August 21st, 2008
One week ago we halted development at BuyPlayWin to focus on our demo day pitch, yesterday, which marks the culmination of TechStars. To all curious visitors to the website who asked for private beta website access: you’ll get your invite codes in the middle of September.
The founders and mentors of TechStars got to see our progression from what they saw in the beginning of the summer program. I was told that they were very pleased with the presentation and our newly built platform. I’m glad, because we owe a lot to them, especially big Dave.
BuyPlayWin got a nice writeup on TechCrunch, on the Boulder’s Daily Camera, and even on Don Dodge’s blog (Microsoft), along with our fellow TechStars.
We’ll be relocating offices shortly, and hiring several new team members. Those jobs will be posted soon, so stay tuned if you are interersted.
Everyone in the Boulder, CO community has been very supportive of TechStars and BuyPlayWin, and we have enjoyed the energy here.
Thank you for an incredible summer Boulder!
–
The BuyPlayWin Team
July 20th, 2008
I know this is late and that most of the other teams immediately posted their part of this general TechStars writeup in the Boulder County Business Report, but I’ll include the blurb about us anyway. Thanks to article author, Ryan Dionne.
Startups learn ropes from crew of seasoned advisers
By Ryan Dionne
July 18, 2008
BOULDER -The popularity of the TechStars LLC program, in its second year, has substantially increased.
The summer program offers 10 startup software or Web-related companies $5,000 per founder up to $15,000 and provides a space to work as well as a plethora of mentors to aid the businesses.
Last year 302 companies applied for the 10 positions. This year the number increased to 393, said David Cohen, executive director of the program. This year five women are involved in TechStars compared to none the first year.
“It feels like the companies are slightly more mature in their thinking,” Cohen said regarding this year’s crop.
Of last year’s companies, nine are still operating, seven of those received funding beyond the initial TechStars funding. One is profitable and didn’t accept funding. While one is operating but not profitable nor did it accept funding.
Now, nearly two months into the program, companies are taking advantage of the TechStars leadership and downtown Boulder work space to develop their vision as they approach the end of the program - Aug. 22.
BuyPlayWin
Combine online shopping with online gaming and a slice of gambling, and that’s what co-founders Aziz Grieser and Peter Zhang and their team at BuyPlayWin created.
Grieser and his team plan to develop relationships with online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. and sell the partner products through BuyPlayWin’s Web site, www.buyplaywin.com, when they launch a private beta version sometime after August.
But the fun factor comes from the chance to get the product for free by playing a host of games - including things like poker, Tetris and Pac-Man.
Whoever wins - whether it’s high score, biggest earnings or more - receives a refund for the MP3 player. The shoppers who lose merely have to pay for the product.
At first, the company plans to offer movie tickets to keep the site simple and garner support. From there, Grieser said the possibilities are endless.
