Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
The Big Idea: babylolly.com
Sophie Marion, four months, looks over at her cousin Kyle Geske (right) and co-founder Andrew Burton of the website BabyLolly.com. At left, Colleen Geske came up with idea for site. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )
The Product
BABYLOLLY.COM is a new Internet-based, "invite-only" network that's been described by its founders as "a Facebook for babies and toddlers". Part online babybook and part social network, Babylolly.com enables parents to share important moments in their baby's life with friends and family members anywhere in the world by posting pictures, videos, and baby journals on the website. Only those who have been personally invited by the parents can access their content. And not only can they view what's on there, they can upload their own pictures, videos or journal entries.
The Eureka Moment
Babylolly.com was born out of frustration on the part of former Winnipegger Colleen Geske, who has been living in Amsterdam for the last five years and was finding it increasingly difficult to stay abreast of developments with her many baby-rearing friends and relatives. "I was losing touch with them at a very important time in their life," she said in an interview. "They were sending out e-mails with photos attached and they were kind of impersonal and they were crashing people's e-mails. So I thought, 'There's got to be a better way.'" So about 18 months ago, the on-line marketing consultant came up with the idea of creating a Facebook-style network dedicated to babies. From there, she recruited her husband, Moses Faleafaga, her brother Kyle Geske and his friend and business partner, Andrew Burton, to help create the network.
The Entrepreneurs
Colleen, a University of Manitoba commerce grad, and German-born Moses, who has a master's degree in business administration, are the content creators for the network. Kyle and Burton are Winnipeg-based web-design specialists, so they handle the technical stuff. Moses also prepared the business plan, set up the company, and oversees day-to-day operations. Or in Colleen's words, "All the serious kind of stuff!"
The Take-Up
The network has only been officially up and running for about two months. Colleen said they hope to have 1,000 sign-ups within the next few weeks, which will be an important milestone. "It's working great. There are a lot of new people coming (on board) every day."
What's Next
The four partners are looking for additional partners with money to invest in the business. Colleen said they'd like to begin marketing the network more aggressively and add features to the website. But they need to hire some workers to accomplish those things. Although membership in the network is free, the partners are looking at other ways to generate income. That could include selling online advertisements, adding features or functions they could charge a fee for -- such as extra storage space -- and selling baby-related products on the network. "We would definitely like to cover off our operating costs," Kyle said.
-- Murray McNeill
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 27, 2009 B12
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Business
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- LeAnn Rimes in pain following 'minor surgery'
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Group's speed-limit sign removed from Pembina Highway
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Easy, economical, healthy soup
- Lesson about war, power told with Shaw's comic touch
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- 4 dead in northern Ontario plane crash
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.