This week, I gave a keynote speech at the first innovation summit sponsored by TechColumbus, a membership and funding organization for entrepreneurs in the central Ohio area. It was a great event – two keynotes (one of which I gave) and a bunch of workshops on three different tracks relevant to innovation.
One of the more interesting companies I ran across is Manta, one of the worlds’ fastest-growing Internet sites. Manta provides detailed information on literally millions of small businesses – information that (I can tell you from personal experience) is devilishly tricky to get. WIth innovative technology to keep costs down and a largely advertising supported business model, it looks to me as though the company is going to give many rivals – Dun & Bradstreet, Hoovers and others, a real run for their money. Check out the web site – it is a fascinating operation. From Westerville, Ohio – who would have thought it!