Provo Labs
Press Room Feed
Provo Labs Press Room
Provo, UT, October 10, 2006 — Provo Labs Academy officially opened for business this month with the completion of the Don Comer Technology Park building on 9th East in Provo, adjacent to Brigham Young University.
More than fifty entrepreneurs showed up for the initial open house and tour last Monday, and many are joining the Academy and setting up shop.
The Academy is designed to help small start up companies by providing them with office space for as little as $200 per month. But that is just the beginning. The Academy will hold many training and networking events each week to help entrepreneurs learn how to build a successful company.
“We want the Provo Labs Academy to be a catalyst for economic growth in Utah County, turning out dozens of companies that know how to use the internet effectively. This is a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn from others and gain experience in a way that they won’t be able to find anywhere else,” said Paul Allen, CEO, Provo Labs Academy
Paul Allen will provide ongoing training on powerful internet marketing tactics that he learned at MyFamily.com and 10x Marketing, two companies that he previously founded. He will also invite dozens of guest lecturers to share their startup experiences with the Academy members.
One of the primary reasons so many entrepreneurs are flocking to the Academy is the chance to learn from each other as they take the many steps required to make a venture successful. Regular brainstorm sessions will be held where entrepreneurs will help each other find solutions to their biggest challenges.
”I’ll be teaching companies how to get more visitors to their web sites through online marketing, including search engine optimization, pay-per-click campaigns, email marketing, affiliate programs, partnering with other web sites, and the newest craze, online video,” Allen said. “I’ll also invite guest speakers regularly to inspire and train them. We’ll cover dozens of tactics, any one of which can bring new customers and help a business really grow.”
Provo Labs Academy members receive a workspace office which includes a desk, computer, phone, high-speed Internet (using iProvo’s fiber optic network), and access to conference room (with a projector) and a break room. Weekly training on dozens of topics important for startup companies will be offered. Members will also have access to a valuable library of resources, including conference materials, case studies, analyst reports, as well as Provo Labs’ business, video, audio, and book library.
Provo Labs Academy is conveniently located on 1234 North 900 East. Membership is filling up fast. Space is available for up to 50 members. Reserve your spot today by calling Roger Andrus at (801) 852-6163, or register at <www.provolabs.com/academy>.
”My hope is that after a few months, they will have applied what they are learning and will be growing their business. Hopefully, they’ll soon outgrow our small space and need to move out and move on,” Allen said.
xxx
Media Contact
Pat Sheranian
Provo Academy Manager
Provo Academy
psheranian@aol.com
About Provo Labs Academy
Provo Labs Academy is more than just a new business location with office facilities. The Academy is a place where entrepreneurs come to succeed with their startup companies, learn the key to Internet marketing success, and access a variety of resources, such as weekly training, cutting-edge technology, office space, and social networking.
Pre-1908 Ohio Land Records contain more than 98,000 Records
Provo, UT, July 11, 2006 —WorldVitalRecords.com added the Ohio Land Records, containing more than 98,000 records to its database yesterday.
“Land records are an important aspect of genealogical research as they provide valuable information that can spark ideas for additional avenues of research. The Ohio records are the first of eight valuable Bureau of Land Management datasets that we’ll be releasing over the next week or so,” said Darla Seamons, Director of Content Acquisition.
The pre-1908 Ohio Land Records document the transfer of land ownership from the federal government to individuals.
“This data set is really useful because it enables genealogists to associate a person with a precise location, date and time to validate links to their family line,” said Amy Rhoads, Director of Research and Development and Community Building.
Individuals described in this set include patentees, assignees, warrantees, and widows or heirs of the transfer. The legal land description of the location, as well as the issue date of the title transfer is also provided.
xxx
Media Contact:
Whitney Ransom
Corporate Communications
WorldVitalRecords.com
www.provolabs.com
whitney@worldvitalrecords.com
About WorldVitalRecords
Finding your ancestors can be overwhelming, and expensive. At WorldVitalRecords.com, we’ve made it easy and affordable for individuals to connect to their families and find answers to their genealogical questions. Led by Paul Allen, who after founding Ancestry.com, which became the largest genealogy company in the world, now aims to be the number two player in the genealogy industry with WorldVitalRecords.com. WorldVitalRecords.com will offer users international record databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasts, videocasts, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
WorldVitalRecords.com geocodes three new databases, including the SSDI
Provo, UT, July 3, 2006 – WorldVitalRecords.com added the first databases to its genealogy site today, providing users with access to 77 million geocoded records, including the Death Master File (DMF), commonly known in the genealogy industry as the SSDI.
