Comments on: Wikia Gets An Undisclosed Amount Of Funding From Amazon http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:58:35 -0800 hourly 1 By: GNUvox @ FSC » Blog Archive » Wikia: community tools per un Wiki a tutto gas http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-2165145 GNUvox @ FSC » Blog Archive » Wikia: community tools per un Wiki a tutto gas Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:06:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-2165145 [...] il wiki engine. Progetto assai promettente, visto che Amazon ha appena bissato la sua precedente iniezione di contante (imprecisata la somma), che va ad aggiungersi ai 4 milioni di dollari ricevuti a marzo [...] [...] il wiki engine. Progetto assai promettente, visto che Amazon ha appena bissato la sua precedente iniezione di contante (imprecisata la somma), che va ad aggiungersi ai 4 milioni di dollari ricevuti a marzo [...]

]]> By: web live :: Amazon.com launches independent Endless.com :: January :: 2007 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-665926 web live :: Amazon.com launches independent Endless.com :: January :: 2007 Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:04:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-665926 [...] Amazon.com has been diversifying their business lately into a variety of initiatives that seem to branch away from their core competency. Endless seems to be more in-line with their core — will it be the first of an endless list of niche websites they launch in an effort to improve (”web 2.0′ing”) the buying experience for each of their product lines? [...] [...] Amazon.com has been diversifying their business lately into a variety of initiatives that seem to branch away from their core competency. Endless seems to be more in-line with their core — will it be the first of an endless list of niche websites they launch in an effort to improve (”web 2.0′ing”) the buying experience for each of their product lines? [...]

]]> By: Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Amazon.com launches independent Endless.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-661737 Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Amazon.com launches independent Endless.com Fri, 05 Jan 2007 07:57:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-661737 [...] Amazon.com has been diversifying their business lately into a variety of initiatives that seem to branch away from their core competency. Endless seems to be more in-line with their core — will it be the first of an endless list of niche websites they launch in an effort to improve (”web 2.0′ing”) the buying experience for each of their product lines? [...] [...] Amazon.com has been diversifying their business lately into a variety of initiatives that seem to branch away from their core competency. Endless seems to be more in-line with their core — will it be the first of an endless list of niche websites they launch in an effort to improve (”web 2.0′ing”) the buying experience for each of their product lines? [...]

]]> By: Media-Blog » Bekommt Google bald Konkurrenz? Jimmy Wales plant Suchmaschine Wikiasari http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-587693 Media-Blog » Bekommt Google bald Konkurrenz? Jimmy Wales plant Suchmaschine Wikiasari Sun, 24 Dec 2006 11:35:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-587693 [...] Wikia has raised over $4 million in capital, including a recent round by Amazon.” [...] [...] Wikia has raised over $4 million in capital, including a recent round by Amazon.” [...]

]]> By: Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Wikia to Launch Search Engine: Exclusive Screenshot http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-586777 Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Wikia to Launch Search Engine: Exclusive Screenshot Sun, 24 Dec 2006 06:54:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-586777 [...] Wikia has raised over $4 million in capital, including a recent round by Amazon. [...] [...] Wikia has raised over $4 million in capital, including a recent round by Amazon. [...]

]]> By: Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Wikia Announces Free Wiki Hosting http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-514492 Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Wikia Announces Free Wiki Hosting Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:15:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-514492 [...] This announcement solves at least some of the mystery behind Wikia’s purchase of ArmchairGM earlier this month. ArmchairGM is the first freely-licensed software package that OpenServing will offer up. It is also noteworthy that Wikia received an undisclosed amount of funding from Amazon just weeks ago, which is likely an important contributing factor to Wikia’s ability to do this. Wikia Sphere It [...] [...] This announcement solves at least some of the mystery behind Wikia’s purchase of ArmchairGM earlier this month. ArmchairGM is the first freely-licensed software package that OpenServing will offer up. It is also noteworthy that Wikia received an undisclosed amount of funding from Amazon just weeks ago, which is likely an important contributing factor to Wikia’s ability to do this. Wikia Sphere It [...]

]]> By: dave liu dot com » Dave’s Picks: Internet and Digital Media Articles http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-512952 dave liu dot com » Dave’s Picks: Internet and Digital Media Articles Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:24:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-512952 [...] Amazon Is The Sole Investor In Wikia’s Second Round; Wikia Acquires ArmchairGM - It’s a shift from the crowd that invested in the$4 million first round earlier this year from a group including angel investors, Bessemer Venture Partners and Omidyar Network. Part of Wikia’s round (amount undisclosed) includes the purchase of the sports community site, ArmchairGM for more than $2 million, underscoring how Wikia is having to reach out to acquire talent and technology. Wikia says it will use the ArmChairGM technology to help it incorporate user-generated news and voting into future Wikia fan sites. Story: http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/ [...] [...] Amazon Is The Sole Investor In Wikia’s Second Round; Wikia Acquires ArmchairGM – It’s a shift from the crowd that invested in the$4 million first round earlier this year from a group including angel investors, Bessemer Venture Partners and Omidyar Network. Part of Wikia’s round (amount undisclosed) includes the purchase of the sports community site, ArmchairGM for more than $2 million, underscoring how Wikia is having to reach out to acquire talent and technology. Wikia says it will use the ArmChairGM technology to help it incorporate user-generated news and voting into future Wikia fan sites. Story: http://www.tech...ng-from-amazon/ [...]

