Posted by Tom Blue on December 23, 2009 under Companies, Executives, Profiles | 
Here is a recent interview with Alaa Negada – the CEO of ALXTel.
1. What do you do? 2 sentences max
We provide wholesale and retail international telecommunications services and solutions, and Broadband Satellite Internet services.
2. Who are your competitors? (just the names)
Long distance wholesale carriers are our competitors; however, they are also our customers, as is the nature of the business. They include companies like Tata communicaitons, IDT, Fusion, Banaki Group, Phonetime, etc.
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
We sell our own direct routes; as a result, the rates we offer are very competitive, much cheaper than the rest of the market. Additionally, we guarantee the quality we are offering.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
I guess it would be balancing between the continual development of the company while refraining from ‘biting off more than we can chew’ so to speak. We have so many ideas and services, but the challenge lies in pacing ourselves.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business.
One of the best, most fruitful strategies for us are exhibitions, particularly the ITW 2009.
6. How long have you been in business?
About 2 years now.
7. How many employees do you have?
14 hard-working, dedicated employees.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
Our expected revenue estimate for 2009 is $1.4 million, which is an increase from last year.
9. (Optional) Have you had any new press recently? E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc.
Yes, we we’re very pleased to finalize deals with two new customers: Telecom Argentina and IDT.
1. What do you do?
We provide wholesale and retail international telecommunications services and solutions, and Broadband Satellite Internet services.
2. Who are your competitors?
Long distance wholesale carriers are our competitors; however, they are also our customers, as is the nature of the business. They include companies like Tata communicaitons, IDT, Fusion, Banaki Group, Phonetime, etc.
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
We sell our own direct routes; as a result, the rates we offer are very competitive, much cheaper than the rest of the market. Additionally, we guarantee the quality we are offering.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
I guess it would be balancing between the continual development of the company while refraining from ‘biting off more than we can chew’ so to speak. We have so many ideas and services, but the challenge lies in pacing ourselves.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business.
One of the best, most fruitful strategies for us are exhibitions, particularly the ITW 2009.
6. How long have you been in business?
About 2 years now.
7. How many employees do you have?
14 hard-working, dedicated employees.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
Our expected revenue estimate for 2009 is $1.4 million, which is an increase from last year.
9. (Optional) Have you had any new press recently? E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc.
Yes, we we’re very pleased to finalize deals with two new customers: Telecom Argentina and IDT.
Posted by Tom Blue on November 12, 2009 under Profiles |
1. What do you do?
Modern Battery Solutions provides battery reconditioning services and sells military proven battery recovery and reconditioning systems to material handling companies, forklift and battery repair companies, distribution centers, golf courses and to individuals with the desire to establish their own battery reconditioning service. Additionally, we offer training programs and assistance in the set up of new service providers within the industry.
2. Who are your competitors?
There are too many to name but, many of them have their gimmicks and battery recon elixir and rejuvenation solutions and sulfation elimination additives and stuff like that.
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
Our customers love us because we work with the originating developer, designer and manufacturer of this technology and they have an established 25 year history of US military tested, proven and accepted battery recovery systems. The versions sold by us and used in our own services are the authorized commercial versions of the original military version that are in battery maintenance facilities all over the world. These battery recovery systems are simply unmatched in price, quality and performance.
4. What are you or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
Our two biggest challenges are industry rehabilitation and the time it takes to accomplish it.1.Rehabilitating the industry’s concept of battery reconditioning from the conventional means and the school of thought that says battery desulfation is possible to a degree, yet even proof that now being our present reality drudges up doubts of their past snake oil experiences. 2. Battery desulfation has been the reality for the US military for several years and has made enormous progress in both cost and waste reduction to say the least, but the commercial industry has been inundated with countless reconditioning and desulfation gimmicks that has skewed its ability to see that the real deal is finally being made available to them at a reasonably low cost.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?
Our most effective marketing strategies are researching our potential clients and working to build up the trust relationships between the two of us. We send out emails followed up with phone calls and drop-in to meet our clients face to face. We let them know that we are in it for the long haul and keep the focus on the relationship and not the sale because once the relationship is established trust is no longer an issue and the risk of the purchase has been removed.
6. How long have you been in business?
We are a new company established in 2008 working with tested and true ideals from a 25 year history of working with people.
7. How many employees do you have?
We are a modest force of less than 20 employees and are primarily focused the structuring of our North American and European distribution network. A registered small business.
Below is an eInterview we did with Deborah Baker, a founder of Modern Battery Solutions.
1. What do you do?
Modern Battery Solutions provides battery reconditioning services and sells military proven battery recovery and reconditioning systems to material handling companies, forklift and battery repair companies, distribution centers, golf courses and to individuals with the desire to establish their own battery reconditioning service. Additionally, we offer training programs and assistance in the set up of new service providers within the industry.