“I don’t know of anyone else right now who is doing map mashups with genealogy data. When you just receive the latitude and longitude numbers or zip codes, they don’t make a lot of sense to anyone, but when you see the city on a map along with the neighboring counties, it provides a special representation of where the individual died,” said Jimmy Zimmerman, Developer, Provo Labs (former parent company of WorldVitalRecords.com).
When a user types in a surname of an individual, the location of that individual’s death, as well as the deaths of other individuals in the local area, is automatically geocoded. Users can see the area from a satellite view, as well as a hybrid view. Many search results also link to historical timeline data.
“Currently what we have implemented is the ability for users to visually see the city and neighboring counties on a map where their ancestors lived, which is a huge benefit to researchers. The historical timeline data also adds an extra element of context,” said John Ivie, Senior Engineer, WorldVitalRecords.com.
Individuals interested in exploring the geocoded databases should go to http://www.worldvitalrecords.com.
xxx
Media Contact:
Whitney Ransom
Corporate Communications
WorldVitalRecords.com
www.provolabs.com
whitney@worldvitalrecords.com
(801)735-2192
About WorldVitalRecords.com
Finding your ancestors can be overwhelming, and expensive. At WorldVitalRecords.com, we’ve made it easy and affordable for individuals to connect to their families and find answers to their genealogical questions. Led by Paul Allen, who after founding Ancestry.com, which became the largest genealogy company in the world, now aims to be the number two player in the genealogy industry with WorldVitalRecords.com. WorldVitalRecords.com will offer users international record databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasts, videocasts, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
Bloggers to bring prominent historical figures’ knowledge back to life.
Provo, UT, June 28, 2006 —WorldHistory.com is inviting bloggers to bring back the thoughts, words and knowledge of historical figures and blog about what these individuals would say today about current events or topics in the news if they were still living.
“I think this is such a novel idea. We’re taking historical figures and bringing their knowledge and wisdom back to life. Their words can really have a strong influence on our society,” said Blake Snow, Network Director, WorldHistory.com.
Blogs will be developed for many of the top figures in history throughout the world, including founding fathers, government and business leaders, as well as educators, scientists, inventors, and religious leaders.
“I have believed for a long time that unless we learn lessons from history we will find ourselves repeating mistakes of the past and end up in difficulties from which it may be impossible to escape,” said Paul Allen, CEO, Provo Labs. “Worldhistory.com is about world history, and the great ideas from thinkers and leaders all over the world are needed to help us achieve balance, tolerance, and a sustainable future for our civilization.”
Bloggers will receive access to a variety of resources and tools, including electronic libraries and search engines to assist them in finding quotes and back articles for their blogs, which will be hosted on Worldhistory.com. Bloggers will be rewarded with the sharing of advertising revenue generated on their respective blogs.
Individuals interested in becoming a historical editor for the WorldHistory.com blog should sign up at worldhistory.com or use the contact information below.
“Basically if you love to write and you are a passionate and knowledgeable about a historical figure, you are a prime candidate,” Snow said.
xxx
Media Contact
Blake Snow
Network Director
WorldHistory.com Blogs
blake@provolabs.com
www.worldhistory.com
Whitney Ransom
Corporate Communications
Provo Labs
whitney@provolabs.com
About WorldHistory.com
Formed in 1999, WorldHistory.com provides more than a million pages of rich historical and biographical content, making it one of the leading history sites on the Web. WorldHistory.com is continually adding new content and is currently building a history search that will enable users to view geocoded documents.
1fbb
Aiming to be the number two player in the genealogy industry.
Provo, UT, June 7, 2006 — Provo Labs announced today its plans to become the number two player in the genealogy industry.
