Where should I invest my capital? The billion dollar question.....

Twitter and going public!

2012-02-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/bloombergs-erlichman-discusses-twitters-possible-ipo/2012/01/13/gIQA7wfMvP_video.html

17 most watched IPO's of 2012

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

http://247wallst.com/2012/01/06/the-17-most-important-ipos-to-watch-in-2012/

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000068348

2012-02-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Private firms investors are buying...
Top 10 companies to invest in the secondary markets!!

Investing in Secondary Markets

2012-02-11T23:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.investmentu.com/2012/February/secondary-markets.html

As Facebook joins the roughly 5,100 public companies trading on major exchanges in the United States, only a week ago shares were swapping hands on a completely different market… the secondary market.

And, for a growing number of investors and institutions, this alternative marketplace is quickly becoming a hot spot to potentially cash in on a number of firms before they go public.

In fact, you might even be eligible to participate… and not even know it.

The Truth About Secondary Markets

According to aonetwork.com, secondary market exchanges serve to facilitate the purchase and sale of illiquid, restricted and alternative assets, such as private company stock and restricted public equity.

Facebook, Zynga (Nasdaq: ZNGA) and LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD) all sold on secondary market exchanges before they filed to go public.

Today, well-known firms such as Twitter, Bloom Energy, e-Harmony and Foursquare can all be found on these exchanges, as well.

And many other companies, tech start-ups especially, are finding secondary markets as nice alternatives to IPOs.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner explains, “Historically when companies had established a certain level of performance and maturity, the IPO was a natural next step. The reason for that was to generate liquidity… to get access to currency… capital… and [for] credibility. The secondary market can help check the box for a few of those objectives.”

So, could secondary markets ever replace the IPO?

Not a chance. Private companies aren’t required to disclose their financial information to investors like publicly traded firms. That’s one of the major risks in this market.

But as Reuters points out, “While the amount of information that would-be investors have is surely lower than if there were a formal SEC-registered prospectus, the rise of the internet has made it much easier to do reasonably good due diligence on how much a company might be worth.”

That’s a big reason the amount of capital flowing in the private-share trading business has more than doubled in value, to $7 billion, in just the past two years.

Even more, Congress is looking to pass laws that could push even more liquidity to this market by doubling the amount of shareholders, to 1,000, that private companies are allowed before needing to publicly disclose their finances.

This is very promising news for companies, like SecondMarket and SharesPost, involved in the secondary market…

Introducing SecondMarket and SharesPost

Founded in 2004, SecondMarket offers a number of asset-backed investments – including auction-rate securities, bankruptcy claims, private company stocks and fixed income products. Meanwhile, SharesPost specializes only in the selling of private company stock.

All of the companies mentioned above (Twitter, Bloom Energy, etc.) either trade on SharesPost, SecondMarket, or both. These two companies currently dominate the secondary market space.

The main purpose of these firms is to connect buyers and sellers to trade the various assets they offer. In a way, they are sort of like e-Harmony or LinkedIn, but for investors and institutions.

For example, SecondMarket uses a proprietary matching algorithm to search through its 75,000-customer base and find good matches between buyers with sellers. After a trade is complete, the companies then take a cut of the total transaction, roughly 3%. This business model has made SecondMarket worth about $200 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

And now a slew of new competitors are catching on…

For example, Crain’s New York Business reports financial services firm Knight Capital Group (NYSE: KCG) just established its own private-share trading business in December. And LiquidNet, an institutional brokerage firm, also entered this space last year.

As I eluded earlier, not all investors are eligible to enter this market. It’s only open to financial institutions and accredited investors. In other words, you need to be a hedge fund, investment bank, or have a net worth of $1 million and an annual income of $200,000, or a joint income of $300,000 with your spouse, to start investing.

Plus, it’s worth mentioning many of these firms have minimum transaction requirements. For instance, SecondMarket has a minimum transaction amount of $100,000. So you need to have a good amount of cash to get involved.

The Bottom Line

Of course, before entering any investment, it’s important to do your homework first and know what you’re getting into. The secondary markets are certainly not for everyone, but it is a very interesting development and is helping reshape the way companies prepare for their IPO.

Wall Street clicks 'like' on Facebook IPO

2012-01-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Wall Street clicks 'like' on Facebook IPO

The social networking giant with nearly 1 billion users is expected to file papers any day now to sell stock to the public. The timing stems partly from federal rules that would require Facebook to begin disclosing its financial information in April because of its phenomenal growth.

Beyond minting an estimated 1,000 new millionaires at the company, Facebook's initial public stock offering could provide a huge boost to Wall Street investment banks sorely in need of a hot stock to excite investors. The right to manage the IPO will also generate an estimated $250 million in fees.

"This will be the largest IPO of the year for sure and probably of the decade," said Max Wolff, senior analyst at GreenCrest Capital Management in New York. "There is literally a fortune in fees, which is occurring in a slow market. There's also bragging rights. These firms want to be able to go to their clients and offer them an allocation of the Facebook IPO."

