Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

Discussion: Social Networking for entrepreneurs and start-ups – Video

11-09-2012 15:09 Eric Strait from Tech Hustlers' and myself Piers Scott from The Sociable discuss the social networking challenges that start-ups and entrepreneurs face. Should you concentrate on one social site or spread your social activities across multiple networks? Is Google+ worth the effort for start-ups? We look at how successful start-ups like dotCO (go.co) create brand ambassadors through authentic and personable social interactions. Finally we have a chat about Google+ Hangouts itself - we share our thoughts on what we think about Hangouts and how Skype integration with Facebook could be a threat. Techhustlers Site Facebook: Twitter: The Sociable Facebook: Twitter:

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Discussion: Social Networking for entrepreneurs and start-ups - Video

BizRocket.com, Inc. Updating KidzRocket.com Social Networking Site; Two Separate Age Groups Offer Significant …

CORAL SPRINGS, FL--(Marketwire - Sep 11, 2012) - BizRocket.com, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : BZRT ) -- Company announces KidzRocket.com social networking site to be expanded to include teens age 13-17. This new group offers significant potential volumes to the free KidzRocket.com social networking site and potential huge volumes when Company fully monetizes the website.

The improved website will offer much expanded age appropriate games and activities. The pre-teen group is thru age 12 and teen group is from age 13-17. KidzRocket.com social networking website is free to use, but parents can optionally subscribe to the state-of-the-art KidzRocket Filter to monitor kid's inappropriate Internet activities and contacts.

eMarketer predicts over 1.4 billion social network users in 2012.Booz & Co. predicts the dollar volume of goods sold through social media to reach $30 billion in 2015.

KidzRocket.com plans to monetize the free social network site and offer paid subscriptions to the advanced KidzRocket Filter which protects kids from inappropriate activities and contacts, much to their parent's relief.

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements relating to expectations of the 2012 or 2013 fiscal year; The terms and phrases "estimated", "goal", "commitment", "possible", "guidance", "expects", "would", "will", "continuing", "drive", "believes", "indicate", "look forward", "grow", "outlook", "forecasts", "forecast", "projected", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by BizRocket.com, Inc., in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that BizRocket believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to general economic conditions, BizRocket's expectations regarding its business, strategy and prospects, and BizRocket's confidence in the cash flow generation of its business. Many factors could cause BizRocket's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to competition; BizRocket's reliance on key personnel; BizRocket's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; and difficulties in forecasting BizRocket's financial results, particularly over longer periods given the rapid Internet-technological changes and competition. BizRocket.com, Inc., has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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BizRocket.com, Inc. Updating KidzRocket.com Social Networking Site; Two Separate Age Groups Offer Significant ...

Renren Invests $49 million in Social Finance, Inc.

BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Renren Inc. (RENN), a leading real name social networking internet platform in China, today announced that it invested $49 million in Social Finance Inc. ("SoFi"), a San Francisco-based private company.

SoFi offers an innovative lending solution that provides students access to lower loan rates than Federal Direct and PLUS loans with similar borrow protections. SoFi was started by a team of Stanford Graduate School of Business students in 2011. By fostering social and economic connections with alumni investors, SoFi has moved towards becoming a national lender through state registration, created a broker dealer, expanded its product offering to include both in-school and consolidation loans, and expanded its presence to over 70 schools nationwide in the U.S.

"The investment in SoFi represents our continued efforts in leveraging our social and demographics expertise. As a pioneering company building social infrastructure over the internet, we have closely observed and participated in the transformation of other online vertical businesses that leverage social to productize, market, distribute and scale," said Joseph Chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renren. "With gaming and e-commerce socialized, as exemplified by social gaming and social commerce, we expect the next wave will be finance and education; SoFi lies at the nexus of that revolution. As the largest real-name social network platform in China, we constantly explore for synergies of how social can successfully transform industries and help push beyond traditional boundaries."

About Renren Inc.

