Comments on: Blog Recommendation Startup Outbrain Raises $5 Million http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/ Startup and Technology News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:28:29 -0800 hourly 1 By: Vicente L Nasta http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2587047 Vicente L Nasta Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:03:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2587047 We are intrested obtain whit you assistance to obtain fund, loan destiny invested in capital work, new steel metal building, new machinery, whit to support executive summary business plan, general business plan, project in excel, all at development new industry, whit support high technoligie, and one franchise high prestige international, how is www.composit.com, this mark we have representative from USA, & Mexico We are intrested obtain whit you assistance to obtain fund, loan destiny invested in capital work, new steel metal building, new machinery, whit to support executive summary business plan, general business plan, project in excel, all at development new industry, whit support high technoligie, and one franchise high prestige international, how is http://www.composit.com, this mark we have representative from USA, & Mexico

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]]> By: Suggestions 4 Obama http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2555972 Suggestions 4 Obama Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:37:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2555972 Great Idea, but might not be easy to monetize profitably. Great Idea, but might not be easy to monetize profitably.

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]]> By: Gonzo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2489955 Gonzo Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:52:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2489955 How the f*ck can you raise $5m for something as basic as contextual filtering? Either the VCs are retards or the founders are geniuses, because I know people who were unable to find any funding for ideas (with business models) that were way more innovative than this. How the f*ck can you raise $5m for something as basic as contextual filtering? Either the VCs are retards or the founders are geniuses, because I know people who were unable to find any funding for ideas (with business models) that were way more innovative than this.

]]> By: Blogger To Add Star Rating System To BlogSpot? : The Blog Herald http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2283822 Blogger To Add Star Rating System To BlogSpot? : The Blog Herald Thu, 08 May 2008 19:07:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2283822 [...] star ratings (or something similar) was through OutBrain and Spotback, the former who previously raised $5 million in a financing [...] [...] star ratings (or something similar) was through OutBrain and Spotback, the former who previously raised $5 million in a financing [...]

]]> By: John LoGioco http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2007003 John LoGioco Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:48:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2007003 Antony - Good points. Why don't you shoot me an email at john(at)outbrain(dot)com re: personalization of content on Blogcatalog. cheers Antony – Good points. Why don’t you shoot me an email at john(at)outbrain(dot)com re: personalization of content on Blogcatalog. cheers

]]> By: iAdam http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2006957 iAdam Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:56:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2006957 products or services with no business modle should shampoo my ass! outbrain represents its founders as they all with(out)brain. you wanna create a service for the net? Either create a truly out of the blue concept, that don't need to show a source of income at start, or as the saying goes: show -me-the-money! 99/00 big bang here we come. products or services with no business modle should shampoo my ass!
outbrain represents its founders as they all with(out)brain.
you wanna create a service for the net? Either create a truly out of the blue concept, that don’t need to show a source of income at start, or as the saying goes: show -me-the-money!
99/00 big bang here we come.

]]> By: Antony Berkman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2006693 Antony Berkman Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:02:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2006693 It definitely has value. The challenge/opportunity is communicating these benefits to bloggers. It seems as though many widget/plugin companies miss this opportunity because they communicate in language that the average blogger doesn't "get". At blogcatalog, we recently did a deal with SezWho, to get a blogcatalog version of their widget installed on blogs. So far the results have been pretty good. It definitely has value. The challenge/opportunity is communicating these benefits to bloggers. It seems as though many widget/plugin companies miss this opportunity because they communicate in language that the average blogger doesn’t “get”. At blogcatalog, we recently did a deal with SezWho, to get a blogcatalog version of their widget installed on blogs. So far the results have been pretty good.

]]> By: Yaron Galai http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005792 Yaron Galai Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:22:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005792 hh2020 - The whole idea is to aggregate as much data as possible, from as many sources as possible, so that we can make the most intelligent recommendations for each particular reader. So the answer is absolutely yes. Joe T - I believe that Marc Andreesen sold LoudCloud for ~$1.6B. Not a bad outcome for a company lost in oblivion... ;-) hh2020 – The whole idea is to aggregate as much data as possible, from as many sources as possible, so that we can make the most intelligent recommendations for each particular reader. So the answer is absolutely yes.

