So, there is a "technology incubator" based in Rockville, Maryland called
WashingtonVC. They call themselves "the catalyst for convergence." Really, what they are is an owner of domain names (phone.com, software.com, happybirthday.com) looking to cross-sell, self-promote and generate advertising revenue. Here is what they say about themselves:
WashingtonVC's investments cover a breadth of interoperable technologies. These include a telecommunications company, a software download site, a web software development company, a search optimization software company, and a search optimization consultancy. Also included are a full service web development firm, an online television production company, a graphic design firm, an RFID asset management business, a biometrics company, a gaming and technical support enterprise, a holiday ecommerce site, a rock and roll video and download site and several other innovative assets.
We also own and promote the best possible brand names for each of our companies and control the rightful domains therein, like Phone.com, Software.com, SEO.com and HappyBirthday.com. WashingtonVC has a well-known specialty in naming companies and creating slogans, which is leveraged with each new company asset.
WashingtonVC intends to become the most innovative and profitable catalyst for convergent Internet and technology companies, for the ultimate benefit of society.
In fact, most of their websites appear to be very nicely designed Movable Type themes. These people may, in fact, be very good at design. One of them worked at NeXT in college and looks to have made some money when his company went public in 1998. The other, Michael Mann, calls himself an "Entrepreneur and Philanthrophist" who has made his living buying and selling domain names, and who "founded" BuyDomains.com. The latter, now called "NameMedia," has filed with the SEC for an IPO worth up to $172 million.
Take a close look at the Red Herring article.
The company, formerly known as buydomains.com, plans to use proceeds of the IPO to repay a $105 million loan and for working capital, including possible acquisitions.
Let me get this straight. $105 million in loans for speculating on domain names and you want to go public?
Oh, and Mr. Mann is a "philanthropist." Did you know that? I tend to think of Bill Gates or Andrew Carnegie when I hear that word, but apparently Mann founded (as opposed to registered) Grassroots.org, which I'm not going to link to because it's really just another front-end for their advertising content. From their about page:
The mission of Grassroots.org is to serve as a catalyst for positive social change by leveraging modern technologies and business best practices.
That sounds really familiar. Where did I see that before? Ah! The WashingtonVC website!
WashingtonVC strives to better the world by developing cutting-edge technologies, sharing ever-evolving best practices with other businesses and charities, building market leading companies, and financing innovative works for profit and charity. We are currently invested in more than a dozen high-quality technology companies, which include several of the world's most identifiable Internet brands.
WVC intends to establish itself and promote its parts in 6 major US cities, DC, NY, BOS, SEA, SF, LA, and eventually expand accordingly.
Within each of those cities, we will partner with local business leaders to permanently infect their communities with our charitable works and business offerings. At minimum, we will offer the service suites of MilitantMarketing, Phone.com, SEO.com, Graphics.net, Dial-a-Geek, Information Architects, and maybe networked X3O gaming centers and services. Plus, we may offer services from BrowserMedia, StrongTech, Podcast.com, Software.com, Yield Software, or other emerging assets if it suits our mutual strategies at the time.
I have never seen anyone play buzzword bingo like these guys. What does this have to do with Washington, anyway? Is that just another clever domain branding strategy?
Parasites like these people are a reason that government and technology don't get along. For every real innovator there are 20 charlatans and snake oil salesmen looking to talk their way past the door into "sponsoring" things or getting website traffic, and somehow looking to turn a profit. Entrepreneur? Maybe ten years ago.
For the record, in this election cycle, where online grassroots organizing has become the norm for any successful candidate, I've never even heard of Grassroots.org. Maybe it's a clever domain name buy you use to promote your other domain names? That seems to be your business plan, to keep repeating yourself until you're a "brand." Please.
The only thing that WashingtonVC and Washington seem to have in common is that they're all talk and nothing real.
