MySpace’s former GM International Travis Katz left the company shortly after the big executive shakeout in the Spring of 2009.
He spent a few months in Hawaii recharging, and then moved his family to Silicon Valley. Since January he’s been working on a new startup, he says, and he’s teamed up with Ori Zaltzman, the former Chief Architect of Yahoo Boss.
That’s enough of a team to make things really interesting. Particuarly Zaltzman’s deep infrastructure background.
Katz isn’t saying what the new startup will do. When pressed he said “consumer Internet.” When pressed further he said “social infrastructure product.” He says he’s not saying anything else until the fundraising is closed.
“Fundraising? What VCs are you talking to?”
“No comment.”
Etc.
My goal is to find out all about the new startup, and share it with you, before Katz wants me to. But until then that’s all I’ve got.
This is now the third startup to spring from the loins of former MySpace execs.
Back in March 2009 a trio of MySpace execs – COO Amit Kapur, SVP Steve Pearman and SVP Jim Benedetto – left to begin working on a new startup called Gravity.
And MySpace cofounder and former CEO Chris DeWolfe recently unveiled MindJolt.
All look promising. Perhaps more promising than the company they left behind.
Travis Katz is the Co-founder and CEO of Gogobot, a stealth stage travel startup, backed by Battery Ventures. Travis an entrepreneur and executive with a proven record of success in the web 2.0 space. He formerly built and ran international operations for MySpace, IGN and other Fox Interactive Media Properties. Travis led the expansion of MySpace into Europe, Asia, and Latin America beginning in February, 2006, growing the user base from 10MM to 66MM in that time. ...
Ori Zaltzman the founder and CTO of Gogobot, a social travel recommendation service. Ori is a serial entrepreneur and technologist. Ori was the chief architect of Yahoo! BOSS, and one of the lead technologists for Yahoo! Answers, in charge of content quality for one of the largest social platforms on the web. Ori co-founded 2 companies, utvee and Tailor Made Television. Tailor Made Television provided the first interactive TV services to the 3 major cable companies in Israel, offering...
Called by Michael Arrington “one of my favorite new startups for 2010,” Gogobot connects you with friends to make planning and sharing your travels fun. Based in Silicon Valley, Gogobot launched its private beta in November, 2010. The site has been covered by TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, AllThingsD, Trendslate, the nationally syndicated Nate Berkus Show, WGN-TV Chicago and was mentioned in Trendwatching’s 11 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2011. The site was founded by ex-MySpace exec Travis...
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