“Of course I recognize that this is no small task, but building this Web site is something that I feel compelled to do. Our goal is to develop a subscription service that is affordable and fits the needs, that are currently not being met, of our genealogists,” said Paul Allen, CEO Provo Labs.
Provo Labs will revitalize an existing site, WorldVitalRecords.com, and build it to be a vast library of genealogical resources, including international genealogy databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasts, videocasts, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
“People shouldn’t have to spend their life savings to find their ancestors. We’re making it easy and affordable for our users to access our content,” said Whitney Ransom, Corporate Communications Director.
Along with all of these resources, WorldVitalRecords.com will be utilizing Provo Labs’ dynamic proprietary search engine, PlugNSearchTM.
“We’re confident that PlugNSearchTM will add unique value to WorldVitalRecord’s genealogical content, offering users specific and relevant results at unparalleled speed,” said Phil Burns, COO, Provo Labs.
Individuals who are interested in becoming part of this genealogical community can visit WorldVitalRecords.com. We have a full team of genealogy content acquisitionists. Content providers should send an email to content@worldvitalrecords.com. Companies interested in becoming an affiliate should contact affiliates@worldvitalrecords.com.
xxx
Media Contact:
Whitney Ransom
Corporate Communications
WorldVitalRecords.com
www.provolabs.com
whitney.ransom@provolabs.com
(801)735-2192
About WorldVitalRecords
Finding your ancestors can be overwhelming, and expensive. At WorldVitalRecords.com, we’ve made it easy and affordable for individuals to connect to their families and find answers to their genealogical questions. Led by Paul Allen, who after founding Ancestry.com, which became the largest genealogy company in the world, now aims to be the number two player in the genealogy industry with WorldVitalRecords.com. WorldVitalRecords.com will offer users international record databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasts, videocasts, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
About Provo Labs
Provo Labs is an incubator for Web 2.0 Internet companies, such as 10Speed Media, LDS Media, MP3Books, and Funding Universe. Formed by MyFamily.com founder, Paul B. Allen, Provo Labs focuses on building companies that combine content, community and technology in innovative ways to create value for its customers. In July, Provo Labs moves to a new location, adjacent to BYU, where it will house more than a dozen startup companies, providing entrepreneurs top training, access to cutting-edge technology, office space, and social networking opportunities. For more information about Provo Labs, visit http://www.provolabs.com.
New partnership delivers premium genealogical content to users, using a dynamic proprietary search engine.
Provo, UT, June 7, 2006 —Provo Labs is pleased to announce a partnership with Everton Publishing, a genealogical industry leader in continuing education, research, and publishing.
“We chose to work with Provo Labs because of Paul’s experience in the industry and because of their search engine,” said Walter Fuller, Everton President and Publisher. “We look forward to this partnership and have every confidence it will evolve into a productive, rewarding, and enjoyable endeavor for both of the organizations and the individuals involved.”
Provo Labs will revitalize an existing site, WorldVitalRecords.com, and build it to be a vast library of genealogical resources, including international record databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasting, videocasting, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
As part of the agreement, Provo Labs will share its proprietary search engine tool, PlugNSearchTM, with Everton.
“PlugNSearchTM is a dynamic proprietary search engine that will add unique value to Everton’s genealogical content, offering users specific and relevant results at unparalleled speed,” said Phil Burns, COO, Provo Labs.
Everton users will be able to use the PlugNSearchTM tool to receive high quality historical, biographical data and specific information about cities, countries, customs, and cultures.
“This partnership will allow us to promote shared genealogical resources,” said Paul Allen, CEO, Provo Labs. “We will feature the best data Everton has, coupled with our proprietary search tool.”
