Comments on: Latin American Social Network Sonico Raises $4.3 Million http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:30:21 -0800 hourly 1 By: Top 10 Latin American Startups of 2009 | Espejo Tecnologico http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-3119262 Top 10 Latin American Startups of 2009 | Espejo Tecnologico Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:28:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-3119262 [...] the new generation we have seen Sonico raise $4M, Buscapé sell for $374M, Chile becoming a haven for tech investors and entrepreneurs, Argentine [...] [...] the new generation we have seen Sonico raise $4M, Buscapé sell for $374M, Chile becoming a haven for tech investors and entrepreneurs, Argentine [...]

]]> By: Busted Keys http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2969220 Busted Keys Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:40:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2969220 more than a year later and i'd just stumbled across this. i'm going to check this out to see if it measures up to Facebook! more than a year later and i’d just stumbled across this. i’m going to check this out to see if it measures up to Facebook!

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="100000053666135">Shankar Ganesh</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2945933 Shankar Ganesh Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:34:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2945933 why sonico is not in English? why sonico is not in English?

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="571638245">fb571638245</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2557986 fb571638245 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:51:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2557986 Testing Facebook Connect! Testing Facebook Connect!

]]> By: mike klingston http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2557040 mike klingston Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2557040 spammico again? This social network is nothing but spam. Check the comments: http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/16/sonico-the-biggest-social-networking-site-youve-probably-never-heard-of/#comments spammico again?
This social network is nothing but spam. Check the comments:

http://www.tech...rd-of/#comments

]]> By: Mark Mooney http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2537517 Mark Mooney Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:29:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2537517 I am from Australia, so the language barrier is a problem...but here is my challenge to all. 10 leaders in South America can change the lives of millions. Our team at CTWT is doing this in so many parts of the world, we are different, we are helping and making a massive change to so many. Take a look at the attached link and if you are up to the challenge, come and join us, you can make a difference to so many people's lives. I am from Australia, so the language barrier is a problem…but here is my challenge to all. 10 leaders in South America can change the lives of millions. Our team at CTWT is doing this in so many parts of the world, we are different, we are helping and making a massive change to so many. Take a look at the attached link and if you are up to the challenge, come and join us, you can make a difference to so many people’s lives.

]]> By: AndresCavelier.com » Facebook, Orkut, Hi5: redes sociales más populares en América Latina http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2509296 AndresCavelier.com » Facebook, Orkut, Hi5: redes sociales más populares en América Latina Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:29:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2509296 [...] que no aparece es Sonico, la cual ha ido ganando adeptos en Argentina y Brasil. Otra que no figura en la región pero que es popularísima en España es [...] [...] que no aparece es Sonico, la cual ha ido ganando adeptos en Argentina y Brasil. Otra que no figura en la región pero que es popularísima en España es [...]

]]> By: carolina ruiz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2471894 carolina ruiz Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:06:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2471894 holA holA

]]> By: Andrew Cohen http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2352978 Andrew Cohen Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:44:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2352978 I enjoyed the post on Sonico, but was disappointed that you didn’t mention Fotolog as one of the established social networks in Latin America. With 18 million members in Europe, Latin America and the United States – and more than 4 billion pageviews monthly – Fotolog is one of the ten most actively-used social networks in the world. We’re growing at 7 percent per month in Latin America, and we’re bigger than Google and Yahoo in some South American markets. After a couple years of this kind of growth, we figured that we should stop joking that we were the “biggest social network no one had ever heard of!” -andrew Andrew Cohen GM, Fotolog.com I enjoyed the post on Sonico, but was disappointed that you didn’t mention Fotolog as one of the established social networks in Latin America. With 18 million members in Europe, Latin America and the United States – and more than 4 billion pageviews monthly – Fotolog is one of the ten most actively-used social networks in the world.

We’re growing at 7 percent per month in Latin America, and we’re bigger than Google and Yahoo in some South American markets. After a couple years of this kind of growth, we figured that we should stop joking that we were the “biggest social network no one had ever heard of!”