2. Who are your competitors?
There are too many to name but, many of them have their gimmicks and battery recon elixir and rejuvenation solutions and sulfation elimination additives and stuff like that.
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
Our customers love us because we work with the originating developer, designer and manufacturer of this technology and they have an established 25 year history of US military tested, proven and accepted battery recovery systems. The versions sold by us and used in our own services are the authorized commercial versions of the original military version that are in battery maintenance facilities all over the world. These battery recovery systems are simply unmatched in price, quality and performance.
4. What are you or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
Our two biggest challenges are industry rehabilitation and the time it takes to accomplish it.1.Rehabilitating the industry’s concept of battery reconditioning from the conventional means and the school of thought that says battery desulfation is possible to a degree, yet even proof that now being our present reality drudges up doubts of their past snake oil experiences. 2. Battery desulfation has been the reality for the US military for several years and has made enormous progress in both cost and waste reduction to say the least, but the commercial industry has been inundated with countless reconditioning and desulfation gimmicks that has skewed its ability to see that the real deal is finally being made available to them at a reasonably low cost.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?
Our most effective marketing strategies are researching our potential clients and working to build up the trust relationships between the two of us. We send out emails followed up with phone calls and drop-in to meet our clients face to face. We let them know that we are in it for the long haul and keep the focus on the relationship and not the sale because once the relationship is established trust is no longer an issue and the risk of the purchase has been removed.
6. How long have you been in business?
We are a new company established in 2008 working with tested and true ideals from a 25 year history of working with people.
7. How many employees do you have?
We are a modest force of less than 20 employees and are primarily focused the structuring of our North American and European distribution network. A registered small business.
Posted by Tom Blue on October 22, 2009 under Companies, Profiles |
Below is our recent eInterview with Sterizon founder, Subba Ayyagari.
1. What do you do?
Sterizon specializes in wireless data collection for the purpose of Customer Retention, Loyalty and Satisfaction using Email, Mobile and Social Media Marketing. Sterizon’s targets market is brick and mortar businesses in the Restaurant, Retail, Hospitality and Service industries.
2. Who are your competitors?
FishBowl, mUrgent, Total Loyalty Systems, Constant Contact
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
All our competitors in the Email Marketing space lack the capability to capture customer information electronically while the customer is at the place of business. We are the only ones in the space who has the handheld device that is not only used for builing email lists, but also used for Surveys, Rewards programs, Mobile Marketing, Social Media Marketing etc making us a one stop shop solution for all their marketing and customer satisfaction needs.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
It’s been hiring the right sales people to do direct to business marketing. Being a company in the South East (based in Atlanta, GA), the resource pool interested in working for startups is virtually not there!
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR
We initially went with online only approach to reach our target restaurant industry. We did lot of press releases, good chunk on online content, blogging, twitter, facebook, restaurant community sites, etc. It certainly raised the awareness, and search engine rankings, but failed to lure customers for online orders.
The above techniques would have worked great if this was a software only product aiming at tech savvy audience. But, our product involves handheld device also. We still had to physically knock their doors, show the demo and then we were able to lock in the customer.
The cost of customer acqusition was very high with the knock on door approach. So, we decided to partner with our competitors, as our technology is complementing to their marketing platforms. We effectively filled the biggest gap in their solutions. We kicked off the reseller program with all the players in the email, mobile marketing space. In the last 30 days, we have 5 of the top 10 players in the space in our reseller program.
6. How long have you been in business?
We are 11 months old.
7. How many employees do you have?
2 full time.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
We came out of beta in Apr-July timeframe in phases. We might end up with >20k in revenues this year. We are projecting ~600k in total revenues for next year.
1. What do you do?
Sterizon specializes in wireless data collection for the purpose of Customer Retention, Loyalty and Satisfaction using Email, Mobile and Social Media Marketing. Sterizon’s targets market is brick and mortar businesses in the Restaurant, Retail, Hospitality and Service industries.
2. Who are your competitors?
FishBowl, mUrgent, Total Loyalty Systems, Constant Contact
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
All our competitors in the Email Marketing space lack the capability to capture customer information electronically while the customer is at the place of business. We are the only ones in the space who has the handheld device that is not only used for builing email lists, but also used for Surveys, Rewards programs, Mobile Marketing, Social Media Marketing etc making us a one stop shop solution for all their marketing and customer satisfaction needs.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
It’s been hiring the right sales people to do direct to business marketing. Being a company in the South East (based in Atlanta, GA), the resource pool interested in working for startups is virtually not there!
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR
We initially went with online only approach to reach our target restaurant industry. We did lot of press releases, good chunk on online content, blogging, twitter, facebook, restaurant community sites, etc. It certainly raised the awareness, and search engine rankings, but failed to lure customers for online orders.
