The May Report: 1/30/2012: When I have no rock’em sock’em headline, it generally means I missed something: Fippex just raised $1.4MM bringing their total funding to $1.9MM since their founding in 2009 — which as I point out is not the correct date for their founding; I can’t believe it! Charlie Rose just interviewed David Barboza about the Chinese economy and the factory conditions at Foxconn which is humongous and makes the iPhone among many other products — they work a gazillion hours and just that one factory has 400,000 employees and I thought I recognized David — well, indeed I did — he’s the guy who wrote the NYT article about TMR and me in June 2000 and he spent 7 hours interviewing me for that article — but it’s a joy to see all the people I’ve known over the years like Rahm, Axelrod, David Wilhelm, Gordon Crovitz, John Podhoretz, and many others doing so well in their august careers, while I just sits and sometimes I thinks — it’s sad for me to see how little I’ve achieved in my pathetic little life — hey, I’m just being honest

Editor and publisher: Ron May, ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com,www.themayreport.com, 773-525-3944.

If you missed an article, go here:
www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/vwFullNewsletter

(ALL REPORTS HAVE NOW BEEN POSTED ON THE TMRONLINE.COM SITE AND THANKS TO PROMINIC FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM)
Otherwise, just go to www.themayreport.com where all the articles are archived and the search function on the new site is now working

Louis Brandeis: “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

frequently attributed to Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” but the quote and its many variations have been the subject of dispute. See en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke for more.

“Larsen E. Whipsnade”: You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939), a comedy film starring and scripted by W. C. Fields

Andre’ Gide (1869 – 1951) in his “Les Nourritures Terrestres. Envoi:”:
“What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself — and thus make yourself indispensable.”
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Scoop section:

– Fippex completes capital raise of 1.4 million for 2012 initiatives
– EPrize acquires Chicago agency Cellit as it shifts emphasis to mobile marketing
– Lifeline reform order before FCC on Jan 31 – includes potential authorization of Broadband Adoption Pilot Program and applications for funding providers
– Technori Newsletter – 1/27/12 – Ignite, Excelerate, StartupAmerica, and More
– Mike Doyle: Valentine’s Day weekend event
– Jeff Maters: He’s not unfriending me
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The Scoop section:
_________________
Fippex completes capital raise of 1.4 million for 2012 initiatives

Fippex completes capital raise of 1.4 million for 2012 initiatives.
Posted by Andrew Zapotosky on January 24, 2012 at 10:50amView Blog
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – Fippex, a provider of cloud-based, client enablement software, announced the completion of raising $1.4 million in new capital from a Chicago based group of angel investors.
“The capital will be used for continued growth and expansion into other verticals,” said Bill Burnett, co-founder and President. “Last year we turned the corner in terms of establishing ourselves and the new funding will help us add the resources required to meet the needs of our expanded customer base.”
This latest round brings Fippex capital raising efforts to a total of $1.9 million since its founding in 2009. The funds raised will also be used to introduce a number of new features and functionality along with increased capacity.
The investment comes at a time when more companies are looking to spend on technology that will help differentiate their business and give them an advantage in the marketplace. Businesses recognize the growing importance of the customer experience.
“We’ve listened to the demands of our clients and are continuing to develop software that improves their ability to engage current and potential customers,” added David Pessis, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
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Comment by Jason Jacobsohn on Saturday
Congrats David and the team. Great job!
Comment by Jed Abernethy on Friday
Nice job guys! Looking forward to seeing further success in 2012!
Comment by Nik Rokop on Friday
Congratulations to David and the team at Fippex!
Comment by Greg Stevens on January 24, 2012 at 3:57pm
Another fantastic Chicago based start-up making it happen…..so good for the ecosystem!
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Ron May here. David, congrats on the funding. But with TMR, we have those pesky archives plus my “better than the average bear’s” memory. The year 2009 did not ring true to me, so I looked it up.
Behold!
You and Fippex were first mentioned in TMR in December 2007, two years before the Technori article by Andrew Zapotosky says you were started which was posted in Built-In Chicago and reposted in Technori’s newsletter.
David, I recall first meeting you at a well attended MEF holiday party which dates it back in the Pleistocene Epoch, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleistocene. That was a comment not about you, but rather about the guy who ran it.
You and Jan Ver Eeke attended my presentation to the TBIF in July 2008. In June 2008, Terry Howerton arranged for you to meet with Gerry Putnam, so even in 2008, you were seeking funding.
David, I’m not complaining about Andrew’s article, but I am trying to correct the historical record. Facts can be irksome things.
And remember, as Genevieve Thiers will tell you, or Jason Fried for that matter, the so-called “overnight success” is usually ten years in the making.
60 Minutes did a piece on a singer who is popular in Britain named Rumer and she’s been working for ten years before she was “discovered.”
I also find it amusing that it is often the same three or four guys who make ingratiating comments: Jason Jacobsohn, Jed Abernethy, and of course brown-noser in chief, Nik Rokop. I could add others like Neil Kane, but let’s leave it at that for tonight. What Jason, Jed and Nik have in common aside from their tendency to kiss butt is that they are wanna-be entrepreneurs — advisors, not the guys who do the heavy lifting.
++++++++++++++++++++++

