Smibs Inc, the Candian startup behind SmibsNet has launched the service to the public. The site offers a set of tools that resemble LinkedIn, but are supposed to be more focused on project and task management than personal connections and resumes. The public beta will also open the network’s directory up to users who are not members of Smibs, allowing them to search for members involved in specified professions (much as they would on LinkedIn).
Besides SmibsNet (which is the social networking side of the site), Smibs will be releasing applications running on its platform. Currently available is Doorbell, an app similar to Highrise that is designed to be a sales application for workers who aren’t typically involved in sales (it essentially allows smaller businesses to complete sales-oriented tasks without a dedicated staff). The service was originally annouced in June, and released a small private beta in October.
CEO Peter Urban has also given us a document that he has forwarded to a number of major VCs in an attempt to entice them to use the service (you can see it below). Judging from the responses (one VC replied “I apologize for being dense, but what is that you want?”), it is probably wise not to mimic this strategy if you’re looking for funding (Smibs isn’t).
I read the post, looked at the site, and I still don’t know what they do.
It looks like they are using a really nice Flash player for their TV section though!
“The site offers a set of tools that resemble LinkedIn, but are supposed to be more focused on project and task management than personal connections and resumes”
… those sqiuggly shapes you see all over the web are called “letters”, the come together to form “words”. “Words” tend to tell you about things that you can’t figure out by looking at pictures. When you say “read the post” you clearly meant “I looked at the picture in the post”…
Matt, did you miss your afternoon coffee?
You’re on a roll today!
Clearly you have no clue what the site does either.
Wow..Someone should teach this guy how to pitch to VC’s
1. MEGABEZILLION?
2. No Competitors – Cmon, VC are not high school kids
I am assuming this was supposed to a joke but not a smart move to send it to VC.
It is not surprising the response from the VC – “one VC replied “I apologize for being dense, but what is that you want?”),”
Based on the last article on this site, I am looking forward to a ton of fake “This is a great product . Been waiting for this for a long time” comments coming in from paid PR guys.
Ok. No Canadian jokes, but this pitch looks like something that might have flown in ‘06, right after Stumble was dug out of Calgary! C’mon guys, not only is it amateurish, the business prop is ? Get your non-selling people a network to sell to other non-buying people? Picture two IT guys skype-ing away…. “I like it. You do? Yes, but I can’t buy it. I don’t buy stuff. Hmm. I don’t sell stuff, so I don’t know what to do now. Does this thing have a dating section? Let’s go see…..”
If you are not looking for funding, I can highly reccomend our ’strategy’. The responses to the Un-Business Plan have been from hilarious to very interesting in a business sense. We’ll have a post about it on our blog in a few minutes http://blog.smibs.com
Yeah sure…(sarcasm). Was this funny too..
“I apologize for being dense, but what is that you want?”
VC’s are not a group of people to be funny with. They don’t appreciate it. Very amateurish
I think your missing the “If you are not looking for funding” part of what he just said.
Mike, I am sorry but you are missing the point of this document by a long stretch.
Save the spin for another day.
Yeah, after your “strategy” back fired, you are saying use my strategy “If you are not looking for funding”. Obviously the VC that responded didn’t take it that way.
Why the hell will I be contacting VC’s if I am not looking for funding? That is just really stupid. I can totally see VC wasting their time in their offices, waiting for some stupid email to come in and make light of their funding process. I am pretty sure it will greatly help me with my future funding potentials. (…Sigh..shaking my head)
Hey,
Funny pitch, would love to see your incoming post peter.
By the way, your platform sounds like http://www.octabox.com – their take is very interesting and I have to say I really enjoy the beta so far.
patt
For more of the comedic stylings of Peter Urban, check out http://smibs.com/net
Reading the teaser pitch suggests that they are potentially offering a solution to help non-sales members of a company contribute to the bottom line.
I once quit a company that expected me to tell them about sales opportunities without offering a sales commission just because I was in the tech team and not the sales team.
If that is what they are pursuing, the idea might have merit.
Someone is getting it
. Except that we are mostly focusing on small businesses that don’t do sales with full time staff rather then selling their services for a few hours a week or a month. Designers, photographers, consultants… basically all professional services providers. The tools that are out there are too complex, hard to use and expensive. Doorbell is super quick to learn, efficient for that group and very affordable.
Candian?
No, actually German. But living in Canada
This is really nice. Thanks for sharing.
Must be some creative peoples that get ideas for such domain names.
I really live the name, less the service.