]]> By: Adrian Keys http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-496608 Adrian Keys Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:28:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-496608 Hey...I constantly hear of companies raising funds...sometimes obscene amounts. What am I doing wrong?? www.revafinancial.squarespace.com Hey…I constantly hear of companies raising funds…sometimes obscene amounts. What am I doing wrong??

http://www.reva...squarespace.com

]]> By: Denver Wang http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-495111 Denver Wang Thu, 07 Dec 2006 10:36:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-495111 This is a good site to browser, as wiki.org was blocked. www.ezecho.com This is a good site to browser, as wiki.org was blocked.

http://www.ezecho.com

]]> By: TechCrunch en français http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-494850 TechCrunch en français Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:38:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-494850 <strong>Wikia boucle un tour avec Amazon...</strong> Wikia, dont nous parlions il y a peu vient de boucler un second tour de table aujourd’hui dont le montant n’a pas été révélé et operé intégralement par Amazon. Cette semaine Wikia avait annoncé l’acquisition de ArmchairGM un site de spor... Wikia boucle un tour avec Amazon…

Wikia, dont nous parlions il y a peu vient de boucler un second tour de table aujourd’hui dont le montant n’a pas été révélé et operé intégralement par Amazon.
Cette semaine Wikia avait annoncé l’acquisition de ArmchairGM un site de spor…

]]> By: michal frackowiak http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-494692 michal frackowiak Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:06:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-494692 Wikia does not offer "private wikis" - they must accept every proposal for a new site manually and they accept only these that have some "guarantee" of gathering strong community and success. They have recently moved into making some sort of "product" wikis - for iPod, games, some hardware... If they could put more effort on improving MediaWiki... As for profits: this surprises me. You do not have to be smart to make $1 per page 1000 impressions with Google Ads. Well, if you put them on the right-hand side it would be worse. But ok, let us see some graph: http://www.alexaholic.com/wikidot.com+wikia.com It seems Wikia is getting at least x10 - x20 more traffic that Wikidot. They also claim they have 1 milion visitors per day which simply do not match. If either of these is true, is it really THAT HARD to monetize this traffic? Wikidot is almost profitable (with very low running costs). Wikia could: - sell links (footers of the page) - different ads for product wikis (e.g. shopping.com?) - sell histing for private wikis - accept any proposed wikis (scalability issue? naaa) - build nice services I just do not follow their strategies. If Wikidot would have their traffic it would not need any investments at all to either keep it running or expand. regards - mf Wikia does not offer “private wikis” – they must accept every proposal for a new site manually and they accept only these that have some “guarantee” of gathering strong community and success.

They have recently moved into making some sort of “product” wikis – for iPod, games, some hardware…

If they could put more effort on improving MediaWiki…

As for profits: this surprises me. You do not have to be smart to make $1 per page 1000 impressions with Google Ads. Well, if you put them on the right-hand side it would be worse. But ok, let us see some graph:

http://www.alex...t.com+wikia.com

It seems Wikia is getting at least x10 – x20 more traffic that Wikidot. They also claim they have 1 milion visitors per day which simply do not match. If either of these is true, is it really THAT HARD to monetize this traffic? Wikidot is almost profitable (with very low running costs).

Wikia could:
- sell links (footers of the page)
- different ads for product wikis (e.g. shopping.com?)
- sell histing for private wikis
- accept any proposed wikis (scalability issue? naaa)
- build nice services

I just do not follow their strategies. If Wikidot would have their traffic it would not need any investments at all to either keep it running or expand.

regards – mf

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-493606 David Mackey Thu, 07 Dec 2006 04:02:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-493606 Interesting move on Amazon's point. Though, a smart move, if Wikia will move forward in any similar way to Wikipedia. Interesting move on Amazon’s point. Though, a smart move, if Wikia will move forward in any similar way to Wikipedia.

]]> By: anon http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-493589 anon Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:56:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-493589 "Wikia is a pile of dog shit." That had me spitting saliva on my monitor! Most amusing. There does seem to be some ignorance as what wikia verses wikipedia is though - so it was worth pointing out. “Wikia is a pile of dog shit.”

That had me spitting saliva on my monitor! Most amusing.

There does seem to be some ignorance as what wikia verses wikipedia is though – so it was worth pointing out.

]]> By: neotechie http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-493575 neotechie Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:52:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-493575 WiAmazon ??? WiAmazon ???

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-493296 Anonymous Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:03:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-493296 Wikia is not a "sister site" of Wikipedia. Saying they are such only encourages people to think they are the same thing as Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a non-profit and amazing effort. Wikia is a pile of dog shit. Wikia is not a “sister site” of Wikipedia. Saying they are such only encourages people to think they are the same thing as Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a non-profit and amazing effort. Wikia is a pile of dog shit.

