MundoFox: Bringing Spanish Contents into US Soil

MundoFox is an American broadcast TV network that uses the Spanish language in its broadcasts. MundoFox is a joint venture of Fox International Channels and RCN Televisión SA of Colombia. Following the approval by both companies of the terms of the joint venture, MundoFox was launched in August 2012. MundoFox is based in Los Angeles, California.

It was Fox International Channels who first used the brand mundoFOX in 2006. It was used as the website for Canal FOX, the company’s brand of cable channel for Latin America. Fox International launched video on demand for the programs that Canal FOX airs in Portuguese or Spanish.

MundoFox as a TV network in the US was launched in January 2012. In his speech, Fox International Channels CEO Hernán López said MundoFox will cater to the growing demand for high quality Spanish-content for advertisers and viewers in the US. Among the 309 million US residents in 2010, 16% or 50 million of them were Hispanics or Latinos. In 2011, 4.5% or 3.6 billion of the company’s 80 billion in advertising revenues were from the Hispanic or Latino markets. According to López, Fox network was in the same dynamics when it was launched against existing English language content networks in 1986, and the company looks to replicate Fox’s earlier years as it launched MundoFox against established Spanish language content networks.

One of MundoFox’s signature formats was the Teleseries, which looked similar to telenovelas but have fewer episodes. Teleseries focus on action-oriented stories taken from diverse locations. Teleseries also have increased production values.

Most of MundoFox’s first original series were produced in Colombia. Because the network’s slogan is Americano Como Tú, or "American Like You," MundoFox will produce more US-based series on its second year, although it will also increase its Mexican flavor.

On top of entertainment contents, MundoFox has its own news division, the Noticias MundoFox. It will
cater to the Latino markets in the US and the diverse sensitivities of the different demographics of the market.

Jiayuan: Its Founder’s Story is Its Greatest Success Story

Jiayuan.com International Ltd. is China’s largest online dating platform. China has a growing single population, especially in the urban areas. Jiayuan is committed to provide effective, trusted and client-focused dating platform that will result in dating and marriage.

Jiayuan was fouded by Rose Gong, who was only 27 years old at that time. She was busy taking up her Masters degree in Journalism so she did not have the time to socialize. She signed u for a number of online dating sites but was disappointed with poor user experience. The sites were difficult to navigate, had poor designs, and contained fake user profiles.

Gong created her own online dating site. She used the stories of thousands of students and young professionals around China who had similar needs as her motivation. Her site should be dedicated to help these singles find their romantic partners within a trusted online environment. Gong featured her best friend as the first user. Then she invited her classmates, friends, and family to sign up for her site. Within a few months, Gong found her husband through Jiayuan.com. They got married in 2004.

Today, Jiayuan is serving more than 73 million registered members. Tens of thousands of new members are signing up to the platform every day. Aside from online matching, Jiayuan also hosts offline events. Most of its offline services are towards the affluent members of the society who are looking for serious relationships through their busy schedules.

InsideTrack: A Different Kind of College and University Coaching

College and university students in the US can find valuable coaching services from InsideTrack. The company’s online platform has been attributed to the increase in student enrolment, persistence and graduation. InsideTrack’s coaching program was first tested in Stanford University.

Since InsideTrack was founded in 2001, the company has helped over 350,000 students in over 50 colleges and universities across the US. This feat earned InsideTrack the right to be named as one of US’s 500 fastest growing companies in 2007.

At the time of InsideTrack’s launching, student coaching was less controversial. However, the entrance of InsideTrack put pressure on colleges and universities to step up in getting their students to finish and graduate. This makes InsideTrack’s contribution difficult to criticize. Ultimately, school administrators have realized that InsideTrack does a better job than their in-house advising can do.

Golden Gate University vice president for academic affairs Barbara Karlind said there is no other student coaching company that can match the expertise of InsideTrack. Being a private university that focuses on adult education, Golden Gate has contracted with InsideTrack since 2010 to help returning students and new students during enrolment time.

Golden Gate conducted a follow-up program called “secret shopping” to find out how InsideTrack fared against its in-house advisers. Karlin said Golden Gate officials were impressed with InsideTrack’s professional and personal approach with students. After initial inquiries with the school, Golden Gate recorded increased enrolment.

After the success of the initial contract, Golden Gate decided to replace all its in-house advisers with InsideTrack coaches. However, in-house advisers that showed potential and skills would undergo development trainings, possibly with InsideTrack personnel.

Since InsideTrack coaches do not stay on campus, InsideTrack’s platform employs one-on-one coaching through the phone. Through the years, InsideTrack has evolved to include pre-enrolment coaching in its primary service offerings. InsideTrack grew because its coaches act like parents who know the best way to keep the students on track.

InsideTrack was founded by Alan Tripp. The company is based in San Francisco.

BlueLinx Holdings: A Fortune 100 Company

BlueLinx Holdings is among the Fortune 500 companies. It is the largest wholesaler of building products in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it is an independent distributor that has expanded to offer over 10,000 products and 70,000 SKUs.

Although officially formed in 2004, BlueLinx Holdings can trace its history back to 1954. In that year, the distribution division of Georgia-Pacific Corporation began operations starting with 13 warehouses used for storage and distribution of Georgia-Pacific Plywood. Over the next four decades, the division quickly grew to have more than 130 warehouses nationwide. In 1994, the division consolidated its warehouses and established two sales and operations centers in Atlanta, GA and Denver, CO.

In May 2004, the distribution division of Georgia-Pacific was purchased by Cerberus Capital Management together with a team of senior leaders from the division. This acquisition paved the way for BlueLinx Corporation. A year later, the company was made public through the New York Stock Exchange.

Ranbaxy Laboratories: Global Research Company

Ranbaxy Laboratories is a research-based pharmaceutical company with customers in more than 150 countries around the world. For more than 50 years now, the company has been providing high-quality, affordable medicines that both patients and healthcare professionals trust. A part of the Daiichi Sankyo Group, a leading global innovator in the pharmaceutical industry, Ranbaxy operates in 43 countries and has 21 manufacturing facilities in eight of those. A robust presence in both emerging and developed markets allows the company to cover all top 25 pharmaceutical markets available.

A vertically integrated company, Ranbaxy not only develops and manufacturers but also markets various generic and branded generic, value-added, and OTC products, as well as intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and anti-retrovirals. With a portfolio encompassing more than 500 molecules for use in tables, capsules, inhalers, injectables, creams, ointments, and liquids, Ranbaxy makes its presence felt across treatments and therapies, including pain management, anti-infectives, and nutritionals.

