Biznik Turns Three Today
This has been a year of steady growth and big changes. A year ago Biznik had just under 6,000 members - today, on the morning of Biznik’s third birthday, there are nearly 19,000. The 20,000th should join by the middle of the month. With this growth, Biznik’s team grew too, from Dan, I and John Adair (our solo full time developer,) to a team of seven daily staff members with a myriad of support contractors. In addition to a second full time developer, Biznik now has a community catalyst, an ambassador mentor, an administrative assistant, a project manager, and a bookkeeper, and regularly employs designers, consultants, programmers.
Biznik won a slew of awards this year, starting with an Official Honoree in the 2008 international Webby Awards. Others we’re proud of: inclusion in Seattle Business Monthly’s 2008 Top 25 Innovators, and Seattle Magazine’s Power List 2008: 25 Most Influential People, along with a WebAward, an Interactive Media Award, and an SEOmoz Web 2.0 Award.
What in store for the next year? New site features are released monthly. This week we launched a reordering of the membership directory into city pages and categories. By the end of November, the long anticipated Biznik Groups will finally be live. Members have asked for a reworking of the rating tool, a way to crowdsource event submissions, a redesigned messaging platform, and new network features - and we’re listening. Many of these things are under development and will roll out steadily in the coming months.
Offline, Dan and I recently checked out a funky office space overlooking the ship canal in Fremont, so Biznik may finally move from our home office where we meet regularly at the dining room table, and contractors perch on the living room couches. We also just returned from participating on a panel at the BizTech Day conference in San Francisco, where we met a lot of enthusiastic Bay Area members. With the assistance of Joe Shirley, Biznik’s Ambassador Mentor, we are cooking up some great ideas for how to get regular quality educational events happening outside Seattle. And BizJam is going to be radically different this year - a completely different community event that will involve the entire Biznik community in a way undreamed of before. Stay tuned for amazing things ahead.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Happy Birthday!! It’s amazing what you have done in three years and we are so glad to be a part of this community.
You have done some really awesome changes so far and I anticipate the upcoming ones as well. And am really anxious to see what is ahead for next year’s Bizjam.
Oh, and by the way, you deserve all those awards…keep them coming!
bob
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Yaaay! I just want to congratulate you two (and staff) for all the hard work you have put in the last few years. It has definitely paid off, I’m so proud of you guys! I still remember Lara telling me about her networking group and having to be at meetings super early in the morning, Biznik is such a much needed improvement. Keep up the hard work, I can’t wait to see where it takes you guys! XOXOX
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Yeah!! A loonngggg way from 10 sleepy people at salmon bay cafe.
You are amazing and so glad your vision exploded. I hope to be more involved this year. Let me know if you need another pair of hands anytime.
xoxoxo barbara
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Thanks Barbara - you definitely had a front-row seat at the birth of this whole thing. Thanks for your participation in the early days when every single person made a huge difference in getting Biznik where it is today.
Who else was present at that first event?
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Biznik changed the world
Networking that doesn’t suck
Businesses can rock
love&congrats
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Happy Birthday!!!
You are growing up so nicely Biznik.
Congrats
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Happy Birthday! Thank you to make it happen for all of us.
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Dan & Lara,
Happy Birthday! As a small business owner myself, my business’ birthday is like having a third child. You have created something very useful to many people and I’m delighted that to be part of this community. I have met some great people so far and that is a testament to the two of you. May your business continue to flourish and grow.
Warmest Regards,
Rick
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Thanks Hsuan-hua and Rick. In our case it’s like our ONLY child, since Lara and I have decided not to have kids. Biznik definitely is an outlet for the same creative energy that having children would otherwise take, that’s for sure. Only, without the need to change diapers.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Happy Birthday Biznik. The Biznik site and Biznik members have been a big support in my life in the last few years, and working with you has been an honor these past few months. I look forward to continuing a rich relationship no matter what the nature of it may be.
Warmly,
Leif
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Biznik Live is a great addition to the content here on Biznik, Leif. Thanks for being part of the team.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Happy Birthday from a recent member that is soon to be going to some of the local networking events. My hope is to help Biznik go global.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Happy Birthday Biznik!
Well, lets see… 18 more years and you’re legal! ;]
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Happy Birthday, Biznik!
Congratulations on taking your dream to this level!
I hope you continue to grow and become an important part of our San Francisco community.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Happy Birthday to you, Biznik!
You are three years old but wise beyond your years!
To your continued success, Dan and Lara…
November 4th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Happy Birthday and thank you for all you do Dan and Lara. You have helped an old-man start a new business. I will always be grateful for Biznik.
November 4th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Dan and Lara,
Congratulations. Kudos. Hurray. And Thank You. BizNik is a fabulous online social network that is delivering powerful dividends to those who learn to use it well with your able guidance. I am grateful. I am a fan. I salute you. And I can’t wait to see what unfolds for us all with your continued vision and leadership.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Congratulations, Lara & Dan, for taking the lead to gather such a great tribe and for providing us with such wonderful tools.
I’m coming late to the game, but hope to make up for my tardiness in ardor.
Here’s to many more years of Biznik awesomeness (and moving things out of the living room! Huzzah!)
November 6th, 2008 at 4:59 am
I am another big fan who is so excited at what Biznik has created so far, as well as the possibilities of what Biznik will evolve into. As a writer for The National Networker - a Worldwide look at local networking, I find it hard to not always want to write about Biznik - but have on several occasions because you are doing what hasn’t been done before. Further, I love how you (Dan and Lara) listen, and how ultimately, the people decide what is relevant in this community. Congratulations and here’s to many more amazing moments in Biznik history!
November 8th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Wow! 3 already? How the years fly!
May 25 was the first meeting? Wow.
I don’t know where I’d be without Biznik. I have learned SO much here and am just thrilled beyond measure to be a part of this completely amazing community of people so willing to share the indie road together.
Thank you ever so much,
Amy