Fippex.com
From: David Pessis [david@fippex.com]
To: ron@themayreport.com
Subject: Fippex.com
Sent: Tue 12/4/2007 12:03 PM
Ron, thanks for publishing this in your newsletter, please let me know if you have any questions.
____________________
Fippex is a destination site where people can publish any type of digital content they choose, including video, music, blogs and photos. Fippex is more than just another content-sharing site, however. We’ve taken the revenue-sharing model to a new level by giving content publishers and general members of the online community the chance to profit from digital content. Fippex targets high-quality content so that our publishers can take themselves public, giving other users and members of the general public the opportunity to invest and potentially earn dividends from that content. Now, advertising revenue generated by popular content will be shared with content publishers and their investors.
Imagine Ron May, publishing the May Report to Fippex on a weekly basis. Ron would have the ability to take himself public, and the investors would be able to share in the profits generated by Ron’s material.
Fippex is currently in the development stage and is scheduled to go live in Q2 of 2008. We have finished our first round of funding, and we are actively looking to bring new, talented people on board. Our immediate needs are for a Chief Technology officer and people with significant experience in internet marketing. If you’re interested, contact David at david@fippex.com.
David A. Pessis
Fippex
Two Prudential Plaza
180 North Stetson, Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60601
david@fippex.com
Mobile: +1 773.415.9221
Fax: +1 312.284.5190
www.fippex.com
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EPrize acquires Chicago agency Cellit as it shifts emphasis to mobile marketing

Detroit and Southeast Michigan’s premier business news and information website
Advanced Search: Detroit Business»
Topics in this article:Oakland CountyMediaTechnologyePrize LLCQuicken Loans/Rock Financial Inc.
Originally Published: January 19, 2012 3:01 AM Modified: January 22, 2012 8:15 PM
EPrize acquires Chicago agency Cellit as it shifts emphasis to mobile marketing
By Bill Shea
Pleasant Ridge-based ePrize’s acquisition of Cellit adds 450 clients to ePrize’s list, bringing the total to about 1,000.
Pleasant Ridge-based ePrize LLC said today that it has bought the Chicago-based mobile marketing agency Cellit Inc. as part of the online promotions and sweepstakes company’s transition to the mobile segment.
Sale terms were not disclosed.
The deal adds 450 clients to ePrize’s roster, bringing the total to about 1,000.
“That’s a pretty dramatic uptick for us,” ePrize CEO Matt Wise told Crain’s.
EPrize is seeing clients move their marketing campaigns, including customer loyalty and coupons, from websites to mobile devices, which is what has been driving the company to make mobile its central business.
Eighty percent of client campaigns are expected to use some type of mobile component this year, up from 20 percent last year, the company said.
EPrize predicts revenue from its mobile marketing unit will triple because of the Cellit acquisition, the company said in a statement announcing the deal.
Revenue in 2011 for ePrize was $50 million, Wise said, and he predicts it will reach $70 million in 2012. Mobile and social media account for about 20 percent of revenue.
Cellit’s 2011 revenue is thought to have been about $6 million. It has 16 employees.
In 2010, ePrize embarked on a plan to expand offerings and bolster its position in segments such as mobile marketing — a strategy to survive during the recession, during which the company cut employees and suffered a revenue decline for the first time.
Cellit does work on short-message services — better known as text messages — along with mobile-optimized sites and mobile applications.
The agency was started in 2005 by former Credit Suisse First Boston analyst David Wachs, who was the company president. He is now ePrize’s senior vice president of mobile and general manager of Cellit.
Wachs’ former company will become Cellit: ePrize Mobile Solutions as an ePrize division.
Cellit has sales and support offices in Phoenix and Austin, Texas, and its Chicago office will combine with ePrize’s office there “in the near future.”
This is the second acquisition for ePrize in the past year: In July it bought the Seattle-based customer relationship management division of the Chicago-based predictive analytics firm Apollo Data Technologies for an undisclosed sum.
EPrize was launched in 1999 by Josh Linkner, who stepped away from day-to-day oversight in 2010. Wise now handles those tasks as CEO.
Quicken Loans Inc. founder and Detroit real estate investor Dan Gilbert has invested $32 million in the firm, which has considered a move to downtown Detroit for several years. It remains headquartered in a 46,000-square-foot former brewery east of Woodward Avenue near I-696 and doesn’t expect to move for some time.
EPrize ended 2011 with 336 employees, and Wise said head count is expected to grow 25 percent this year. That includes the Cellit staff.
The company has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. Major clients have included Coca-Cola, Microsoft, The Gap, HSN, Miller/Coors, Yahoo, Procter & Gamble and AT&T.
Cellit’s customer list includes Subway, KFC, Ikea, the Chicago Tribune, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
The Cellit sale closed Jan. 9.
Greenwich, Conn.-based Portico Capital Securities LLC was Cellit’s financial adviser on the sale. ePrize handled the deal in-house.

