| Keynote
Address: No More Waiting
Around for the Cable Guy
Yuval Brisker
President and CEO, TOA Technologies
"No one else out there is doing it!" So says Yuval Brisker,
President and CEO of TOA Technologies. Brisker's groundbreaking
new product is a software system that offers a solution to the
age-old consumer problem of "waiting for the cable guy." ETAdirect
Solution Suite brings together a full array of integrated field
service and appointment management tools in one Web-based
application. In fact, TOA's product can "predict a 60-minute
window with 96% accuracy by using real-time information from the
field."
Brisker and his partner, Irad Carmi, started their
business here in Ohio in 2003 after many brainstorming sessions
about ways to improve customer service and defuse time-related
stress issues. The entrepreneurs focused on their Customer
Appointment Management™ product to redefine mobile workforce
management by tracking a vendor's work throughout the day,
analyzing the information, and estimating timeframes so that each
customer is responded to quickly and efficiently. Brisker notes
that the product is completely Web-based, is easy to learn and
use, has predictive algorithms, is personalized and proactive, and
offers a holistic approach to time management.
As a result of its groundbreaking technology, TOA is already
working with well-known companies, such as Cox Communications,
Comcast, AT&T, UPC, Bright House Networks, Numericable, ONO, and
Charter. Indeed, the company has been singled out by Gartner
Research, which named TOA Cool Vendor for 2007, as well as
The
Wall Street Journal and Forbes, which ran feature articles in
their publications. It has also been written up in Integrated
Solutions and Communications Technology.
Brisker notes that his product is especially attractive to his
customers because there is no upfront capital investment. There is
simply a monthly service charge with a multi-year commitment.
"They don't have to install, buy, or maintain anything," Brisker
says, adding that the technology is completely new.
Why Cleveland? While consumer waiting time is a universal
problem and TOA has offices in both Amsterdam and The Ukraine,
Brisker explains that Cleveland offers strength with its
networking community and its lower-cost financial/economic
environment. In addition, Brisker and Carmi found excellent
venture capital professionals here. "At the end of the day, it's
all about people and commitment," Brisker contends.
TOA's target market includes any company that has an
appointment-based relationship with clients. This means that
industries, such as telecommunications, utilities, and home
services (installation, home health, etc.), are fair game for the
new technology. "We want to continue to develop our product line
and become a household word," Brisker adds. He knows that time
management is key to all of these industries and that his product
is a worthwhile endeavor for them.
More information:
Kevin Maris (Merrill Lynch), Steve Lance (Intralinks
On-Demand), and Ben Calkins (Kahn Kleinman LLP and President of
OVA).
Lynn Carpenter of South Franklin Street Partners and Tim Biro
of the Ohio Innovation Fund (and OVA board member).
Wayne Zeman of Magnet, Inc., Raphael Omerza of Porter Wright
Morris & Arthur, and Lee Tenenbaum of Chagrin Financial Services.
Next Meeting:
February 22, 2008
Venture Capital Summit III
Topic: "Our Economy"
Corporate College
4400 Richmond Rd.
Warrensville Heights, Ohio
(1/2 mile south of Tri-C Campus)
Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7:00 AM, with
Mark Sniderman, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy
Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland giving the early
presentation at 7:30. Three panel discussions highlight the
balance of the morning, with networking and a buffet lunch
completing the event by 1:00 PM. Sponsors of the summit are
Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co.; Case Western Reserve University;
Felber & Felber Marketing; Key Entrepreneur Development Center;
Meaden & Moore; The Gordian Organization; and The Ohio Capital
Fund. See
complete details and
registration. |
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5-Minute Forums:
Dakota Software Provides Critical
Compliance Control
Dakota Software offers managers the tools to control
business processes and maintain compliance measures in the
workplace. Its software supports the systems and standards already
in place, helping professionals to identify issues and create
solutions via flexible delivery models (stand-alone or integrated,
desktop or Web, ASP or internally hosted) on a local or global
basis. Dakota's proactive team works to help customers extract
pertinent information with only the level of detail needed,
thereby making better business decisions.
Dakota is seeking funds for marketing and sales and software
development. For information, contact Reg Shiverick,
president, at (216) 896-0600 or see
www.dakotasoft.com.
Hole In One Contest Drives Golf
Growth
Charitee Golf is the industry leading provider of
Hole-in-One and Closest-to-the-Pin contests utilizing the latest
in solar-powered, video-monitoring, wireless technology. The
company works with golf courses across the country to create
excitement for golfers as well as to provide revenue
opportunities. With 14 in-ground units in place and five more
signed contracts, Charitee Golf currently has no competition for
its touch-screen systems. The company is seeking funds for
hardware installation and operating activities. For information,
contact David Greenspan, CEO, at 440-248-6677 or see
www.chariteegolf.net.
See complete PowerPoint presentation.
The 5-Minute Forum is an opportunity for business owners to
make a 5-minute presentation at our monthly luncheon meeting for
raising capital, identifying customers, establishing distribution,
or recruiting management. See
details.
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