In the last few months we’ve seen a number of startups that are looking to help you clip small portions of content from the web for sharing and future reference. But most of them require Firefox/IE extensions – a barrier that can put off many users and handicap a potential userbase. Snipd, a Y Combinator company that was in the TechCrunch50 DemoPit, is looking to offer similar clipping functionality but without a required plugin.
Instead of a plugin, Snipd relies on bookmarklets – special bookmarks that can be dragged into a browser’s shortcuts toolbar, but don’t require any installation. And to further streamline the process, Snipd doesn’t require users to create accounts before they get started (they’ll be randomly assigned a user name until they pick one that’s more personal).
After adding the bookmarklet, users simply click “Snip It” whenever they’ve highlighted something in their browser that they’d like to save for later (they can also leave comments to be listed alongside each snip for future reference). Anything that gets snipd will be shown in the user’s “My Snips” page, and can also be shared with friends via Email or through Snipd. Users can also choose to use a follow system to receive a stream of the items clipped by other users (also published in RSS), which co-founder Alex Schliker likens to a “Twitter for webclips”.
One of Snipd’s best features is its ability to retain formatting for text that gets clipped. Most other clipping sites either copy plain text (without any formatting) or static images, which makes them impossible to search. Snipd will usually preserve formatting, so your text will look the same as it did on the original webpage. Snipd also allows users to clip most streaming videos, which can be played back from within My Snips. This could be especially appealing for sharing videos using the aforementioned follow system, as users won’t have to visit a new YouTube or Hulu page to watch the next movie in a feed.
To monetize Snip, Schliker says that the site isn’t relying solely on advertising, explaining that the company is currently in talks to have Snipd act as an instant way to send a web clip to someone’s social network profile or blog. There are already a few ways to do this (for example, Facebook offers its own “Share This” bookmarket), but it’s nice to see that the startup is exploring other options beyond AdSense.
Snipd will see competition from a number of similar startups, including SimplyBox and Sazell, both of which we’ve covered in the last month.
Well done snipd! Finally glad to see you come for air after all the hullabaloo and work you guys have put in. This is like a new, next-generation of delicious, which I love but I think snipd might be my replacement.
That’s really cool guys! Good luck with everything.
Thanks Jude and Sean, I’ll see you guys around.
Sean:
Haven’t you gotten the memo?
Trustfund Stanford dropouts, not Trustfund MIT dropouts, are responsible for 95% of everything ever invented.
Sorry, but Ycombinator is the “Garfunkel” to most VCs.
You lose.
Oops, my mistake. Thanks for setting me straight. I never thought I’d learn so much from one insightful comment post. Thanks!
Sean:
Ask yourself what $15,000 and Ycombinator ownership of your product is going to do for you—that you can’t eventually do entirely by yourself.
And before you go into connections and intros to other VCs, consider this:
young kids often think of VC investment as something they are getting instead of understaning that its a loan, like a bank loan, a college loan, a car loan.
But instead of paying back cash w interest, often you pay back the debt by giving up control, losing ownership interest, and eventually being replaced altogther by an experienced manager.
If it hits–and if you see Ycombinator’s portfolio that is a HUGE IF–you will not be the guy in the front of the band. You’ll be lucky if you’re on the sideline watching the parade go by.
Also: kids like you believe going to cool parties and drinking wine you’re tastebuds aren’t accustomed to appreciating just yet means you have arrived.
It doesnt.
When the consumer public utilizes your application in a manner that GENERATES REVENUE for your firm on a continuous basis–then you’ve gotten somewhere.
Neither Ycombinator or any of their bigger VC pals can help you in that vein.
Instead: Go to work for a company that is proven. Start low and work your way up. Listen. Offer no advice. Learn. Be the quiet American. Study. Test. ReTest. Adapt. Save your money.
THEN start your own company. It’s not easy. It takes longer. But you will be more likely to succeed in that environment than trying to hit one out of the park.
Little league kids dream of hitting one out of Fenway. But they are kids after all. Just kids.
This is for the guy above who replied to Sean: Get a clue and do your homework; Sean is part of a profitable Y Combinator backed web company called Poll Everywhere.
I’ll bet you feel better about yourself after writing your post. Now go back to your proven company, work your way up, and muster up some balls to start your own business.
Where was the question, again? Ah, I was supposed to ask myself something. Presumably, I also answer to myself.
Now that I’ve gone and done that, I’d like to hit on a couple of great bits you made.
Y Combinator isn’t about the money. The money basically covers living expenses (roughly) for the founders of a company during Y Combinator. The intros to VCs and angels is also particularly valuable, especially for the kind of company that will eventually need it. Many companies can be bootstrapped; some are far more difficult without outside financing. The network of other YC founders is also valuable, for help with technical problems, advice on investors and attorneys, and general comraderie that can be shared between a highly talented (mostly technical) group of people. Last but not least is the help, guidance, and suggestions from Paul Graham himself. PG has an eye for product and this can be helpful for the first-time entrepreneur (which is mostly what YC consists of).
And I definitely do believe it is cool to go to wine parties. It’s too bad I skipped on the Deloitte Consulting alumni event at Trump Tower in Chicago earlier this year. I think I was too busy hanging out in South Africa at the time (traveling in business class, of course). Must have been all that VC money getting the best of me.