Topics in this article:Oakland CountyMediaTechnologyePrize LLCQuicken Loans/Rock Financial Inc.

3textmessage wrote:
Text Message marketing allow businesses to interact with prospects and customers on the go. There are different forms of mobile marketing such as Text message marketing or SMS Marketing; Mobile web which is associated with Mobile QR code and Mobile Landing pages.
1/20/2012 10:46 AM EST
________________________________
Lifeline reform order before FCC on Jan 31 – includes potential authorization of Broadband Adoption Pilot Program and applications for funding providers

from: Layton E. Olson leo@howehutton.com
to: “Layton E. Olson” <leo@howehutton.com>
date: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM
subject: Lifeline reform order before FCC on Jan 31 – includes potential authorization of Broadband Adoption Pilot Program and applications for funding providers

Lifeline reform order before FCC on Jan 31 – includes potential authorization of Broadband Adoption Pilot Program and applications for funding providers
ronaldmay@aol.com
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Layton E. Olson leo@howehutton.com
Jan 27 (3 days ago)
to Layton
For broadband sustainability calendar planning for Illinois parties ….From Broadband Census ….
Lifeline Reform One More Step Toward Adoption
FCC, Universal Service January 27th, 2012
Chris Naoum, Deputy Editor, BroadbandBreakfast.com
WASHINGTON, January 27, 2012 – A couple weeks ago, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the FCC’s Order to modernize the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline Program. In a week where almost all of the media’s attention was focused on new technologies and innovative gadgets at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Genachowski reminded the public of the challenges facing basic broadband adoption — and the importance of the FCC universal service efforts over the past two years.
He noted the FCC’s recent accomplishments including overhauling the universal service fund and intercarrier compensation systems as well as setting up balanced rules to preserve internet freedom and openness. He praised the elimination of over 200 outdated rules and data collections, the general crackdown on fraud and abuse and the additional $67 million logged in enforcement penalties and settlements. Genachowski highlighted the FCC’s efforts to place many of the FCC’s programs under the microscope. The Chairman added, “a program can be efficient and fiscally responsible and still be ineffective. That’s why we’ve also asked if programs need to be modernized to meet today’s needs.”
In asking whether the programs are serving the right policy goals of today’s broadband world, the Commission has already reformed the Video Relay Service, the E-Rate program, the largest part of the USF and ICC systems. With the decision to reform the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline Program, the Chairman praised the Commission’s efforts in following through with Congress’ directive, ensuring that “consumers in all regions, including low income consumers…should have access to telecommunications and information services.”
As valuable as the Lifeline program has been to low income families it has had its share of problems and additional costs on consumers nationwide. Carriers are providing lifeline services to individuals that already receive lifeline services from another carrier, and carriers have abused the program by receiving additional funds for signing up homes that do not qualify for program support. The proposed reforms will aim to standardize eligibility requirements and clarify rules to prevent duplicative support.
Genachowski announced three goals for a reformed program. Those include cost controls, a budget designed to address the issues consistent with programs purpose, and a shift to supporting high speed internet as a vital communications platform.
Initial phases of the Lifeline reform began last summer when the Commission adopted an order clarifying that an eligible consumer may only receive one lifeline supported service, creating procedures to detect and de-enroll subscribers with duplicate lifeline supported services. “As a result of these actions we’ve already identified more than 200,000, duplicative Lifeline subscriptions for elimination,” touted Genachowski.
The order establishes clear goals for the program as well as metrics to measure progress towards the goals.
GOALS
- Create a National Lifeline Accountability Database – to minimize contribution burden for consumers and businesses
- Create a budget – to eliminate unnecessary spending
- Create accountability measures – every carrier that receives over a specified annual amount of funds will be subject to independent audits every two years.
