Netvibes: how to grow whilst remaining true
pierre | 05/29/2008
You will without doubt already know that
Freddy Mini
is replacing Tariq Krim as CEO of Netvibes.
I think it's a good decision. Freddy Mini, Chief Operating Officer of Netvibes for 2 years and based in San Fransisco, has incomparable experience: he was CEO of ZDNet Europe. and then Musicme, before agreeing to join us at Netvibes in 2006.
When I resigned from my position as co-CEO last year in order to concentrate my efforts on Wikio , I highlighted how the strategy of distribution and monetization at Netvibes seemed to me essential for success . With Freddy's insistence, Netvibes has in the last year taken great strides in this direction and progressed significantly, supplying a number of large media sites with a personal page service that they could take on and redistribute with their own colors. Freddy is without a shadow of a doubt the man for the job, to continue to develop the distribution, and the widget market, for which Tariq was a true visionary.
What is at stake for Netvibes is the challenge of growing whilst remaining true. Netvibes has its weaknesses, and its many strengths.
Strengths
Globally-recognized brand.
An innovative product that is very useful for experienced web users
Multi-platform UWA development standards
A brilliant development team and very experienced business team
Good distribution potential (personalized services for medias organisations, etc.)
Still a decent amount of cash
Weaknesses
Immature widget market
Product still rather complicated for the average user
Ginger social features
Still rather modest revenue (but on the up)
I have remained a shareholder in Netvibes because I love the product and I believe in it. With Freddy, a new stage is beginning and it looks like it will be as filled with passion as ever.
I think it's a good decision. Freddy Mini, Chief Operating Officer of Netvibes for 2 years and based in San Fransisco, has incomparable experience: he was CEO of ZDNet Europe. and then Musicme, before agreeing to join us at Netvibes in 2006.
When I resigned from my position as co-CEO last year in order to concentrate my efforts on Wikio , I highlighted how the strategy of distribution and monetization at Netvibes seemed to me essential for success . With Freddy's insistence, Netvibes has in the last year taken great strides in this direction and progressed significantly, supplying a number of large media sites with a personal page service that they could take on and redistribute with their own colors. Freddy is without a shadow of a doubt the man for the job, to continue to develop the distribution, and the widget market, for which Tariq was a true visionary.
What is at stake for Netvibes is the challenge of growing whilst remaining true. Netvibes has its weaknesses, and its many strengths.
Strengths
Globally-recognized brand.
An innovative product that is very useful for experienced web users
Multi-platform UWA development standards
A brilliant development team and very experienced business team
Good distribution potential (personalized services for medias organisations, etc.)
Still a decent amount of cash
Weaknesses
Immature widget market
Product still rather complicated for the average user
Ginger social features
Still rather modest revenue (but on the up)
I have remained a shareholder in Netvibes because I love the product and I believe in it. With Freddy, a new stage is beginning and it looks like it will be as filled with passion as ever.
