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.