Stik.com (legally known as Knew Deal Inc.) is a US-based review site for local professional services. Stik brings online business-to-business referrals online by collecting verified consumer reviews from individual local professionals (eg, realtors, mortgage brokers), helping local professionals and small businesses build their online reputation. Integrated into Facebook and LinkedIn, the company also helps consumers find trusted professionals recommended by their friends and family. As of August 2013, Stik has 2.5 million reviews and recommendations, and nearly 700,000 professional profiles.
Video Stik.com
Overview
Founded in 2010, Stik aims to bring authentic consumer reviews to the local professional services market. Instead of focusing on the whole business (eg restaurant) as Yelp, Inc. does and Urbanspoon, Stik focuses on "rare, expensive, and high-cost customer transactions" (eg, taking a mortgage, buying a home). Sticks are free for consumers and professionals, although the site recently introduced new premium options available to professionals for a fee.
Stik requires all users to "verify" their identity by linking their professional profile or profile to their personal account on Facebook or LinkedIn. The company claims that this integration reduces the number of anonymous fake reviews, which undermines the credibility of the online review site. In September 2013 the New York Attorney General charged fees to a reputable management company anonymously posting fake content on sites like Google, Yelp, Citysearch and Yahoo.
Maps Stik.com
History
Harvard alumni Nathan Labenz and Jay Gierak became founders of Stik in November 2010, behind a $ 500,000 seed fund run by venture capitalist Timothy C. Draper.
In September 2012, founders of Stik, Nathan Labenz and Jay Gierak moved operations from San Francisco to their hometown of Detroit. Thus, Stik became the first Bay Area startup that moved to the "growing technological center" in Motor City. This office was once located inside the M @ dison building and moved around the corner in September 2013 as part of the Detroit Opportunities initiative after the expansion of the sales and development team.
In March 2013, Stik closed the A $ 2.3 million Series A round, led by Detroit Venture Partners and North Coast Technology Investors. Draper Associates, MEDC, First Step Fund, and Automation Alley also participated in this round.
Controversy
In 2011, Stik posted a live review request on people's Facebook wall, which some users say is spam. Stik then switches to sending all review requests via email. There is also some controversy about Facebook permission required Stik, which includes sharing your friends list.
See also
- Reviews
- Review Sites
- And Gilbert (entrepreneur)
- Josh Linkner
References
External links
Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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