June 7th, 2007
Vator.tv: YouTube for the elevator pitch
Bambi Francisco, a former tech reporter with MarketWatch, has taken the wraps off her new startup, Vator.tv. The name is a play on the words ‘elevator’ and ‘innovator’, as the site aims to be a social network / marketplace for startup ideas. Central to Vator.tv is the ability for startups to upload a video of their ‘elevator pitch’ to potential investors or partners, which can then be voted and commented on by anyone who is a member of the site. However, video pitches aren’t limited to just startups, and can include investors explaining what they’re looking for as well as individuals promoting their own skill-sets.
Additionally, Vator.tv is attempting to create a social networking site, reflecting the eco-system around technology innovators. Each member can create their own profile and make connections, which reflect their relationship to any of the pitches uploaded or companies involved. It’s quite simple in its functionality, but already replicates some of the features of business networking sites like LinkedIn. However, where Vator.tv has the potential to trump such sites is that the social network has a lot more context — based on the video pitches and ideas uploaded — and is made ever more richer by including video.
While the site promotes itself as a network around ideas, investors invest in people — and the video element along with a level of transparency in how those people are connected makes Vator.tv both entertaining and potentially a great starting point for taking ideas further. Vator.tv is an incredibly simple and potentially useful site, based on proven technology e.g. Flash video uploads and commodity social networking features. I’m just surprised nobody has done it before.
Steve O'Hear is a London-based consultant, educator, and journalist, focussing on the Internet and all aspects of digital technology. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
