A VC View of Social Software

Here is a view of the Social Software Industry form the point of view of the Venture Capital firms.

Siebel + Google = Siebel-ster?

It turns out that Google is experimenting with social networking software. If there’s a buck to be made with massive searching, Google’s on it. But, how about if powerful relationship detecting software could be coupled with CRM databases? The article remarks:

These systems look in e-mail, instant messaging — everywhere, basically, where contact information can reside,” Preslan explained. “Then [the software] determines what the relationship is between the two contacts and maps it for further use within the company.”….
The best systems — from a business standpoint — are those that are integrated into CRM applications, Kingstone said, and not necessarily controlled at the user base.

So could social software “mine” a CRM database and discover undetected relationships that exist between constituents? Could a big search system like Google run a list of people from a Siebel database against other social networks or e-mail lists to find who knows whom?

Internet and politics

Two items related to our ongoing discussion of social software and its applicability in action organizations like ACS.

Now that Dean has defleated, second-guessing about the Internet-effect in politics is the topic du jour.

And then, Web sites are popping up to check the “facts” that politicians put out during 2004.

Fluffy has a home page too.

The social software revolution is now making room for pets. Backwash.com is encouraging pet owners to sign up their pets and have them dialogue with each other. This is important because it shows that every single specialty group can find, or make a home for themselves on the internet. This is a reflection of human society. Interaction is no longer relegated to face to face communication … now your dog can meet another pup outside of the park just like their owner. This link here will take you to see Scanner’s personal page. Also you can visit a pets only social software site here.