Shop Talk: Monetate brings real-time marketing to e-commerce

Often, e-commerce marketers waiting on slow-moving IT departments are losing time that they could be spending marketing to customers, says serial entrepreneur David Brussin.

“Because they don’t have control of their sites, [marketers] can’t create the best experience for each customer on the site,” Brussin says. “That’s been the promise of e-commerce for 10 years.”

Brussin, who co-founded Conshohocken-based and First Round Capital-funded Monetate, thinks he and co-founder David Bookspan have solved that problem. The real-time marketing platform allows marketers to skip their IT groups and keep campaigns moving as quickly as they need to, he says.

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First Round Capitol video hilariously awkward

First Round's portfolio companies belt out holiday tunes in the firm's latest holiday video

There’s a bit of a back story to this one.

Last month, before a First Round event in Center City, Technically Philly had arrived a bit early and began to walk down the steps of G Lounge to see if there were any other early-birds. Halfway down, we heard a chorus of voices harmonizing the phrase “We are First Round” and thought the venture capital company was pumping itself up like a football team before a game.

Turns out they were recording their part for the company’s yearly holiday video, featuring the firm’s portfolio singing, like Susan Boyle, to “I Dreamed a Dream.” Vid’s complete with reactions from “Britain’s Got Talent” hosts, near tears. It’s damn funny—and awkward.

Watch it after the jump and see local companies Monetate, MyYearbook, ClickEquations and Invite Media.

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Startup Leaders hosts second annual Founder Factory to mixed reaction

Founder Factory audience members were given a chance to offer advice, along with panelists, to startups like language-learning tool PlaySay.

More than 250 gathered throughout the day for the second annual Founder Factory, a sold-out gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and students organized by Philly Startup Leaders at World Cafe Live in University City Thursday.

The event was a chance for business-minded folks to gather, discuss, dissect and learn about the work they are doing throughout the spheres of startups, education and investing.

Presenters from Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Wharton Business School, Internet Capital Group, myYearbook and Monetate were rotated with fishbowl sessions— where young startups pitch their idea to experienced business people for advice—each ushered onto the stage to red and blue stage lighting and dramatic rock and jazz music.

During the afternoon, 150 attendees listened to entrepreneurial conversations while seated at long dining tables in front of the stage, standing at the bar, or gazing down from the mezzanine level, while a handful mingled in a nondescript lobby.
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