Folks, start your engines

The ride-sharing, car-sharing, do better with transportation, save our planet game just heated up with the news of Zip Car’s acquisition of the car sharing service, Streetcar. And, with the international exposure (CNET article) of flinc out of DEMO Spring 2010 – it emphasized a number of other ride-sharing start ups already in the process of modifying drivers and passengers behavior. There are some established players here in Europe like France’s Comuto which is already cash-flow positive to Karzoo with its pan-European focus. Other newer start ups still in stealth mode (although not so stealth since we know about them) are Geogoer and Boston’s RelayRides bring a unique solution to the concept of ride-share and car-share.

flinc currently is in a pre-pilot stage but has a project underway to enlist the world in determining where they should roll out – if you want to participate check out the Where’s flinc tab on their website. But if you want to try out modern car-pooling and you are in France, check out Comuto. Having used the service here in France, I can honestly say that it works and is a great way to get around. They have a really nice iPhone app too.  They have a map that shows you where you can go and the list of rides (with prices) is unending. We have a friend that goes from Paris to Bordeaux each week via Comuto. Urban rides or suburban rides -  it is about getting from point A to point B – all you need is a lift, or to give someone a ride. These apps and services are hoping to help you  save on fuel costs and change the way we think about commuting and transportation. Not to sound too sappy, but it also comes with a feeling of doing the right thing and there is nothing wrong about that. - JLH

Tags: carpooling, Carsharing, Comuto, DEMO, flinc, Geogoer, Green, Karzoo, RelayRides, Ride-share, Zip car, Zipcar

Five start ups to watch in 2010, according to us

We get around quite a bit and when we venture out of our IPTV/Telecommunications cave and into the start up cave, we are always amazed by the degree of innovation we see in both worlds. It is a different type of innovation but you can see an agenda brewing in both markets.

We recently were in Dusseldorf (European Venture Summit) and London (TechCrunch Christmas Crunch) and realized we finally saw some true innovation – for us this means a couple of things. It means that 1) we can and will use it in our daily lives even if we didn’t /dont work/live in a tech bubble  2) that the technology or service will help change behaviour, ours and the world around us and 3) it just appealed to us as humans.

Without further ado or ridiculous narrative, here are our five start ups to watch for 2010.

1. Flinc – a real-time ride sharing system enabling spontaneous short rides in suburban areas. It is navigation software connected to mobile phones enables the user to find a car within a few minutes. We really like it and for so many reasons. It is not just because we think the two founders, Michael and Benjamin (ok so Benjamin makes us blush a little, there is nothing wrong with that) channel the best characteristics of entrepreneurs we have seen in 15 years, or because they want to build a sustainable business and change people’s mobile/driving behavior but because it makes sense. People didn’t like Zip Car for that matter when it came on the market and Christopher Colombus had one heck of hard time getting that extra ship. So we think its time for a change. Save gas, share rides, use technology to make a better planet. Just do it.

2. mmatcher -  We are all about how local can you go and this start up out of Slovenia we think is going to nail it on the head. The core team is amazing  – the perfect blend of technical and business acumen – plus their ability to make a true one page executive summary is amazing. They are methodical and have a secret algorithm that will even make Google envious. Look for them as they make their way out into the marketplace.

3. NimBuzz – They have a ton of venture funding but that is not the point – the point is that they are useful and practical and we love them. Free calls, chat and messaging on your mobile phone or from your computer. Hello? How can this not be a great thing. Launched recently in the US, we expect great things from our favorite regularly and frequently used application, even my mom and and dad could use this.

4. Ubervu - Big fan, huge fan of the startup from Romania (now London) led by the brilliant and charming Dragos Llinca. Why? Cause again, it makes sense. Tracking and following conversations around the web is like trying to nail jelly to a tree and this company solves that problem. And why is it a problem? Because we should all keep up with ourselves in cyberspace, plus it puts all of that chatter into context and gives it meaning. Meaning is good.

5. Alcosystems - Living in Europe now, specifically France at the moment, it is evident they are serious about drinking and driving. Yea I am a product of the early 80s so that term was barely in existence in the US at the time, but when you are driving here and its 13:30 in the afternoon and the Gendarme pulls you over and makes you blow air into a tube, you are pretty darned glad you didn’t stop for lunch and throw back a couple of Vin du Pays. This is why we think Alcosystems (you can also see them as they debut at MWC in Barcelona in the Sweden Pavilion (Hall 2, stand 2 F13) is a great idea.  Alcohol is the third largest risk factor for illnesses and accidents and this mobile device will help you self monitor your own blood alcohol content and let you know if its safe to drive or you should just stay put and drink some more. Viva la France.

-JLH

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Tags: Alcosystems, flinc, mmatcher, Nimbuzz, Ubervu