Biznik Blog

You’ve done it again, Bizniks! Your contribution in making Biznik such a cool online small business community that meets face to face, has earned Dan and I the honor of inclusion on Seattle Magazine’s 2008 Power List: 25 Most Influential People of the Year in their November 2008 issue.

A month after being recognized amongst Seattle Business Monthly’s Top 25 Innovators and Entrepreneurs, we’re starting to feel a tad self-conscious. Once again, we’re wow’ed by the caliber of the other recipients, which includes the most famous gazillionaire in the area, a former governor of Washington State, and one of the presenters at Biznik’s BizJam Seattle 08 conference last July. Read on to see them all.

• Persons of the Year: Bill & Melinda Gates, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Climate: Philip Mote, Ph.D., University of Washington research scientist and Washington state climatologist.
• Museums: Ron Chew, former executive director of the Wing Luke Asian Museum.
• Sustainability: Neva Welton and Vic Opperman, founders, SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities All Over Puget Sound).
• Nightlife: Steven Severin, co-owner of Capitol Hill’s Neumos and Moe Bar, investor in Pike Street Fish Fry and Liberty.
• Sports: Anne Levinson, chair of the Seattle Storm’s new ownership group.
• Dining Out: Scott Staples, chef and restaurant owner.
• Education: Lisa Macfarlane, director of external affairs, the League of Education Voters.
• Music: Fleet Foxes, expanding the Seattle sound.
• Technology: Oren Etzioni, Ph.D., founder of Farecast.
• Politics: Thomas Goldstein, executive director, the Washington Bus.
• Environment: BJ Cummings, coordinator, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition.
• Architecture: Eugenia Woo, architectural preservationist and Googie fan.
• Waste Management: Chris Martin, founder and president, CleanScapes.
• Activist: Booth Gardner, former Washington state governor and right-to-die advocate.
• Networking 2.0: Lara Eve Feltin and Dan McComb, cofounders of Biznik.com.
• Advertising: Cal McAllister and Ian Cohen, headmasters (owners) of Wexley School for Girls.
• New Media: Tracy Record, editor and co-publisher, west seattle blog.
• Science: Yoky Matsuoka, Ph.D., director, University of Washington Neurobotics Laboratory.
• Arts: Artists John Sutton, Ben Beres and Zac Culler of sutton/beres/culler.
• Urban Development: Liz Dunn, developer of the city’s best-looking, best-functioning urban neighborhood.
• Government: Brian Sonntag: Washington State Auditor.
• Transportation: Aubrey Davis, senior statesman and transportation guru.
• Fundraising: Connie H. Kravas, Ph.D., president of the University of Washington Foundation and vice president for University Advancement since 2001.
• Arts Advocate: Deborah Semer, education chair and vice chair, Seattle Arts Commission.

Here’s an excerpt from the article, along with the accompanying photo
(boy, do we look tired!):

NETWORKING 2.0
The Connectors
Lara Eve Feltin and Dan McComb, cofounders of Biznik.com

Bio: This husband-and-wife team, who met in 2002 and married in 2005, were both self-employed; she as a fine-art portrait photographer, and he as a Web and database developer.

Why they’re on the list: Seattle-based Biznik, founded in 2005, has revolutionized the local business online networking scene with an approach Feltin and McComb have dubbed “Business networking that doesn’t suck.” Their Web site combines live networking and educational events with comprehensive online networking, allowing small-business people to find support among like-minded entrepreneurs as well as to find new clients. They expect their 15,000 members—most in the Northwest—to double by year’s end. A primary goal for Biznik, says McComb, is fostering information sharing (rather than the competitive environment endemic to many business groups).

What’s new: To grow the company, Biznik is sponsoring volunteer “ambassadors” in other cities, giving them free upgraded profiles in exchange for hosting events. Unlike existing online social networks, McComb says, “Events are the lifeblood of this company.”

Why being partners in love and business works: The couple says their relationship is one of Biznik’s greatest strengths. McComb is the idea guy who focuses on the development and tech sides of the business, while Feltin orchestrates events and manages the business. And being around each other 24/7 pays off. They say that many an idea is hatched at 2 a.m. –Lilium Pierson

As a thank you, we’re inviting two Supporting Members to accompany Dan I and Biznik’s lead developer, John Adair, to a reception hosted by Seattle Magazine in honor of the 25 Most Influential People of the Year on November 11 at the Pampas Club in Belltown.

The two Supporting Members will be selected by a drawing at the next monthly Biznik VIP Event the night before on November 10. Those interested in attending the Seattle Magazine reception may enter the drawing by putting their business card in a bowl. The drawing will take place at 6:30pm. You must be present to win.

Last month, we held a drawing for two invitations to the Seattle Business Monthly Top 25 Innovators & Entrepreneurs reception at the Space Needle, and Corbet Curfman and Julai Baldwin joined us. It was a blast!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 7:15 am and is filed under News. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.