-andrew

Andrew Cohen
GM, Fotolog.com

]]> By: Fabrice Grinda http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2350273 Fabrice Grinda Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:49:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2350273 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=379 Why I invested in Sonico I first met Sonico at BarCamp in Buenos Aires last September. They were by far the most interesting company. Alec and I met Rodrigo, the CEO, and his team in person a few days later and we were blown away. It’s hard to put my finger on what it was exactly, but they just got it. They were fantastic people – all close friends from San Andres University in the mid to late twenties – and we loved their approach to business They already had great traction and we were convinced we could do great things together as the things they were struggling with were exactly things we could help them with (structure of the company, fund raising, etc.). We decided we had to work together and set about fund raising and restructuring the company (making it a Delaware C Corp, etc.). It ended up being much more difficult than expected. The company continued to grow extremely rapidly reaching nearly 17 million users in less than 9 months of operation! However, Argentine politicians seemed bent on making the country less appealing to investors. They increased their agricultural export tax (one of the worst policies possible to begin with) which led to riots by the farmers. They let inflation runaway and it’s now nearing 25% per year! Several American VCs were put off by the macroeconomic environment in Argentina. In the end, the team and the story were compelling enough and Rod just succeeded in raising $4.3 million from DN Capital and a few investors. The project remains risky given the competitive nature of the market. Facebook effectively enters market through the expat community and sometimes takes off dramatically as it did in Turkey and Columbia in the past few months. Despite the threat, I bet on Sonico because I believe that they will find a way to succeed given their single mindedness, extreme focus, doggedness and passion! Rod, Alvaro, Tom, Gustavo, Alejandro and Anton: it’s all in your hands now, go kick some butt! http://www.fabr...inda.com/?p=379

Why I invested in Sonico

I first met Sonico at BarCamp in Buenos Aires last September. They were by far the most interesting company. Alec and I met Rodrigo, the CEO, and his team in person a few days later and we were blown away. It’s hard to put my finger on what it was exactly, but they just got it. They were fantastic people – all close friends from San Andres University in the mid to late twenties – and we loved their approach to business

They already had great traction and we were convinced we could do great things together as the things they were struggling with were exactly things we could help them with (structure of the company, fund raising, etc.).

We decided we had to work together and set about fund raising and restructuring the company (making it a Delaware C Corp, etc.). It ended up being much more difficult than expected. The company continued to grow extremely rapidly reaching nearly 17 million users in less than 9 months of operation! However, Argentine politicians seemed bent on making the country less appealing to investors. They increased their agricultural export tax (one of the worst policies possible to begin with) which led to riots by the farmers. They let inflation runaway and it’s now nearing 25% per year! Several American VCs were put off by the macroeconomic environment in Argentina.

In the end, the team and the story were compelling enough and Rod just succeeded in raising $4.3 million from DN Capital and a few investors. The project remains risky given the competitive nature of the market. Facebook effectively enters market through the expat community and sometimes takes off dramatically as it did in Turkey and Columbia in the past few months.

Despite the threat, I bet on Sonico because I believe that they will find a way to succeed given their single mindedness, extreme focus, doggedness and passion!

Rod, Alvaro, Tom, Gustavo, Alejandro and Anton: it’s all in your hands now, go kick some butt!

]]> By: Arona http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2349006 Arona Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:55:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2349006 Each country in South America has its own social networking flavour - Peru = Hi5, Brazil =Orkut, Venezuela = Badoo and so on. When tech commentators talk about South America they talk about it in terms of it being a single country with a single market, this is wrong. It is very fragmented! Each country in South America has its own social networking flavour – Peru = Hi5, Brazil =Orkut, Venezuela = Badoo and so on.

When tech commentators talk about South America they talk about it in terms of it being a single country with a single market, this is wrong. It is very fragmented!

]]> By: whiskey http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2348384 whiskey Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:42:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2348384 I do not like Sonico, they are spammy. I do not like Sonico, they are spammy.