Facebook is expected to raise $10 billion in the offering, giving it a market capitalization of $100 billion. Google, by comparison, raised $1.9 billion in its IPO in 2004.

Shares of Google skyrocketed on their opening day, and analysts expect Facebook shares to do the same.

"The minute the IPO is filed, there will be pandemonium," said IPO Boutique's Scott Sweet, who says he has never seen anything quite like the pent-up demand for Facebook shares. "And this is coming from someone who has seen extremely hot IPOs. I have seen pandemonium."

A successful IPO by one of the country's most prominent companies also could power the stock market higher by attracting scores of investors who have been scared off by the volatility in recent years.

"People are looking for something that's going to give them confidence," said David Menlow, president of IPOfinancial.com, a research firm in Millburn, N.J. "They'd like to believe the IPO is going to be a strong one."

State officials are also counting on the IPO to help with California's budget crisis. Recent technology IPOs have added hundreds of millions of dollars to state coffers from capital gains taxes.

Facebook has become one of the world's best-known consumer brands and the Web's most popular hangout. And sometime this year it's expected to hit 1 billion users. That's half of all people on the Internet and 1 in 7 people on the planet.

Mark Zuckerberg founded the company in his Harvard dorm room at age 19. Now 27, Zuckerberg's stake in Facebook will be worth an estimated $20 billion after the IPO — making him one of the world's richest men.

The company's success lies in the hoard of information it holds about its users — valuable information that advertisers can use to target their products and services. Its growing business has escalated competition with rival tech giants Google andApple Inc.

Now Facebook is looking to build a war chest from the IPO to dominate the Web for decades. Can Facebook stake its fortune in social networking in the wildly profitable way Google did with Internet search?

Swarms of investors can't wait to find out. Even everyday users are looking forward to poring over Facebook's prospectus — the first in-depth glimpse at Facebook's financials — as if it were the next installment of "Twilight" or "Harry Potter."

How much money the company is making is a closely guarded secret. But that will soon change.

Within days or weeks, Facebook is expected to file papers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announcing its intent to sell stock. As part of the filing, Facebook will release a prospectus with detailed financial information, including its revenue and income.

The actual sale of stock typically occurs about three months after the initial filing.

In fevered anticipation of the IPO, shares have surged on private trading exchanges. This week, Sharespost sold a block of 70,000 shares at $34 a share. At that price, Facebook is already valued at more than $80 billion.

Facebook's expected public offering could mean pandemonium for investors and big fees for brokerages.

Some are hanging back. Just because you use Facebook doesn't mean you should own it, at least not right away, especially given the lackluster debuts of high-profile Internet companies Groupon and Zynga.

Wall Street clicks 'like' on Facebook IPO
"Expectations are so high, and there have been so many rounds of investment on private exchanges, one has to wonder how much upside is left once Facebook becomes a public company," said Anthony Valencia, media analyst at TCW Group.

Those expectations couldn't be any higher than on Facebook's splashy new Menlo Park campus 30 miles south of San Francisco on the edge of tidal mud flats and salt marshes. Every square foot of the 57-acre campus still under construction speaks to the ascendance of Facebook. Hacker Way is now the premier vanity address in Silicon Valley.

Facebook will soon pour asphalt for a main drag that cuts a broad swath through the middle of campus. By March, thousands of staffers will stroll on sidewalks or roll on bicycles and Ripstiks (two-wheeled skateboards) down the middle of a colorful urban scape lined with awning-shaded storefronts such as a noodle joint, a bike shop, Philz Coffee stand, a dry cleaners, computer help desk and a burger shack that some have dubbed Zuckerberger's even before it opens for business.

The wealth of some of the campus' new residents is already apparent in the parking lot, where a black Tesla was juicing up at an electric vehicle charging station. Facebook has purchased land across a busy highway that would give Facebook enough room to grow to more than 9,000 employees. There are already plans afoot to equip a large highway undercrossing with a giant people mover.

It's a grown-up campus for a company that is now all grown up. Friends say Zuckerberg, who declined requests for an interview, has now embraced an IPO as a natural next step for his company and a reward for its employees. But the guy who turned down a billion-dollar offer from Yahoo when he was just 22 is unlikely to change his independent stripe even after ringing the opening bell, said David Kirkpatrick, author of "The Facebook Effect."

Being publicly traded will bring heavier scrutiny from regulators alarmed at how Facebook handles users' data despite a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in which the company agreed to privacy audits for 20 years. And Wall Street will exert pressure to woo the big campaigns from Madison Avenue advertisers that Facebook will need to pump up revenue to meet ever-rising expectations. In 2011, Facebook is believed to have raked in $4.2 billion, about what Apple generates in three weeks.

Zuckerberg probably will borrow a page from Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who famously warned investors they planned to run their Internet company unconventionally. Facebook's dual-class stock structure also ensures that Zuckerberg will retain firm control over the company and its board of directors.

Read more here http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-facebook-20120127,0,6352193.story?page=1

2012-01-22T21:34:00.000-08:00

Everything you need to know about Facebook’s potential IPO

As a leader in social media, advertising and online influence, it’s surprising that ultra-powerful startup Facebook has managed to remain a privately held company for so long.

