Finnish startups: Add Yourself To CrunchBase, Now
I know that the ArcticStartup guys are developing their own version of CrunchBase to cover Nordic and Baltic companies, but Finnish startups can and should add their information to CrunchBase right now.
CrunchBase is a free database of startup information developed by TechCrunch. CrunchBase is propably the best database available for public information on startup and it’s a shame that most Finnish startups have neglected the service.One of the features they have is the ability to grab company information in widget form that I would like to use on this blog, if there only would be more Finnish startups listed there.
So, Finnish startups, if you haven’t done anything to increase your visibility today, go and add your company to CrunchBase right now. And then add yourselves to another similar service, TradeVibes too. No excuses, just do it! You’ll thank yourself later.
Fruugo coming out today at Sime
Fruugo, the secretive and ambitious Finnish startup that I was the first one to blog about a year ago, is finally today revealing more details of their offering at the SIME08 conference in Stockholm. Arctic Startup already got some information from Fruugo beforehand. Apparently the rumors of their huge layoffs are pretty much exaggerated.
I’m looking forward into seeing some screenshots of the service later today or hopefully testing the service myself in the near future.
For background information on the company, see my extensive previous coverage on Fruugo.
The List Of Finnish Web Startups
Ever since I started blogging about Finnish web startups, I’ve wanted to get my hands on a list of all of them. That obviously didn’t exist, so I had to compile it myself. I’ve compiled the list from various sources, mainly this blog and Arctic Startup. At this point the list will of course not contain all of the finnish web startups, just the ones I’m aware of. If you know a startup missing from the list, please leave a note in the comments or by using this form.
Also, if you can come up with an easy, but efficient way to bring the updating of the list into the public domain, please comment below.
The List of Finnish Web Startups
Read more…
Floobs Integrates With Kotisivukone
Floobs, the Finnish startup that enables users to create their own live TV channels on the web or mobile has integrated its services into Kotisivukone. Kotisivukone is another Finnish startup who make creating websites really easy (Their name is Finnish for Home Page Machine). Their users can now easily add Floobs channels to their pages through a component.
The integration is done through Floobs’s API that is designed to make the integrations easy. Earlier the API has been used to integrate with Petsie, a social network for pets. Floobs will continue to focus in integrating their service to other sites. The API is open to the public and so far has also a custom module for Content Management System Joomla.
Do Startups Need Launch PR?
Earlier, I wrote about how much great PR Finnish travel startup Tripsay got when It launched. There is a great post in Vierityspalkki (in Finnish, sorry) about how Tripsay worked to get all that PR.
I thought what they accomplished was great and must have done wonders for the company. Until I just read Seth Godins post: the myth of launch PR, in which he reminds that great companies do not need big launch PR. He list such companies: Apple, Nike, Wikipedia, Google and Microsoft. In fact, chasing after PR might distract a startup from more important matters.
I think Godin has a good point: in the long run, startups don’t need big launch PR. But in the short term it might help in getting investors and new people to try a new service.
Startups from Finland: MySites in Twitter Interview
This is the first in my Interviews of Finnish startups using Twitter. The idea is to keep things simple: One Tweet per answer, no editing.
First up is Ramine Darabiha from MySites. The method of interviewing through Twitter needs some more practice and some of the answers were more than just one tweet, but nevertheless a good concept that I will definitely continue using in the future.
The Twinterview with Ramine Darabiha from MySites
startupbin @mysites So, here goes: What is MySites? Read more…
TripSay Launches - Gets Good PR
TripSay, the Finnish social travel startup, that I’ve covered a few times before has opened up to public beta. The company has done good PR work, since the launch is covered - among others - in two of the biggest startup blogs TechCrunch and Mashable. The launch story also made it onto Techmeme.
Overall the launch has gotten quite a lot of nice publicity. Most of the reviews have been positive, although some have questioned the business models of social travel sites in general, which was not a problem back in January when I did in my first post about Tripsay (It was called Vailoma back then).
Anyway, Congratulations to Leo and Juha and the rest of the TripSay team for the launch. Too bad I’ll miss the launch party tomorrow. Also remember that the work has just started.
See what other people are talking about the Tripsay launch:
Techmeme discussion
Discussion on Friendfeed
Google Blog search
Startups From Finland: Open Problem Bank - Good Idea Waiting To Become Modest Failure
Open Problem Bank is a Finnish startup in pre-alpha phase, seeking seed funding and recruiting staff and board members. The company is hoping to create a crowd-sourced database of technical problems of any kind. From the Open Problem Bank website:
Open Problem Bank is a project that aims to collect open technical problems into a searchable database for the public to use freely. People are invited to submit problems into the bank. The problems submitted in the bank should be ideas of devices that somebody could design and build. You don’t have to know how the device you have in mind works, you just have to know why it would be needed or why it would be useful.
The company is founded earlier this year by a Finnish Business Intelligence Specialist Nisse Suutarinen who has been very kind in posting a preliminary business plan on their site. The business plan reveals that they are seeking a seed funding of 50000USD, which would give an investor 25% of equity. The same 50k would also cover the costs of getting the service to beta and also running costs for the first year. Doesn’t seem that much, does it?
Good idea, what about the execution?
The idea of the Open Problem Bank is good. The idea was awarded at Cambrian House, a site that is focused on developing crowdsourcing-based companies. I just feel that Mr. Suutarinen is aimed too low in his plans. There should be more effort put into developing a good idea into a successful business than can be found in his plans. Open Problem Bank will probably find its 50k and develop into a modest one man business before fading away into the ever-expanding sea of unsuccesful executions of a good ideas. I hope Mr. Suutarinen proves me wrong. All the luck in your efforts Nisse.
Fruugo Wants To Become The Trusted 3rd Party Of Ecommerce
The guys of Arctic Startup met with Fruugo’s CEO Reijo Syrjäläinen this morning and got to ask what Fruugo is all about. I was also invited to the meeting but was unfortunately unable to join them.
According to the story, Fruugo is building a platform that will enable customers to make purchases online in an easier, simpler and safer way. The company is aiming to become “the trusted 3rd party of ecommerce”.
Fruugo still doesn’t reveal too much about themselves, but their service will be available in closed beta in a few months. Fruugo will update their website on Monday with some more information.
The answer to the mystic equation 1L + 1M + 1P =? was also mentioned in the story. It is “1 Language + 1 Mind + 1 Purpose = Success”. We’ll have to see what that will entail in the future.
[The whole story on Arctic Startup]
The Startup Term Sheet Explained In Detail
Jason Mendelson and Brad Feld wrote a really detailed series of posts describing the ins and outs of the startup venture financing term sheets. The posts were written already three years ago, but Feld has revisited them and come to the same conclusion as I did, that the information is still valid, although some references to 24 might seem old.
It’s definitely worth the effort to go through the 26 articles if you are interested in term sheets and startup financing in general. I personally learned a lot from the first ones I have had the time to read.
[Via Texas Startup Blog]
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