Vertical Travel Search Engine Kayak CEO Steve Hafner (Part 1)

I have written endlessly about the verticalization of the web, and the rise of vertical search engines, vertical ad networks, and the threat they pose to Google. I have also featured Kayak in the Deal Radar series earlier, and here, I speak with their CEO for a comprehensive discussion on Kayak’s strategy.

Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 8)

SM: What has been your financing strategy? CR: One skill set I brought was fundraising experience. We did your typical small seed round, primarily led by the principles who put money down to build the first prototype. The first real round was led by Redpoint.

Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 7)

SM: When did you make the decision to go to India? CR: A little over a year ago we had an investor say “it is time to go to India now”. I went over to India and it was clear the opportunity was there. By the time my trip was over I hired a head

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Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 6)

SM: Do you maintain relationships with multiple banks or a single bank? CR: We have relationships with multiple banks which is similar to how PayPal uses two banks. They use Chase and Wells Fargo. Historically companies buy wholesale services from different providers and, depending on their capabilities, buyers can be selective where they go for

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Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 5)

SM: Can you deposit into the cell phone account? CR: You can’t do that and nobody has asked us for that. Behind the scenes the money is always in a bank. When I send you money you as the user have to make a decision. Do you want to keep the money on the phone

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Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 4)

SM: You were able to recognize this as a rudimentary structure which could support banking … CR: Exactly. I just said, “Wow, there you have it! If we could just generalize the value being put into all of those phones we would have a banking system!” That type of banking system could reach places like

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Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 3)

SM: Can you give us more detail about what Search For Common Ground does? CR: Their work is divided into grass roots community work where they help build capacity for peace at the community level. They also do media work and have radio and TV shows. Their content is to help communities communicate and increase

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Bringing Banking To The Cell Phone Masses : Obopay CEO Carol Realini (Part 2)

SM: As you look back on your career, do you feel your decisions were strategic, planned decisions? CR: It might have been! I remember my first day at work. I walked into this big building and I was 1 of 2 women technical engineers. Women were just entering the technical workforce back then. I was

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