xxx
Media Contact:
Whitney Ransom
Corporate Communications
WorldVitalRecords.com
www.provolabs.com
whitney.ransom@provolabs.com
(801)735-2192
About Provo Labs
Provo Labs is an incubator for Web 2.0 Internet companies, such as 10Speed Media, LDS Media, MP3Books, and Funding Universe. Formed by MyFamily.com founder, Paul B. Allen, Provo Labs focuses on building companies that combine content, community and technology in innovative ways to create value for its customers. In July, Provo Labs moves to a new location, adjacent to BYU, where it will house more than a dozen startup companies, providing entrepreneurs top training, access to cutting-edge technology, office space, and social networking opportunities. For more information about Provo Labs, visit http://www.provolabs.com
About WorldVitalRecords
Finding your ancestors can be overwhelming, and expensive. At WorldVitalRecords.com, we’ve made it easy and affordable for individuals to connect to their families and find answers to their genealogical questions. Led by Paul Allen, who after founding Ancestry.com, which became the largest genealogy company in the world, now aims to be the number two player in the genealogy industry with WorldVitalRecords.com. WorldVitalRecords.com will offer users international record databases, references to top genealogical resources, a blog planet, podcasts, videocasts, Webinars, expert advice, training, and user-generated content.
About Everton Publishing
For more than a half century, Everton Publishers has been serving the needs of people pursuing their heritage. Now under new ownership and management, Everton is highly committed to providing all of the publications, products and services that made the company an industry icon, while also offering the latest in online and digital research technology, searchable databases, and the previously unavailable content of the vast Everton Genealogical Library. In addition, Everton also publishes the Handybook for Genealogists and the Genealogical Helper magazine. For more information about Everton Publishers, visit http://www.everton.com
Provo, UT, May 22, 2006 — ContentDJ, a new social blog engine, is making it easy and free for bloggers to get exposure and for readers to receive the best content on their favorite topics.
“ContentDJ gives bloggers added exposure, and better organizes information overload of blogs, sites, and RSS feeds through the use of human editors who only select the most relevant content for a given subject,” said Blake Snow, CEO, ContentDJ.
Getting exposure is easy. ContentDJ selects the best content from bloggers and publishes it across various channels. The Daily Best is the new topic this week.
“Our readers get superior topical convenience through trusted editors whom we call DJs,” said Snow. “Our team of DJs (i.e. editors) mix and match your blog posts and news articles to a targeted audience of readers.”
Every blog that is published on ContentDJ is redistributed in its original form, with a citation from the author, as well as with a link to the original blog or article.
Each month ContentDJ features on its homepage the Top 10 Publishers, an award for bloggers who get published the most on the network. ContentDJ also saves readers time because its team of DJs provides them with relevant information. Readers simply need to sign up for the station they desire.“We allow readers to find the topics that they are interested in, without having to sift through piles of information. We stay on top of the ‘who’s who’ in the blogosphere and keep you up to date on your favorite topics.”Sign up now to gain better exposure and to start reading the best content at http://www.contentdj.com/.
xxx
Media Contact:
Blake Snow
Content DJ, Media Relations
801.735.5420
801.437.9661 Fax
info@contentdj.com
About Content DJ
ContentDJ is a new method of finding and sharing notable content on the web. ContentDJs in-house editors (DJ’s) post the best of the best, on a variety of subjects, from a variety of authors, blogs, and sites. ContentDJ finds the best publishers, adds them to its network, and cross posts the best information to the relevant channel, or sub-site. Publishers get added exposure. Readers get better convenience.
FundingUniverse.com closes series A round of funding with Grow Utah Ventures and Provo Labs.
FundingUniverse.com, Inc. (http://www.fundinguniverse.com), the leading online service provider for entrepreneurs and angel investors, today announced the completion of its series A round of financing led by Grow Utah Ventures and Provo Labs. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
FundingUniverse.com is a window to 51 localized websites where investors and entrepreneurs connect. The network also provides tools and resources that prepare start-up companies to seek investment capital. Investors and angel groups that use FundingUniverse.com have access to thousands of quality business plans and, in some states, video proposals called VideoPitches.
“This series A round will enable us to fully launch a series of completely unique products and services to our customers,” said FundingUniverse.com CEO Brock Blake. “Our partners have given us the financial wherewithal to take FundingUniverse.com to the next level of leadership in our industry.”
Alan Hall, Founder and Chairman of Grow Utah Ventures, is bullish about FundingUniverse.com’s future.
