This Week in Startups
Moo
Entrepreneurs: The future of business cards is here! Moo.com has created the business card that links to your online presence. Yes, you heard it here folks! NFC cards contain a tiny microchip that, when touched by a smart phone, can link to your portfolio, resume, videos or anything in between. This online portion has been nicknamed the “third side,” and rightfully so. These cards add a whole new dimension to your boring old business card.
What’s the value of these new cards? With a self-updating NFC card, you’ll never need to reprint your business card again! When synced with a smart phone, the cards update your contact information across all your social media networks to keep everyone in the loop whenever a change occurs.
Oomf:
Got an idea for a new app? Looking for some great upcoming apps? Online startup Oomf is a new app discovery forum that allows entrepreneurs to pitch their new app ideas online before launch. Oomf is a great resource for both startups and consumers. On the startup side, Oomf provides entrepreneurs with feedback from users, resources, a glimpse at the potential market and the chance to build a following before launch. The site also makes it easier for startups to market their products online by providing incentives for users to generate word-of-mouth communication about the apps. Such incentives include discounts and deals.
The forum, set up in a format similar to Pinterest, gives consumers an interactive way to preview upcoming apps and engage with developers. One of the most beneficial features of the forum is the ability to discover new apps. As many of you know, it’s hard to find apps not ranked within the top 100 or so in Apple’s app store. This site allows users to discover these apps at an early stage, track their progress and eventually download and enjoy them.
The early-stage startup has already received $500,000 in funding and plans to release a smart phone app in the near future. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s as easy as a walk in the park!
Graymatics:
Lovers of cool stuff: meet your new best friend, Graymatics. Graymatics uses software that automatically identifies products in visual media and tells you where to get it. Pretty neat, huh?
Remember that shirt you liked in that one commercial? Now you can find out what brand it is and where you can purchase it. The best part: if the site can’t find the exact product online, it’ll find you similar products. It’s a win-win!
The software if forecasted to drive online purchases by making it easier for consumers to locate and purchase the products they want Graymatics is working to fill the online advertising niche, particularly to provide an alternative to annoying video advertisements. Michael Scolari, business development director, said his company’s software is the first to use both still and moving pictures (AKA video.) This feature sets the company apart from similar product-recognition services.