Cambrian House
Google started out as a search company but have become arguably an advertising service.
Cheers
Great one Ady. I just say these guys in San Fran at a Churchill event and I didn't even think of them and their story.
Awesome ty
Evangelism is selling a dream.Guy Kawasaki
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People
Examples of companies that changed focus over time
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Blender
    Member since: Jul 18, 2006 Rank: Merchant (36 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
On March 23, 2007, 9:37 am JR said:
Hi all,
I am looking for tap the wisdom of this crowd for examples of companies that started off doing one thing, and discovered the real opportunity lay elsewhere.
Preferably these would be startups, but I will take any example.
For example:
Flickr started off as Game Never Ending. Before they realized people really like their easy photo-sharing feature.
Got any others?
Google started out as a search company but have become arguably an advertising service.
Cheers
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Ady
Member since: Jul 30, 2006 Rank: Noble (60 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
heya !
Here comes my contribution,
Munjal Shah's Riya, originally conceived as a photo-recognition engine that would help users search and organize digital images on their desktops.
But Just after eight months, Shah rolled out a completely revamped site called Like.com, which applies visual search to online shopping. The Like.com engine analyzes photos of items such as handbags, jewelry, shoes, and watches, and then retrieves similar-looking items from the Web.
Here comes my contribution,
Munjal Shah's Riya, originally conceived as a photo-recognition engine that would help users search and organize digital images on their desktops.
But Just after eight months, Shah rolled out a completely revamped site called Like.com, which applies visual search to online shopping. The Like.com engine analyzes photos of items such as handbags, jewelry, shoes, and watches, and then retrieves similar-looking items from the Web.
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Blender
Member since: Jul 18, 2006 Rank: Merchant (36 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
Might also want to check out this candid post from Evan Williams of Odeo/Twitter fame and his new venture, Obvious Corp:
http://evhead.com/20...-obvious-corp_25.asp
Some of it sure sounds like crowdsourcing, e.g.:
"Use the aggregate attention and user base of the network to gain traction for new services faster than they could gain awareness independently"
Cheers
http://evhead.com/20...-obvious-corp_25.asp
Some of it sure sounds like crowdsourcing, e.g.:
"Use the aggregate attention and user base of the network to gain traction for new services faster than they could gain awareness independently"
Cheers
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JR
Member since: Jun 13, 2006 Rank: Warrior (236 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
On March 23, 2007, 10:59 am Ady said:
heya !
Here comes my contribution,
Munjal Shah's Riya, originally conceived as a photo-recognition engine that would help users search and organize digital images on their desktops.
But Just after eight months, Shah rolled out a completely revamped site called Like.com, which applies visual search to online shopping. The Like.com engine analyzes photos of items such as handbags, jewelry, shoes, and watches, and then retrieves similar-looking items from the Web.
Great one Ady. I just say these guys in San Fran at a Churchill event and I didn't even think of them and their story.
Awesome ty
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mswayne
Member since: Nov 20, 2006 Rank: Warrior (141 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
The internet started as a defense project for more secure lines of communication and now it's used primarily as a way to communicate through snarky little forum posts.
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fish99
Member since: Oct 27, 2006 Rank: Noble (98 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
HP started making bowling pressure lines ( you know the line that triggers a light if you go over it)
Nokia started out making tires and found that the radio equipment used for the rubber plantations was required by other people. (they still make tires)
Sprint ( the mobile carrier and telecommunications giant) was a railroad...The first 3 letters of SPRint stand for Southern Pacific Railroad.
Nokia started out making tires and found that the radio equipment used for the rubber plantations was required by other people. (they still make tires)
Sprint ( the mobile carrier and telecommunications giant) was a railroad...The first 3 letters of SPRint stand for Southern Pacific Railroad.
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jill
Member since: Sep 9, 2006 Rank: Chief (264 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
3M. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. - from grinding stones to leading technological innovator
http://solutions.3m....information/history/
http://solutions.3m....information/history/
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s_baar
Member since: Jul 19, 2006 Rank: Chief (280 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
I really admire 3M. That should be a company people look to. I got curious about what exactly they did one day when I noticed their logo on a scanner at the exit to the library, looked them up, and found out they do absolutley everything.
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JR
Member since: Jun 13, 2006 Rank: Warrior (236 Posts) |
[Quote Member] |
Hey these are great everyone!
Of course how could I forget 3M.
But I didn't realize Nokia started off in tires!
Great stuff - many thx
Of course how could I forget 3M.
But I didn't realize Nokia started off in tires!
Great stuff - many thx
I am looking for tap the wisdom of this crowd for examples of companies that started off doing one thing, and discovered the real opportunity lay elsewhere.
Preferably these would be startups, but I will take any example.
For example:
Got any others?
Posted: March 23, 2007, 8:37 am