- Create national eligibility criteria to ensure that low income consumers meet federal standards in order to participate – the eligibility standard will take into account the unique circumstances of Tribal communities and allow states to add additional criteria.
- Transparency – the order would make Lifeline reimbursements more transparent and streamlined so carriers receive funds for subscribers actually served
- Protect and empower consumers – the order would provide more information to consumers about program requirements
- Order will modernize Lifeline from telephone to broadband
- Broadband Adoption Pilot Program – transitioning the program to support broadband would require a program that would test and determine how Lifeline can best be used to increase broadband adoption among Lifeline eligible consumers.
According to Genachowski, the program would solicit applications from providers and select a number of projects to fund. Applicants will be expected to use the Lifeline support to reduce the monthly cost of broadband and also address the cost of purchasing broadband devices and lack of digital literacy.
The data derived from the Broadband Adoption Pilot Program as well as all of the other adoption programs across the country will be used to understand how to best transition Lifeline support to broadband
Next Tuesday January 31st, the Commission takes up the Order in a full Commission meeting.
__________________________
Technori Newsletter – 1/27/12 – Ignite, Excelerate, StartupAmerica, and More

Technori Newsletter – 1/27/12 – Ignite, Excelerate, StartupAmerica, and More
ronaldmay@aol.com
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Technori stories@technori.com via madmimi.com
Jan 27 (3 days ago)
to ronaldmay
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Technori Pitch
Technori Pitch is a monthly showcase of Chicago’s most innovative startups, pitching their latest technologies. Pitch took a break during the holidays, but now we’re back again for the new year at Chase Auditorium. Keynote by Kevin Willer about the new tech center, 1871. Event will sell out, so register soon!
IgniteChicago
5 minutes. 20 slides. What would you say? IgniteChicago is a high-energy evening of five minute presentations by people who have an idea – and the guts – to get onstage and share it with fellow creative folks. Presentations can range from how to build a resume to a history of the Samurai sword to a manifesto on boxes.
Apply to Excelerate Labs February 1st
Excelerate Labs is a 13-week intensive summer accelerator for startups driven by proven entrepreneurs and investors. The program attracts mentors from around the country to work with the teams in direct 1-on-1 meetings. Applications for 2012 open February 1st.

Entrepreneur Articles
How to be a great mentor (and a great mentee)
Do you have a mentor? Ask any successful person this question, and they will surely tell you stories about how their deep, long-standing relationships with their mentors helped inspire, guide, and support them throughout their career…
Public Speaking for Normal People
Jason Freedman of 42Floors shares his experience sharing on stage and the risks and fears of winging it vs. being prepared. He sticks to this advice: Don’t try to become a good public speaker, just try to speak like a normal person while in public.
Starting Over
Jason Fried, of 37signals, discusses the challenge of making changes to a product when it has been successful for years. “The old technology is baked in, and the roots of the product are so knotted that simply unwinding them becomes a massive undertaking.”
Listen to What Innovators Don’t Talk About
“When something isn’t explicityly discussed, that doesn’t mean it’s not important or being ignored. Usually, it indicates a topic that’s either taken for granted –i.e., we know that already so there’s no point in discussing it now– or that it’s someone else’s job so it’s really their problem to discuss.”
The Secret to Team Collaboration: Individuality
“The challenge for leaders is to balance individual needs with team directives. To do so they must avoid collectivism and facilitate collaboration…the secret to effective collaboration is individuality.”
A Design Primer for Engineers
This great post from last week serves to define design and the importance of effective collaboration between engineers and designers..
Resegment If You Aren’t In The Top Three
In this short post, Brad Feld discusses the need to resegment your market if you aren’t in the top 3 spots. He says a necessary change may be a tweak or it may be radical, but the change must put you in the top 3 of the “new market.”
Upcoming Events
StartupAmerica 1-Year Anniversary Event Technori Pitch A Consultant’s View on the State of Big Data

