Sometimes is takes me a little time bit to digest what I’ve seen at Demo. Three companies at the cutting edge of consumer and enterprise segments markets that really stood out were Gimme and Daily Digital Storefront for Facebook and BringShare,
If there’s one launch that knocked my socks off, it was Gimme, which is the first mobile commerce platform I’ve seen that opens a pipeline between consumers and retailers. Gimme does the one thing that captures consumers attention, it provides an immediate cash advantage for using coupons. It’s primary instrument for this is the ubiquitous cell phone. Virtually all new cell phones can read and capture QR and bar codes. Gimme lets its users capture those codes and deposit cash from cash back offers directly into PayPal accounts or opt to receive a check. Alternatively, people with older cell phones that don’t support bar code reading can use their cameras phones to capture an image of the QR code and then transmit the image back to Gimme’s site. Gimme also offers something for retailers-- a software platform for popular tablet computrs that lets retailers directly connect and make offers to consumers. Gimme’s technology works with Apple iPhone and Google Android hardware. Gimme is the first platform to connect retailers and consumers in mobile commerce couponing, although another start-up, Pushpins Inc, is in use at select Safeway stores. PushPinsties into Safeway’s customer loyalty program and supports electronic couponing. However initially PushPins is limited to supermarkets,. Where Gimme id open to any retailer who wants to open a pipeline to all consumers. It’s been years since I’ve been really impressed with a mobile commerce platform, but I feel Gimme may have been the most important technology start-up at Demo Fall 201. More specifically, I believe Gimme is a harbinger of mobile commerce platforms to come and its first-in market position could payoff in the coming years. Daily Digital Storefronts was another memorable Demo Fall 2011 standout. Daily Digital’s software turns Facebook pages into virtual storefronts that artists and others can use to promote, distribute and sell their digital work. This start-up has an obvious market and using Facebook as a pipeline between artists and consumers is straightforward idea. What made Daily Digital’s launch an eye popping stand out was how simple its software makes creating Facebook pages with original digital content while protecting the artist’s Intellectual Property and selecting a compensation model. My first reaction to this Demonstrator was to compare it to an updated version of Garage Band-- a start-up funded in the 1990’s by New Enterprise Associates that languished because it never demonstrated a valid revenue model. My second reaction was Daily Digital’s Facebook Storefront has a clearly understood path to revenue and multiple mid-term exit strategies. There was an enterprise application that shined like a lighthouse at Demo Fall2011-- BringShare. This dashboard software simplifies the complex task marketing department analysts face when compiling weekly metrics on campaigns and marketing programs. BringShare works by connecting ita dashboard interface to feeds like those provided by Google Analytics. BringShare’s feeds can be used to generate charts or statistical reports with minimal user intervention. What’s important about BringShare is how easy it makes creating near real time marketing lead generation reports. In many organizations this is a task that takes hours of work by a dedicated data analyst. BringShare cuts the time it takes to generate such reports to minutes. Of all the demonstrations I wanted to see in Demo’s Pavillion, BringShare’s pitch lacked a clear path to success message. Nevertheless, BringShare has such obvious advantages it’s difficult to imagine it not attracting solid investors or big-name backers
I need to disclose something before I close this post. I was the founding producer of Demo Mobile (which became Demo Fall) but no longer have a fiduciary or other relationshp with IDG-- which initially backed Demo. Additionally, I have no relationship with either of the private entities thst produce the Demo events.--Jim Forbes on 09/23/2011.
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