Ranbaxy was founded by Ranbir and Gurbax Singh in 1937. Back then, it was as a distributor for Shionogi, a Japanese company. Ranbaxy got its name from its founder's names, Ranbir and Gurbax. Their cousin Bhai Mohan Singh bought the company from the two in 1952 and when Bhai Mohan's son Parvinder joined, Ranbaxy enjoyed improved growth.

It was in June 2008 when Daiichi Sankyo acquired a stake in the company, valued at $2.4 billion. Come November of the same year, Daiichi Sankyo was able to complete the takeover of Ranbaxy, sealed with a $4.6 billion deal which gave the former a 63.92% stake in the latter. Ranbaxy follows a business philosophy that delivers optimum value to stakeholders and constantly inspires employees to excel and set global standards. With a workforce of over 14,600 individuals, bringing together more than 50 nationalities, the company finds strength to not only improve the quality of healthcare but make it accessible as well to people all over the world.

Populous: Creating Sports Facilities in Style

Populous is an architectural company that specializes in designing sports facilities. Populous plays a major role in designing stadia and arena. Among the most prominent designs of Populous were New York’s Yankee Stadium, London’s Wembley Stadium, Sydney’s Stadium Australia, San Francisco’s AT&T Park, Minneapolis’ Target Field, and Chicago’s United Center.

Before January 2009, Populous was a part of the HOK Group and was operating as HOK Sport Venue Event.  After the management buyout, Populous started to operate independently. Thereafter Populous was known as one of the world’s largest architectural companies.

Populous treats each project as challenge. It discovers new opportunities to amplify the locality’s character by listening, observing and collaborating with its customers. Populous was fortunate to have a team that has international perspective. This team can bring together different ideas that come from other cultures, activities, events, landscapes and building types

For more than 30 years with over 1,000 projects, Populous has grasped an understanding of the industry. However, Populous continues to harness its knowledge to create that design that leaves a great impact on people’s lives.

Authenware: Revolutionizing Cloud Security

At a time when the cloud is the most reliable repository of data, it is great to know that a cybersecurity software company like Authenware Corporation exists to provide its clients with peace of mind. Authenware’r proprietary innovation is a tokenless authentication system that provides strong security by combining environmental and behavioral characteristics and keystroke dynamics to minimize web fraud, identity theft and other online system vulnerabilities.

Authenware’s innovative solution uses a pattern of user-created personal security that automatically recognizes all authorized users thereby keeping hackers out. Millions of Authenware users are kept protected every day in a wide array of industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, online retailers and government agencies.

In August 2012, Authenware launched its revolutionary MyAuthenWareTM, a solution that was geared toward consumers and enterprise. This end-user solution is cloud-based and biometrically secured authentication portal. It allows the user to remember only one set of login credentials to a number of websites. The user can also use the portal to store files ad notes.

MyAuthenWareTM uses a unique way of identifying and authenticating authorized users. The solution measures the rhythm and cadence of the user’s typing pattern and integrates them with user-specific environment and behavioral characteristics. MyAuthenWareTM delivers the highest level of convenience to its users. Logging in to a number of different sites using its authentication portal using a single username and password is backed by high security behavioral biometrics.

Gartner Group, the world leader in IT research and advisory, cited Authenware’s technology in its “Magic Quadrant for User Authentication” report in February 2012 as “simple to implement, scalable and robust.” It provides good user experience. Gartner’s ow circle of clients have a positive view of Authenware and its technology.

Recent developments at Authenware showed that the company is working on enterprise security that would tackle cybercrime. The new offering is convenient and easy to use but is viewed as the solution that would close the gap between enterprise security and consumer security.

Seegrid: Simple Robotics

Seegrid is the world’s leading producer of robotic industrial trucks and vision-guided flexible automated guided vehicles (AGVs). These robotic industrial trucks and AGVs are commonly used in material handling businesses where material movement is revolutionized. Seegrid also supplies tow tractors, pallet trucks and walkie stackers which help optimize workflow processes, increase productivity and lessen costs.

In the era of technological advancements, the use of robotics in manufacturing increases the return of investment by significantly reducing product and equipment damage through improved facility safety. Seegrid’s technology turns industrial vehicles to unmanned and automated machines that operated without the use of tape, wire, magnet or laser.

Seegrid’s innovation proves that existing industrial trucks like forklifts and pallet movers can be equipped with Seegrid’s proprietary sensors and hardware to create a robotic heavy lifter that can maneuver around a warehouse in a smart way

Seegrid was cited in Fast Company magazine’s World’s Most Innovative Company in 2013. It is also listed among the Top 10 World’s Most Innovative Robotics Company in 2013.

The Center For Counseling and Health Resources - The Business of Hope

It takes a highly innovative institution to bring together the words “hope” and “business”, concepts not usually associated with each other in the typical realm of business activity. But The Center For Counseling and Health Resources, a wholistic treatment facility located in Edmonds, Washington, has been doing just that for nearly 30 years. Founded in 1984 by mental and emotional health expert Dr. Gregory Jantz, The Center might in fact be said to be in the business of hope: cultivating hope, enhancing hope, and restoring hope to individuals who have lost sight of it due to the struggles and challenges of their daily lives.

To achieve this mission, Dr. Jantz has assembled a superior team of medical and health care professionals at The Center and has developed a wide range of treatment programs, all dedicated to helping men, women, and adolescents take back their lives from issues such as depression, addiction, and eating disorders. Working from a whole-person treatment philosophy, The Center seeks to restore an overall balance to health by ministering to an individual’s full range of needs: emotional, medical, psychological, spiritual, physical, fitness, and nutritional. Patients consult with highly-trained, caring staff to develop customized treatment or therapy programs tailored to their particular situations. This highly effective approach, for which The Center For Counseling and Health Resources has become world-renowned, helps to prevent the recurrence of particular issues by identifying and addressing the root causes behind them, and thus allows patients to develop ongoing positive lifestyle patterns and maintain a sense of hope as they embark on healthier futures.

Dr. Gregory Jantz’s vision of hope which led to the founding of The Center came about during his time working as a licensed mental health counselor and certified eating disorder specialist, when he realized that a sense of unity and coordination in care was missing from the available treatment options of the time, and was leading to a feeling of despair rather than one of hope amongst his patients. Since establishing the Center, Dr. Jantz has also worked to spread his message of hope to individuals in need through a number of bestselling books, speaking engagements, and radio and television appearances.

Moment Factory: Creating Defining Moments

Moment Factory is a media and entertainment studio established to conceptualize and create specialized multimedia materials by integrating video, sound, lights, architecture and special effects to produce a remarkable multimedia experience. Founded in the fall of 2001, Moment Factory has facilitated over 300 shows, events and installations worldwide for its most satisfied clients like Disney, Microsoft, Cirque du Soleil, Celine Dion, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, and Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles.