]]> By: Santiago http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2348290 Santiago Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:40:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2348290 Sorry to water the party but I don't see a future for Sonico. Not by a long shot. Most people here in Colombia are already on Facebook and have never heard of Sonico (same goes for most other major Latin American markets). There is such a thing as social network fatigue or saturation. Sure, some people may join Sonico because they got an invite from a friend, but those memberships will likely get abandoned as all roads eventually lead to Facebook or Myspace. I mean, in open social networks BIGGER IS NECESSARILY BETTER. Also, what's the added value of Sonico? I mean, Facebook is already in Spanish and has all kinds of applications and everyone and their mother has already joined. Why would anyone join Sonico? Let me put this in perspective.... what would everyone say if suddenly someone came out with an 'instant messenger for hispanics' ? Everyone would say " WTF? Hispanics can just use MSN or Y! messenger". Exactly, it's the same with social networks... we are no different from the rest of the world, we can just use FB or Myspace. I agree with the previous comment (#20) ... Sonico is one high-risk venture. I feel sorry for those VCs. Regards from Colombia and thanks to Mark for covering startups from south of the border. Sorry to water the party but I don’t see a future for Sonico. Not by a long shot.

Most people here in Colombia are already on Facebook and have never heard of Sonico (same goes for most other major Latin American markets). There is such a thing as social network fatigue or saturation. Sure, some people may join Sonico because they got an invite from a friend, but those memberships will likely get abandoned as all roads eventually lead to Facebook or Myspace. I mean, in open social networks BIGGER IS NECESSARILY BETTER.

Also, what’s the added value of Sonico? I mean, Facebook is already in Spanish and has all kinds of applications and everyone and their mother has already joined. Why would anyone join Sonico?

Let me put this in perspective…. what would everyone say if suddenly someone came out with an ‘instant messenger for hispanics’ ? Everyone would say ” WTF? Hispanics can just use MSN or Y! messenger”. Exactly, it’s the same with social networks… we are no different from the rest of the world, we can just use FB or Myspace.

I agree with the previous comment (#20) … Sonico is one high-risk venture. I feel sorry for those VCs.

Regards from Colombia and thanks to Mark for covering startups from south of the border.

]]> By: Luis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2348250 Luis Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:01:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2348250 I believe the hype on Sonico are a bit exaggerated. First its not the first player to try and unite the Americas via the web. Players with deep funding that even IPO'd blew up. "Mercado Libre"while a survivor of the web 1.0 era still today is a marginal player in the region. Amazon kicks their butt constantly without a local presence. The concept of being a "Me too" facebook in spanish does not assure their long term survival. Latin America has various levels of social complexities that are well manifested in how people in that region use the web or "socializes" in it. Sonico could well be a great local SNS instead of a pan regional one and of-course that will be a non-player in the USA Latin Market. Where there is another set of complexities to deal with. My hat off to the pitch team that got the funding for this high, high risk Latin American venture. Best of luck. I believe the hype on Sonico are a bit exaggerated. First its not the first player to try and unite the Americas via the web. Players with deep funding that even IPO’d blew up. “Mercado Libre”while a survivor of the web 1.0 era still today is a marginal player in the region. Amazon kicks their butt constantly without a local presence.

The concept of being a “Me too” facebook in spanish does not assure their long term survival. Latin America has various levels of social complexities that are well manifested in how people in that region use the web or “socializes” in it. Sonico could well be a great local SNS instead of a pan regional one and of-course that will be a non-player in the USA Latin Market. Where there is another set of complexities to deal with.

My hat off to the pitch team that got the funding for this high, high risk Latin American venture. Best of luck.

]]> By: Christian http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347799 Christian Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:02:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347799 Arrington, here http://www.infotechnology.com/notas/141237-sonico-recibe-fondos-us$-43-millones-menos-un-ano-su-fundacion , you can find more info in spanish! C. Arrington, here http://www.info...no-su-fundacion , you can find more info in spanish!
C.

]]> By: Lucas Morea http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347740 Lucas Morea Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:32:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347740 Great job guys, congrats!!! Keep developing a great product and paying attention to your users, I'm sure you'll continue to do great! Great job guys, congrats!!!
Keep developing a great product and paying attention to your users, I’m sure you’ll continue to do great!

