Research shows that seeing visuals while talking increases understanding by at least six times. With ChoiceView, companies can share visual information with customers by integrating the technology into existing Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, or utilizing it with live agents. This allows callers to both hear and see information transmitted by businesses. Complex transactions for sales and support are completed more quickly and effectively when callers can say, “Now I see what you’re talking about!^TM”

“SPLICE Software’s customers want next generation multichannel communications now,” said Tara Kelly, president, founder and CEO of SPLICE Software. “Integrating Radish ChoiceView technology into our existing solutions allows us to offer businesses a simple way to interact through live visual communications, and brings a unique solution to our customers looking to provide better mobile sales and support.”

“Did you know that many of our enterprise prospects tell us that more than 60% of their callers are now mobile and wanting to leverage the multi-media power of smart devices in completing business transactions? Radish ChoiceView helps businesses implement a mobile strategy to solve BIG support issues!” said Radish CEO Theresa Szczurek. “Radish is pleased to partner with SPLICE to offer next-gen unified enterprise communications and to improve efficiency of contact centers communicating with mobile callers.”

About SPLICE Software

SPLICE Software provides voice, video, phone, text / SMS, landing pages, mobile landing pages, email, direct mail, and web applications in a cloud-based solution through software as a service model (SaaS). SPLICE specializes in unique human audio as an on-demand service for enterprises; offering them the ability to connect with customers using personalized data driven dialog. At the same time, SPLICE uses the data gained through each interaction to populate the company’s calling list database and maintain their Do Not Call list and Preferences & Permissions. For more information about SPLICE Software, visit www.splicesoftware.com.

About Radish Systems

Radish Systems, LLC improves the way organizations communicate with smart mobile device users through its award-winning ChoiceView ‘Communications-as-a-Service’ technology platform. ChoiceView offers the next generation of multimodal unified communications, allowing visual information to be shared during a phone call with smart mobile device users using ANY phone, ANY network. The results are faster communications, lower operating costs, enhanced user experiences, and higher revenues. ChoiceView is available as a general mobile app on Apple and Android mobile devices; software for live and automated agents in enterprise contact centers as well as for individual PC users; and as a Software Developers Kit for inclusion in third-party mobile apps. Use cases include visual interactive voice response systems (Visual IVR), enhanced customer, patient, and technical support, and improved information exchange. For more information and a demonstration, visit www.RadishSystems.com.

Sources of Funding

“There are several million “startups” that are formed each year. In very general terms, roughly 1,500 startups get funded by venture capitalists in the U.S., and 50,000 by angel investors. VCs look at around 400 companies for every one in which they invest; angels look at 40,” says David Rose, CEO of gust.com, an online community connecting investors with deals.  Angels are high net-worth individuals who are often sophisticated, accredited investors interested in early-stage private equity or debt investment in emerging firms with great potential.

“Around 90 Colorado firms were funded by VCs in 2012 with approximately $550 million coming from 125 different venture capital funds.  Over 80 percent of those funds came from out of state,” says James Linfield, Managing Partner, Cooley LLP, a top global law firm with offices in Broomfield, at the recent Venture Capital in the Rockies (VCIR) 2013 Winter conference.

What happens to the other firms that don’t get VC or angel funding?  They may die or they may get funded from other options:

• Sales.  This is the best and easiest approach.  Just sell more.  No need to get diluted or worry about dissatisfied ‘demon’ investors.
• Founder’s Capital.  Prepare, save, and dip into your own pockets.
• Sweat Equity.  Staff members work for equity instead of cash to keep burn rate low and to get a piece of the action.
• Friends and Family.  These people believe in you and want you to succeed.  They make an emotional decision to invest.
• Government Grants such as SBIR.  Contact the Small Business Administration (SBA) and your local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) as a first step.
• Strategic Partners.  These firms need what you have and will fund you in exchange for early use of your product.  They may eventually acquire your firm.
• Bank Lending and other financial vehicles.  Check with your local banker.  They might even be an SBA lender.

Four Practical Pointers for Funding Your Venture.

Find the Angels or Invest in a Startup.  Attend the Rockies Venture Club’s annual Angel Capital Summit conference tomorrow and Wednesday.  Entrepreneurs, you might find an angel.  Angels, you can learn how to be a better investor and find a deal.  Register now at: www.AngelCapitalSummit.com. This year’s conference kicks off with a live interview with David Cohen of Techstars ,  Jon Nordmark, former CEO and co-founder of eBags and currently CEO of UsingMiles gives the Day 2 keynote speech, and up to 35 of Colorado’s hottest startups will be pitching to investors.

