With social networking tools like online chat and photo sharing becoming
more common, many employers have begun protecting against the use of
these platforms at work. But the software developers at
WizeHive
in Bryn Mawr are working to bring these traditionally fun tools into the professional
fold. Their online collaboration platform, utilizing many of these
sharing tools, received a
Ben Franklin Technology Partners investment
earlier this month, which will help the company expand in the new year.
"When we started, the focus of the platform was around sharing: sharing
documents, sharing tasks, managing projects, having online
conversations," says CEO and Co-founder Mike
Levinson.
"As the product matured, it has become more about helping people
automate business processes and about helping them make better, faster
decisions whether they are sitting across the room from each other or
across the world from each other."
This online collaboration has taken WizeHive beyond the workplace,
partnering with universities on managing scholarship applicants and
helping media companies like TechCrunch manage contests and
competitions. With the Ben Franklin funding, Levinson and company hope
to expand staff, increase sales and continue working together on working
together.
"We have been very successful at building the sales channel and bringing
the platform into different arenas," says Levinson. "What we are really
trying to do now with the funding is expand that. The plan is to
continue building out what we are doing, just doing a lot more of it in
the new year."
Source: Mike Levinson, WizeHive
Writer: John Steele