“We see tremendous potential in our partnership with FundingUniverse.com, and are completely confident in Brock and his team,” Hall said. “Our expertise in the angel community, combined with FundingUniverse.com’s proven ability to attract quality investors and dealflow will create an exceptional resource for entrepreneurs and investors.”
Paul B. Allen, CEO of Provo Labs, says FundingUniverse.com is the right service at the right time for investors and entrepreneurs.
“Angel groups are forming at a staggering pace and entrepreneurs are creating new technologies, products and services faster than ever before,” Allen said. “It’s easy to see why FundingUniverse.com has enjoyed success in its opening stages. We look forward to exciting things from FundingUniverse.com.”
About FundingUniverse.com
FundingUniverse.com is an online matching service where entrepreneurs post their business plans and investors have access to hundreds of new business proposals each week. The site is currently used by more than 800 accredited angel investors, 7,000 entrepreneurs, and over 2,000 business plans. In addition, FundingUniverse.com provides users with educational podcasts, 10,000 company histories, sample business plans from successful startups, and hundreds of pages of resources and tips for entrepreneurs and investors. For more information about FundingUniverse.com visit http://www.fundinguniverse.com.
About Grow Utah Ventures
Grow Utah Ventures, with offices in both Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah, is a newly formed privately funded organization dedicated to assisting and funding Utah’s early stage businesses. Comprised of a team of successful and experienced entrepreneurs, business leaders and private investors, Grow Utah Ventures has as its mission to help stimulate, unlock and develop the entrepreneurial potential and business opportunities for value creation across the Wasatch Front and Northern Utah. This is to be accomplished by promoting a community environment that is conducive to entrepreneurism, directly investing in early stage Utah businesses and rallying the financial and leadership resources of Utah investors to support leading entrepreneurs. For more information about Grow Utah visit http://www.growutahventures.com.
About Provo Labs
Provo Labs is an incubator for Web 2.0 Internet companies, such as 10Speed Media, LDS Media, MP3Books, and Funding Universe. Formed by MyFamily.com founder, Paul B. Allen, Provo Labs focuses on building companies that combine content, community and technology in innovative ways to solve problems for its customers. In June, Provo Labs moves to a new location, adjacent to BYU, where it will house more than a dozen startup companies, providing entrepreneurs top training, access to cutting-edge technology, office space, and social networking opportunities. For more information about Provo Labs, visit http://www.provolabs.com
Contact: Briana Morgan
Director of Public Relations
Phone 801.830.2743
Email: briana@fundinguniverse.com
FundingArizona.com hosts matching event for entrepreneurs and investors in new, high-speed format.
Arizona entrepreneurs searching for angel capital have a new way to find it, thanks to FundingArizona.com’s upcoming SpeedPitching luncheon.
FundingArizona.com is a member of the FundingUniverse.com family of sites that provide a matching service for entrepreneurs and angel investors in states throughout the U.S.
The luncheon will feature ten of Arizona’s top entrepreneurs giving five-minute pitches to groups of 3-5 accredited angel investors, rotating in a fast-paced, speed-dating style. Entrepreneurs will be available for question and answer sessions on an individual basis after the event. The event will take place at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on May 23rd.
“Studies show that the primary reasons that investors choose to invest in companies have to do with the charisma, trustworthiness, and experience of the entrepreneur,” said FundingUniverse.com CEO Brock Blake. “The SpeedPitching luncheon will give entrepreneurs the chance to present themselves, as well as their ideas.”
In the interest of maintaining the intimacy of the event, only ten entrepreneurs and 50 investors will be allowed to attend the luncheon.
“SpeedPitching will enable promising entrepreneurs to present their ideas to a large number of angel investors in an intimate setting,” said FundingUniverse.com Chief Evangelist Jeff Jordan. “In addition, angel investors will learn about Arizona’s most promising business opportunities without the drudgery of long, impersonal presentations.”
Entrepreneurs and accredited angel investors interested in participating in the luncheon may register by visiting www.fundinguniverse.com/shop/pitching/arizona.php, or calling 877.638.3616.
Contact: Briana Morgan
Director of Public Relations
Phone 801.830.2743
Email: briana@fundinguniverse.com
Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to angel investors.
For press releases before January 2005, visit infobaseventures.com