Through the years, Moment Factory has earned the reputation as the leading choice for the development, design and production of interactive and groundbreaking media installations. Its team of over 100 talented and highly skilled staff is building mockups and testing prototypes to ensure that the execution of the projects is according to the company’s vision.

Moment Factory has been successful in instilling the culture of surpassing expectation within the organization. Its people continue to hone their crafts to remain personable and culturally literate media specialists who technically execute their installations.

At Moment Factory, projects are implemented through three levels of multimedia environment. At each level, Moment Factory wants spectator experience to reach a higher level of reality.

1.       The ambient environment supports performance and events.

2.       The immersive environment immerses the audience in a good combination of image, lights and sounds.

3.       The interactive environment invites spectators to make direct engage with space via diverse interactive components.

The trio of Moment Factory founders Jason Rodi, Dominic Audet and Sakchin Bassette continue to develop notoriety in the creation of new visual environments permanent installations and mixed media entertainment. The company is influenced by new innovations and technologies and inspired by the launching of “Moments,” the company’s online art gallery for its audience, Moment Factory is on the track to raise the bar even higher and explore new ideas in content creation, technology application and entertainment.

Perka: Loyal Marketing Platform Gone Interactive

In April 2011, a new digital loyalty marketing platform was established to provide an engaging alternative to plastic card or paper-based incentive programs. This company, called Perka, is an interactive solution. Its technology is compatible with mobile phones through apps and SMS.

Aside from being a loyalty marketing platform, Perka is also functioning as a direct marketing platform or an analytics tool. Perka’s features complement all kinds of mobile loyalty categories. It fact, it is a modern version of a loyalty program.

Perka is different from the traditional loyalty platform that rewards customers for visiting stores even without making a purchase. At Perka, a customer earns rewards as the point-of-sale validates a purchase. At its early goings, Perka’s design was primarily for coffee shops, giving away one free cup for every ten cups purchased. But Perka has already diversified to include other types of businesses.

Perka is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Its founder was former Zenbe CEO Alan Chung. Joe Stelmach, Jay Harlow, Rob Coury and Robert Bethge were his co-founders.

Micromax: India’s Worldwide Influence

Micromax is an electronics company headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It manufacturers consumer electronic devices such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, LED TVs and 3GDatacards. The company operates 23 offices in India and employs more than 650 employees.

Micromax was established in 2000 as an IT software company to work pm embedded platforms. It first ventured into the business of mobile phones in 2008. By the end of 2010, Micromax is one of India’s largest low-cost mobile phone producers. Micromax accounts for 22% of the smartphone market in India.

In such a short time, Micromax was able to penetrate the mobile phone market of India through its wide array of product portfolio. As of the first quarter of 2013, Micromax offers over 60 different models of mobile phones that feature 3G Android Smartphones, dual SIM phones, 3Gdata cards, Tablets and PCs and LED TVs. Micromax was also to be credited with many firsts: dual SIM, 30-day battery backup, Universal Remote Contro Mobile Phone and QWERTY Keypad.

When Micromax decided to enter the mobile phone production business which was dominated by multinational companies at that time, the company had to emphasis its primary selling point – price. For Micromax, technology and innovation need not increase the price too much, that more people can’t access the gadgets. The company forecasts that by 2014, Micromax would account for a double digit mobile phone market share.

It looks like Micromax is on its way to achieve its goals. The Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics indicated that Micromax is now the 12th largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. as Micromax continues to put emphasis on innovation, technology and research and development, Micromax would do well in differentiating itself from other industry players through its new designs at lesser price.

Micromax’s success in the handset industry was steered by four people who shared the responsibility of running the business along functional lines: Managing Director Rajesh Agarwal, Executive Director Rahul Sharma, Business Director Vikas Jain and Chief Technology Officer Sumeet Arora. Since 2008 when Micromax entered the mobile phone market, the emphasis on dynamic adaptation to the changing market trends has not changed at Micromax.

SigFig: Free Investment Protector

It is unfortunate to be burdened by bad investments and hidden fees. It is good that there are companies like SigFig that helps in tracking and protecting investments for free.

SigFig’s solution integrates investment stuff in one dashboard – funds, stocks, IRA, and 401Ks. This helps the investor to take a look at his investments at one glance, using a desktop or any mobile device. Based on the data available, SigFig will run portfolio tests in order to provide unbiased and data-driven investment advice. It signals for underperforming investments, unnecessary brokerage fees, and overcharges from money accountabilities.

Security at SigFig is of prime importance. SigFig implements bank-level security. To prevent anyone from moving money or making trades, it also functions as read-only. Using the same encryption and security practices as those employed by banks and other financial intermediaries, SigFig has been helping over half a million users manage more than $40 billion worth of investments.

BrightSource Energy: The Fulfillment of the Solar Promise

BrightSource Energy is a designer and developer of solar thermal technology that produces high value steam used in industrial processes, power generation, and petroleum. Combining breakthrough solar technology with the capabilities of power plant designs, BrightSource is one of the most reliable and responsible clean energy generators.

BrightSource has standing power contracts for the production of 1.8 gigawatts of electricity with two of California’s largest utility companies, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Southern California Edison.

Nearly 30 years ago, a group of technical experts pioneered the first utility-scale solar power plant by designing and developing a solar thermal electric power plant that can generate 354 megawatts of electricity. Using its extensive expertise in project development, this team was able to develop, construct and manage solar, wind, and other conventional power plants worldwide that has the capacity of generating 20 gigawatts of power.

BrightSource capitalizes on these experiences to advance the industry of solar thermal energy through the development and deployment of solar power tower systems that provide higher solar power conversion efficiency at the lowest possible costs.

In its thermal technology, BrightSource creates steam outside the conventional way – using nuclear power or fossil fuels – but the energy comes from the sun. Because there are no turbines used in the operation, not only the output power is clean but the entire process of producing that power is clean and environment friendly.

In order to control thousands of tracking mirrors, BrightSource is using its own proprietary software called heliostats. This allows the sunlight to focus on the boiler filled with water. As the boiler is hit by sunlight, the water heats and creates steam. The steam drives the turbines to produce electricity or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the industrial process application.

With the integration of power black components like turbine with its proprietary technology, BrightSource expects to be able to deliver the most reliable, most cost-competitive, and cleanest power.

Knowmia: Learning in New Packages

Much of what we know now have been the influence of the teachers who have painstakingly transferred knowledge and information to us. These teachers have inspired us and made learning new things enjoyable.