The first signal that “you’ve arrived” is when you comment using your real name, so the quality of your insights and marching band analogies can be forever associated with your identity.
Congrats, Snipd.
What a silly app… well, more like useless.
The bookmarklet idea reminds me a lot about the way Instapaper (iphone app) works.
mmmmmm this was for sale on SP yesterday but i think it might of been taken down……all i know it was starting very cheap….why ? because it’s worth nothing ?
Since when is “an instant way to send a web clip to someone’s social network profile or blog” a monetization strategy?
When newspapers with websites want to see why readers are staying (or leaving) because they’re dying.
Congratulations Snipd! Hope everything goes well. Worst case scenario, you can always go the circumcision route.
I don’t care who y’are, that there’s funny.
Funding: $15k = awesome
congrats on the launch ill def check it out
Neat website. I’ve never really used a site like this but I could see the practical uses for this..
Great job Alex & team! Don’t believe the haters. Probably all got laid off at Yahoo anyways
yahoo laid off already?
anyway i seriouly doubt the usefullness of the app.
yeah, im annonymous bitcher and all but we already have few apps (atleast clipmarkz got acquired) doing this, does the web need one more
ps: i havent checked thier site
Remember Clipmarks?
http://www.clipmarks.com/
or the crunchbase reference
http://www.crun...mpany/clipmarks
Jason, what’s new? apart from being a Y Co?
In my humble opinion this is a simple feature.. but appreciate the start up spirit.. good luck..
Great to see you launched Alex, keep up the hard work!
what a silly things happening.
http://www.iboozi.com
I just don’t get why the valley has lost its passion for real innovation and instead wastes its time developing this lousy web 2.0 stuff… i cannot think of one reason why this is different from delicious … i guess you can choose a specific portion of the single page but that is really pretty much a worthless feature to me.
its innovation…it changes the way you interact with the web. sure delicious is great, but this takes it one step closer and adds functionality. maybe because of this delicious will think about adding new features in a timely matter – its innovation that drives competition, which is a good thing…
pretty neat stuff. I am not on the fastest connection (still cable internet) and its kinda slow to load. What about offering a plugin as well? I think I can see the benefit to the plugin for firefox users who are used to plug ins already. But also offer the bookmarklet option for the less technologically inclined users.
A plugin with your name on it is coming soon…
deepmemo.com
Ycombinator’s business model is laughable to anyone over 21 years-old.
Why?
Because $15,000 won’t get you anything of substance, but it gives Ycombinator–like Dracula–permission to come into your company and run it the way they see fit.
Such preposterously low seed money targets little kids with big ideas. But why can’t those same kids–make no mistake, they ARE kids–graduate from college, get a salaried position at an established company, develop social and business skilss, and THEN start up their own company…
…with their own Money.
Graham is VC cute. He knows he’s getting a bunch of crap and perhaps an occational winner. Kind of like playing the daily lotto. Except the ones that really lose are the one in a million kid with a novel idea that ends up TAKING his money.
Grown ups see this for what it is–a trojan horse. You don’t need Graham’s chump change. You need a real job first, and THAT will help you more than anything Paul’s selling you.
15K is great for a pizza and beer. Not much else…
How is this better than Flowgram?
Snipd serves a different purpose than Flowgram (a Flash presentation creator). With Snipd you’re able to use a “bookmarklet” in your browser to grab videos/etc from pages and let your friends follow what you’re been viewing and enjoying.
Call a spade a spade.
Hey Mikey-by Fahey:
Are you crying? Is it difficult to type while wiping away tears for your famous friend.
I know ALL about Ycombinator. They host a teen dance party. Looks like your pal won the Jitterbug contest and got funding!
Aside from up your ass, where Does Poll Everywhere operate from?
Actually, the average is 6% and no, most folks from MIT aren’t “dumb MIT fucks.” We’re still waiting to see TC write a post about your startup business.
tc now we’ve released your solopsistic piece on the comments you hate you may want to read the comment above and consider the simple things you can do to improve readers’ experiences.
I really hate the anonymous haters on Techcrunch. Unless you can show your name/face when you criticize, then you’re nothing but a chump. Most likely you’re a chump that has never started a business.
> Instead of a plugin, Snipd relies on bookmarklets – special bookmarks that can be dragged into a browser’s shortcuts toolbar, but don’t require any installation.
Jason: I believe dragging the bookmarklet IS the installation … I wouldn’t say it doesn’t require installation.
First, to put the disclaimer out of the way, I’m one of eTagLive.com founder.
I would like to mention that we have officially launch a similar product like this one with no installation required and is optimized for Chrome browser. There are also advanced versions for Firefox and IE but need installation.
Basically, the tools allow you to bookmark and/or grab images, videos, or any live interactive sections of any page without leaving the page.
There is a 5 min video demos at: http://www.etag.../Downloads.aspx
Thanks and hope you all try it out and leave constructive comments.
Yeah i agree
Go to the blog of any startup and tell me how many times you see a post criticizing anything about any other startup.
I say the rudest things to the startups I do know via email.
Perhaps my boy Mike’s waiting for our check to clear.