BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Big Businesses taking a cue from gaming]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/09/big-businesses-taking-a-cue-from-gaming/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/09/big-businesses-taking-a-cue-from-gaming/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/09/big-businesses-taking-a-cue-from-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

Online games may be banned in Corporate America (at least during work time) but they have actually proven fairly useful for building customer loyalty. How?

Well, companies need to find ways to cater to their power users, who are often similar to gamers. After all, they are passionate; have strong networks; and are not afraid to speak their minds (and spread their messages across the Net).

Some of the companies leveraging this concept include: AT&T (NYSE: T), Car and Driver, Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL)and Univision.

Oh, and they are using the technology platform from Lithium.

Of course, the co-founder and CEO of the company, Lyle Fong, is a long-time gamer. With his brother, he started Gamers.com. What's more, his brother won a Ferrari because of his gaming acumen.

Continue reading Big Businesses taking a cue from gaming

Big Businesses taking a cue from gaming originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DELLEmergence Capital PartnersEmergenceCapitalPartnersgaminginthenewsLithiumLyle FongLyleFongMon, 09 Jun 2008 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Intacct: Gunning for billions in on-demand services]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/intacct-gunning-for-billions-in-on-demand/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/intacct-gunning-for-billions-in-on-demand/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/intacct-gunning-for-billions-in-on-demand/#commentsFiled under: ,

This week, I had a chance to talk to Michael Braun, a veteran of the tech world. Back in 1981, he helped to launch the original IBM (NYSE: IBM) PC. He has also been the CEO of three Silicon Valley companies.

His latest gig is the CEO of Intacct, which develops on-demand financial management systems for small and midsize businesses. It has about 2,000 customers so far.

While on board for only five months, Braun has taken swift action. He has retained key managers and board members. Moreover, he got $14 million in a venture capital round. The investors include Sigma Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, and Emergence Capital Partners. Emergence also invested in Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), which is the premier on-demand company.

"The venture round was fairly quick," said Braun. "The investors realize the big market opportunity in providing financial applications. We are allowing QuickBooks' users to graduate from entry-level accounting."

Intacct's applications have proved to be extremely sticky, with a retention rate of 99%. Says Braun, "With on-demand, we are seeing a major platform shift. If you look at the history of these kinds of changes, it's often the new players that dominate the markets. And, we are also in one of the biggest categories of business software."

To see other recent venture capital fundings, click here.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

Intacct: Gunning for billions in on-demand services originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CRMEmergence Capital PartnersIBMIntacctOn-demandSigma PartnersSigmaPartnersSutter Hill VenturesWed, 25 Jul 2007 13:22:00 EST