In this modern time, teaching materials have moved to the use of short video lessons. A destination that features these videos called Knowmia provides materials that help people succeed in school in a time-efficient and affordable without compromising personal touch.

Its wide array of video lessons presents challenging topics that help students prepare for a new test or an entire course. The videos are also presented in different teaching styles so that users can choose the one that fits their learning preferences.

Initially, Knowmia’s target audience are high school students. Meanwhile, plans on expanding to other grade levels are on the way and would be implemented soon.

Knowmia was founded Ariel Braunstein, who was co-founder of Former Flip, and Scott Kabat, a marketing executive.

Accor: The Outstanding French Hotel Group

Accor S.A. (Societe Anonyme) is a French hotel group that is part of the CAC 40 index. It operates in 92 countries, with about 3,500 hotels in five continents that represent various diverse brands. Their hotels vary between budget and economy lodgings and luxurious accommodations in exotic locations.

Accor was founded in 1967. During the decade when it was established, the travel industry in France was booming. However, new hotels were concentrated in major urban areas such as Paris. Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pelisson, who were both living in the United States and working for huge computer firms back then, went into business together and decided to establish a hotel group. SIEH (Société d'investissement et d'exploitation hôteliers) was developed in 1967. As they saw the success of American lodging properties along primary highways and in suburban areas, the two partners launched their first American-style Novotel hotel just outside of Lille in Northern France. In 1974, they also launched the ibis brand as they opened the ibis Bordeaux.

In the next year, the hotel group acquired the Courtepaille and Mercure brands and in 1980, the Sofitel hotel brand, which consisted of 43 hotels back then. After two years, they bought out Jacques Borel International which was the world-leading brand offering restaurant vouchers at that time. The group acquired its current name, Accor, in 1983 and they continued to offer restaurant tickets and hotels. 

In 1984, Accor’s founders were elected as Managers of the Year by the Le Nouvel Economiste magazine. Meanwhile, in 2010, Accor sold 48 hotels for the hefty amount of 367 million euros which is about $465 million. The sell out was part of their plan to liquidate some real estate holdings including seven properties in Germany, 10 in Belgium, and 31 in France. The sale occurred within the next three years and the company’s debt was cut by about 282 million euros.

Boyd Gaming: Filling the Void in the Gaming Industry

Boyd Gaming Corporation is an American company based in Paradise, Nevada. It is focused in the development, ownership, and operation of casinos and hotels in and out of Nevada.

Boyd’s history can be traced back to 1941 as founder Sam Boyd first arrived in Las Vegas with his family. After acquiring a job as a dealer, he continues to work his way up in the Las Vegas casino industry until he was able to buy a small interest in the Sahara Hotel and Casino. He later left Sahara to become a partner and the general manager of The Mint Las Vegas.

With his son Bill as his partner, he acquired the Eldorado Casino. After the Mint was sold in 1968, Sam went on to work full-time for Eldorado. Boyd Gaming was then established on January 1, 1975. It was known as the Boyd Group back then and it initially had 75 investors. In 1979, Boyd Gaming performed its first expansion and opened Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall.

Lindsay Corporation: Manufacturing Irrigation Products for Over Five Decades

Lindsay Corporation, a company listed on Forbes Magazines’ list of America’s Best Small Companies, is a company engaged in the manufacturing and production of irrigation and infrastructure equipment.

Founded in 1954, the company has grown from a small farm equipment business, to a worldwide corporation that has products being sold and used in over 90 countries.

Lindsay operates in two segments: irrigation and infrastructure. The company’s irrigation segment is responsible for the development, manufacturing, and distribution of the company’s line of irrigation products. These include lateral move, central pivot, and hose reel irrigation systems. Their products are primarily used in the agricultural industry, but have special uses in other industries as well.

Lindsay’s infrastructure segment is responsible for the marketing of the company’s infrastructure products that include road safety equipment, road barriers, railroad signals, steel tubing, and crash cushions to name a few.

Lindsay’s success over the years has been due to the company’s determination to provide innovative irrigation and infrastructure products that truly make a positive impact on businesses and the community as a whole. Their irrigation products are specially designed to promote better soil structure and to increase overall yields.

The company’s infrastructure segment is determined to provide safer transportation systems for the world’s increasing population, especially in developing nations. Although road safety is the primary concern, the company also manufactures products that make railroads and rail travel a safer means of transportation.

As part of the company’s growth strategies, Lindsay is in the business of acquiring other companies that they deem will positively contribute to the company’s overall mission. Their acquisitions include Digitec, a company engaged in electronics research and development; IRZ Consulting, an irrigation consulting firm; and Claude Laval Corporation, a company they acquired in August of 2013.

Lindsay Corporation is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Their more than 1,000 employees work in their different offices around the world. CEO Richard Parod, who continues to increase growth for the company, leads the company.

Babolat: The “Total Tennis” Company

Babolat is a sports equipment company based in France. It is known worldwide as a producer of badminton, tennis, and squash equipment. Babolat was used by some of the world’s most popular athletes like Rafael Nadal.

Babolat started producing strings in 1975 after Pierre Babolate was successful in creating the first strings made of natural gut. The company’s successes continued until 1994 when Babolat resembled a “total tennis” company.

With its popularity, Babolat not only produced strings but request frames which the company sells in Europe. Expansions also followed as Babolat entered the Japanese and American markets. Sales picked up quickly in the US and other North American countries. Babolat requests were distinguishable since it carries an easily identifiable trademark – double lines on the strings on the racquet face and the frame.

Babolat eclipsed the more popular brands like Prince, Dunlop, Head, Yonex, Wilson, and Slazenger at the 2005 Australian Open. This indicated how Babolat has made a mark in the tennis and badminton markets.

Zingaya: Quick One-Click Calls

Zingaya is a Russian technology company that was established to empower website visitors to make one-click calls to contact centers using their browser. Website operators can find the company’s innovation as the most seamless voice calling feature that enhances the overall customer experience. Zingaya users enjoy increased average order values, improved conversion rates, and accelerated resolutions.

Zingaya was launched in September 2010 in North America. It is a cutting edge click-to-call services provider. The innovation uses Adobe Flash-based VoIP technology. Zingaya embeds a widget that sends VoIP caller to Skype, a landline, or mobile phone. No downloading is required. It all comes by just simply clicking the “call” button.

Zingaya was established in 2010. Just two years into its operations, Zingaya is already facilitating millions of calls. In 2012, for instance, Zingaya catered to 1.4 million unique calls. That figure was already exceeding in the first quarter of 2013 alone. Zingaya is making $500,000 annually in revenues. CEO Alexey Aylarov says that the company is now near the breakeven point.

