This group of TechCrunch50 companies is focused on Enterprise software and services. And you thought TC50 was all about Web2.0? These brave companies are trying to solve enterprise class problems. They include; FairSoftware, Yammer, BluePrint, and OpenTrace. The TechCrunch expert panel for this group is Marc Andreessen (Netscape), Marc Benioff, (Salesforce.com), Yossi Vardi (Angel Investor), and Ash Patel (Yahoo).
FairSoftware The place to start and grow a virtual online business. It only takes a few clicks for software developers and website publishers to incorporate, hire and share revenue with other project members. FairSoftware is powered by the “Software Bill of Rights,” a legally sound contract in which virtual "shares" represent decision-making and revenue-sharing rights. This new virtual share concept makes it easy to give shares to anyone who helps out in some way, large or small. People are hired with shares instead of cash, growing a team that is committed to the project's success. It costs nothing to incorporate or issue shares.
Problem/Solution - A way for the "Open Source" community to build a virtual company
Business Model - ??
Possible Competitors - ??
Yammer A tool for making companies and organizations more productive through the exchange of short frequent answers to one simple question: "What are you working on?" As employees answer that question, a feed is created in one central location enabling co-workers to discuss ideas, post news, ask questions, and share links and other information. Yammer also serves as a company directory in which every employee has a profile and as a knowledge base where past conversations can be easily accessed and referenced. It works and looks just like Twitter.
Problem/Solution - Knowledge base for companies
Business Model - Subscription
Possible Competitors - Twitter, AIM and other IM clients
Blueprint Connective Logic, the company behind BluePrint, has created a software development platform, on top of Microsoft Visual Studio, which enables software developers to design, code generate and deploy very complex multi-core software applications without requiring expertise in the field of ‘multi-threaded’ software. It uses a very visual and graphical method for building software. Blueprint enables software that scales out over any number of CPU cores and networked computers, and ensures optimal load balancing and CPU utilization.
Problem/Solution - Simplify multi-core software development
Business Model - Licensed software
Possible Competitors - Coghead, Bungie
OpenTrace A new environmental infrastructure that aggregates product materials' information from bottom up and dynamically calculates the environmental impact indicators. Existing indicators are well authenticated, but are complex and static when calculating the environmental impact or load. OpenTrace approaches this problem from a totally different perspective which is simple and free for use. Based on simple and flexible calculation method, it provides many environmental tools to meet users' needs. You can scan the UPC label on any product and see the environmental impact. OpenTrace also analyzes the supply chain of a product to see the entire environmental impact or carbon footprint.
Problem/Solution - Developer tool for environmental indicators.
Business Model - Unknown
Possible Competitors - CO2Stats
TechCrunch Panel of Experts - Marc Andreessen (Netscape), Marc Benioff, (Salesforce.com), Yossi Vardi (Angel Investor), and Ash Patel (Yahoo).
The panel's questions and observations;
- Marc Andreessen liked the idea of FairSoftware, but has lots of questions about the business model. Liked Yammer as an idea, and liked the viral distribution model. BluePrint-multi-core is an incredibly hard problem and they seem to have solved some of the problem. Loves OpenTrace for the 'Green" factor.
- Marc Benioff - Fairsoftware, this needs to go a lot further on Investor Relations issues. Things like vesting schedules, grants, etc. Yammer - Liked this company the best, and would invest. The name is not very corporate. BluePrint solves a huge problem. OpenTrace would be great if it could trace the origins of food items. Also maybe certify that food was 'green" or that the workers are treated well.
- Ash Patel - Yammer is a good idea, good viral model, but will need to add corp admin tools. OpenTrace - great idea. Branding or certification of products for environmental impact would be great.
- Yossi Vardi - FairSoftware great idea, will eliminate the need for many lawyers. Yammer IM looks like a great idea...will probably be acquired. BluePrint solves a tough problem that I don't understand.
