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HOT TOPICS
- The Accelerator Conundrum
- The Startup Velocity Question
- Platform as a Service
- Man and Superman
- Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS)
- The Future: End of Capitalism
- Capitalism 2.0
Technology Stocks
Guidewire’s Potential Not Going Unnoticed
The first technology IPO that came this year belonged to San Mateo–based Guidewire Software. Founded in 2001, Guidewire is an insurance industry focused SaaS player. They offer property, casualty, and workers compensation insurance companies Web-based tools to handle claims, receivables management systems, and underwriting and policy administration. Besides software solutions, Guidewire offers implementation and assessment services for property and casualty companies in North America.
Marketing Spending Gobbling Up Increased Revenues At Angie’s List
It is not just the recently listed online review site Yelp that is finding it hard to turn profitable. In 16 years of operations, the subscriber model–based review site Angie’s List (Nasdaq:ANGI) has not yet managed to turn in a profit. Some analysts believe that it may be among the worst tech IPOs to list in 2011.
Debt Crisis Slows But Does Not Stop Growth For Indian IT Players
According to Gartner, worldwide spending on information technology is projected to grow 4.6% this year. This is the slowest rate at which IT spending has grown over the past three years. The depressed market conditions are driven largely by the debt crisis in Europe. Western Europe’s IT spending is projected to fall 0.7% over the year compared with growth of 3.4% anticipated earlier. Leaders of India’s $76 billion IT outsourcing industry believe that Europe will also impact their growth in the near future. However, despite their concern, these players continue to invest in partnerships, delivery center expansion, and product offerings.
Yammer, Growing Fast, Raises Major VC Round and Delays IPO
Competition in the $10.3 billion enterprise social networking market is intensifying as leading players raise funds to fuel growth. At the end of 2011, Jive Software successfully tested IPO waters. But if the market was waiting for another player, Yammer, to go public, it may be waiting for a long time.
Falling Revenues for WebMD and Epocrates
According to eMarketer, online ad spending by healthcare and pharmaceutical companies is projected to grow from $1.03 billion in 2010 to $1.86 billion in 2015. The pharma industry accounted for 4% of overall online ad spending in the U.S., with a total of $25.8 billion spent. The industry’s share is projected to rise to 4.2% by 2015. Growth in advertising spending will help medical information providers increase revenues.
OpenTable: Acquisition Target for Google?
According to industry research, within North America, of the 300,000 full-service restaurants, there are nearly 55,000 that accept reservations. However, not all of them have signed up with a reservation services provider like OpenTable. Analysts believe that North America accounts for a quarter of the global restaurant industry, making international markets an even bigger opportunity.
HomeAway Improves Offerings To Help Bring Customers Online
The $85 billion vacation rental market is projected to grow 13% annually. But the industry faces many concerns that analysts believe are limiting its growth potential. A study conducted to understand the problems facing the industry found that 46.3% of those surveyed have never used an online service to rent a vacation home in the past three years. This high figure does suggest that the industry has significant potential.
MercadoLibre: Acquisition Target for Amazon?
According to researcher, eMarketer, business-to-consumer sales in Latin America, excluding Brazil, are projected to reach $15.2 billion by the end of the current year and will grow to $28.5 billion by 2015. Overall, analysts believe Latin America e-commerce will grow 20% annually, driven by increased Internet adoption by both consumers and marketers. Currently, less than 2% of retail products sold in the region are available online, pointing to a big opportunity for market growth. Brazil is another high-growth market with analysts estimating e-commerce sales in the country to grow more than 25% this year.