Renren Inc. (RENN) operates the leading real name social networking internet platform in China. It enables users to connect and communicate with each other, share information and user generated content, play online games, listen to music, shop for deals and enjoy a wide range of other features and services. Renren's platform includes the main social networking website Renren.com, the online games center game.Renren.com, the social commerce website Nuomi.com, and the video-sharing website 56.com. Renren had approximately 162 million activated users as of June 30, 2012.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from Renren's management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Renren may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Renren's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the Company's results of operations is included in our annual report on Form20-F and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this pressreleaseis as of the date of this press release, and Renren does not undertake any obligation to update anyforward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Sam Lawn Investor Relations Director Renren Inc. Tel: (86 10) 8448 1818 ext 1300 Email: ir@renren-inc.com

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Renren Invests $49 million in Social Finance, Inc.

Social Finance Raises $77 Million to Address Student Loan Crisis

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Social Finance Inc. (SoFi) today announced that it has raised $77.2 million in series B funding led by Baseline Ventures and joined by DCM and Renren Inc. (RENN), Chinas largest social networking site. SoFi is an innovative lending solution that gives students access to lower loan rates than Federal Direct and PLUS loans with similar borrower protections by fostering social and economic connections with alumni investors. The new capital will be used to help SoFi grow its alumni investor base and reach new student and graduate borrowers as it expands beyond 78 schools this fall.

With more students applying for loans for post-secondary education coupled with state budget cutbacks for higher education and a federal loan market that can punish good borrowers, the student loan and debt crisis is getting worse before its going to get better, said Mike Cagney, CEO of Social Finance. Through SoFi, we have been able to create a whole new market that gives students better alternatives to fund their education while strengthening ties to their alumni community.

The SoFi program works as a dedicated lending fund that offers students a better fixed loan rate than todays unsubsidized Federal Direct and PLUS loans. At the same time it enables alumni to connect with their alma mater while earning an attractive return. The program also fosters interaction between students and alumni through a unique social platform that combines on-line and off-line connections that facilitate financial literacy, career mentoring and in-school project assistance ultimately helping to reduce lending rates and lower loss rates for students.

To date, SoFis lending program is available in 78 schools ranging from large universities such as Stanford and University of Michigan to smaller colleges such as Smith and Swarthmore. It will expand beyond 78 schools this fall.SoFi has generated more than $60 million in loan applications and is on a path to commit more than $200 million in student loans in 2012.

When taking the current and foreseeable macro environment into account, there is a massive opportunity for SoFi to disrupt the entire finance market, said Steve Anderson, founder of Baseline Ventures. Alumni across the country want to be more involved with their universities and many have savings sitting on the sidelines earning no interest. At the same time students need lower loan rates to make college more affordable and need help with career decisions and mentoring. SoFi makes the economics work for everyone: students benefit from lower rates and alumni support, and alumni earn better returns and add value to their schools through SoFis community lending engagement model.

In March, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that student debt had passed $1 trillion. In addition, a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that the delinquency rate for student loans, which is currently at 8.9 percent, increased during the second quarter of 2012. This compared to the delinquency rates for mortgages (6.3 percent), credit cards (10.9 percent) and auto loans (4.2 percent) which all decreased.

There are very few companies that do social good while also leveraging next generation financial and social networking services, said David Chao, co-founder and general partner, DCM. Student loans are a major national issue that needs to be resolved. Through SoFis unique approach they are not only helping students through financial literacy and reducing their loan rates, but also enabling alumni to connect with their alma mater and truly give back to their community.

As a pioneering company pushing the potential of social infrastructure, we closely observe and participate in other online businesses that are leveraging social to create, market and distribute products at scale, said Joe Chen, CEO of Renren. SoFi lies at the nexus of the social revolution, which began with social gaming and social ecommerce and is now poised to transform finance and education.

About SoFi

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Social Finance Raises $77 Million to Address Student Loan Crisis

Money Mantra: Impact of social media – Video

11-09-2012 01:08 Money Mantra: People have started using social networking websites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to express their opinions, feelings. On Money Mantra, NDTV's Mehraj Dube and a panel of guests discuss the impact of an increasing usage of social media websites. Watch full show:

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Money Mantra: Impact of social media - Video