Judy’s Book follows BackFence, collapses
Judy’s Book, a site that let you search business listings for discounts and coupons, has hit the end of a $10.5 million runway and shut down, raising more questions about local business listing and community sites.
The collapse of the Seattle-based company follows the closure of BackFence this summer. BackFence said it had experienced unspecified “internal” problems, suggesting its failure was company specific. But the subsequent failure of Judy’s Book raises more questions about the sector… Continue Reading
Smalltown, the hyperlocal Web site, worth a look
Updated
New start-up Smalltown is going after the local business listings market with an ambitious, focused social network model. It has a charming “smalltown” feel, and seeks to build a community of users around those listings. This company will be one to watch.
It launches today (Tuesday). It has received $3 million in venture capital from Formative Ventures.
Founder and chief exec Hal Rucker gave us a demo of the site. It aims for comprehensive listings of businesses,… Continue Reading
Local review site Yelp raises $10 million from Benchmark
Yelp, the Web site offering user-generated reviews of bars, restaurants and other places, has raised $10 million in venture capital from Benchmark Capital.
We recently mentioned Yelp’s wave-making with its parties.
Yelp, like other recent Internet companies, is challenging incumbent sites like Citysearch by developing a community of local reviewers. By encouraging loyalist users to review often, Yelp bets its site will be fresher and more compelling.
It is noteworthy that the venture money comes from Peter… Continue Reading