played against real opponents for real money. The site has around 20 popular games like Solitaire, Roll 5, Freecell and Roll 5. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: FeedRoom

FeedRoom provides media houses, publishers, government agencies, and enterprises with white-label video sites. FeedRoom’s core technology gives users access to a strong infrastructure, and their services provide users with what they need – from content management to front-end application, as well as distribution and sharing tools – to run a successful web video program. It also offers a complete set of features including RSS feeds, video blogging, podcasting, and SEO.  >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Operational Memory LLC,Raleigh, North Calorina

This week’s Deal Radar series begins with coverage of Operational Memory LLC, which launched its first solution, a social networking application for enterprises, in September 2008. Founded in 2005 by two “soccer dads” who got to know each other and their areas of expertise over several seasons of girls’ soccer, the SaaS company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Co-founder Michael Trapp, an expert in systems/software development, and his partner, a mysterious senior executive at a Fortune 25 company whose name Trapp won’t divulge, worked nights and weekends to develop OpMem’s structure, features, and algorithms. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: TopTenREVIEWS.com

Utah-based TopTenREVIEWS.com is a technology-focused product review site. Founded in January 2003 by Jerry Ropelato, the company began as a website to help parents find web filtering software to protect their children online. TopTenREVIEWS soon expanded its review categories to include unbiased product information and product research, thereby attracting the average consumer. In 2006, TopTenREVIEWS ranked No. 3 on the Rising Star list of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: iForem

At the cusp of SaaS and content protection sits today’s Deal Radar company, Redwood Shores, California-based iForem. It is a digital archiving company that delivers innovative tools for intellectual property (IP) and critical content protection based on its Automatic Retention Management (ARM) platform. iForem was conceptualized by Stephen A. Pieraldi, iForem’s CEO, in 2006. Pieraldi’s own experience of losing important information prompted him to create a unique way to safeguard it. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: PivotLink

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry has matured in the last 3 years, and many compelling companies have emerged, showing strong growth, clean execution, and robust customer adoption. Amidst the financial crisis, it is also important to note that the industry is likely much more recession-proof than most others. I dedicated two of my Forbes columns to the issue: A Recession-free Corner of the Tech Sector and SaaS-ing Back At The Economy. In this installment of the Deal Radar, we look at a SaaS company, Pivotlink. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Challenge Games

Challenge Games creates short, online games for both serious and casual gamers that are exciting and easy to play. These games are browser-based and can be played from any computer. Most of the games are multiplayer, and take only 3-10 minutes per game. They provide instant entertainment, unlike other popular games such as World of Warcraft or Lord of the Rings. All the games developed by Challenge are free. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Elastra

Back in January, I wrote a Trend Radar piece called SaaS Impact on IT Infrastructure and predicted that the adoption of SaaS in the enterprise will give rise to a series of innovations to help manage the operational complexities surrounding the phenomenon. In this column, we look at Elastra, one such infrastructure provider. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Fliqz

Online video has led to the internet becoming a richer medium, and has created many beneficiaries in the infrastructure sector. Here’s a company that wants to add to that momentum.

Fliqz provides companies with video solutions for their websites or social networks.  These tools help increase a site’s traffic, create an interactive experience for its viewers, and increase the conversion rate, compelling viewers to make a purchase. Fliqz is a provider of plug-and-play video solutions, with over 20,000 publishers on its platform.  >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Aggregate Knowledge

Aggregate Knowledge (AK) provides content discovery through the Pique Discovery Network, a service that imitates how people shop for products offline and translates that into opportunities for retailers and publishers online. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: Entrepreneur Journeys

There was a time when technology venture capitalists would not touch a “content” deal. They only funded pure play technology companies. Gradually, as the Internet industry evolved, the notion of “paid content” brought about a fundamental change, leading to many content deals getting funded. Back in the summer of 2005, as I wrote about the emerging trends, I wrote a piece called Twenty-First Century’s Best Venture, suggesting that the Harry Potter franchise was one of the best entrepreneurial ventures to have been built in this century. >>>