A new web start-up launched by two school friends aims
to help internet users see all the content they want in one place.
Co-founder Rozbeh Nassab tells the story in 60
seconds.
0-5 seconds: Sum your business up in a
sentence
Rolio is a
free website that lets you view content from all your favourite
websites, including Facebook and Twitter, in one visual, intuitive
and customisable interface.
5-10 seconds: What's the business
model?
Revenue will be driven by advertising. We feel our product has a
global scope and will generate large and consistent traffic.
10-15 seconds: Who are your
competitors?
Google Reader and Netvibes.
15-20 seconds: What's your USP?
Integration of content from social media into one consolidated
feed, with powerful filters to instantly let users see exactly what
they want.
20-25 seconds: How have you funded it so
far?
We have done all the design and development in-house. The
Microsoft BizSpark program sponsors our cloud hosting. All other
company costs have come from us.
25-30 seconds: What were you doing
before?
I was a freelance web developer and Myuran worked as a
software developer in investment banking. We went to school
together, and both completed computing degrees at UK
universities.
30-35 seconds: Where did the idea come
from?
Through getting annoyed, visiting the same set of websites on
numerous occasions during a day. I wondered if I really had to open
so many browser windows?
35-40 seconds: What's the smartest thing you've
done so far?
Keeping things simple. Our application is pretty powerful, but
at every design stage we have strived to ensure that is stays
simple and intuitive for our users.
40-45 seconds: What's the stupidest?
Some of our initial marketing approaches were not the best, but
we have learnt from these mistakes and improved.
45-50 seconds: If your business was a biscuit,
what would it be?
Probably Jammie Dodgers. For starters, they are simple and look
great. They are also sticky and very addictive, much like Rolio -
once you start using it, you will be stuck on it!
50-55 seconds: Which idea are you a bit jealous
of?
I'm not sure jealous is the right word, but we really like
YouTube - such a simple concept and so well executed.
55-60 seconds: Where are you going to be in
12 months' time?
Hopefully, we will be helping thousands of people to browse the
internet more efficiently. We expect our upcoming mobile
application to be very popular too.
For more information about Rolio, click here.