If you're a wine startup seeking to get in front of some high-profile people with connections and capital, better take note of the Wine 2.0 Business Plan competition.
It's coming to an end in just over a week. At midnight, April 2nd, the organizers of the event will stop accepting participants. And, you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to win. Last year's winner - Crushpad - went on to raise $9 million in funding.
The winner will get a one-hour session with each of the judges.
The judges are Heidi Roizen, founder of Skinny Songs, former partner at Mobius Venture Capital; Richard Rosenblatt, CEO, Demand Media; Bowen Osbourn, M&A, Demand Media; Gary Vaynerchuk, star of Wine Library TV, Alan Citron, executive at Buzznet and J. Smoke Wallin, chairman of Wine 2.0, the wine social networking and events company that is hosting the competition.
With one week left, here's the current standing, based on votes.
Vinobilla, is in first place so far. This startup essentially developed a tool to identify the characteristics of wine, enabling the attributes to be more visual and understood by consumers. No more guessing whether the wine has earth tones, no tannins, and a smooth finish, while shopping at, say, Whole Foods. This looks like a consumer-friendly, and easy way to learn about wines.
Bibola.com, is in second place. This company is the consumer-facing unit of Left Bank LLC, which also runs America Uncorked. America Uncorked sells wines wholesale while Bibola is an online platform for consumers to buy wines.
In third place is Curiosk Marketing Solutions, a wine marketing company. Curiosk has developed a kiosk that resides in wine and liquor retailers. The kiosk allows consumers to scan a wine bottle, and create personalized cards that have pre-filled information about the wine, such as characteristics and suggested pairings.
Vintage Graphs, Wine to Water and Snooth, are in fourth through sixth place.
Of course, there is still one week left. So, anything can happen in that week. So, if you're in the competition, make sure you get your customers to give you solid testimonials. Start building your follower base to show that you're popular. If you're not in the competition, make sure to join in on the fun! If you're a spectactor, make sure to vote!
Here's the link to the Wine 2.0 competition.
May the best wine company win!
Founder and CEO of Vator, a media and research firm for entrepreneurs and investors; Managing Director of Vator Health Fund; Co-Founder of Invent Health; Author and award-winning journalist.
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Steven Loeb
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Wine To Water is a non-profit (501 c 3) organization that utilizes wine tastings and wine events to raise awareness and funding for it's projects around the world. Our charity goes hand in hand with the wine industry. Integrating our organization with a wine event, no matter what the venue, gives guests or clients an opportunity to appreciate attending that event even more. For more information please see our contact details on our website... winetowater.orgStartup/Business
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Wine 2.0™ is the innovator in social networking and events in the wine industry. With a focus on the next generation wine consumer, Wine 2.0 breaks down the barriers to learning about, experiencing, and enjoying wine. Wine 2.0 events feature a rich diversity of world class wines and the newest generation of emerging technology companies, services and communication tools that are changing the world of wine.Startup/Business
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There are three aspects of Left Bank LLC, dba America Uncorked and Bibola.com, which sells great value imported wine:
1. Business-to-business -- America Uncorked
2. On-line direct to consumer, wine clubs -- Bibola.com
3. Creation of proprietary wine brands that will be sold business-to-business and on-line direct-to the consumer at a high margin -- creates a solid equity base
America Uncorked sells great value imported wines to the trade on a national level. The wineries in the America Uncorked portfolio keep inventory in the USA at their own expense with no risk to America Uncorked.
In addition to selling to the trade, America Uncorked sells its wines to Bibola.com, a sister company, on a just-in-time basis. Most wines retail for between $ 12 and $ 20 per bottle. Bibola.com then pays America Uncorked within 30 days after upfront credit card transactions for the sales are received. Again there is no need to invest in inventory because purchases are made just-in-time. The businesses are vertically integrated in that one aspect of the business sells to another aspect of the business earning the highest margins possible.
A third aspect of the business is to create and launch proprietary "Bibola" brands to be sold through the national trade and on-line through Bibola.com.
