Archive for September 10th, 2007
Business 2.0: "The Next Disruptors"
This month’s issue of Business 2.0 comes with a seven page article from Erik Schonfeld and Chris Morrison featuring “game-changing startups most likely to upend existing industries - and spawn new entrepreneurial opportunities”.
Blinkx is the first one on their list. This company combines conceptual search, speech recognition and video analysis software to deliver what appears to be the world’s largest single index of rich media content on the Web.
Based on research originally done at Cambridge University, the company was founded in 2004 by Suranga Chandratillake.
Most recently, Blinks launched an IPO on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) in May, 2007 and currently has a market capitalization of US$350M.
“At blinkx.com, users can search over 14 million hours of video content, from 200 of blinkx’s media partners (a list that includes a broad range of providers - from HBO and MTV to PBS and YouTube)”.
“Through its unique, patented and award-winning video and audio analysis technology, blinkx’s software literally watches and listens to rich media online, providing users with unparalleled access to more video from more sources than any other site on the Web - all searchable through a single gateway”.
In July of this year, Time Magazine listed them among the 50 Best Websites.
The other “disruptors” on Erik and Chris’ list are:
- Raydiance:fully software-controlled, desktop-size USP, Ultra Short Pulse, laser.
- Expensr: free online personal finance application with social networking features.
- Zipcar: self serve auto rental, soon available from mobile phones.
- Mfg.com: online marketplace for manufacturers.
- Virgin Charter: online reservations for the air-taxi business.
- Patientslikeme: social networking tools enabling a support community formed by patients.
- Bloom Energy: energy generation in homes and businesses.
- Vanu: cellular base stations to simultaneously operate in multiple wireless standards.
- Zink: portable printing technology with a potential to be built into all kinds of mobile devices.
- A123 Systems: using nanotechnology to create the next generation of lithium-ion batteries.
- Renewable Energy Group: biodiesel.
- Desktop Factory: low cost high performance 3D printing from businesses, schools and home users.
- Cree: semiconductors for LED solid-state lighting increasing their energy performance.
- One Laptop Per Child: sub $200 laptops specifically designed for school children.
Read the source article on Business 2.0 and the related podcast.
José de Francisco 
Chicago, 10 September 07
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