Startup Profile: Zaang
Year Founded:
2007
URL:
Founders and Ages:
Michael Markarian, 23
Alex Kravets, 21
What is the story behind your company? ie. where did the idea come from, how was it founded etc..:
Michael Markarian and Alex Kravets founded Zaang in 2007 while students at Babson College. They saw tremendous opportunity in bringing people together who share something in common – something lacking in the social networking and microblogging space.
What makes your company unique in its industry?
On Zaang, conversations happen in “Worlds,” gatherings of users who share something in common. While located in a certain World, you can learn, share and debate with other people focused on that same topic. Conversations are already happening on Zaang in a variety of Worlds – everything from fishing, to the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, to Lady Gaga.
You can enhance your conversations on Zaang with videos, pictures and audio – a big advancement to the “text only” forum sites that ruled over the past decade.
You can also “follow” Worlds as you would on Twitter, so all the content you would be interested in flows into a feed customized for you.
Future plans for the company?
“Our mission is to make the interaction on Zaang resemble what it is like to be in a room with your closest friends,” says Markarian. “Except instead of your friends, you are conversing with other people around the world who are interested in the same stuff that you are.”
What was the start-up budget?
Zaang is a a well-funded, angel-backed start-up. However, exact financials are not being disclosed at this time.