However, the high level of success Facebook has reached privately is likely to pay off when it finally files an initial public offering (IPO), which could raise over $10 billion.

The $10 billion IPO, which only three other companies (AT&T, General Motors and Visa) have ever achieved, isn’t very surprising. Facebook is arguably the most successful social network ever created — so much so that it’s transformed from being just a “network” to an expansive platform of communication, gaming, digital commerce and marketing. The reason Facebook was able to do this is because it’s ridiculously popular, serving over 800 million active users per month.

With that many people paying attention, the potential for generating a massive amount revenue is very high. In 2011, some speculate that the company earned $4.2 billion, but the coming year should prove even more successful. By some estimates, Facebook will account for nearly 17 percent of total U.S. advertising revenue in 2012, while its advertisements will account for 28 percent of all ads seen. This suggests that Facebook will earn more ad revenue than Google, Microsoft or Yahoo by the end of 2012.

For more information about getting involved in Facebook pre-ipo please contact me at iinvestcapital@gmail.com

Twitter

2012-01-22T21:27:00.000-08:00

Twitter is the last of the four horsemen, the biggest names to come
out of Silicon Valley in the last decade (LinkedIn, Facebook, Zynga
and Twitter). Right now there is available a block of common
stock that is priced at a $19.75 this is a discount to where Prince
Walid of Saudi Arabia has been reported to have recently taken a $300
million stake at $20 a share valuing the company at ~$10B.

Prince Walid added an emerging brand name to an international
investment portfolio that largely includes established giants like
Apple, Citigroup and Walt Disney. Although the billionaire investor
has long been known for taking stakes in stalwarts, the Twitter deal
focuses on the next generation of blue-chip companies.

Over the summer Twitter raised $800 million in a series G round of
funding, which involved Yuri Milner’s DST, T Rowe Price, Chris Sacca
and others, was split into two parts, the first $400 million going
directly to Twitter for preferred shares and the second $400 million
used to buy out employees and existing shareholders. The financing
values the company at ~$8 billion. If you know DST at all they are
the same investment company that supported Groupon, Facebook, and
Zynga.

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo confirmed its first $400 million tranche of
a $800 million Series G closed, saying that the company has just
closed “more money than I’ve ever seen before”. In 2010 according to
GigaOm between Zynga, Facebook and Groupon, DST has a stake in
companies that are estimated to be worth more than $30 billion.
Furthermore this is DST largest single investment to date and they are
not in business to make 25% their goal is to see an aggressive
multiple on the investment.

Why Twitter? It is the way the world communicates… It’s not just
about staying connected with friends. It’s the opposite every media
organization has a Twitter account and uses them to automatically
publish ‘Real Time’ links of news stories as they become available.
More individuals are now using Twitter to provide eye-witness accounts
and to point out what’s missing from the news coverage. Both the
Hudson River landing and the Dutch crash were first reported by
everyday people on Twitter.

In recent days the Twitter revolution has been credited in rapidly
speeding up and spreading the word for the likes of #OccupyWallStreet
and in places like Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Libya to help in
Government change. It's important to note that the real driving force
behind what happened in Egypt was communication and people's ability
to express their feelings and opinions freely and in real time. Of
course, technology helped make that communication possible in new ways
via Twitter. Like the idea or not Governments have been overthrown by
the freedom of speech and mass dissemination that Twitter allows users
to have. The twitter revolution is here to stay.

Twitter now has more than 300 million registered user and at least
100 million active users since it was launched in 2006. Half of the
active users log into the site and send out tweets each day. The site
sends out approximately 230 million tweets each day and at least 5
billion tweets a month. Twitter is on track for nearly $140 million
in revenue for 2011, up from a reported $45 million just last year.
Last year was Twitter’s first full year of selling advertising
products. In 2011, however, Promoted Tweets, Promoted Trends and
Promoted Accounts (as the company calls its various ad products)
really started ramping up. eMarketer estimates that by 2013, Twitter’s
ad revenue shall have grown to around $400 million annually.
Contact me for details about getting involved in the pre-ipo at iinvestcapital@gmail.com
http://thenextweb.com/twitter/2012/01/16/twitter-is-adding-11-new-accounts-per-second-and-could-pass-500-million-in-february-say-report/

Text Cash Network Join now! http://www.iinvestcapital.com

2011-11-14T03:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.iinvestcapital.com

Our Alexa Global Rating says we are in the top 1497 traffic websites in the world. They can only give an accurate weekly rating until we are 30 days old. No other company in the world has reached such a rating in 13 days of being in business. Not Facebook, Not Google and definitely not Groupon.

Do you realize that The T.C.N. "100% FREE AGENT" Model has more potential than thousands of other opportunities that ask you for hundreds and thousands of dollars. For Example:

a 2x10 all 100% free pays a MAXIMUM of $2,302.50 Monthly.
a 3x10 all 100% free pays a MAXIMUM of $110,715.75 Monthly.