Since Zingaya is a click-to-call provider, it partnered with Bandwidth to handle the demands of the solution. Zingaya has to leverage the nationwide network of Bandwidth so that it can focus on its core competencies – give its customers the best service through a one-click free call. Bandwidth allows Zingaya gain the upper hand in scaling more users in the US VoIP market.

Since the partnership with Bandwidth started, Zingaya has been supporting more than 500,000 monthly calls. These calls account for over two million minutes of calls across over 500 customers. Among the most common users of Zingaya’s solution are HR practitioner TriNet.com, e-commerce company SwimOutlet.com, and conference organizer FreeConferenceCall.com.

Zingaya is lined among the best tech innovators in the world such as Google Voice, Groupme, and Pinger. All these companies have used bandwidth in dealing with complex telecom through APIs, online tools and developer platform that are useful in software development.

Merlin Network: The New Hero of Indie Music Labels

Merlin Network is a rights agency that represents independent labels in the music industry. Its goal is to help indie music companies exploit the commercial values of their copyrights worldwide and to act as the entry point to the world of music entertainment. Merlin is a not-for-profit organization.

In June 2013, Merlin reported that the agency’s membership stands at 120,000 which composed independent labels and rights representatives. Its catalogue has more than 3 million titles from 35 countries. Merlin also reported that the agency accounts for more than 10% of the digital markets around the world.

Merlin was conceptualized in October 2006 but was formally established in January 2007. Some of the pioneer indie labels that launched Merlin were WIN, PIAS, Tommy Boy and Beggars Group. Merlin started accepting membership in January 2008. By the end of May 2008, more than 200 independent labels have joined the agency. Its membership was reported at 8% of the global market.

Svpply: Where to Go for an Online Window Shopping

A startup in New York called Svpply has created a new way to do online window shopping. Using consumer psychology, Svpply can turn all wants into real purchase in a classy way. Svpply does this through its unique program called “We Want This!”

Online shops such as All Saints, CXXVI and Free People can reach the member of Svpply with targeted promotions based on “Wants.” Svpply knows the impact of the promotions through a button which functions like the “Like” button of Facebook. Since its founding, the “Want” button had been clicked over five million times, equivalent to 160,000 times a week.

Svpply is one of the new companies that make high-end fashion shopping easy, comfortable and convenient for shoppers. The company turns the usual ordering books to shopping that’s just a click away.

According to Svpply CEO Ben Pieratt, the heart of the success of the “We Want This!” program lies in the community. A carefully built community means quality community. A small group of tastemakers creates the greatest influence in the community.

This small group is composed of designers who are based in New York. In turn these designers populate Svpply with the products they love. Svpply guarantees that al products are readily available online.

Svpply is making a huge impact in the online retail industry. Such impact is seen in the products views – 620,000 product views per week from 700,000 unique users and 140,000 members. Its iPad and iPhone apps have been downloaded over 37,000 times. Svpply has been earning a good deal out of affiliate revenues. Affiliate revenues could cover the costs for the server, rent and compensation of all New-York based staff. The Facebook Timeline integration also increased Svpply registration by 40% using the ticker ‘Want.’
                                     
Investors such as Founder Collective and Spark Capital have demonstrated their confidence in Svpply and placed fundings of $ 550,000. The company was founded by Zach Klein, who also co-founded Vimeo.

IndiGo: A Go-Ahead for India

IndiGo is the largest airline company in India. As of July 2013, the company accounts for 29.7% of the airline market share in India. IndiGo offers one of the lowest airfares in India. The CAPA named IndiGo as the fastest growing low fare airline in the world.

IndiGo is more focused on meeting its goals and complying with its business philosophies. IndiGo implements the One Time Performance program. The records indicate that IndiGo has the least number of cancelled flights, with its Technical Dispatch Reliability at 99.91%. Its fleet of seventy Airbus A320 a flying 447 flights per day to 34 destinations worldwide.

Founded in 2006, Indigo started with a fleet of six aircraft flying from New Delhi to Imphal. In 2007, IndiGo acquired nine more aircraft, bringing the fleet to 15. By the end of 2010, IndiGo topped India’s flag carrier Air India in sales, with a market share of 17.3%. In January 2012, IndiGo’s fleet increased to 50 aircraft, making IndiGo as the commercial airline that placed the largest order of aircraft at that time.

After a solid performance in February 2012, IndiGo overtook Kingfisher in the second place as India’s largest airline. Indigo continued to focus on low airfare with emphasis on punctuality. In August 2012, IndiGo became the largest airline in India, topping the former first placer Jet Airways with a market share of 27%.

ScanAvert: For People with Dietary Restrictions

It is difficult to get rid of unwanted ingredients. The entire process is time consuming and complicated. It is difficult even to the most educated consumer. ScanAvert helps to identify all the terminologies that pertain to the same allergen or ingredient.

ScanAvert started with Ellen Bedinelli, one of the most successful businesswomen in Wall Street. She was the activities director in a children’s summer camp when she was challenged to find the snack that the kids would eat after the activities. She was aware that some of the children have food allergies; others have intolerance, and others are still on medication. Bedinelli went to the grocery store and found herself going through the racks and manually cross checking the ingredients with the list.

Bedinelli found out that the entire task was huge. She came up with the idea of an application that would help people with dietary restrictions to find the safest groceries. Her ideas gave birth to ScanAvert. ScanAvert is available for Android and iOS devices.

In 2011, ScanAvert received its patent for automated compatibility notifications and recommendations to a physical group that is based on the health preference and avoidance profile of the user. ScanAvert is the preeminent portal that food manufacturers can use for their coupons and pushed to members on the basis of allergies, intolerance and dietary preferences.

ScanAvert users store their personal health data on the company website. Then, they can scan beauty products, medicines and food products barcode labels using the smartphone so that the product information can be crosschecked with their health specifications. Pulling out of a database of more than 300,000 products entries, ScanAvert will provide a green or red alert, depending on the needs of the user. The technology is also equipped with notifications for recalls, especially for patients with anaphylaxis.

In the meantime, ScanAvert can be availed at a minimal fee of $1.99 a month or $9.99 for six months. However, ScanAvert will soon offer its free app.

Riskalyze: Keeping Investments Aligned with Investor Risk Tolerance

Riskalyze is an advisory company that empowers investment advisors to grasp the risk tolerance of their clients and use the information to find new clients, meet expectations, and measure suitability. In spite of all the advances in technology, Riskalyze noticed that the world of investments still depends heavily on instinct and emotional decisions. This places everyone in hot water. This is where Riskalyze comes very helpful.

