MobMe - from student startup to a million dollar dream

MobMe is an interesting startup for several reasons - right from the products they offer, to partnership route this Trivandrum based startup has taken, to most importantly, the background of the company.

The company was started by 3 guys (Sony Joy, Sanjay and Kenny) when they were in 7th semester of engg. college (kenny is 2 years senior).
What’s really amazing is that they were able to successfully raise funds ($250,000 while in 7th semester & another $250,000 just after graduation) and the second time fund was raised at 10X valuation!!

MobMe currently offers three products:

• MobShare: MobShare is a social networking/picture sharing platform. Before you ask why another social network? (like I did earlier with mobshare), MobShare has partnered with CNN IBN Citizen Journalism portal and users of mobshare can send the related content (video/pics) to the channel portal using the platform.
• BlueZone.in A Blue Zone is a specific area where mobile users could just turn on their Bluetooth functionality on their mobile phone and make it their own Entertainment Zone. Each Blue Zone would have a multi functionality kiosk to which the users can be connected and could download ringtones, wallpapers, games etc.
  MobShare has partnered with DSNglobal and will power their 52 inch bluetooth screens. DSNglobal is a digital out-of-home signage advertising network that has partnered with Coffee Day, McDonalds, Pizza Corner, Lifestyle, Western Railyways etc to display interactive ads inside the premise.
  So, end users can send pictures/receive targeted ads etc @ the bluetooth zone using mobme’s platform.
• FastAlerts: is an enterprise specific SMS bulk service, which allows users to select a group of targeted users using the hierarchy tree to send alerts/news or any sort of information via sms/email.
  For e.g. a PR firm can send alerts to several journalists at one go or an enterprise firm can easily send alerts to sales/field team based on hierarchies.

A look at MobMe products and their partnerships clearly tells me that MobShare is in for a big bang and most importantly, is playing the cards right.
As an aside, they have been able to get George Brody, ex-VP of Norton as investor/chairman; and have also received words of appreciation from ex-president APJ Kalam.

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