FACT: T.C.N. earns more money on it's 100% FREE model than it's future VIP model. WHY? Because the VIP Model will be a LOSS LEADER OPTION for T.C.N. (so please by all means feel FREE to stay 100% FREE and allow T.C.N. to earn more)

What are we implying when we write:

"Groupon 1 vs T.C.N. 50,000"

Groupon has 1 website they drive traffic to. Text Cash Network has over 50,000 websites today and growing by 3,000 to 5,000 websites daily to drive traffic to.

TEXT CASH NETWORK OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Our Agents & Members win since they can still get all the benefits and services with Groupon and all the Groupon Type Daily Deal Companies.

Our Business Clients WIN because our Advertising Model is 100 times better than The Groupon Type Daily Deals Model.

NOTE: We are not asking even one of you to sell advertising to businesses for TEXT CASH NETWORK. The Johnson Family has another company with in house sales reps and over 1000 telemarketers to do such type sales. But we just wanted to share with you why businesses would chose TEXT CASH NETWORK over The Groupon Type Deals.

What will be the difference between Groupon Type Daily Deals and Text Cash Network Daily Deals.

#1 With Groupon Type Daily Deals. The Daily Deal companies collect the funds up front and then passes a portion of such funds back to the business which had to honor such coupons. In many cases the business does not receive any of the funds for up to 60 to 90 days. Putting a tremendous cash flow strain on small businesses. With TEXT CASH NETWORK the consumers pay all of the funds directly to the business.

#2 With Groupon Type Daily Deals your discount MUST be 50% or greater. With TEXT CASH NETWORK, the business chooses what discount to offer consumers.

#3 With Groupon Type Daily Deals are actually gift certificates purchased by the consumer. With TEXT CASH NETWORK, they are FREE coupons with a discount offer.

#4 With Groupon Type Daily Deals, you give up at least 75% (SEVENTY FIVE %!) off your retail price! (50% to the consumer, and 50% of the balance to Groupon!) Your advertising expense is ENORMOUS! With TEXT CASH NETWORK, a local business can publish coupons at any time for a fixed price as low as $99. (These sales are made direct to the businesses from T.C.N. in house sales reps).

#5 With Groupon Type Daily Deals, a business needs to accept an unlimited number of discounted sales. Most businesses are not ready to give up 75% on hundreds of sales? Most businesses can not handle that much low-margin or no-margin at all type business? With TEXT CASH NETWORK, a business can make unlimited changes to their coupon offer for FREE... 24/7... so they can change and tweak and test and measure to find the BEST offer for their business and for their customers. You can improve your offer, reduce it, or take it down ANYTIME.

#6 With Groupon Type Daily Deals, (BY LAW) you MUST accept their 50% off certificates for at least 5 years! With TEXT CASH NETWORK, a business can set the expiration date for any date. It's their choice.

#7 With Groupon Type Daily Deals, If a business gets 100 new customers @ 50% discount, Each pays $50 for $100 of the product or service, the business pays Groupon Type Daily Deal Companies $2,500. With TEXT CASH NETWORK, the business will pay an average of $99 to $199 monthly.

#8 Groupon Type Daily Deals do not offer any business loyalty rewards programs. The Johnson Group has spent over 10 years in the consumer loyalty and reward programs. Hands down TEXT CASH NETWORK WINS.

Join now!! http://www.iinvestcapital.com

4000 members and prelaunch is 11/11/11. Now taking Groupon-like companies to discounts via SMS- Join now! It's free http://www.iinvestcapital.com

2011-11-05T02:40:00.000-07:00

Text Cash Network

http://iinvestcapital.com

T.C.N. will follow in the steps of Groupon & Living Social and plan to dominate The TEXT TO SAVE MARKET PLACE. Living Social when they reached 16 million members raised $175 million dollars from Amazon and has since grown to 46 Million Members. Groupon with 44 million turned down $6 billion dollars from Google and has since grown to over 80 Million Members. The industry is estimated at $133 billion dollars that local business spend each year on advertising just in The USA.

T.C.N. is one of the first in the industry to go after The TEXT TO SAVE MARKET PLACE estimated to be The NEXT BIG Format in USA Business Advertising. Members motivated by the T.C.N. Pay Plan will generate millions in commissions via a 10 level Referral Plan with a 100% Matching Bonus. Members will derive income from text messages received from their network, business and personal ads placed by advertisers and by corporate accounts received by T.C.N. in House Sales Representatives.

We are now ready for our next phase which is to get 100 million people around the globe to opt into the T.C.N. Communications Network. The moment we accomplish this incredible goal we believe T.C.N. will have a monetary value of over 20 billion dollars. We plan to take up to 50% of our sales and value and share it with the T.C.N. Referral Agents Worldwide whom have helped us accomplish this goal. Imagine up to 10 billion dollars in value shared with the people who help build the infrastructure. Do you remember the truck drivers, cashiers and others who started with Walmart and all became millionaires.

