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The Start-up Journal: Content Syndicate's timeline |
| Jan to April 2005 |
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The seeds for this courageous idea called Content Syndicate begin to germinate. An idea that could help connect those who need well written content with those who can provide it - regardless of language, media, platform, time or geographic location. |
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| May 3rd, 2005 |
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CS domain name gets registered. |
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| Sept 22nd, 2005 |
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Alpha version of the site goes live after months of field research talking to businesses, journalists, freelancers, editors, publishing firms. Identify lot of inefficiencies, issues, problems with current model of operations. Problems = Opportunity = Solution. |
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| Nov 30th, 2005 |
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CEO Maddy Reddy decides to resign from his full-time job at the time after 10 years in the technology media business. Clearly, he sees Content Syndicate as being more than a 'cute little side-project.' Soon realises he has to work harder, insane hours to run his own company. Consolation: Satisfaction levels and adrenaline rush overshadow stress levels. |
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| Dec 1st, 2005 |
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A massive undertaking begins. R&D; business development; fund raising. This will take up the better part of 4 months. |
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| Mar 22nd, 2006 |
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Pre-beta version 1.0 of the site is launched - incorporating text and photographs. |
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| Apr 22nd, 2006 |
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Copywriting, translation, editorial systems are all part of the new CS, together with better integration among the assorted features. |
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| Aug 22nd, 2006 |
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CS gets incorporated in Dubai as a living, breathing entity. |
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| Oct 10th, 2006 |
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CS welcomes its very first employee. The CEO's apartment is converted into CS's global head quarters! |
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| Oct 22nd, 2006 |
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We move to a funky new office in the heart of Dubai with a great view. Surrounded by diverse eateries, traffic, constant buzz and the looming BurJuman Mall. |
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| Nov 9th, 2006 |
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CS is incorporated in India, with Hyderabad chosen as the hub city. |
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| Dec 10th, 2006 |
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Take our first steps in America by being incorporated in New Jersey. |
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| Dec 12th, 2006 |
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CS scores its first major client, crafting exclusive web content for the Middle Eastern communications giant Du. |
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| Dec 24th, 2006 |
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Signed up to offer media services for the Dubai Fringe Festival, another big catch for a fledgling company. |
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| Dec 30th, 2006 |
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Number of registered content providers number touches 300+ across 34 countries. Dedicated employee count hits 26. Client base touches a very healthy 35. |
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| Jan 9th, 2006 |
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Make our European presence by being incorporated in London, UK. Sign up our first British client on the same day. |
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| Jan 10th, 2007 |
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Now operational as legally independent entities in 4 major markets. Getting there... slowly, but surely. |
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| Jan 28th, 2007 |
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Head into the legendary Night of the AdEaters Festival - UAE edition, as proud co-sponsors and patrons. Gain big publicity by being associated with the event, not bad for a company just getting off the ground and spreading its wings.
FYI - AdEaters is nocturnal marathon of the world's best ads shown back-to-back for 8 straight hours! |
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| Feb 3rd, 2007 |
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Start bringing our ambitious thoughts regarding the web portal into actual life, including payment gateway, cutting edge work-flow, digital rights management, security - all built ground-up on our in-house developed 'Gutenberg 1.0' framework, that will be the engine driving all of Content Syndicate's services. With open source components, web 2.0 (Ajax), .Net 2.0 - Gutenberg delivers the goods in our internal testing.
Why Gutenberg? Our little homage to Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (c. 1400 – February 3, 1468) a German goldsmith and printer, credited with inventing movable type printing in Europe (ca. 1450), thereby helping spread the 'written or printed word' to the mass market. His major work, the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line bible, has been acclaimed for its high aesthetic and technical quality. (Wikipedia works!) |
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| Feb 17th, 2007 |
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Add the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) to our growing list of influential clients, handling all media services and content for a major event 'Dubai Careers 2007'. |
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| Mar 3rd, 2007 |
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List of dedicated clients grows to 61. |
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| Mar 19th, 2007 |
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Start wrapping up back-end operations and final front-end look & feel for www.contentsyndicate.com. Invitation-only testing begins...fingers crossed. Largely great feed-back. Some discerning users, point out lot of new areas for us to improve.
Thank you beta testers and wordsmiths!
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| June 1st, 2007 |
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Client base touches 100 - diverse range of clients from multi-nationals to small and medium sized business to 'solopreneurs'. |
Ready to go live! All systems check. Mike testing 1-2-3. Beta version goes live after 10 insane and exciting months of research, development and testing. What next? 3 major versions lined-up in our ambitious 3-year road map. |
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Next steps - Audio and Video content syndication on CS web portal. Opening up the API for partners to build content services around the CS ecosystem.
Improved features; tighter integration; more services and functionality. Maintaining relationships with existing clients. Nurturing relationships with a vast ocean of new clients. Sign up more content providers and buyers. Setting up a back-office to handle client traffic, admin, billing.
What the future holds - World Domination? Watch this space for more? |
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