Lilliputian Systems and MicroOptical get recognised as WEF Tech Pioneers 2007

Congratulations to two of our portfolio companies, who were nominated recently for the World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer Award 2007:
Lilliputian Systems, one of our Cleantech investments, developing micro-fuel cells for portable devices, Interview with Ken Lazarus, and
MicroOptical, providing a new “viewing” experience for digital content, Interview with Kip Kokinakis – No wonder, Paris Hilton love [...]

Video copyright – A recent Update!

Two recent cases in the online video market, “EMI shuns YouTube for Gotuit“, and “Universal Music sues MySpace“, highlight the fact, that online video copyright is still a huge, unsolved issue out there to be tackled.
Gotuit, an Atlas Venture portfolio company, has succeeded to sign up EMI. Although three other major labels have licensed their [...]

Microsoft launches Zune – Initial feedback disappointing

Microsoft today launched its “IPod-Killer” – ZUNE. The initial feedback from US Bloggers and the High-Tech Press is disappointing.
A real-time poll done by readers on SpiegelOnline shows a gloomy pictures for Zune. Asked whether Zune will have a chance against iPod, the majority of readers seems to be very sceptical.

Takeaway: Good try, but still a [...]

1st TrendSlam a great success!

Congratulations to Monty and his team for organizing the 1st TrendSlam in history. A well attended event of top media experts and entrepreneurs was challenged to present in exactly 5min their ideas, trends and thoughts about the future in “new media”. Top speakers at this well attended event were i.e. Felix Petersen from Plazes, Anina and [...]

Local advertising – next generation!

Local advertising has been around for quite some time now, especially around internet and Web 2.0. The success of this model still seems to take more time than expected, as local SMEs are still hesitent to consider local internet advertising. This “delay” in internet local ad uptake has been anticipate by a few interesting start-ups, [...]

Debitel launches Mobile TV offering for €9.95 per month

According to various sources, Debitel has launched a mobile TV offering in cooperation with MFD. MFD, a young German start-up has managed to secure a nationwide DMB license earlier this year. Now, Debitel is on air with a €9.95 / month package with four channels (Pro7Sat1 Channel, MTV, N24 and ZDF) in Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, [...]

German MNO Alliance for Mobile TV

What a big bang announcement! T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and e-Plus have announced a cooperation to deliver 14 TV Channels and 2 Radio Channels based on the DVB-H Standard.
Takeaway: This is a big move in the overall mobile TV landscape. So far, only young and motivated start-ups (MFD, etc.) have started to set-up their own programs [...]

Dialog Imaging Systems receives EUR22.25M First Round

Eur 22.5M have been invested into DIS. The company “makes camera modules for mobile phones which will aim to offer the same superior quality as stand-alone digital cameras. The company’s 41 employees located near Stuttgart, Germany, and at Clinton in the USA will be lead by Roland Pudelko, former CEO of Dialog Semiconductor” according to [...]

New start-ups receive funding

Two Germany based start-ups have recently announced funding. Actionality, a provider of in-game advertising and marketing solutions for the mobile market announced the closure of a seed financing round.
Scott Cullinane, Actionality’s Chief Executive, said in a press release: “Actionality provides mobile game publishers, media agencies and consumer brands across Europe and Asia with the [...]

Gaming Start-Up X-aitment GmbH has raised a EUR3 million first round

According to VentureWire Europe, “Looking to bring to market its artificial intelligence software used in the development of computer games, X-aitment GmbH has raised a EUR3 million first round. The round was led by Triangle Venture Capital Group, with participation from regional venture capital firm Saarlandische Wagnisfinanzierungsgesellschaft mbH.”
 
“X-aitment is creating a software system to help [...]