Comments on: Can newspapers also be tech incubators?

By: Syed Karim

Syed Karim — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:14:12 +0000

Pawel: Can you actually back up any part of your statement. Based on what I’ve seen in many, many instances, there’s not an ounce of truth to it.

By: Pawel

Pawel — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:05:18 +0000

Most seeding funds, search for: 20-23 yo boy with idea “facebook”, company must be in US, have users, have paying customers, rate of return at least 40%. If you are 30 yo, have cure of aids or any idea in other country than Us – forget VC, Seedfunds. The only way is to grow busines by Your own.

By: Mathew Ingram

Mathew Ingram — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:26 +0000

I agree, Mike — there are a lot of potential opportunities and synergies there. Thanks for the comment.

By: Mike Anthony

Mike Anthony — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:52:36 +0000

When you look at the business plan of most startups, the cost of customer acquisition is a critical line item in evaluating the potential success of the concept. In the case of Groupon for example, customer acquisition/marketing is now their largest expense. Radio’s promotional platform is a strong solution that is not being considered by either side. Why isn’t a broadcast company who could provide a network of radio stations with targeted audiences looking to be the voice for customer acquisition for a startup? LIving Social and Groupon even Angies List spent money in traditional media as a last resort to scale and extend reach. It should have been their first move.

Ben Lerer of Lerer Ventures lamented that they do not have the all-important advertising and media connections to help juice those young companies’ revenues or pave the way for partnerships. Thrillist should be partnered with every rock station in the US and Canada for example. Startups need reach and broadcasters need digital tools. This is opportunity.

Mike Anthony
Mike Anthony Media