Get Help.  Are you an aspiring entrepreneur?  Get involved in one of the many programs to help you succeed.  For example, The Founder’s Institute, self-described as the World’s Largest Startup Accelerator, has a mission to “Globalize Silicon Valley” and help founders build enduring technology companies. It is working with more than 800 graduate companies and part-time programs operating in 40 cities. Register for the next Denver program by April 14 at http://fi.co/

Surround Yourself with Other Hot Entrepreneurs. Colorado has some cool conferences where innovation lives – learn as much as you can.  Each fall there is the annual Defrag Conference (now with its Blur addition) which explores enterprise collaboration, social media and big data. Coming soon: Glue Conference (http://www.gluecon.com/2013/ ) in Broomfield from May 22 and 23, 2013.  Learn how developers, architects, administrators, and integrators are solving the web application integration problem-set.  Or check out the many other conferences in Colorado.  These will inspire you and provide a means to connect with other potential partners, investors, and customers.

Bootstrap.  Vic Ahmed, successful business man and founder of Innovation Pavilion (http://ipcentennial.com/), an ecosystem for entrepreneurs bringing the Angel Capital Group to Colorado, says it’s a mistake to assume you need to raise funds. “Try to bootstrap your firm.  Cut your team and increase your runway.  If you still need outside funds, ask, ‘Do you really have a high growth company?’ If the dog is not eating the dog food, you are fooling yourself, and it is a dream that you can raise money.”

Seeking to fund your business?  Attract more angels and avoid the demons!

Radish CEO Theresa Szczurek said “Even as an early stage company, we can plan to give back to our community by gifting a portion of our founding equity to EFCO. It’s a positive way to adhere to our core values and commitment to the Colorado community.”

See the posted media release for more information.

1. ‘Contact us’ from this website or call 720-440-7560 — state you are entering the Give-Away Contest
2. Give your contact info to a Radish rep.

See the posted media release for more information.

John Hickenlooper, now the Governor of Colorado, knows what funding has to do with it –  the success of a business that is.  As a Denver entrepreneur working with other urban pioneers to launch Colorado’s first brewpub and Denver’s first craft brewery 25 years ago, Wynkoop Brewery Company, it was not easy.  At the recent Colorado Capital Conference in Denver, Hickenlooper shared, “It look two years and over 200 meetings to raise $400,000. Those who did invest received a 90% return per year for 12.5 years when we sold out.  Entrepreneurs, if you have been turned down over and over, don’t quit!  It takes persistence.”

It still is not easy for Colorado entrepreneurs to secure funding, but RVC or Rockies Venture Club (www.rockiesventureclub.org), which has been hosting the Colorado Capital Conference (CCC) for twenty four years, makes it easier.  RVC also runs monthly meetings bringing the entrepreneurial community together, providing education seminars, and having more companies present.  Peter Adams, Executive Director of the RVC, reports, “Of the fourteen companies pitching at CCC this year, eight have been identified by angels for continued due diligence, ultimately leading to investment in some of the companies.  This process has led to over twenty RVC pitching companies receiving funding totaling over $10 million so far in 2012 with even more investment expected within the next few months in the CCC presenting companies.  RVC Angels meet in Boulder, the TechCenter, and now Golden every month to collaborate on investments and create a community that makes angel investing both fun and effective by sharing the knowledge of a diverse group of investors.”

There are many entrepreneurial organizations popping up in Colorado, and now it’s imperative that the community work together to minimize overlaps between organizations and to address the service gaps that remain.  At a roundtable lunch held at the CCC, some initiatives were established including:

• creation of a common calendar so events do not conflict with one another (http://www.rockiesventureclub.org/calendar/).
• angel groups agreed to work together to syndicate deals so that combined resources can better meet the capital needs of entrepreneurs.  Deep dives are scheduled so that each angel group can share their best deals with peers in other cities.

Five Tips for Entrepreneurs:

1. Be Persistent.  Don’t quit.  Be creative and try other alternative funding channels such as friends and family, angels and angel groups, venture capitalists, incubators such as ‘Plug and Play Tech Center” as part of the Innovation Pavilion (http://innovationpavilion.com/about-us/news/) and Story Stock Exchange a crowd funding incubator (www.storystockexchange.com) , and many more.
2. Join a Mastermind Group and learn from others.  The RVC sponsors a group (http://www.rockiesventureclub.org/funding-mastermind-meetings/) or organize your own group of non-competing entrepreneurs seeking funding.
3. Participate in the Angel Capital Summit.  Plan to apply and participate in the March 21-23 2013 event (http://angelcapitalsummit.org/)
4. Get connected.  The entrepreneurial business community is taking steps to connect investors to entrepreneurs.  Get involved—for example, consider participating in Rockies Venture Club, SiliconFlatironCenter, Meet Up groups such as Denver Founders Network, TiE Rockies, and many other groups.
5. Bootstrap.  Raise cash through sales.  Keep your financials as lean as possible.

Funding is a critical resource to the success of a venture.  Smile, believe, have fun with it, and be open to pivots that make your venture more attractive to investors.

“If you create a new product that addresses a company’s or consumer’s number one or two ‘pain point’ or problem, your company will see success,” said Matt Larson, chief executive officer of Confio Corporation during a CEO Roundtable in Boulder, CO  sponsored by the Boulder County Business Report.  “If you look at a thousand companies that are addressing ‘pain’ instead of ‘nice-to-have,’ the odds of them being successful are higher.”