Joe T – I believe that Marc Andreesen sold LoudCloud for ~$1.6B. Not a bad outcome for a company lost in oblivion… ;-)

]]> By: John LoGioco http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005791 John LoGioco Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:20:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005791 #24 Antony - This is John from Outbrain (biz dev). Good question on the benefits to bloggers. It's really three fold right now; 1.) ratings add a level of interactivity to the blog that is easier for readers to cast than a comment, 2.) from the ratings we power personal recommendations to your readers to your own content, the goal here is simple, drive page views on your blog through personalization, 3.) collect ratings on your content through rss readers as we are integrated into 4 major platforms. Plus some side goodies like a slick Blog Rating Analytics Report and a "Most Popular" badge round out why bloggers would install our free plugin. Feel free to shoot me an email at john (at) outbrain (dot) com for more info. Your point about how ratings interact/effect with the comment ecosystem is an interesting one. Thanks for the thought there, as I will be looking into this. #24 Antony – This is John from Outbrain (biz dev). Good question on the benefits to bloggers. It’s really three fold right now; 1.) ratings add a level of interactivity to the blog that is easier for readers to cast than a comment, 2.) from the ratings we power personal recommendations to your readers to your own content, the goal here is simple, drive page views on your blog through personalization, 3.) collect ratings on your content through rss readers as we are integrated into 4 major platforms. Plus some side goodies like a slick Blog Rating Analytics Report and a “Most Popular” badge round out why bloggers would install our free plugin. Feel free to shoot me an email at john (at) outbrain (dot) com for more info.

Your point about how ratings interact/effect with the comment ecosystem is an interesting one. Thanks for the thought there, as I will be looking into this.

]]> By: Jenkins http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005760 Jenkins Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:59:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005760 All of the examples you cited are people that have raised money after a successful outcome. VC's will give successful people extra space, that's all. All of the examples you cited are people that have raised money after a successful outcome. VC’s will give successful people extra space, that’s all.

]]> By: Joe T http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005747 Joe T Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:52:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005747 Jenkins - lots of people who started companies with successful exits go on to found startups that get lost in oblivion. Whatever happened to Marc Andreesen and LoudCloud? Look at Jeff Taylor, who founded Monster, and his recent white elephant, Eons. Should VCs make funding decisons based on a name, or on the merits of the company? Jenkins – lots of people who started companies with successful exits go on to found startups that get lost in oblivion. Whatever happened to Marc Andreesen and LoudCloud? Look at Jeff Taylor, who founded Monster, and his recent white elephant,
Eons. Should VCs make funding decisons based on a name, or on the merits of the company?

]]> By: Antony Berkman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005710 Antony Berkman Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:15:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005710 Yes it makes sense in light of Galai's background in contextual ads. The challenge will be to make this plugin compelling to bloggers. I suppose if they add a revenue sharing component then bloggers will be more likely to add this plugin to their blogs. However, they may not want to add the plugin as it detracts from readers leaving blog comments. Yes it makes sense in light of Galai’s background in contextual ads. The challenge will be to make this plugin compelling to bloggers. I suppose if they add a revenue sharing component then bloggers will be more likely to add this plugin to their blogs. However, they may not want to add the plugin as it detracts from readers leaving blog comments.

]]> By: Jenkins http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005669 Jenkins Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:37:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005669 Joe T Your analysis is strange which leads me to believe that you do not get how things work. Quigo was one of the most successful companies to exit in 2007, and probably within the top 20 ad companies of all time. Do you need more reasons for a VC to give Mr. Galai more funding? Joe T

Your analysis is strange which leads me to believe that you do not get how things work. Quigo was one of the most successful companies to exit in 2007, and probably within the top 20 ad companies of all time. Do you need more reasons for a VC to give Mr. Galai more funding?

]]> By: hh2020 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005645 hh2020 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:13:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005645 Yaron, are/can you internally aggregating the data your plugin generates for analytical purposes? Yaron, are/can you internally aggregating the data your plugin generates for analytical purposes?

]]> By: Joe T http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005632 Joe T Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005632 How can they get all that VC money when, according to Mr Yaron Galai himself, they're not even sure what their revenue model is, or even if they'll have a revenue model? In the real world of VC fiancing, this just doesn't happen. The VCs would be liable for breaching their fiduciary duties to the fund because of inadequate due diligence and negligence. Which leads me to believe the VC financing deal here might be a paper deal, an "inside" deal, or something being done on a wink-and-a-nod, for whatever reasons. How can they get all that VC money when, according to Mr Yaron Galai himself, they’re not even sure what their revenue model is, or even if they’ll have a revenue model?

In the real world of VC fiancing, this just doesn’t happen. The VCs would be liable for breaching their fiduciary duties to the fund because of inadequate due diligence and negligence.

