Jan. 4 — Nearly two years ago, Mercata.com opened its doors, calling itself Paul Allen’s most aggressive bet yet in e-commerce. But even pixie dust from the Microsoft co-founder couldn’t stem the tide of a brutal investing market, and MSNBC.com has learned the company will shut down Jan. 31.
MERCATA LAUNCHED WITH great fanfare in May 1998, armed with a new retail sales concept the firm called “We-commerce.” Like-minded consumers could lump their purchases together in order to get bulk buying discounts from manufacturers — an Internet version of co-op buying.
Although Microsoft co-founder Allen has some 60-odd investments in his “Wired World” portfolio of technology companies, Mercata was special — Allen’s Vulcan Ventures owned 100 percent of the firm.
Want to learn more?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/511375.asp
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-Administrator / Owner
"Everything was true. God was an astronaut. Oz really is over the
rainbow. ...and Midian is where the monsters live." -Nightbreed
MERCATA LAUNCHED WITH great fanfare in May 1998, armed with a new retail sales concept the firm called “We-commerce.” Like-minded consumers could lump their purchases together in order to get bulk buying discounts from manufacturers — an Internet version of co-op buying.
Although Microsoft co-founder Allen has some 60-odd investments in his “Wired World” portfolio of technology companies, Mercata was special — Allen’s Vulcan Ventures owned 100 percent of the firm.
Want to learn more?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/511375.asp
------------------
-Administrator / Owner
"Everything was true. God was an astronaut. Oz really is over the
rainbow. ...and Midian is where the monsters live." -Nightbreed