have what it takes to make it big?
SpartX, Inc., founded in August 2008 and launched in March of 2009, offers a sophisticated networking tool for professionals, being the first company to truly virtualize the business card. The virtual business card is just as it sounds; a business card, only online.
Members, using the SpartX virtual business card designer on the SpartX website, are able to build a completely customized virtual business card, pair it with a tangible counterpart, and put it to work in the real world, networking in-person, and enhancing their business relationships through technology.
With a SpartX Virtual Business Card, users are able to literally do everything they can do now with their tangible (paper) business cards. Forgoing the handshake, the standard card exchange is still possible, only now it is done digitally! Among other features, users are also able to leave their virtual business card on any website across the Web.
SpartX is reviewing its technology in order to pursue patents and secure its trade secrets. Currently, SpartX has the only clickable, fully dynamic, virtual business card that successfully navigates 98 percent of all spam filters.
SpartX.com offers three main virtual networking tools: The SpartX Virtual Business Card, the SpartX Card Slider, and a search feature that allows members to search for jobs and events. Both the SpartX Virtual Business Card and the SpartX Card Slider are supported by member-generated presentation information (i.e. resumes, credentials, sales sheets, and company overviews).
By combining these features, SpartX provides members with all the tools they need to network effectively in the 21st century!
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In a world going relentlessly virtual, there is certainly value in an effective and efficient way of networking and exchanging contact information, company briefs, event information, bios and resumes, and the like—so SpartX grabbed my attention right off the bat. However, I immediately ran into trouble distinguishing the proposed benefits from far more established competitors with similar purposes in mind— LinkedIn, Plaxo and the host of competitors that offer similar types of features, from Ryze to BoardEx to Spoke—all of whom are competing in roughly the same space and seeking the same type of person. And all of whom offer a free basic service with optional upgrades for nominal ongoing fees.
Couple the competitive onslaught with a growing number of users of such technologies who are increasingly upset about receiving unsolicited information and contact requests from users to add or update their contact information, and—while there is certainly interest and opportunity for a quality new entrant in this arena—it is likely to be a long haul and expensive investment to realize the summit of this space. Perhaps more of a vertical focus to targeted user groups might help SpartX gain traction and work out kinks before trying to compete with the big boys?
Sam Patrick
Patrick Marketing &
Communications, Inc.
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The digital business card is an interesting idea. However, the value is in the execution. One question that I don’t think is answered is…Why would I need a digital business card? What real world problem does it solve that a physical card doesn’t? Better organization? Quick and error-free information transfer?
In my mind this leaves more questions than answers. How does it work with email? What about vCards? Does it work with Plaxo? Linked In? Facebook? my blog? How does it simplify the task of managing my contact information?
The business model is not entirely clear from this pitch, but this is definitely a mass-market idea. The value of the card grows exponentially with the number of people using it. I’d suggest making it free and extremely simple for someone to get a card by registering on your website. You can gain revenue by adding additional fee-based services such as graphic design, online file storage, additional web pages, custom domains & email addresses—since most of the world still uses paper business cards, you could have a hybrid approach that provides a professionally designed paper card that includes the online business card address so that people can use whatever contact method works best for them.
Also, it’s not clear what the business card slider is, or why I would want one. Is it a piece of hardware? How much does it cost, and what value does it bring?
Peter Waldschmidt
Gnoso, Inc.
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Spartx is a great tool, very innovative. I could see it taking off in the enterprise.
Spartx seems like a very innovative tool. I went to try on and the website doesnt seem to be working? What is going on with it? Will it ever be back online?
@PeterWaldschmidt the card slider is not hardware it is an application that has the look and feel of a virtual rolodex. We are currently out of beta mode and redesigning SpartX to be able to intergrate with all web 2.0 tools ie. linkedin,twitter etc.
@SamPatrick there are a ton of big players in this space so we have taken a more niche approach in our redesign. When we re-launch SpartX will be focused on the fusion of networking and mentoring. our platform will be primarily suited for enterprise use.
Cheers,
Steve Gonzalez
SpartX Inc.