By registering with us today you are now at the foundation of T.C.N., without you and others like you we cannot accomplish this amazing goal of getting millions and millions of people to opt in to receiving text, not just in the U.S.A., but around the globe. How do we plan on doing this in record time? ONE PERSON AT A TIME! Your team starts with YOU. T.C.N. has made it SIMPLE, EASY and PROFITABLE for you to build a large and potentially profitable team quickly. We believe that using the power of duplication of 2, 3, 4 or even 5 we can get the message around the globe in less than 2 to 3 years.

TAKE MASSIVE ACTION TODAY! WE HAVE MADE IT VERY SIMPLE FOR YOU WITH JUST THRE SIMPLE STEPS!

1.) Share T.C.N. with your warm market and all your e-mail and text contacts.

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3.) Begin use the T.C.N. "Get The Word Out" Advertising Platform in your Back Office today.

With the power of just 2 referral agents you can build a team of over 2,000 in a 10 level referral grid. Just increasing it to 3 could grow to over 88,000 and with 4 or more is just hard to even put into print. The most important one right now is YOU. The only thing you need to do right now is follow The T.C.N. plan which is ENJOY IT & REFER IT = PROFIT.

We hope that today, you begin to enjoy the journey of building your new Text Cash Network Referral Team and that you are able to achieve a level of success that most only dream of. Start RIGHT HERE - RIGHT NOW. You have 86,400 Seconds in a day...We suggest you do not waste one of them for tomorrow they will be gone for good never to come your way again.

Social networking co going public investor site http://www.spotlightatnight.net

2011-11-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

There is a social networking site that is looking to going public in the very near term on the BSX Bermuda Stock Exchange.You can visit the investor site www.spotlightatnight.net
which is temporary until Netstairs finishes the platform, but you can verify that at www.spotlightatnight.com
They have hired www.netstairs.com to build it's platform. Very reputable company with list of clients that you can see on the Netstairs website. They have also just signed a €1.2 billion contract to build out the Malaysian governments social, and media sites. For more information please contact me at iinvestcapital@gmail.com. Here is the Netstairs link:

http://www.netstairs.com/press_room/netstairs%C2%AE-vypa%E2%84%A2-hidaka%C2%AE-and-nasas%C2%AE-sign-5b-rm-revenue-partnership-agreement

Willow IPO surges 79% on debut

2011-07-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/create.php

Linked In Skyrockets first two days of trading

2011-05-20T10:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/05/20/linked.in.ostrow/

2 O.C. firms make Cleantech 100 list

2010-10-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

Two Orange County companies, a solar energy firm and a plug-in hybrid electric car developer, made the Cleantech 100 list of organizations that are expected to make a significant market impact in the next five to 10 years.

Amonix in Seal Beach designs utility-scale concentrated photovoltaic solar power systems made the list for the first time this year.

Irvine's Fisker Automotive made a return appearance on the list. The company is preparing to release its new Karma plug-in hybrid electric luxury sedan and is developing a second, more-affordable model, dubbed the NINA.

The Cleantech list was put together by the Cleantech Group, a research, advisory and networking organization for the cleantech industry, and the UK's Guardian News and Media based on data and research and the opinions of a 60-person panel of investors and tech experts. It is considered a bellwether for the trends worldwide as cleantech evolves.

To be on the list, a company must be independent, for-profit, cleantech and not listed on any major stock exchange. The companies were judged on innovation, the potential market and ability to execute.

One of the reasons the cleantech companies are highlighted is their potential for job growth. The average company on the list had 112 employees. The average American firm employs 146 people. (Click on chart to enlarge.)

Fisker's selection for the list was not without controversy. Although it was one of the highest rated transportation companies, Fisker also made the "Marmite" list, named for the British food spread that people either love or hate.

Fisker Karma

Here's a sampling of comments from Fisker lovers:
"Could be a large automobile company -- the company's PHEV is very attractive and targets the market for higher income buyers. Similar model to notable competitor Tesla, but with the advantage of utilizing HEV systems. 2nd generation sedan at proposed price point can truly promote the sector. Strong financial support including stimulus."

And the Fisker haters:
"Beautiful vehicles but mechanical and distribution challenges. Hard to call without more progress disclosure."

Read the full Cleantech 100 report HERE.

http://economy.ocregister.com/2010/10/18/o-c-hybrid-auto-company-hiring-up-to-100/42798/

2010-10-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

O.C. hybrid auto company hiring up to 100

October 18th, 2010, 1:00 am · 23 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

Share46

Fisker Automotive, the Irvine developer of a $90,000 plug-in electric hybrid car, is kicking into high gear and will be doubling its local staff, adding up to 100 workers, says CEO Henrik Fisker.

Fisker Karma

“We are growing at an incredible pace," he said. "“We expect to hire 75 to 100 people over the next six to eight months, mostly on the engineering side.”

The company expects to roll out its long-awaited Karma plug-in electric hybrid luxury sedan in the first quarter of next year.

Most of the new workers will be be assigned to Fisker's second model, dubbed the NINA project, which will be a $40,000 plug-in electric hybrid.

Fisker got a $529 million federal loan to back its plan, which will mostly go for the NINA project. That model is expected to go into production in the third quarter of 2012.

