Zelkova Ventures

I'm intrigued by the model JIBE is trying to push out, having been involved in Monster, Jobster, and Recruiting.com as experience, but I am left to wonder about the methodology and technicalities of the platform.I wandered through the platform and was put off by the need to expose my network via a blind login (and if I, as a social media person am put off... what about the common user?) along with a severe questioning of the unemployment statistic it tried to define in my network. I think the overall idea is sound, but the conversion hurdles I experienced in the first three minutes were pretty severe. I am also wondering how the walled garden of SEO will affect the site, as it causes an amputation of one of the most popular benefits of social networking/social media online... instead requiring the site to rely on direct referral traffic and WOM.

Trace,Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I noticed them on TechCrunch and twitter as well. What gets me the most excited about JIBE is the set of tools our Employment Networking Platform provides to help recent college grads realize their social network is more valuable than they might have initially assumed. As this demographic begins to discover the value of their network they will improve their individual profiles resulting in the value of their entire social graph increasing as well. I look forward to your continued feedback as JIBE evolves.Joe

The idea and business model are sound, I just have a problem with the target market. As a fellow college student - in the 24 and under - I know that most of my friends don't have any connections with employees inside of companies that they want to work with. I was wondering if you could give me some insight into why you chose Gen-Y as your target market and not older, potentially laid off professionals who should have more connections and benefit from this service the most. Will definitely be watching this company closely.

I'm intrigued by the model JIBE is trying to push out, having been involved in Monster, Jobster, and Recruiting.com as experience, but I am left to wonder about the methodology and technicalities of the platform.

I wandered through the platform and was put off by the need to expose my network via a blind login (and if I, as a social media person am put off... what about the common user?) along with a severe questioning of the unemployment statistic it tried to define in my network.

I think the overall idea is sound, but the conversion hurdles I experienced in the first three minutes were pretty severe.

I am also wondering how the walled garden of SEO will affect the site, as it causes an amputation of one of the most popular benefits of social networking/social media online... instead requiring the site to rely on direct referral traffic and WOM.

Trace,

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I noticed them on TechCrunch and twitter as well.

What gets me the most excited about JIBE is the set of tools our Employment Networking Platform provides to help recent college grads realize their social network is more valuable than they might have initially assumed. As this demographic begins to discover the value of their network they will improve their individual profiles resulting in the value of their entire social graph increasing as well.

I look forward to your continued feedback as JIBE evolves.

Joe

The idea and business model are sound, I just have a problem with the target market. As a fellow college student - in the 24 and under - I know that most of my friends don't have any connections with employees inside of companies that they want to work with. I was wondering if you could give me some insight into why you chose Gen-Y as your target market and not older, potentially laid off professionals who should have more connections and benefit from this service the most. Will definitely be watching this company closely.