Riskalyze’s technology is inspired by the Nobel Prize for Economics winner of 2002. This framework helped Riskalyze clients to build huge portfolios in 2012. Riskalyze’s technology is available for licensed investors doing business in America. They can use the platform to capture their clients’ risk tolerance and help them measure its suitability.

With Riskalyze in the investment market, investors need not pull the plug and experience huge losses when the market pulls back. They can always invest and re-invest with this great and excellent resource for investment advisors.

The Renmatix Vision: Renew the World

Renmatix is a bio-based sugar intermediaries manufacturer. The chemical and fuel markets around the world can benefit out of Renmatix’s innovation because it is one of the best alternatives for fuel derivatives. Fueled by the vision to go beyond dependence on petroleum products into a large-scale use of cellulosic sugars, Renmatix has produced its flagship process, the PlantroseTM.

PlantroseTM converts cellulosic biomass in a very cost efficient way – turning agricultural residue and wood waste into useful sugars. This process is challenging all conventional economics of sugar. Renmatix uses a highly critical hydrolysis technology to deconstruct all nonfood biomass in a relatively faster and cheaper way compared with other processes.

While other sugar-related businesses look to harsh chemicals and expensive enzymes to break down cellulose, Renmatix uses water at high pressure and temperature to achieve cellulosic sugar. Needless to say, cellulosic sugar will usher a new wave of clean and renewable fuels and chemicals. Renmatix’s approach that conditions water to solubilized biomass is attracting investors and industry partners alike.

Through its cost-effective sugars, Renmatix has grown to become a robust company. The company looks to seal its position in the industry by investing in technologies that would deliver sugars from various types of plants. Renmatix is opening the door for a bio-based industrial revolution through its key intermediaries.

How Renmatix has operated and consistently produced its sugars indicate that PlantroseTM can be scaled in a quick manner so that the demands for chemicals and fuels are met. Renmatix has partnered with a number of industry leaders and has tailored its distinct processes so that all the needs of stakeholders are met.

Renmatrix is an active player in green revolution. Thus, the company has developed a culture where everyone is passionate with scientific discovery. This culture drives the entire organization to seek for advancements that would change the face of the game. Indeed, Renmatix is on its way to realize its visions of renewing the world.

WayWire: Where You Can Find the Most Trusted Video Content

Waywire is the newest video-sharing website in town. Launched in April 2013, Waywire was founded by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, former Gilt City president Nathan Richardson, and former TechCrunch and Yahoo! executive Sarah Ross.

Waywire has created a new way to discover the hottest and the best videos across the World Wide Web. Unlike other video-sharing giants, Waywire allows its users to find videos through the most trusted sources: their own friends.

Using #waywire, people can find the best stuff online, sifting through all the junk contents. It allows the users to create their own channel where they can access the things that they really care about. Since all of the stuff in #waywire are organized, its platform can also be used to share with others and express one’s interests.

Waywire was established at the height of the social interest for video news and leading voices. Since most social issues are discussed on social networking sites, Waywire provides a community where the digital generation of today can create video contents and help others make informed decisions.

ZestFinance: Providing Alternative to Payday Loans

ZestFinance is a credit underwriting and analysis company. It was founded by Douglas Merrill who was the former CIO of Google. After resigning from Google, Douglas was thinking about what to do next when his sister Victoria called him to ask for help. Her car was stuck in snow and she needed money to buy snow tires so she can get her car going.

The National Federation for Credit Counselors reported that 64% of the American populace do not have emergency funds of more than $1,000. About 17% of them would be like Victoria who has family members to lend them money during emergencies. Majority of Americans do not have families to run to. When asked what she would have done if Douglas did not have the money to lend to her, she said she might acquire another payday loan.

Thirty million Americans take payday loans at least once a year. These people do have the idea how expensive payday loans are and that these types of loans are designed to make paying them off in full almost impossible. Payday loans are fee-based—that is, the payments are not applied to the debt principal. When the borrower thinks he has paid his loans, he realizes that he has placed himself in a vicious debt cycle.

Douglas established ZestFinance to provide people with the option for credit at lower costs. He also established the company to relieve them with billions of dollars in fees. (In 2012 alone, payday loan fees amounted to over $8 billion.) ZestFinance uses the style of Google in handling big data analysis. Douglas partnered with Shawn Budde of Capital One to put the company’s underwriting in order.

In 2010, ZestFinance offered a new type of loan called ZestCash. With ZestCash, borrowers can pay their loans in installment basis, with their payments applied to the principal and interest. Using its big data underwriting, ZestFinance has lowered the fees to about 50% compared with the typical payday loans. ZestCash was primarily designed to help people get out of debt.

AlterG: Keeping Sporty People Healthy and Well

AlterG is a health and wellness company that pioneers the use of innovative technologies to keep a healthy and active lifestyle. The company aims to reinvent rehabilitation by providing technologies for quicker recovery from injuries, surgeries, and disabilities. AlterG helps athletes and sports enthusiasts reduce the frequency of injury.

AlterG has acquired a patent for its differential air pressure technology. It offers the most precise unweighting benefits. This technology was first developed at NASA to help American astronauts in their unweighting programs.

Earlier this year, the US FDA approved the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill®, the first of its kind. The device is used by hospitals, physical therapy centers, fitness centers, and colleges and universities, as well as by professional athletes in their fitness programs.

The US FDA has also cleared AlterG’s applications for a precise partial weight bearing. In the application, AlterG included rehabilitation of disabilities in any lower body part, neurological retraining, geriatric strengthening and conditioning, weight control, and programs for specified sports.

Skolkovo Moscow School of Management: Honing Russia’s Entrepreneurs

The Soviet state understands the need to prepare its capitalists to brace with the rapidly changing technologies today. Every day, emerging markets are launched and entrepreneurs have to be on the cutting edge of the rapid changes. The Skolkovo Moscow School of Management was established to provide Russian entrepreneurs with a scholarship program that would ready them to become DIY wealth creators.

Inspired by the artworks of Russian abstract artist Kazimir Malevich who is known for doing things that have never been done before, Skolkovo sends a strong statement that Russia is ready for takeoff. The school, with its hypermodern cylindrical structure sheathed in gray, red, and blue-green glass, standing in a rectangular complex, and resembles the Battlestar Galactica, says breakthrough is imminent. Skolkovo is located just across the “Inograd” or innovation city, Russia’s Silicon Valley.

Skolkovo and Inograd provides young and savvy programmers, engineers, physicists, and mathematicians with a high-tech sector that is capable of generating billions of dollars, giving alternative income sources other than gas and oil. According to Steven Geiger, the CEO of Skolkovo foundation which oversees Inograd, Skolkovo is “the most exciting technological initiative in the world – full stop.”

When Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced the plans for Inograd in March 2010, Russia’s legislators have amended more than 200 laws in order to encourage investments in Skolkovo. When done, Inograd will house meeting spaces, computer labs, and a graduate university modeled after Stanford, which can accommodate around 1,200 students.

Skolkovo was established to build synergies and develop ecosystem. Geiger believes that innovation can be top-down. The only setback for Skolkovo is its location – it’s in Russia, which is not known for a place to study business management or to launch a startup.

In 2010, the World Bank ranked Russia in the 123rd place in the Ease of Doing Business report. As a business school, Skolkovo offers seed capital to help startups begin. If the startup shows promise, the funding may be raised to as much as $8 million. This shows how Skolkovo can indeed become Russia’s Silicon Valley. No sooner, the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report would list Russia in a position relatively higher than where it is today.

Black Milk: From a Sewing Machine and a Few Dollars to a Retail Company Known Worldwide

Black Milk is an Australian clothing company with an inspiring story that started with just one sewing machine and a few dollars for some fabric. Today, Black Milk is listed as one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies in retailing.

Broke and was taking odd jobs to make ends meet, James Lillis lived in his yellow house in Brisbane, Australia. He got bored on day, so he decided to do something. He bought a sewing machine out of the proceeds of a CD player he pawned. He did not know how to operate the sewing machine. He just figured out he wanted to learn.

Apparently, he needed some fabric so he bought some nylon lining with the $6 that’s left in his pocket. He sewed for himself a tight shirt. It was short. Everything was wrong, just as he expected.

He continued with odd jobs while saving for his newly found passion. He enrolled in a sewing class and thereafter, he sewed his first pair of leggings. A friend volunteered to model his leggings who then bought those leggings.

Because somebody was willing to pay for his work, he decided to establish a retail company that would sell his goods online. Thus, the founding of Black Milk in 2009.

Azumio: Developing the Next Generation Mobile Health Technology

Azumio is a mobile health technology company known for creating a biofeedback health application that runs on Android and iOS platforms. To date, Azumio’s mobile app called “Instant Heart Rate App” has been downloaded over 10 million times.

Azumio was founded with the humblest of intentions: to improve people’s wellness by promoting healthy habits through innovative mobile apps that provide users with personal health data. Azumio believes that once users are well-informed, they can develop a healthier lifestyle.

The people behind this Silicon-based company are scientists, researchers, clinicians, and professors at the University of California and Stanford University. Azumio also enjoys technical backing from established leaders in the technologies industry, especially those involved in mobile health.

The Instant Heart Rate App fits anyone that goes through a regular fitness routine. It provides real time heart rate reading. By simply placing a finger over a smartphone camera, the data is provided anytime, anywhere. The Instant Heart Rate App works by tracking the changes in color in the light that pass through the finger. The whole thing takes only 10 seconds. Before a work out, in the middle of training, or after a long run, the Instant Heart Rate App provides these important data.

Azumio believes that the Instant Heart Rate App is still the most accurate heart rate monitor app in the world. For CEO Peter Kuhar, the app is a wellness tool that can be carried 24/7. He added that tracking the heart rate would help determine the level of exertion before and after workout which are essential in knowing the optimal heart training zone.

The Android app Pro version is available at $2.99 aside from its free version. The iPhone app can be acquired at $0.99. Azumio is based in California. It has financial backing from the world’s most dynamic investors like Felicis Ventures, Accel® Partners, and Founders Fund.

Get Heads Up on the Road Through Waze

Waze is a mobile app development company with venture capital backing. The company is known worldwide for creating a social traffic and navigation app that is used by the largest community of drivers in the world. The app shares real time info and up-to-date notifications. Waze visitors contribute to the traffic and other data. Users can actively get involved by sharing conditions on the road like accidents, hazards, and police traps. Others in the area are warned early about potential road obstructions.

Ehud Shabtai is a software engineer who received a PDA equipped with an external GPS with pre-installed navigation software. However, he became frustrated when he was caught in heavy traffic because the PDA did not reflect the real conditions on the road.

Using his expertise in open source development and experience in social services, Shabtai built the first ever dynamic traffic platform that integrates open source software with GPS and a community of drivers. His goal was to provide an accurate and reflective traffic condition by providing relevant information at any given time.

Shabtai launched his software in 2006. When he had enough financial backing, he partnered with Amir Shinar and Uri Levine and established Waze.

A Massachusetts Construction Industry Presence for Two Decades

Active in the construction industry since the mid-1970s, Kevin Craffey leads a number of Plymouth, Massachusetts, based companies. He established his first firm in 1988 with more than a decade of leadership experience behind him, including as foreman of Cape Cod Lathing and Plastering, Inc. and as superintendent/carpenter steward of Quinn Construction. Through attention to detailed workmanship and high levels of customer service, he quickly developed K & J Interiors, Inc., as a leading provider of carpentry installations throughout New England. Meeting the diverse needs of construction clients in the commercial, retail and institutional sectors, his firm achieved a milestone of approximately $80 million in contracted work over its first five years.

Mr. Craffey’s next entrepreneurial endeavor involved the establishment of Craffey & Co., Builders, Inc., as a respected general contractor. Over the past 18 years, the company has provided commercial retailers with quality, competitive services that encompass retail store, big box location, and shopping mall expansions nationwide. The firm has managed approximately 150 employees in undertaking projects of diverse size and scope.

Despite the nationwide breadth of his corporate undertakings, Kevin Craffey maintains a firm focus on the local Massachusetts community. As head of KJ Realty Trust Corporation / Court Street Trust Corporation since the early 1990s, he has led a number of local real estate development projects in towns such as Hanover and Avon. Among successfully completed projects was the renovation of the historically significant Buttner building in Plymouth.

Teladoc: Teleheath and Telemedicine Services Right at Your Doorstep

Teladoc Inc. is a healthcare services provider established in 2002 for the purpose of tackling three of healthcare’s most pressing issues: access, cost, and quality.

Based on hard evidences, patients wait for long periods of time—days or even months—just to make a doctor’s appointment. That’s why many patients take advantage of the out-patient services in hospitals to gain immediate access to healthcare services through the emergency room. Teladoc was founded to engage the problem and provide 24/7 access to healthcare services anytime, anywhere.

It is also noticeable that healthcare premiums, medical expenses, and costs of medicines are rising up to twice as much as the inflation rate. Teladoc recognizes this problem and offers affordable healthcare, even for urgent cases through ER visits.

Quick access to low cost healthcare usually translates to lower quality of service. Teladoc is using the highest quality processes and clinical protocols through a strong network of certified physicians.

