The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Name: UPlanMe
Quick Pitch: UPlanMe is an online notification system that filters upcoming events and specials based on what you like into one place for your viewing pleasure.
Genius Idea: Instead of searching blogs, websites, magazines and newspapers for local events, simply unlock a category of interest — sports, music, shopping, food, nightlife and T.V. — to collect new events and local news on a customized events page.
For those of us who don't have access to human lint rollers (ahem, Sean "Diddy" Combs at this year's Oscars) or personal assistants, say hello to UPlanMe. This free product will save the social lives of busy bees.
UPlanMe is called the "Pandora of calendars" for a reason. It tailors your events calendar based on what you like on Facebook, what categories you have unlocked and prior events you've noted as interesting. If you say Bloomingdale's sales on UPlanMe are appealing to you, similar related shopping experiences at Sak's Fifth Avenue, Barney's and other high-end retailers will show up in your queue.
If your Facebook page says you "like" Jeremy Lin, it will remind you when New York Knicks' games are airing on television or when front-row tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com.
The site pulls from various APIs for events and special happenings. Sports fans will appreciate the latest game updates from ESPN, CBS Sports and other national networks. Fashionistas will hear the first word about sample sales, store openings, and beauty events in their area. There's also a television section, so people can keep up with when their favorite shows and movies air.
This is why we would suggest logging into the site with a Facebook account. It will incorporate Facebook likes and interests into the UPlanMe system to improve social suggestions.
"We like to think of the platform as a giant switchboard," UPlanMe co-founder Brian Kantor told Mashable. "Users can turn on or turn off what they are interested in to personalize event calendar. Users can then share events on Facebook and Twitter, and sync with whatever calendar client they use most."
"A lot of brands and businesses are creating Facebook events to connect with users, but there is somewhere around 1% engagement," said Sean Barkulis, CEO and co-founder of UPlanMe.
The website will give businesses a step up by reaching online audiences that are truly interested in their brand. UPlanMe provides a free, embeddable calendar for business and brand websites, promotions on the discovery page and demographic data on existing customers to tell you what events and specials to plan next.
UPlanMe just launched a couple of weeks ago, but it already has a social media reach in the millions. It's gaining page views by working with businesses who self-promote on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.
The New York City-based startup hopes to gain about 500,000 new users by the end of their first year. The current business model is based on revenue from music, shopping, sporting event ticket sales and website promotions of different brands and businesses.
"In general, it's really about bringing people closer and connected with brands and businesses they love," Barkulis said. "We are trying to excel beyond anything that came before us."
Image courtesy of Flickr, vonSchnauzer
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
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