Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):
New Web Services Vying for Business
By Nick Carson - Published Issue 2, 23rd Sept’09
Discover “Web 2.0″ with a look at new services emerging on the internet. Several of them might even become household names like our beloved Twitter, Facebook and Google’s of today. Whether you’re looking to study for the GMAT or just save money, there are a few web services I’d like to share with you.
Check out Grockit. www.grockit.com
If you’re studying for the GMAT or LSAT, you understand the agony of endlessly practicing questions and going through archives of old tests. Consider studying in a new way with Grockit. Grockit is a new service that allows you to study and practice questions online with other students. You begin by logging in and selecting a group of 4-5 people you want to study with. The site enters you and your peers into a private chat room and presents you with a question on the subject you chose. For example, many of you may be looking into an MBA, so you might be practicing verbal questions for the GMAT. The questions are similar to those given on the actual test and give you multiple answers to choose from. Together, as a collaborative unit, you can discuss the question with your peers and see the answer that others have selected. Sharing your thoughts on the question and discussing with your peers will help you arrive at the correct thinking. The idea is that together you can practice with other students in live study groups. Right now, Grockit offers SAT, ACT and GMAT, with plans to include LSAT, MCAT and the GRE.
Want to save money? Take a look at Mint. www.mint.com
The service allows you to link together all your bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, and loans — basically anything related to your financial status. It will then analyze all the transactions you have made and identify various areas you can save money. Setup was simple when I gave it a try. I added in my Wachovia checking accounts, credit cards and my E*Trade financial investment account, and it correctly analyzed and categorized the transactions into restaurants, rent, bank fees, etc. After analyzing the data, it provided a detailed account and chart of where I was spending my money every month. This is a really powerful tool, with advanced options to set budgets and goals. Try it and you might discover numerous areas where you could save money that went unnoticed before.
Grockit and Mint were emerging companies featured at the TechCrunch50, a conference dedicated in discovering the best Web 2.0 start-ups and ventures. Finalists at the conference presented in front of venture capitalists, companies and press known for being influential industry leaders. Take a look at the conference online for other great start-ups (www.techcrunch50.com). According to TechCrunch, Grockit raised a sum of $10.7 million in funding. Mint, launched in 2007, was later acquired in 2009 by Intuit for a sum of $170 million. These rising stars of the internet world are sure to make a splash in the coming months and showcase more of the countless applications possible.