Ziva Software Launches Mobile Content Search ‘Zook’; Rs. 7.5 Crore Funding From Nadathur

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Ziva Software Launches Mobile Content Search ‘Zook’; Rs. 7.5 Crore Funding From Nadathur

Ziva Software, a startup based out of IIM Bangalore’s NSR-GIV Center run by the NSRCEL has launched a mobile content search service called Zook, accessible via SMS (they’re using One97’s short code 3030), WAP and GPRS. ContentSutra learns that Ziva Software had received Rs.7.5 crore in investment from Nadathur Investment and Holdings, and early stage VC company started by Founder and Former JMD of Infosys, Nadathur S. Raghavan.
Interestingly, Zook has integrated an answers facility, where users can request reviews/assistance. They’ve also integrating groups into the search system for people with common interests to interact. Zook is built on two of Ziva’s mobile-specific platforms - Manas Platform for interactive mobile search and Peepal Network for content-oriented social networking. They’re in the process of filing patents for both.
For location based searches, Zook has tied up with Infomedia, and is doing a trial with Hungry Bangalore for online booking in restaurants, on a trial basis. They’ve also tied up with Rajesh Jain funded company SEraja for events.
While search is free, I just signed up to try out the answers feature. A couple of things that I see hindering adoption: signups need to be confirmed by SMS, and if they’re looking to mine that data, mobile based search is a less intrusive means for doing the same. Secondly, to ask about, say, the food in a particular restaurant, I have to specify numbers of those who I want to ask- seems to be a means of promoting the site, and not an open forum for solutions.

Update: We’ve received an official confirmation from Nadathur Investment and Holdings that they have invested Rs. 7.5 crores in Ziva Software. The information received earlier was from Ziva Software.

Nikhil Pahwa Mar 12, 2007 1:56 AM ET

Posted In: Mobile, Money

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Ram

WOW.I had the opportunity to listen to them in Proto.in. Their approach borders on wiki's human search/yahoo answers. Venky (my brother) put it beautifully -Time to forget the artificial divide between the online and the offline but provide a seamless user experience which may or may not entail the dovetailing of the two worlds. All the very best to the ziva team and look fwd to use their expertise soon.

Sameer

Thanks for the update, Nikhil. ISuch info is best confirmed by an independent source :)

Oh, and we added a whole lot of new mobile content today - I guess Zook is the first search across mobile content providers now, esp on the phone!

http://www.zivasoftware.com/blog/2007/03/15/search-mobile-downloads-on-zook/

Nikhil

Sceptic: We just got an official confirmation from Nadathur. Post updated.

Sceptic

7.5 crores! Severely doubt that figure…Nadathur typically makes far smaller investments…any official confirmation for this investment?

Sameer

Thanks for getting the word out about Zook! Also welcome are your inputs about the service. A couple of points:

1.This service is intentionally built for and to be available on the mobile - and so everything was made first for the SMS users - thats 95%+ of the market - hence the SMS based confirmations.

2. In its fullness, the 'asking' will also automatically select appropriate people from a user's network (and if appropriate, beyond) to pass the questions on to. Yes, part of the intention IS the viral spread, but the basic idea originated from real life behaviour - people often ask those they think might know for answers in real life situations. Even currently, by letting people create and add contacts to groups, Zook does make it easy to ask your contacts, more so in the case of thematic groups.