:: 2001 :: Promises
::
A promise is not necessarily kept however
it still has some value by just being one. Following is
the list of 10 Wadi companies I find promising. It is a
long issue. You don't have to read it all.
1) Media
Promise: Medinol. Medical things.
Only Wadi company that can literally touch a men's
heart. Best patent based business in years (based on
another man's patent???), a nice money machine and even
a nicer Soap Opera. Promising to never tell the press a
thing and always be the top headline (see it is mine).
2) Technology
Promise: MemLink. Optical switching.
Each Optical Switching company follows a
different paradigm. MemLink goes with MEMS (Micro
Electro-Mechanical Systems) and mirrors, others go with
chemical things and crystals. Promising to show the
world that machinery is still the best technology, even
if one needs a microscope to see it.
3) Case Study
Promise: Xacct. Software.
Their slogan says: "It's how the Net
profits", but Xacct has a severe cash flow problem
and even a bigger problem with mezzanine investors who
came in with big amounts at a valuation that was "a
little on the high side". Promising to become a
financial case study at universities when the company,
and its financial reports, go public.
4) Business
Model Promise: HotBar. Browsing Companion.
Does nothing really useful,
damages my browser and makes it colorful at the same
time. Promising to show the world that collecting
eyeballs is all one needs in order to turn a profit.
5) Cultural
Promise: Checkpoint. Software.
I met quite a few people who used to work or still
work there. Except one, all were extremely nice and
extremely smart. This, not VPNs and Firewalls, is
Checkpoint. Promising to show that the Wadi does have
the best people in the world and that big corporate
culture is a choice, not a must, for big companies.
6) Local
Promise: Walla!. Portal.
For
some odd reason Walla! was always there over the years.
When Hebrew was it, when searching was it, when news
were it, Walla! Always managed, somehow, to do almost
the right thing. Promising to be the last still standing
when content becomes the most important thing at the end
of the pipe.
7) Job
Promise: Ness. Everything in computers.
The making of this giant is sort of a
miracle but it came out great - a real IT company.
Promising to become a popular refuge for employees of
dead Start-Ups looking for a challenging job and stock
options that are worth something.
8) Stealth
Promise: Various Players. On-line gaming.
No, not Sony Play Station. Gaming as
in poker and roulette. Gaming as in real money. Wadi
people are leading the industry in stealth mode.
Promising to stay in stealth mode, while becoming the
one most important global force in on-line
advertising.
9) Brand
promise: Benchmark. VC.
The
book, "eBoys - The First inside Account of Venture
Capitalists at Work", was a nice novel when it came
out. It is now a great history book detailing golden
days that will never come back. But still, Benchmark is
coming to Israel, with a team that will never imagine
putting millions into online grocery stores, it is
promising to give local VC giants a fight while learning
that brand name isn't everything.
10) Financial
Promise. TASE. Stock Exchange.
For years now everybody looked west for an
exit opportunity leaving the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
deserted. Everybody wanted to play global. Everybody
understood one has to learn to play first. Promising to
be the door one exits at when global dreams are replaced
with down-to-earth business.
Judge me next year.
Wadi Writer #1
(Gray )
WadiList@mail.com
Links:
http://www.mem-link.com
http://www.hotbar.com
http://www.xacct.com
http://www.checkpoint.com
http://www.walla.co.il
http://www.ness.com
http://www.benchmark.com
http://www.tase.co.il
