http://tvh.disqus.com/The Virtual Handshake: Sell, Raise Capital, Look for Deals with Social MediaenThu, 06 Jan 2005 21:58:42 -0000http://www.thevirtualhandshake.com/blog/2004/07/26/angel-investing-opportunities-in-social-network-software#comment-8723595<p>The problem with most of the oppourtunities you suggest is that it takes out the position in which you always stand to make the most money with little risk - an affiliate network or clearing house. Peer-to-peer networks elimiate the need for this, and though I'm not saying thats necessaily bad, it just doesn't present as many ways to make money for the investor. Consider our buisness in the mortgage lead generation market, for example.</p>I Crush Mortgage LeadsThu, 06 Jan 2005 21:58:42 -0000http://www.thevirtualhandshake.com/blog/2004/07/26/angel-investing-opportunities-in-social-network-software#comment-8723594<p>I'd add one and a caveat.<br>- FOAF and Distributed SNs are somewhat related. There's defintely scope for weblogs or similar to add an Identity server, a private messaging system and a "your are my friend" system. Pretty hard to see though how to make money from it, when a successful model will get the open source treatment pretty quickly.</p><p>- SNs based around Mobile phones and Mobile devices like WLAN. I reckon this area will be absolutely huge some time in the next 3 years. It's waiting for the right level of technology to be deployed widely enough but we're almost there. Somewhat ironically, there's a big chance this will happen outside the USA first due to how backward the US mobile phone is.</p>Julian BondTue, 27 Jul 2004 02:52:34 -0000