Keystone Edge is profiling contestants in the upcoming Ben Franklin Venture Idol competition (Nov. 20 at Ben Franklin TechVentures). After earning their way through the afternoon selection process, entrepreneurs pitch their startups to investors and attendees. Ben Franklin will invest $15,000 based on the “crowd-funded” audience vote.
So you've got hundreds of connections on LinkedIn, hordes more on Facebook and Twitter. But will that kid you went to third grade with really be helpful when it comes time to find a job or land a contract?
Bethlehem’s MyNetwork, the brainchild of co-founders Andy Fine and Drew Riley, aims to cut through the clutter.
“We're at a time when we're all more connected than ever before, yet so disconnected from our contacts,” explains Fine. “The last thing society needs is another social network. What we do need is a systematic way to manage and foster our existing connections.”
With the notion that any individual can realistically manage only about 150 social/professional relationships at a time, MyNetwork integrates with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and email to consolidate, streamline and optimize contacts. The program helps users select the important connections from their networks, assigning them basic attributes, including contact type, importance and frequency of contact.
Connections that make the cut are displayed in an immersive network visualizer — Fine call it the backbone of the application — allowing users to easily follow and manage their important contacts. Features include recurring reminders to stay in touch, a detailed relationship history for each contact that tracks all communications over the connected platforms, and an intelligent messaging system that provides templates for well-written, concise communications.
Colleges and universities are MyNetwork’s initial market — annual licenses give students access to the tool for finding internships and jobs. The company had a successful launch this fall at Lafayette College and has inked a deal with Bucknell University.
“We’ve designed and built the only application for students to turn connections into career opportunities by taking the work out of networking,” says Fine. “Students need a better way to turn the connections they make at career fairs and networking events into real opportunities — and that's what MyNetwork does best.”
The company began offering the platform to individuals in September and already has more than 200 users.
Source: Andy Fine, MyNetwork
Writer: Elise Vider