Radish Systems Case Study:    VISUAL IVR EASES THE PAIN.

The Situation.  It is well known that Interactive Voice Response (IVRs) are a serious pain for callers, especially mobile callers who want ever-faster, ever-easier transactions. IVRs in Mobility are a disaster for the customer experience due to any number of interface and device issues which result in even higher abandonment rates.  Worse yet, complex IVRs with long phone trees don’t efficiently deliver information or easily allow transfer to live agents.

The Solution.  To solve this problem, Radish Systems just introduced its Visual IVR solution. Here’s what others are saying:

“Radish Systems recently released the ChoiceView REST API for Visual IVR. This release is significant as it is the only solution that has the ability to currently turn outdated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems into next generation Visual IVRs that can operate with any network, phone, and just about all mobile devices.”

Carolyn J. Dawson, August 14, 2012, TMCnet.com

With a True Visual IVR customers instantly see menus while hearing information, tap choices on their smart device, rapidly move through screens in much less time than it takes to speak the options, and receive visual and voice responses.   Visual IVRs cut call time and costs, by more than half in most situations, increase understanding by 50% or more, and improve mobile user satisfaction and engagement.

“Radish Systems’ ChoiceView mobile platform and applications offer contact centers additional options to service their customers and provide innovative ways for clients to interact through live visual communications,” said Monica Tarr, SPS contact center consulting practice director. “Visual IVR provides a unique experience for smartphone users and maps caller behavior to business processes.”

Learn more:

1. See a Visual IVR in action at the video demo link at www.radishsystems.com.

2. Get the free white paper presentation, “Why Visual Interactive Voice Response (IVR) for Mobile?” at www.radishsystems.com/products/the-choiceview-ivr/.

3. Start using the ChoiceView Rest API to enhance your IVR and the ChoiceView SDK to enable your mobile app. Get it at www.radishsystems.com/for-developers/.

4. Ease the pain. Nominate companies you’d like to see improve their IVR at www.radishsystems.com/ease-the-pain/.

5.  Try ChoiceView NOW.  Download the free mobile app from the Apple and Android App Stores.  Try the demo.

Five Tips to Creating Income from Innovation.

1. Find the Pain. Look for pain points or unmet needs in the marketplace.

2. Innovate and Determine a Solution.  Do you have a potential solution to the problem?  Define it.

3. Test the Marketplace.  Talk to prospective customers, confirm the problem, and test the solution.  Is your solution a must-have?  Learn as much as you can on how to make the solution a necessity.

4. Iterate.  Take what you learned from the marketplace and improve your solution.  Then test some more until a prospect says, “We need what you are offering right now and we will pay you for it.”

1. Learn from the Pros.  Successful entrepreneur Steven Blank offers the free online Lean LaunchPad course.  “What we now know is that startups search for business models while existing companies execute them. A startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a scalable and repeatable business model. This Lean LaunchPad class will teach you how to efficiently search for your scalable and repeatable Business Model Design and Customer Development.”

Here is the Tweet of

Patrick Stewart ‏@SirPatStew

All I wanted to do was set up a new account with @TWCable_NYC but 36hrs later I’ve lost the will to live.

So SirPatStew went over to @dish  This Twitter conversation was picked up by some of the major media including Bloomberg.

http://go.bloomberg.com/tech-blog/2012-09-20-dish-makes-it-so-for-patrick-stewart/

We commented with a tweet:

TheresaSzczurek ‏@TheresaSzczurek

@SirPatStew @dish @TWCable_NYC I understand your pain. It’s why I started @RadishSystems to #EaseThePain. See demo at http://radishsystems.com 

Submit a company you would like to use a ChoiceView Visual IVR at http://www.radishsystems.com/ease-the-pain/

Radish Systems and Mobile Ticket App (MTA) have joined forces to offer the Show Me capability that forever changes mobile ticket sales for StubNut.com and potentially hundreds of other ticket brokers. At the Ticket Summit July 11-13 in Las Vegas, MTA will demonstrate how contact center agents or individual brokers can simultaneously send visuals while talking/chatting with buyers using smart mobile devices. MTA’s Innovative Technologies workshop will be at 1-2 pm on Wednesday, July 11^th in the Cezanne room. MTA has integrated Show Me, powered by ChoiceView^TM from Radish Systems, into StubNut’s mobile application, available soon at the Apple App Store. When callers instantly see their choices, such as the seats in relation to the stage, they know what they’re buying and want to finish the sales transaction. The results from StubNut’s Show Me button are faster transactions, upsells for better seats, and higher customer satisfaction. Ticket sales is one of many uses for ChoiceView, a next-generation visual solution for mobile communications, that Radish Systems offers to mobile commerce businesses that want to seize the next-gen advantage with the growing number (over 110 million in USA per comScore) of mobile users, with over 51 percent using apps (Fierce Mobile, 7/3/12).

See the video at http://www.mobileticketapp.com/products/show-me-feature/

See full release and visuals at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/7/prweb9681539.htm