DreamIt Ventures to start New York incubator program, push back Philly until Fall

Forbes' Maureen Farrell reports that Philly's DreamIt Ventures is starting a New York incubator program next summer, and as a result will push its 2011 Philly program back to the Fall. While co-founder Steven Welch says DreamIt remains committed to Philadelphia, this move is bound to raise questions about that.

The article notes only 8 of DreamIt's 34 startups are currently based in Philly.


Steve Burke announces Comcast/NBCU Management Team in Memo

Steve Burke has announced the new management team for the Comcast/NBCU joint venture in a memo today. No major surprises from what had previously been indicated. It confirms that Bob Greenblatt (ex-Showtime) will become Chairman of NBC Entertainment. Also, it will be particularly interesting to see what Dick Ebersol will do with NBC Sports, Versus, The Golf Channel and Comcast's Regional Sports Networks all reporting to him.

The LA Times' Company Town blog notes that there are going to be numerous chairmen running around NBCU's executive suite. Sort of like all the czars in the Obama administration.

Comcast left standing alone by (proposed) Cablevision spinoff (Reuters Blogs)


First Round Capital Roundup: 11/17/2010

Jelli, a First Round Capital portfolio company that enables radio stations to use "crowd sourcing" to determine playlist priorities, is gaining an expanded presence in the Philadelphia market. WYSP/Philadelphia and WPST/Trenton have both considerably increased the number of hours programmed by Jelli users, who vote online for the artists and songs they wish to hear. Jelli also just recently introduced an iPhone app. Based in San Mateo, CA, the company has raised a total of $7 million to date, with Battery Ventures being another significant investor.

Yummly of Palo Alto, which provides a semantic search engine for recipes, raised $1.85 million, led by First Round, Intel Capital, and Harrison Metal Capital. Presumably, co-founder and CEO David Feller goes back a ways with Josh Kopelman, since he worked previously at Half.com, eBay, and StumpleUpon (an early First Round portfolio company).

First Round and Shasta Ventures lead a $3 million round in MOVIECLIPS.COM, a Los Angelos-based startup that is building a searchable database of movie clips (with licensing from the studios). Here is an interview with the company founders.


Daily Links 11/17/2010: Ben Franklin Technology Partners funds nine companies for $2.3 million

Comcast Teams With Sporting News On Regional Digital Publications
First RSN-Backed Edition Launched In Philadelphia
(Multichannel News)

Comcast talks with regulators on NBC deal heat up (Reuters)

Comcast's clumsy Hollywood kickoff
Its NBC Universal efforts make it look clueless
(Variety)

Comcast Reshuffles NBC’s Deck: Who’s Up, Down And Out
(Forbes: Moneywood)

War over? Comcast says "Consensus at hand on net neutrality" (Ars Technica)

Hulu Plus launches, cuts price -- look out Comcast and Netflix? (Seattle Times)

Nine firms get a total of $2.3M from Ben Franklin program (Philly.com: Philly Inc)


Verizon Offers Free Security Credentials To Healthcare Professionals (Information Week)

'GIS Day' to Showcase Cutting-Edge Technologies and Jobs (PR Newswire)

PolicyMap Introduces Four New Decision-Making Tools
Additional Web 2.0 Functionality Helps People Understand, Use, and Share Good Data
(PR
Newswire)

UniTek Global Services, Inc. Announces Financial Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2010 (Globe Newswire via
MarketWatch)

Xyntek's Biometric Solutions for Staff User Authentication & Patient Identification (Marketwire)




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Brian Tierney's New Gig

The New York Times reports that former Philadelphia Inquirer publisher Brian Tierney is back in business, having set up a PR firm simply called "Brian Public Relations" in King of Prussia and acquired an interactive promotional firm, Realtime Media , to go with it, with backing from NewSpring Capital.

He is also taking along Philly.com President Ryan Davis with him.


Daily Links 11/16/2010: GSI Commerce off 7% on analyst's downgrade

Gaspin to Step Down From NBCU
Top TV exec to leave company after Comcast deal complete
(Broadcasting & Cable)
Also, more on Amy Banse's move to Silicon Valley; NBCU's Zalaznick to oversee Telemundo.

Kurtz: Olbermann On the Rocks With MSNBC
(Slate)

Hands-On With Comcast’s Xfinity TV App (Gigaom: NewTeeVee)

Comcast's Smit Says TV App Will Help Speed Up Innovation: Video
(Bloomberg)


TEDx at the Kimmel: Where ideas go to mix (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Drexel University Announces $45 Million Gift (PR Newswire)
From Bennett S. LeBow for new B-School facility.

GSI Commerce: Cowen Turns Bearish; Sees More Competition (Barron's: Tech Trader Daily)
The underlying question: Is GSI Commerce's core business model really profitable?

QlikTech Files Registration Statement for Proposed Secondary Public Offering (Business Wire)

Oracle Sees Ex-SAP CEO’s Testimony as “Context” for Damage Claim (All Things Digital: Digital Daily)

SAP Owes Oracle $40.6 Million for Infringement, Expert Tells Federal Jury (Bloomberg)
$40.6 million precisely?

Improving SAP usability: Perspectives from the ‘Google generation’ (SearchSAP.com)

Motorola Invests In BlackArrow
Amount of Funding in Dynamic Advertising-Insertion Startup Not Disclosed
(Multichannel News)
Comcast Interactive Capital is already an investor in BlackArrow.

Pepperjam founder invests in capital fund (Scranton Times-Tribune)
Founder Kris Jones sold Pepperjam to GSI Commerce last year.

The implications of too much VC money and too little startup talent (Fortune)




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Daily Links 11/15/2010: Comcast launches remote iPhone/iPad App

SAP co-CEO says 'I am sorry' to Oracle (Reuters)

Comcast-NBC Deal Review Speeds up: Report (Reuters)

Comcast Executives Press Federal Officials to Decide on NBC Deal (Bloomberg)

Who Should Govern the Internet? (Comcast Voices|Official Comcast Blog)

Regulators eye Internet, program conditions to Comcast-NBC merger, sources say (Washington Post: Post Tech)

Exclusive: Comcast’s Top Digital Exec Amy Banse to Open New Silicon Valley Equity Fund for Cable Giant and NBC (All Things Digital: BoomTown)
Story says she will integrate the management of Comcast Interactive Capital and NBCU's Peacock Equity Fund.

Comcast Xfinity remote app for iPhone, iPad launches, video streaming & Android version on the way (Engadget)


When venture capitalists are feeling positive (Philly.com: Philly Inc)

7 Philadelphia Start-Ups You Need To Know About (The Next Web)

We are proud to announce the Goodway Investment Fund! (The Goodway Blog)
The Goodway Group is a direct marketing/digital media firm based in Jenkintown. They are looking to fund ventures in the digital media space.

Oracle V. SAP: Writing Is On The Wall
(Information Week)

Pennsylvania Launches Powerful Interactive Broadband Map
(PR Newswire)




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Consumer 10.0: NBCU takeover only one of Comcast's fights
(Philadelphia Inquirer)

More Value Await ValueVision in Comcast's Hands (Seeking Alpha)

DIY 'Hackers' Tinker Everyday Things Into Treasure (NPR)
Highlights Philly's Hive 76.

SAP expects its co-CEO to testify (Reuters)


Tensions Rise Over Damages at Oracle-SAP Trial (PC World)

Why Did Urban Outfitters Redesign Its Website? (Styleite)