]]> By: Omar http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-493136 Omar Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:18:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-493136 Wikia is not profitable. I believe it won't even make any money - the traffic will stay minimal. Lightning doesn't strike twice. If these investors really believe Jimmy Wales can pull off Wikia to even a fraction of the success that Wikipedia enjoys then they are blind. Wikia is not profitable. I believe it won’t even make any money – the traffic will stay minimal.

Lightning doesn’t strike twice. If these investors really believe Jimmy Wales can pull off Wikia to even a fraction of the success that Wikipedia enjoys then they are blind.

]]> By: Wikia Gets another round of an Funding From Amazon » Dee’s-Planet! Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492734 Wikia Gets another round of an Funding From Amazon » Dee’s-Planet! Blog Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:28:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492734 [...] Wikia a for-profit sister site of Wikipedia, is a collection of communities with websites that you can edit has received "second round of funding" today from Amazon. No word yet on how much Amazon has forked over. Just this week, Wikia announced that they would purchase ArmchairGM, an online sports community, for $2 million in cash and Wikia stock.Continue for more info....  [...] [...] Wikia a for-profit sister site of Wikipedia, is a collection of communities with websites that you can edit has received “second round of funding” today from Amazon. No word yet on how much Amazon has forked over. Just this week, Wikia announced that they would purchase ArmchairGM, an online sports community, for $2 million in cash and Wikia stock.Continue for more info….  [...]

]]> By: Jerome http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492536 Jerome Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:37:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492536 total cost for Wikipedia this quarter: $321,200 or ~1.2 million for a year. See http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Budget/2005 Let's assume, arguendo, that Wikia becomes half the size of Wikipedia, and only put up google ads. They would make a crap-load of money. total cost for Wikipedia this quarter: $321,200 or ~1.2 million for a year. See http://wikimedi...iki/Budget/2005

Let’s assume, arguendo, that Wikia becomes half the size of Wikipedia, and only put up google ads. They would make a crap-load of money.

]]> By: foobar http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492508 foobar Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:28:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492508 #10: Of course Wikia is profitable, I just edited their financial pages so that it says they are profitable, so obviously it is true! Lack of accountability in accounting is definitely the next wikifrontier! Wikiality indeed. #10: Of course Wikia is profitable, I just edited their financial pages so that it says they are profitable, so obviously it is true! Lack of accountability in accounting is definitely the next wikifrontier!

Wikiality indeed.

]]> By: Beatbox http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492476 Beatbox Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:23:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492476 Vik, thanks for the clarification. I can understand using Wikipedia under those circumstances. Vik, thanks for the clarification. I can understand using Wikipedia under those circumstances.

]]> By: Vik http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492467 Vik Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:20:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492467 #9 So far, wikipedia has served me well. But again, I use it just as a starting point in my research. I would not cite to a wikipedia article in a brief :-) #9 So far, wikipedia has served me well. But again, I use it just as a starting point in my research. I would not cite to a wikipedia article in a brief :-)

]]> By: Vik http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492448 Vik Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:15:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492448 Exactly, Jerome. For me, $ is not really the issue because I work for a large law firm and we have a flat fee contract with both Lexis and WL. However, I use Wikipedia to get info on our clients, opposing parties (usually big corps), cities (make sure we're filing lawsuit in the right court), etc. Also, Wikipedia is a great starting point for many of my research projects as it provides basic info on many different legal subjects. Exactly, Jerome. For me, $ is not really the issue because I work for a large law firm and we have a flat fee contract with both Lexis and WL. However, I use Wikipedia to get info on our clients, opposing parties (usually big corps), cities (make sure we’re filing lawsuit in the right court), etc. Also, Wikipedia is a great starting point for many of my research projects as it provides basic info on many different legal subjects.

]]> By: michal frackowiak http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492431 michal frackowiak Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492431 So, anyone knows if Wikia Inc is profitable or not at this point? Some time ago they were claiming to open a R&D center in Poland. Somehow this got forgotten... ;-) So, anyone knows if Wikia Inc is profitable or not at this point? Some time ago they were claiming to open a R&D center in Poland. Somehow this got forgotten… ;-)

]]> By: Beatbox http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492429 Beatbox Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:08:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492429 Im sorry, but I wouldn't want my attorney doing fact-checking on Wikipedia. Maybe for quick bits of info, but nothing more. Im sorry, but I wouldn’t want my attorney doing fact-checking on Wikipedia.

Maybe for quick bits of info, but nothing more.

]]> By: Jerome http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-492397 Jerome Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:02:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/06/wikia-gets-an-undisclosed-amount-of-funding-from-amazon/#comment-492397 @beatbox Lexis Nexis is <i>expensive</i> and is hard to navigate through. Sometimes for a quick bit of information its easier to search on Wikipedia. @beatbox

Lexis Nexis is expensive and is hard to navigate through. Sometimes for a quick bit of information its easier to search on Wikipedia.

]]>