The company also plans to begin hiring soon for the former GM plant in Delaware for the NINA project car. An estimated 2,000 people will work there once it's fully up and running.

Fisker reportedly is also looking at a possible initial public offering. Silicon Valley-rival Tesla, which has yet to turn a profit, went public in June. The share price surged from an opening $17 to a peak of $30.42. It closed Friday at $20.54.

Last week Fisker was one of two Orange County companies that made the 2010 Cleantech 100 list of up-and-coming firms expected to impact the cleantech market in the next five to 10 years. But the company also made the "Marmite" list — companies that investors and experts either love or hate. They liked the concept but detractors weren't so sure about mechanical and distribution issues.

Those interested in Fisker jobs, should email the company's human resources department.

Read the latest on car reviews, news and features on the Matt Degen's blog, Auto Motion.

http://www.insideline.com/fisker/karma/2011/2011-fisker-karma-eco-chic.html

2010-10-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just the Facts:
Fisker launches an online configurator for its Karma plug-in hybrid.
Karma will be offered in three trim levels — Eco Standard, Eco Sport and Eco Chic.
The Karma is set to go on sale in March 2011.

IRVINE, California — As Fisker Automotive closes in on the planned March 2011 on-sale date for its Karma luxury plug-in hybrid, the California startup has launched an online configurator with several delightful features and a few bits of news.

According to the official Web site, the Karma will be offered in three trim levels — Eco Standard, Eco Sport and Eco Chic — each with its own exterior and interior color palette.

Among the exterior colors are Shadow, Silver Wind, White Sand, Eclipse, Deep Ocean, Laguna, Earth and Inferno, while the interior selections include Canyon, Monsoon, Dune Black Sand, Earth, Glacier and Black Onyx.

The site enables users to check a host of specifications, features and options, many of them with a self-consciously eco-friendly theme. Viewers are told that the Karma sports "animal-free execution which redefines and sets the benchmark for responsible luxury."

To reinforce the über-green theme, Fisker says the foam in its fancy seats will be "made from soy-based bio fiber." You want wood trim? Fisker is offering a choice of "certified rescued wood from California wildfires...sunken wood from Lake Michigan or fallen wood from California storms."

Our favorite Karma option: "EcoLucent trim [that] frames fossil leaves in a unique, non-toxic, transparent material made from 40 percent post-industrial recycled content."

Inside Line says: Is Henrik Fisker seeking endorsements from PETA and the Sierra Club? — Anita and Paul Lienert, Correspondents

http://www.insideline.com/fisker/karma/2011/2011-fisker-karma-eco-chic.html

Sezmi and YTL to Deploy Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the Worldfs First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service

