Main Content

Press Release

For Immediate Release:

View as PDF

Pluck Named a Red Herring 100 Winner

Award Recognizes the 100 Private Technology Firms in North America Driving the Future of Technology

AUSTIN, Texas — May 22, 2006 — Pluck™ Corporation, a social media technology pioneer, today announced that it has been selected as a winner of the annual "Red Herring 100 North America" award by Red Herring magazine. This list of 100 privately held companies in North America recognizes those that play a leading role in innovating the technology business. To view the full list, please visit www.redherring.com.

"With venture capital flowing again, we're seeing a lot of innovative new companies taking on the established players with disruptive technologies and innovative business plans," said Joel Dreyfuss, Editor-in-Chief of Red Herring. "The Red Herring 100 North America companies, among them Pluck, are pushing and breaking the boundaries of the technology business and we are excited to report on their success stories."

Since its inception in 2003, Pluck has been a leader in transforming how everyday people and publishers discover, create and distribute information online. The company's most recent innovation, BlogBurst, is a service that helps leading blogs syndicate content through traditional media organizations, such as newspapers and magazines. BlogBurst has over 1,500 bloggers contributing to the service, which reaches more than 15 million unique visitors per month through its newspaper syndication partners, including Gannett, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Houston Chronicle, The Arizona Republic, The San Jose Mercury News, The Washington Post and more.

"Social media technologies are rapidly changing the way mass media and its audiences interact online," said Dave Panos, CEO of Pluck. "Red Herring recognizes the technological advancements that are changing the web and were early to showcase the impact social media technologies are having on our everyda

y lives. We're honored to receive the Red Herring Top 100 distinction from the magazine."

More than just buzz

Red Herring's lists of top private companies are an important part of the renowned magazine's tradition of identifying new and innovative technology firms and entrepreneurs. Companies like Google and eBay were spotted in their early days by Red Herring editors as some that would change the way we live and work.

After receiving more than 1,000 submissions and nominations, Red Herring's editorial staff rigorously evaluated Pluck and the other contenders through a careful analysis of financial data and subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development. The Red Herring 100 North America companies are at the forefront of the technologies that are changing our lives in profound ways.

Honoring the best

To honor the Red Herring 100 companies, Red Herring has invited their CEOs and founders to present at its Red Herring Spring 2006 conference, a forum for technology's most exciting companies, and to share their insights on the future of innovation and the entrepreneurial journey. Scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey, this intimate, invitation-only conference will explore "The Pursuit of Disruption" and how it spawns unexpected opportunities, novel alliances, and great success stories.

About Pluck Corp.

Pluck Corporation develops social media technologies that transform how everyday people and publishers discover, create and distribute information online. Providing community, user-generated content, syndication and aggregation software, Pluck helps its customers leverage the new open content model that has emerged as the cornerstone of Web 2.0. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas with funding from Austin Ventures and Mayfield. More information on Pluck offerings can be found at www.pluck.com.

About Red Herring Spring 2006

Red Herring Spring 2006 will assemble 300 of the continent's most innovative and successful CEOs, investors, and corporate developers and feature a dynamic group of over 100 speakers that are pushing and breaking the boundaries of the business of technology. Themed "The Pursuit of Disruption," it will be held May 23-25 in Monterey, California. Please contact Michael Felber at 650.428.2900 or email mfelber@redherring.com to request an invitation to attend the event. More information is available online at www.herringevents.com/rhspring06.

About Red Herring Magazine

Red Herring magazine is a sophisticated insider's guide to the business of technology, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy, from the Internet to wireless communications and digital entertainment. Red Herring's journalists report on how innovation and entrepreneurship are transforming business and how the business of technology is transforming the world, providing readers with a deep understanding of venture capital and capital markets. Recognized as an essential resource in today's fast-changing business world, Red Herring gets the right answers before anyone else even thinks to ask the questions. More information on Red Herring is available on the Internet at www.redherring.com.

###