Cuil might just be cool enough to become the Google-killer in search
Even though I try to approach every startup with an open mind, there are few companies more likely to provoke knee-jerk skepticism than those claiming to compete head-to-head with Google in Web search. But a new company called Cuil looks like it could actually give Google some real competition.
For one thing, the executives behind Menlo Park, Calif.-based Cuil (pronounced “cool,” and previously spelled “Cuill”) should have a good idea of what’s needed to take on… Continue Reading
Richrelevance, latest personalized recommendation company, raises $4.2M
Richrelevance, a new San Francisco company offering personalized recommendations for online shopping businesses, has raised $4.2 million in a second round of financing.
The company joins a host of other companies — including Amazon, Aggregrate Knowledge and Wunderloop (see our coverage ) — that track what decisions you make while shopping online. Like these other companies, it then peers into its archives to find other users who have made similar decisions to you, so that it… Continue Reading
SayNow lets musicians stay in touch with fans, raises $7.5M
SayNow, a Palo Alto company that provides a free calling service to bands on Myspace to stay in touch with their fans, has raised $7.5 million in venture capital.
For now, it’s difficult to see how SayNow can make serious money from its model. Free calls?
To recap, the service (previous coverage here) offers bands a dedicated phone line, allowing them to leave a voice message for their fans. The musicians do this by placing a widget… Continue Reading