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Some Thoughts on Branding Startups and Communities

Both Sides of the Table

ZestCash, founded by Douglas Merrill, former CIO of Google [Hollywood]. Idealab, led by Bill Gross, who founded Overture, CitySearch and MANY other business [Pasadena]. Here’s a short list that are decidedly East of the 405 freeway (i.e. not near the beach): Factual, founded by Gil Elbaz who built AdSense [Century City].

Startup 304
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Can You Really Build a Great Tech Firm Outside Silicon Valley?

Both Sides of the Table

That sets us up nicely for the next phase of the web. Douglas Merrill, the former CIO of Google, is building his next company, ZestCash in LA. Each of these companies exited for more than $500 million and several north of $1 billion. And of course you have Hollywood. The Internet is now faster, more dynamic and less about text.