urbanseeder.com
I founded and led an Internet start up that offers a fresh approach to social interactions
As an alternative to traditional dating sites, UrbanSeeder is a service that allows users to connect with people they meet in public places and invite them to a private space for two where they can get to know each other by exchanging photos, music, gifts and short messages. The service is based on my original interaction design thesis.
I founded the company, raised capital, recruited a team and led the company to a successful beta version with a large number of users and positive reviews from leading blogs
Press
The product was reviewed by leading blogs and received positive reviews from Robert Scoble (who wrote about itfollowing a video interview),ReadWriteWeb, WeMakeMoneyNotArt,Wired Blog and Haaretz (a major Israeli newspaper).
Conferences
The company was selected as a finalist at TWS2007 (the leading Israeli start-up competition) and participated in leading European conferences such as Reboot and Lift.
Business Plan
The service was designed from the ground up to be monetizable, by making personalized merchandising, accessories and virtual goods an integral part of the core interaction.
Product Management
The product team under my supervision included brand and UI specialists, graphic designers, writers and QA professionals
It all started from Master's thesis exploring new uses of ubiquitous technologies for romantic interactions
Sometimes we see a person we might be romantically interested in, but are too shy to directly approach them giving our phone number. The thesis focuses on ways to 'mark' this person, enabling the system to arrange future 'accidental' encounters. My solution for users to 'mark' and make themselves 'markable' by others, uses personal patterned clothes and accessories. The patterns contain a unique visual code that can be read using a mobile phone.
Research
I conducted extensive research, which included interviewing experts on technology and love, studying relevant anthropology, sociology, and psychology texts, and facilitating sessions of very lively user research. This helped me formalize my approach, provide a solid basis for my work, and create the initial concept for the service.
Social Consequences
The concept consists of creating links between people, 'marking' them in public. This public interaction has socials consequences that needed to be carefully considered; that is users want to make themselves 'markable' by others without being perceived as needy or desparate. I explored various technologies and objects that could achieve this goal, while testing the boundaries of what's acceptable.
Patterned Personal Objects
Each user receives a unique pattern that is applied to all clothes and accessories they order from the service. These unique and stylish patterns become a layer of personal branding that can be added to a user's wardrobe. While wearing these special clothes and accessories, users make themselves 'markable' to anyone armed with a camera on their cell phone.
Video Clips
I created short video clips explaininghow the service works and how real people could use it in real life scenarios. See what happens toJean-Pier, Raquelle, Gary, Clairand Myriel & Nick