Bibola.com has various wine clubs, based on subscrpition memberships. Most club members receive six bottles delivered quarterly. Discounts are granted to wine club members as incentives to join. There are no fees for joining.
"Bibola" is the founders "alter ego", and is a cartoon character who tells her story of years in the international wine industry. Bibola.com is a whimsical, visually entertaining site with lots of personality and offers a very fun and educational shopping experience.
The portfolio will be expanded to offer new producers from around the world, including domestic wineries and proprietary brands, and will also add own brand tea, olive oil, chocolate and other complimentary gourmet products.
Startup/Business
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The Vinogram™’s 12 flavor and aroma criteria are a revolutionary promotion tool for your wines. The intuitive visual aspect is quickly and easily understood, breaking language barriers. If you are looking to export increase sales, you’ve got a new secret weapon. Learn more
Internet Presence and Advertising
Exporting your wine has become an obvious necessity. But the big question remains. How do you get buyers and consumers abroad to see yourproducts? We provide visibility with our innovative communication, presentation and GPS tools.
Startup/Business
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Curiosk is redefining the way people shop for, buy, give, receive and enjoy wine and spirits. Installing a Curiosk touchscreen kiosk lets wine & liquor retailers enhance customer service, increase basket size, achieve store differentiation, provide a value added product and turn browsers into buyers. The Curiosk product and process is an innovative and informative, creative and convenient retailing solution.
How does it work?
Simply scan the barcode label to receive product information such as; tasting notes, food pairing notes, serving recommendations and cellaring guidelines. Then use the touchscreen to personalize and a print a greeting card. The patents pending card containing both the product information and the personal message, prints at the kiosk and is designed to fit over the neck of the bottle. It is the ultimate greeting card.
Startup/Business
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INTRODUCING VINTAGE GRAPHS
The world if full of great wines. The world is full of people looking for great wines. Vintage Graphs connects the dots.
Vintage Graphs, LLC is launching a new inventory and customer management system for wine retailers that feature a patent- pending visual illustration of how a wine tastes. These tools are designed to appeal to average wine consumers and attract them to less familiar and more expensive wines.
Vintage Graphs' mission is to be the premier wine education and information resource for consumers using our innovative patent pending visual system and to utilize leading edge computer and Internet technology. Additionally, Vintage Graphs aims to change, for the better, how consumers buy and retailers sell and market wine by providing an intelligent suite of products to simplify and revolutionize the wine marketplace.
ADVANTAGES FOR RETAILERS:
• Build Loyal Customers by Explaining Wine Visually–beyond notes & ratings
• Promote Inventory that is Not Selling Without Lowering Prices
• Feature New or Obscure Wines you want to introduce
• Sell More Wine @ Increased Price Points
• Attract Next Generation of Wine Consumers with hand-held technology
• Effective in Wine Stores and Essential for Grocery Stores – 86% of consumers
surveyed said they would pay more for a wine with a vintage graph label. Think
of Vintage Graphs as your silent sales partner.
1.) Distillinga sommelier’s complex analysis of wine into an easily understood visual illustration,
2.) Educating consumers about their personalwine preferences through an intuitive visual graph,
3.) Matching informed buyers with great wines they will like as they interact with Vintage Graphs’ productsand website.
Startup/Business
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Crushpad is a San Francisco winery where you are the wine maker. Crushpad provides grapes from the West Coast's top vineyards, an industry-acclaimed wine making team and a state-of-the-art winery 100% focused on making wine in small lots. You choose your level of involvement and we do the rest. No matter where you live, you can now make your own wine.Startup/Business
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Snooth is a social shopping site for the wine industry. User's can use Snooth's powerful search engine to browse 2 million ratings across hundreds of thousands of wines and then link to 11,000 merchant partners (stores and wineries) in 50 countries to make a purchase. In addition, Snooth is a social network. Users can create accounts, see what their friends are drinking, get recommendations and find their 'taste twins' - users with similar palates to their own.
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Digital Media veteran; General Manager at TheWrap
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