January 31
Celebrate the one year anniversary since the White House’s announcement of the StartupAmerica Partnership will feature 3 panels as well as remarks by CEO Scott Case. This free event is at 1:30pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Register here.
January 31
After the StartupAmerica Event, head over to Chase Auditorium at 7pm to hear the latest innovations from several startups as well as keynote Kevin Willer who will discuss the new tech center, 1871.This event is close to selling out, so register soon!
February 1
This talk is a reality check on Big Data implementation strategies and partially an information sharing session on what’s been learned in talking to customers in various industries. Features speaker David Douglas. Signup here.

CitySwarm: Late Night Skate Entrepreneurs’ Clinic –VC Funding Printers Row Live: Wael Ghonim

February 2
CitySwarm takes over Wrigley Rink for the night. Enjoy a night of appetizers and drinks at Rockit Wrigley before the late night skate over at Wrigley Field. Register here. February 4
This event focuses on Venture Capital–analyzing your company and preparing for VC Due Diligence. This event is the first of a 3 part series. Takes place at 200 W Superior. Signup here February 4
Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for his involvement in the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, Wael Ghonim will discuss his book, Revolution 2.0 and how social media played a pivotal role. Register here

IgniteChicago Your Company is Growing Up: What’s Next? Power Pitch 2012 Deadline January 31st

February 6
5 minutes. 20 slides. What would you say? This high-energy event features 5 minute presentations with automatically advancing slides every 15 seconds on a wide variety of subjects. Register here. February 28
This event by the ITA & CEC is all about the challenges of transitioning from startup to growth phase. Panels will focus on 3 issues: how to know you are moving from startup to growth, what to look for in talent at the growth stage, and how to adapt/change your marketing. More info here. March 6
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is teaming up with MIT Enterprise Forum to present Power Pitch on Tuesday March 6. Power Pitch is the annual capstone event of TALENT, IMSA’s entrepreneurship program. More info here.
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Mike Doyle: Valentine’s Day weekend event

Valentine’s Day weekend event
linkedin
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ronaldmay@aol.com
x

Mike Doyle via LinkedIn member@linkedin.com
10:57 PM (23 hours ago)
to Ronald, Toni, Gerald, Thomas, Chung-Sheng, Don, Julie, Wilfred, Jason, Laura, David
LinkedIn
Mike Doyle has sent you a message.
Date: 1/30/2012
Subject: Valentine’s Day weekend event
For any of my contacts who might be in the Chicago area during the Valentine’s Day weekend, I’d like to invite you to a terrific event we’re hosting on Saturday night, the 11th, in Murphy Auditorium at Erie and Wabash. Internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso George Lepauw will be playing with Camerata Chicago, in a concert to benefit the National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago. The web site for the event is:
www.nmhmchicago.org/nmhmc/index.php/events/28-immortalbelovedrosesfeb11
Please join us for a concert performance featuring some of Beethoven’s most romantic works. $75 tickets to the event are inclusive of a gourmet chocolate reception from 7-8 p.m. The concert will commence at 8 p.m.
So, if you happen to be in town, and are looking for something to do Saturday night, come join us. It promises to be an amazing performance.
__________________________
Jeff Maters: He’s not unfriending me

Subject: RE: Jeff, just curious, why are you unsubscribing, especially after being promoted?
Date: 1/30/2012 5:47:02 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: jeff@newworldvc.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Don’t worry – I didn’t unfriend you. I had two email addresses so I was getting duplicates.
From: RONALDMAY@aol.com [mailto:RONALDMAY@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 5:00 PM
To: Jeff Maters
Cc: ronaldmay@aol.com
Subject: Jeff, just curious, why are you unsubscribing, especially after being promoted?
_______________________________
END OF REPORT