Simpatico Networks Announces Investment from ZelnickMedia Simpatico Launches its Sixth Social Networking Site The Next Generation of Social Networking
June, 28 2005
New York – July 28, 2005 -- Simpatico Networks is pleased to announce today an investment from ZelnickMedia, one of the nation’s leading media advisory and investment concerns. In addition, Simpatico Networks announces the launch of its sixth niche-based social networking site, Expats.com.
Simpatico Networks (www.SimpaticoNetworks.com) presents the only social networking solution specifically for niche audiences. The Simpatico Networks platform is the first enterprise solution to integrate social networking, dating, business networking, event management, classified advertising and online clubs into one scalable application.
Simpatico Networks owns and operates six social networking sites and is actively developing more in conjunction with a number of well known marketing partners. Simpatico Networks sites include Expats.com, Christian Connect, Jewish Connection, Buddhist Connect, Catholic Connect, and Simpatico.com. Simpatico Networks sites are the most feature-rich sites of their kind, offering users extensive privacy controls, geographically targeted ads and events, and full control over which members of their network view their personal and professional profiles.
“Social networking software is still in its formative state,” said Strauss Zelnick, founding partner of ZelnickMedia. “Simpatico Networks represents the most innovative and forward thinking in this arena. Their sharp focus on niche markets has huge potential to create new online communities. Their software platform is world class. ”
Pamela Meyer is the founder and CEO of Simpatico Networks. She has over 20 years experience successfully managing media businesses. Her company, Manhattan Studios, which incubated Simpatico Networks, is an Internet management boutique that specializes in raising capital, structuring joint ventures and overseeing new product development and launches for top management of major media enterprises. Manhattan Studios has worked with Prodigy, Bertelsmann, Microsoft, Liberate and many others in this capacity. Before starting Manhattan Studios, Ms. Meyer held executive management positions at National Geographic TV, Electronic Arts and Vestron, where she worked for Mr. Zelnick.
“Simpatico Networks is different from Friendster, MySpace, and LinkedIn,” said Ms. Meyer. “We're focused on existing networks of people with natural affinity. Whether serving members of a religious or ethnic group or users of the same brand, we speak to existing audiences that already want to be in community with one another. We believe this is far more valuable than first generation-based social networking sites that attracted a diffuse community while providing them no meaningful filter for finding like-minded friends or business colleagues.”
Pamela Meyer refers to this as “Social Networking 2.0.” Her vision for Simpatico Networks includes enterprise solutions for corporate alumni networks, employees, association members, and users of the same brand. “Rather than making a cohesive audience go to one site for event planning, another for classifieds and yet another for dating or business networking, we target niches with a user-friendly, unified suite of tools, so there's nowhere else they'd rather be.”
ZelnickMedia (www.zelnickmedia.com) is a partnership of experienced media executives lead by Strauss Zelnick, former CEO of BMG Entertainment and President/COO of 20th Century Fox. The partnership includes Scott Siegler, former President of Sony Tri-Star and Warner Brothers Television, Jim Friedlich, most recently a senior publishing executive with The Wall Street Journal, Ben Feder, who served as an Executive Vice President of News Corporation, and Karl Slatoff, most recently Vice President of New Media at BMG. The partnership owns interests in an array of media enterprises in direct marketing, market research, recorded music, publishing, CD manufacturing, online games, and media-related software, both in the U.S. Europe, and Asia.
Contact: Averia Gaskin – 212-496-0256, press@SimpaticoNetworks.com
Source: Simpatico Networks, Inc.