2010-10-12T00:15:00.000-07:00


	Source: Business Wire Monday, October 11, 2010 01:45 PM IST (08:15 AM GMT) Editors: General: Entertainment; Business: Business services, Information technology, Telecommunications; Technology (BW)(CA-SEZMI/YTL-COMM) Sezmi and YTL to Deploy Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the Worldfs First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service Pioneering Initiative Highlights Sezmifs Expansion Into the Global Marketplace as the Leading Provider of Complete Solutions for Hybrid Broadcast and Broadband Television Deployments Belmont, California, United States and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, October 11, 2010 -- (Business Wire India)
	Sezmi and YTL Communications, the Internet arm of YTL Corporation, Malaysiafs leading utilities and infrastructure company, today announced a partnership to launch Asiafs first converged intelligent TV and Internet service, which will provide wireless delivery of all consumer entertainment and communications services to homes and mobile devices in Malaysia by the end of 2011. The wireless gquadruple playh service will be the first of its kind in the world, offering voice, data and television services to the home and mobile devices over a hybrid broadcast and 4G wireless network. This hybrid television component of the offering is based on Sezmifs comprehensive television solution, which has already been successfully deployed in the U.S. market. The Malaysian system is being developed and deployed by Sezmi in partnership with YTL Communications and will establish Malaysia as a digital broadcasting hub for the Asia Pacific region. Sezmifs partnership with YTL marks a significant digital leap for Malaysia, giving consumers ubiquitous access to high-quality HD content, and empowering users with intelligent TV, education and Internet all in one service offering. It also marks Sezmifs entry into the global marketplace as the only complete, end-to-end solution for hybrid broadcast and broadband television services. Through the partnership, Sezmi will design and manage the build-out of the digital TV network, and provide the platform and professional services to deploy the entirety of technologies and systems required to operate the hybrid television service in a manner that is integrated with a broad range of consumer devices. Sezmi will also support YTL through existing content partnerships to deliver a rich and complete TV offering inclusive of live television, on-demand movies and shows and Internet video. In many regions of the world, over-the-air broadcast technology remains the predominant platform for TV. The high cost of upgrading to landline infrastructure capable of supporting television services is simply prohibitive. Combined with emerging wireless broadband infrastructures, Sezmifs hybrid TV approach is the most effective means of deploying next-generation television services, taking the television experience to a level well beyond anything possible on broadband alone. YTLfs deployment in Malaysia underscores the power of Sezmifs approach, with a complete quad-play service being delivered over a pure wireless network. As the only company in the world with a complete next-generation television platform that is specifically designed for capital-efficient deployment in constrained broadband environments such as YTLfs 4G WiMax network and other existing telco infrastructures such as DSL, Sezmi is poised to take advantage of a huge global opportunity in hybrid television. Industry research firm In-Stat said in a recent report that it expects hybrid set-top boxes to see a compound annual growth rate of 40% between 2010 and 2014, growing to a $1.3 billion dollar industry. Sezmi is unique in its ability to provide the comprehensive set of systems, end user technology, and entertainment and professional services required to help partners quickly launch this advanced television platform. Furthermore, Sezmifs wireless reception system, with the most advanced digital TV smart antenna in the market, makes existing TV broadcast much more accessible and reliable for consumers. gThrough our partnership with YTL, Sezmi is helping to deliver an unprecedented range of new wireless services that dramatically raises the bar for television entertainment,h said Buno Pati, cofounder and chief executive officer of Sezmi. gWe are very excited to work with a partner like YTL who is passionately committed to such an extraordinary transformation of Malaysia towards a new digital era.h Sezmi has created a platform that delivers the most advanced personalized digital TV user experience. The solution seamlessly integrates traditional broadcast television, on-demand movies, interactive content and the rapidly growing realm of web video contents in an easily self-installed system that automatically recommends, records and organizes the customerfs favorite shows and movies. Furthermore, the Sezmi architecture has been built to directly support a personalized and integrated experience across multiple screens that include mobile, PC and tablet devices. Wing K. Lee, CEO of YTL Communications said, gYTL Communications started with a clean slate to build the worldfs first converged 4G network in Malaysia. Sezmi shares our vision of delivering amazing new experiences. As experts in next-generation television who have already developed and deployed a hybrid television network in a demanding market such as the U.S., Sezmi brings to us a deep understanding of both customer and technology requirements needed to deliver to Malaysia the worldfs first all-wireless hybrid-TV service to enrich the lives of consumers. This is a natural continuum of convergence enabled by our advanced 4G network that delivers amazing experiences to our customers and to bring positive change to Malaysia.h About Sezmi Sezmi is the leading global provider of complete hybrid television solutions. The Sezmi platform and expertise enable service providers to rapidly deliver next generation television services over capital-efficient broadband infrastructure. The Sezmi experience redefines television viewing by combining traditional TV content, movies and Internet video, in a single easy]to]use product and service. Designed from the ground up with next-generation TV functionality, Sezmi delivers a breakthrough user experience that puts consumers in total control with a personalized on]demand viewing experience. Sezmi is working with service providers and content partners around the world to deliver a transformative TV choice for all TV consumers. Additional Resources for Sezmi: Twitter: http://twitter.com/sezmi Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sezmi/164405566900 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mysezmi About YTL Communications YTL Communications Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary and the communications utility of YTL Power International Berhad (YTL Power International) and part of the YTL Corporation Berhad Group. The Company plans to provide affordable, world-class services that improve the way people in Malaysia work, learn and play. Financial backing from YTL Power International and technological know-how from strategic, best-in-breed partners including Cisco, Clearwire, GCT and Samsung, have enabled YTL Communications to roll out a nationwide wireless broadband network to be launched in November 2010. YTL Communications is committed to bridging the digital divide between the urban and rural communities, improving the quality of life, and supporting efforts to promote technological innovation. For more information, please visit: www.ytlcomms.my. Additional Resources for YTL Communications: Twitter: http://twitter.com/ytlcomms_my Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ytlcomms YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ytlcomms CONTACTS : Edelman Allen Bush, 650-283-3575 sezmi@edelman.com KEYWORDS: ENTERTAINMENT, BUSINESS SERVICES, IT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY
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Sezmi and YTL launch Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the World’s First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service

2010-10-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

Sezmi and Malaysian YTL Communications today announced a partnership to launch Asia’s first converged intelligent TV and Internet service, which will provide wireless delivery of all consumer entertainment and communications services to homes and mobile devices in Malaysia by the end of 2011.

The wireless quadruple play service will be the first of its kind in the world according to both companies. The new service is offering voice, data and television to the home and mobile devices over a hybrid broadcast and 4G wireless network. This hybrid television component of the offering is based on Sezmi’s television solution, which is already available in the U.S. market. The Malaysian system is being developed and deployed by Sezmi in partnership with YTL Communications and will establish Malaysia as a digital broadcasting hub for the Asia Pacific region.

Through the partnership, Sezmi will design and manage the build-out of the digital TV network, and provide the platform and professional services to deploy the entirety of technologies and systems required to operate the hybrid television service in a manner that is integrated with a broad range of consumer devices. Sezmi will also support YTL through existing content partnerships to deliver a rich and complete TV offering inclusive of live television, on-demand movies and shows and Internet video.