]]> By: Internet Lawyer http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347577 Internet Lawyer Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:27:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347577 We pay very little attention to the Americas in the U.S. and that will change as we awaken to the business opportunity that lies there. China is all the rage. India was all the rage. But we have some sleeping giants in our own backyard (e.g. Brazil) and scant attention is paid to them. I for one am quite happy that not much attention is being paid because the Americas represent "virgin territory" for American entrepreneurs of all flavors. Of course we may need to learn the language but that should not dissuade us. It is typical for Europeans to be fluent in several languages but we tend to be myopic when it comes to foreign cultures. I know that this may come as a news flash but the global economy includes the rest of the western hemisphere. We pay very little attention to the Americas in the U.S. and that will change as we awaken to the business opportunity that lies there. China is all the rage. India was all the rage. But we have some sleeping giants in our own backyard (e.g. Brazil) and scant attention is paid to them.

I for one am quite happy that not much attention is being paid because the Americas represent “virgin territory” for American entrepreneurs of all flavors. Of course we may need to learn the language but that should not dissuade us. It is typical for Europeans to be fluent in several languages but we tend to be myopic when it comes to foreign cultures.

I know that this may come as a news flash but the global economy includes the rest of the western hemisphere.

]]> By: Agustin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347553 Agustin Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:20:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347553 Sonico may be popular now as it had a good 6 month headstart on facebook in LA. But unless it starts innovating in some form it's going to left behind. Sonico may be popular now as it had a good 6 month headstart on facebook in LA. But unless it starts innovating in some form it’s going to left behind.

]]> By: Maria Jose Soubie http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347138 Maria Jose Soubie Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:31:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347138 We can tell you are working very hard and you deserve the very best. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can tell you are working very hard and you deserve the very best.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: J.P. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2347088 J.P. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:07:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2347088 Sonico is a great idea well executed. Congrats to the team! Sonico is a great idea well executed.

Congrats to the team!

]]> By: matias de tezanos http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2346807 matias de tezanos Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:28:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2346807 CONGRATULATIONS ROD! :-) WELL DONE! I wish you and all the team the best of the best! you guys deserve it. CONGRATULATIONS ROD! :-) WELL DONE! I wish you and all the team the best of the best! you guys deserve it.

]]> By: Juanette http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2346800 Juanette Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:25:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2346800 Congratulations to the entire team, I know how hard you are working to make Sonico the biggest Social Network in Latam, that's why I'm grad to hear the good news. Congratulations to the entire team, I know how hard you are working to make Sonico the biggest Social Network in Latam, that’s why I’m grad to hear the good news.

]]> By: Ted Rheingold http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2346795 Ted Rheingold Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:25:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2346795 If *everyone* agrees Alexa data is worthless, can you stop using it as if it means anything or acting surprised when it's data doesn't sync with other information. Srsly, it's time for TC to give up the bad habit. If *everyone* agrees Alexa data is worthless, can you stop using it as if it means anything or acting surprised when it’s data doesn’t sync with other information.

Srsly, it’s time for TC to give up the bad habit.

]]> By: Sebicas http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2346776 Sebicas Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:17:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2346776 Congratulation Rod! I always knew you were going to do it!!! And this is just the beggining!!! I am sure the next round will be way bigger and a mayor players like G or M are going to be behind! I'll see you next time I am BA for the brindis!! Congratulations!! Sebastian Congratulation Rod! I always knew you were going to do it!!!
And this is just the beggining!!! I am sure the next round will be way bigger and a mayor players like G or M are going to be behind!

I’ll see you next time I am BA for the brindis!! Congratulations!!

Sebastian

]]> By: Gaston Bercun http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/comment-page-1/#comment-2346742 Gaston Bercun Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:03:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/latin-american-social-network-sonico-raises-43-million/#comment-2346742 Congratulations to Rodrigo and all the team. Another demonstration of the high quality projects that are being created from Argentina. Congratulations to Rodrigo and all the team. Another demonstration of the high quality projects that are being created from Argentina.

]]>