The results of Teladoc’s efforts have been amazing. According to the company’s figures, 95% of its 4.5 million members are satisfied with its services and 96% of physicians are satisfied, with the average consultation duration of 134 minutes per patient. Average call back time is recorded at 24 minutes. Ninety percent of patient issues were resolved with zero malpractice claims.

All physicians associated with Teladoc are board certified. Otherwise, they are not allowed to provide healthcare services, even through telephone or online video consultation. These doctors use electronic health records in making diagnoses, treating ailments, and prescribing drugs. The quality processes employed by Teladoc are according to the standards of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Teladoc physicians renew their credentials every three years.

Now that telehealth and telemedicine is slowly integrated into the mainstream healthcare industry, Teladoc is in a very strategic position. It has pioneered the most convenient, most affordable, and most accessible telehealth and telemedicine services.

Copilot Labs: Helping Restaurateurs Analyze Data

Modern technological advancements have also changed the way guests find restaurants. From advertisements in the local papers and word of mouth as channels of discovery, the fundamental shift came with the introduction of hundreds of services the bring guests right into a restaurant’s doorstep.

This increases the restaurant’s workload. Running a restaurant business is not only about making delicious food but also about marketing strategy. Other restaurant operators resort to apps that fill the restaurants’ seats.

This is where Copilot Labs come in as the restaurants’ champion. Copilot Labs was founded to provide marketing analysis for restaurateurs. It analyzes historical POS data and anonymously compares it with other restaurants. It automatically identifies growth opportunities.

Unlike other services, Copilot Labs is not a third party for Yelp, Opentable, or Groupon. It deals with independent restaurateurs with a deeper understanding of what really moves the needle. Analysis of data can now be made by simple review of what Copilot Labs provides.

Stripe: Online Payment Made Easy

Stripe offers the newest way to accept payments online. It was founded by Patrick and John Collison. It has financial backing from Sequoia Capital, Redpoint Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, SV Angel, Andreessen Horowitz, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. The total funds raised amounted to $40 million.

To demonstrate its commitment to transparency, Stripe utilizes the website Chilling Effect Clearinghouse to act on third party requests to stop doing business. For every successful charge, Stripe is charging a fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. This rate may be higher than the fees charged by conventional credit card processors. However, Stripe believes that this will result to lower total costs because Stripe does not charge setup fees, minimum charges, monthly fees, validation fees, card storage charges, and late payment charges.

In an article that world renowned author Paul Graham wrote, he cited that online payments is “one of the most important component of the world’s infrastructure” but it is also one of the most “painful” experiences. He praised the perfect timing of Stripe’s founding as an appropriate fix to the problem.

Stripe is becoming popular because it is arguably the simplest and most developer-friendly way for online payment. Stripe understands that the root of the problem in enabling online transactions is not the finance but the code. The dullness and the complexity of online payment processing have been the hallmark of similar transactions and Stripe is committed to fix the problem.

Using Stripe does not require a gateway or merchant account because Stripe handles everything – subscriptions, card storage, and direct payout to the user’s bank account.

Stripe is also composed of developers who have extensive experience in handling problems related to online payment acceptance. Its team is dedicated to building the simplest but the best payment solution.

Stripe is used by a number of large and established companies, emerging startups, side projects, and all kind of institutions in between. Among the businesses that have enjoyed Stripe are Mockingbird, Lala, GroupSpaces, Auctomatic, Observer, and Encyclopedia.

Ptch: A Great New Way to Share a Life Story

Ptch created a whole new way of sharing a life story. It has an application that can transform photos and video clips into beautiful movies that are worth sharing.

Creating a ptch (pronounced “pitch”) begins with the photos and videos stored in mobile devices or in social networking sites like Instagram and Facebook. Adding a personal touch to the ptch like incorporating music, captions, and other effects is easy. Using Ptch is like sitting in a virtual director’s chair.

All movies created using Ptch may be posted on the Ptch community. They can also be uploaded into social networking sites and shared through email. Ptch gives its users full control on how to share their ptches to friends and family.

Ptch users have access to a cache of the most popular ptches. The more interesting “directors” may be followed through likes or comments. Exploring ptches on the Ptch community makes for a great way to make new friends.

Kabbage: Making Capitalization Within Reach for Small Businesses

Kabbage Inc. is an American financing corporation that offers financing packages online. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Kabbage works with some of the largest ecommerce sites in the world including Amazon, eBay, Yahoo! Store, Shopify, and Etsy in order to extend capitalization to small businesses. At present, Kabbage is serving about 30,000 clients, 80% of which are repeat customers.

Kabbage offers advances ranging from $500 to $50,000, depending on certain data factors. Before extending financing services, Kabbage considers seller’s rating, volume of transaction, time in business, credit rating, and activity on social media. Most of its clients use their advances from the company in purchasing inventory, marketing and upgrading of systems. It has created its own scoring system through the Social Klimbing. Social Klimbing scores Kabbage’s customers like social media credit scoring.

In its last round of fund raising activities, Kabbage was able to gather financial backing of $56 million. Venture funds were poured in by BlueRun Ventures and Mohr Davidow Ventures while debt funds were provided by Western Technology Investment. Other investors included David Bonderman, Warren Stephens, Jim McKelvey, TriplePoint Ventures, and UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund.

The leading courier UPS is helping Kabbage in its shipping requirements through an agreement that both companies forged in February 2012. The partnership allowed Kabbage to obtain a bird’s-eye-view of the volume of its customers’ businesses. For Kabbage, the more capital its customers avail, the lower the rates would be.

Kabbage became the Red Herring 100 North American Winner in May 2012. This award recognizes the leading private companies in America. The award is given to companies with long term and sustainable innovations and has the potential to grow big in the future. But Kabbage’s most prestigious recognition was its inclusion in Fast Company’s Top Ten Most Innovative Companies in the field of finances in February 2013, along with Square and PayPal.

Ben E Keith: A Food and Beverage Company

Ben E. Keith started out as Harkrider-Morrison Company in 1906. Its current name was derived from the first salesman and junior partner of the business Ben E. Keith. It was in the year 1911 that the company adopted its name after one of its partners withdrew from the company. The decision was made to reflect Ben’s biggest contribution in the success of the business.

Through the hard work of Ben and his dedication to the business, the company grew to become the fourth largest beverage distributor in the United States and the ninth largest broad line foodservice distributor in the country. The enterprise’s food division services eleven states. They offer frozen foods, meats, dry groceries, produce and even paper goods.

There is currently a total of 3500 people employed by the company. It was in 1906 that the business started selling Anheuser-Busch Inbev products and it even came to a point that Ben E. Keith became the world’s largest independent distributor of their products.