The Sezmi All-in-One Personal TV system sells on Amazon for $149.99. You need to check first if you can actually receive the Sezmi service (monthly fee) at your home.

http://www.i4u.com/40693/sezmi-and-ytl-launch-wireless-hybrid-tv-platform-part-world-s-first-nationwide-wireless-quad-p

YTL may offer new personalised digital hybrid TV

2010-10-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

Deal with Sezmi TV expected for exclusive rights in Asia

PETALING JAYA: YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL Comms), which is gearing to launch its WiMAX-based services on Nov 18, is expected to sign an agreement with US-based Sezmi TV for a new personalised digital television content offering on its network.

It is learnt that the agreement will give YTL Comms exclusive rights to offer hybrid TV services, comprising traditional TV, on-demand and Internet content to Malaysia and the Asian region.

It may take YTL Comms a year to roll out the services in Malaysia. The overall cost of bringing digital TV on its network to TV screens, computers and via mobile screens may be a whopping RM1bil to RM2bil. This amount would also cover the extension of the services to the region, sources said.

It is unclear how YTL Comms will fund this venture.

Separately, YTL Comms – a unit of YTL Power Bhd – is investing RM2.5bil to build its WiMAX network which will have nationwide coverage by Nov 18.

“It is really an alternative for TV viewers and it comes in digital format and can be delivered via various ways,” said a source.

Sezmi is based in California and is a four-year-old Silicon Valley start-up. It is offering an Internet-connected set-top box with a digital aerial. It combines free over-the-air channels with net content and uses spare bandwidth on the digital broadcasts to provide popular cable channels.

According to the Sezmi website, its all-in-one personalised television service is available to viewers in 36 markets across the United States. Those in the know claim that YTL Comms has taken up at least a 20% stake in Sezmi.

What content YTL Comms will provide is unclear but it will have to compete with Astro TV which has been in the business for over a decade and Astro has exclusive rights to many programmes.

Global convergence is forcing telcos and celcos to get into the broadcasting business since the lines are blurring between the two. Telecoms operators – such as AT&T and Verizon in the United States and BT, France Telecom and Telecom Italia in Europe – are also offering content over broadband.

Locally, Telekom Malaysia Bhd is offering IPTV via its high-speed broadband network and the other cellular players are also looking into ways to get into the TV content business for their users. Maxis Communications Bhd is conducting trials for IPTV and it will be much easier for the company than many others as its sister company, Astro, sits on many exclusive content rights.

Genting Singapore holds over the $2 mark!!!

2010-09-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

Genting Singapore Plc (GENS SP), one of two casino resort operators in the city-state, advanced 2 percent to S$2.05. Deutsche Bank AG raised its share-price forecast to S$2.60 from S$1.93 and maintained its “buy” recommendation.

*I called this one at .80 less then a year ago!! Congrats to those who held on for the ride, take some profits, and hold for higher highs!!

SKYPE intents to raise 100M by means of an IPO this year!

2010-09-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

http://gigaom.com/2010/08/09/skype-files-for-a-100-millionipo/

Tabula launches a new chip called Spacetime

2010-07-01T05:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.stockwatch.in/tabula-launches-new-chip-called-spacetime-24841

Previous raised capital by AEI- ADVANCED EQUITIES

2010-07-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

Sezmi (f.k.a. Building B), a developer of set-top boxes that combine traditional television content with on-demand movies and Internet video, is raising up to $50 million in new Series C funding. Advanced Equities is serving as placement agent.

Tabula Digita Inc., a New York-based educational gaming company, has secured $6 million of a $7.57 million Series B round, according to a regulatory filing. Return backer Ascend Venture Group led the deal. www.tabuladigita.com

Magnum Semiconductor Launches a High Definition Video Compression IP Solution

2010-07-01T02:38:00.000-07:00

http://newsblaze.com/story/2010010701000100001.mwir/topstory.html

FISKER AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERS WITH MAJOR EUROPEAN AUTO RETAIL GROUP

2010-07-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

ALL CARS ELECTRIC!!!

http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1037772_fisker-automotive-partners-with-major-european-auto-retail-group

Tabula and Sezmi get positive feedback!!!

2010-07-01T01:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.vcjnews.com/story.asp?storycode=45162

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2 O.C. firms make Cleantech 100 list

http://economy.ocregister.com/2010/10/18/o-c-hybrid-auto-company-hiring-up-to-100/42798/

O.C. hybrid auto company hiring up to 100

October 18th, 2010, 1:00 am · 23 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

http://www.insideline.com/fisker/karma/2011/2011-fisker-karma-eco-chic.html

Sezmi and YTL to Deploy Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the Worldfs First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service

Sezmi and YTL launch Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the World’s First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service

YTL may offer new personalised digital hybrid TV

Genting Singapore holds over the $2 mark!!!

SKYPE intents to raise 100M by means of an IPO this year!

Tabula launches a new chip called Spacetime

Previous raised capital by AEI- ADVANCED EQUITIES

Magnum Semiconductor Launches a High Definition Video Compression IP Solution

FISKER AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERS WITH MAJOR EUROPEAN AUTO RETAIL GROUP

Tabula and Sezmi get positive feedback!!!

Sezmi and YTL to Deploy Wireless Hybrid TV Platform as Part of the Worldfs First Nationwide Wireless Quad-Play Service