Jim Panttaja

Yesterday I attended Launch Silicon Valley sponsored by SVASE (Silicon Valley Association of Entrepeneurs). It was a sort of beauty contest, with about 30 companies making brief presentations (plus a three interesting keynotes - each very different - but each with some interesting insights). It was a particularly eclectic set of companies in very different fields. They were also different stages, some with cool ideas and technology but no apparent business model, or a business model, but no idea of how to market it. But to be clear, there were were several that are fully formed, and several with good technology concepts that need just a little more thought to get them positioned in the right space. Here are notes on a few of the companies that caught my eye.

Datamash Corporation allows you to share data in spreadsheets (with more sources and targets in the works). For a spreadsheet - this means that I can have a spreadsheet - which rolls up data from other people. As they update their spreadsheets, the data is reflected in my spreadsheet the next time I open it. For a sales manager, this is quite powerful. This creates an interesting database management system, and I can picture a number of issues that need to be explored - but it is a powerful concept.

Jaxtr is one of several services that connect callers - reducing their telephone costs (some use a local phone number), and connecting you without your caller knowing your phone number. Others include Jajah, Jangl, and, from Panttaja Consulting alumni Mahesh Lalwani, CCube. Different capabilities (depending on the company) include the ability to block specific calls, send some to voice mail, and limit what time calls are allowed.

ShapeWriter is a text input product that is based on gestures over a diagram of keys. You draw on the diagram going from letter to letter. You are able to learn the gesture for a given word - and if you are closes enough, the system figures out what word you had in mind. In seems especially timely with the announcement from Microsoft of Surface, and also seems like it would be useful with cell phones (especially iPhone).

TelID was a particularly simple, but compelling idea. It provides an alternative to local search based on a phone number. They are initially working with Yellow Pages companies - to include ads that indicate that there is a TelID link available. You then enter the phone number as part of the URL: www.telid.com/4155551212, and you get a web page about the company (or individual - allowing an insurance agent to have their own page - easily accessible on the web). This takes an existing, well known identifier - the phone number, as the search tool. Clever idea, and clever to link it to Yellow Pages as a first attempt to get critical mass.

Mary has also blogged on this event at mary.panttaja.com.