The above techniques would have worked great if this was a software only product aiming at tech savvy audience. But, our product involves handheld device also. We still had to physically knock their doors, show the demo and then we were able to lock in the customer.
The cost of customer acqusition was very high with the knock on door approach. So, we decided to partner with our competitors, as our technology is complementing to their marketing platforms. We effectively filled the biggest gap in their solutions. We kicked off the reseller program with all the players in the email, mobile marketing space. In the last 30 days, we have 5 of the top 10 players in the space in our reseller program.
6. How long have you been in business?
We are 11 months old.
7. How many employees do you have?
2 full time.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
We came out of beta in Apr-July timeframe in phases. We might end up with >20k in revenues this year. We are projecting ~600k in total revenues for next year.
Posted by Tom Blue on July 17, 2009 under Companies, Profiles |
We have recently did an eInterview with Vindicia’s CEO, Gene Hoffman. Prior to Vindicia, Mr. Hoffman co-founded eMusic. While at eMusic he was featured on the cover of Forbes Magazine as a member of the July 1999 E-Gang, and named one of the 100 most influential entrepreneurs in technology in Upside Magazine’s November 2000 Elite 100. Vindicia just landed $7.5M in funding this week. Please see the interview below…
What does Vindicia do?
Vindicia provides an on-demand billing and fraud management solution, specifically designed for online merchants. Our solution, Vindicia CashBox, helps merchants in the software, SaaS, online gaming, dating, and online content markets to increase customer acquisition and retention, which ultimately drives online profitability..
Who are your competitors?
Aria Systems, Zuora, Digital River
What makes you different than them?
We have focused our capabilities on maximizing customer retention and acquisition because we realize that, in the online world, maximing average customer lifetime value (ACLV) or average revenue per user (ARPU) is the key to long term profitability. Some of these features include our ability to minimize payment failures, provide automated retry logic and support Account Updater functionality for different payment processors. In addition we have incorporated fraud management capabilities into our core offering to help merchants recover lost revenue from friendly fraud and also prevent true fraud losses. We also support multiple languages, payment methods, currencies, tax regimes and compliance requirements (PCI and SAS 70) which in turn enables merchants to build and support global communities. Finally, the fact that we can support a wide variety of business models – pure subscriptions, freemium, microtransactions, hybrid models – creates a great deal of flexibility for merchants who may need to change models to reflect their current business reality.
What are your biggest challenges as CEO?
A.) Build the right internal processes to support our merchants; B) expand more deeply into our core markets with increased product functionality; and C) increase sales and marketing capacity to service our markets.
Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?
One of our most successful marketing strategies has been to launch a series of “Best Practice” webinars that help online merchants understand the various nuances of building a successful online business. Topics have included best practices around customer communications, chargeback management, customer retention and international payments – these have proven to be very useful even in archival form.
How long have you been in business?
We were formally incorporated in 2003 and actively began development in 2004.
How many employees do you have?
We have about 55 employees.
What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
We estimate we’ll do between $6-8 million in revenue for 2009, which represents about double what we did in 2008.
What do you do?
Vindicia provides an on-demand billing and fraud management solution, specifically designed for online merchants. Our solution, Vindicia CashBox, helps merchants in the software, SaaS, online gaming, dating, and online content markets to increase customer acquisition and retention, which ultimately drives online profitability..
Who are your competitors?
Aria Systems, Zuora, Digital River
What makes you different than them?
We have focused our capabilities on maximizing customer retention and acquisition because we realize that, in the online world, maximing average customer lifetime value (ACLV) or average revenue per user (ARPU) is the key to long term profitability. Some of these features include our ability to minimize payment failures, provide automated retry logic and support Account Updater functionality for different payment processors. In addition we have incorporated fraud management capabilities into our core offering to help merchants recover lost revenue from friendly fraud and also prevent true fraud losses. We also support multiple languages, payment methods, currencies, tax regimes and compliance requirements (PCI and SAS 70) which in turn enables merchants to build and support global communities. Finally, the fact that we can support a wide variety of business models – pure subscriptions, freemium, microtransactions, hybrid models – creates a great deal of flexibility for merchants who may need to change models to reflect their current business reality.
What are your biggest challenges?
A.) Build the right internal processes to support our merchants; B) expand more deeply into our core markets with increased product functionality; and C) increase sales and marketing capacity to service our markets.
Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?
One of our most successful marketing strategies has been to launch a series of “Best Practice” webinars that help online merchants understand the various nuances of building a successful online business. Topics have included best practices around customer communications, chargeback management, customer retention and international payments – these have proven to be very useful even in archival form. http://www.vindicia.com/resources/webinars/archives.html
How long have you been in business?
We were formally incorporated in 2003 and actively began development in 2004.
7. How many employees do you have?
We have about 55 employees.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
We estimate we’ll do between $6-8 million in revenue for 2009, which represents about double what we did in 2008.