Which leads me to believe the VC financing deal here might be a paper deal, an “inside” deal, or something being done on a wink-and-a-nod, for whatever reasons.

]]> By: Antony Berkman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005601 Antony Berkman Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:38:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005601 Good luck. The challenge is providing enough incentive for bloggers to add the plugin. What is the advantage to bloggers who add this? Isn't it just as effective to check out the blogroll of bloggers you are following? Or perhaps visit BlogCatalog where you already can get recommendations of similar blogs to the one's you like and even engage the bloggers in conversation. Good luck. The challenge is providing enough incentive for bloggers to add the plugin. What is the advantage to bloggers who add this? Isn’t it just as effective to check out the blogroll of bloggers you are following? Or perhaps visit BlogCatalog where you already can get recommendations of similar blogs to the one’s you like and even engage the bloggers in conversation.

]]> By: Yaron Galai http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005569 Yaron Galai Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:13:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005569 mahei - while we hope to make lots of recommendations in the future, right now we're focused 100% on making *great* recommendations. We've consciously decided to sacrifice coverage in favor of quality. We want to make sure that when you see an outbrain recommendation, that you can trust it as being really very good and worth your reading time. mahei – while we hope to make lots of recommendations in the future, right now we’re focused 100% on making *great* recommendations. We’ve consciously decided to sacrifice coverage in favor of quality. We want to make sure that when you see an outbrain recommendation, that you can trust it as being really very good and worth your reading time.

]]> By: mahei http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005557 mahei Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:03:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005557 That's a great idea! Good luck. There's nothing like getting a referral from people with similar interests and who's rankings are high. It would be interesting to see if they could make 5 recommendations instead of 2. That’s a great idea! Good luck.

There’s nothing like getting a referral from people with similar interests and who’s rankings are high.

It would be interesting to see if they could make 5 recommendations instead of 2.

]]> By: Blog Recommendation Site Outbrain Launches… « Amalgamized: The SupertouchED Superblog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005527 Blog Recommendation Site Outbrain Launches… « Amalgamized: The SupertouchED Superblog Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:19:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005527 [...] Link to more information [...] [...] Link to more information [...]

]]> By: Yaron Galai http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005495 Yaron Galai Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:45:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005495 I don't believe in building companies for selling... it doesn't work (or at least not interesting for me). I posted about it here - <a href="http://www.webx0.com/2007/05/outbrain_gets_f.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.webx0.com/2007/05/outbrain_gets_f.html</a>. I think outbrain will be a very solid, long-term business, even if currently we're not 100% sure how specifically we'll generate revenues from it. I don’t believe in building companies for selling… it doesn’t work (or at least not interesting for me). I posted about it here – http://www.webx...ain_gets_f.html.

I think outbrain will be a very solid, long-term business, even if currently we’re not 100% sure how specifically we’ll generate revenues from it.

]]> By: iCluck SEO http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005487 iCluck SEO Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:40:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005487 Del.icio.us similarities are dependent on the tagging of the posts in the feeds for better blog recommendations. Hitting critical mass will be hard, there needs to be some sort of incentive added into the picture - such as traffic? or money? It's all about how the app will make money, that's the main goal, regardless of the great central idea. Del.icio.us similarities are dependent on the tagging of the posts in the feeds for better blog recommendations. Hitting critical mass will be hard, there needs to be some sort of incentive added into the picture – such as traffic? or money? It’s all about how the app will make money, that’s the main goal, regardless of the great central idea.

]]> By: Pat M http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2005485 Pat M Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:38:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/25/blog-recommendation-startup-outbrain-raises-5-million/#comment-2005485 This seems to me to be a pure acquisition play (i.e. position the company to be purchased by large Internet search/content company). There is no obvious way they are generating ANY revenue based on current business model. I imagine the VC money is covering the burn (salaries, Amazon S3 hosting) while they try to reach critical mass. I can see this technology and associated user-base could be attractive to a big player (IF, they can reach critical mass). Seems similar to del.icio.us, plus addition of recommendation capability. This seems to me to be a pure acquisition play (i.e. position the company to be purchased by large Internet search/content company). There is no obvious way they are generating ANY revenue based on current business model. I imagine the VC money is covering the burn (salaries, Amazon S3 hosting) while they try to reach critical mass. I can see this technology and associated user-base could be attractive to a big player (IF, they can reach critical mass). Seems similar to del.icio.us, plus addition of recommendation capability.

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