Business & Professional ENTREPRENEUR e-Commerce Three young professionals look to the Internet for their livelihoods. Art Aisner Special to the Jewish News T he .com bubble burst nearly a decade ago, but you wouldn't know it talking to some local entrepreneurs who are building start-up businesses by fusing the power of inge- nuity with the Internet. From professional networking to scrap booking, to improving how and when we listen to music, they are find- ing niches in existing markets and are among a growing group of small busi- nesses capitalizing on the Internet's speed and connectivity. For Michael Fleischmann, owner of Southfield-based Voxit LLC, going to the Web was a no-brainer. His idea for a Web page that combined the best attri- butes of existing social and business networking sites developed while surf- ing for something like it, in frustration. "I was using the Internet and I came across a lot of real and unfilled gaps out there said Fleischmann, 25. "I looked for one place where I could stay con- nected to my friends, talk about issues of the day, organize my busy schedule. I couldn't find one:' Using his knowledge of computers and a little inspiration from co-founder Chuck Donnelley, his cousin and busi- ness professor at UCLA, Fleischmann created www.Vreebit.com. His skills, cultivated since his early teen years while attending Andover High School in Bloomfield Hills, developed the first site that combines social networking tools with a business framework for tech- savvy professionals. Members of the free site can share photos, links and status updates while also searching for jobs, maintaining contact lists and networking for clients. And it's all available through a user- friendly site protected by patent-pend- ing security technology. The site launched in September and has already attracted members from more than 50 countries, Fleischmann said. The Web site is also unique by rewarding members for adding new contacts or referring new members, with "VreeBees," a virtual currency. Fleischmann said the company just unveiled its "Leaping For" program, which rewards local non-profit organi- zations of a user's choice by converting 24 February 4 • 2010 JN VreeBees to cash donations based on that person's on-line activities. Jake Sigal is also bringing his innova- tions in digital radio and sound to the marketplace with his Ferndale-based company Myine Electronics — myine. com. Though only 27, he's developed more than a dozen successful products, includ- ing devices for XM Satellite Radio, and the original USB turntable — which converts vinyl records to digital formats. On his own since 2008, the former Delphi engineer just launched his latest brainchild, the Ira wireless Internet radio adaptor. The device works with a wireless Internet connection to play free digital music anywhere in the world without needing a computer. He goal is to make the experience of listening to one's favorite music as convenient and enjoyable as possible. His target audience is Baby Boomers who are busy and don't necessarily want to master every particular application a product has to offer, but want the advantages of using the technology. "This is not electronics for dummies, but I found a problem in the market and I looked at how to bring them [users] into the technology without having to have an engineering degree said Sigal, a native of Columbus, Ohio. Hit commitment to making it all available on the Internet is a given. "People understand that they can go to the Internet and not have to pay retail margins that are usually four to five times higher that are in the store he said. "In this economy, everyone wants a good deal:' Low prices on brand-name products are what Robb Lippitt of Bloomfield Hills believes will draw people looking for a cheaper way to memorialize their price- less memories to www.scrapbuck.com . The site offers roughly 3,000 items from names brands in the market and sells more than 1,500 products for just $1. "People love this hobby [scrapbook- ing], are passionate about it, but it has become so expensive said Lippitt, 41. "Even at these much lower prices our margins are still sufficient to allow us to create a successful business model:' It also helps that business partner Leonard Zucker of Huntington Woods has longstanding relationships with close-out distributors and spent a career Michael Fleischmann: "l believe that long-term viability is contingent upon delivering a service of real value and utility, not just marketing hype." Jake Sigal: "The key to making a product successful is to go build a prototype and figure out what makes it unique." Robb Lippitt: "We believe that any business that has solid fundamentals, strong margin and fills a true customer need is as sexy as business gets." finding products that are priced dis- proportionately to their value. Zucker, known locally for founding the 1/2 Off Card Shop, was working as a manufac- turer's representative for a scrapbooking company when he contacted Lippitt. They realized a tremendous opportu- nity awaited the first business to offer consumers lower prices on premium quality scrapbooking materials. Lippitt said he provided the Internet and tech- nological component of the business. Part of their strategy is to build a scrapbooking Internet community that will not only build a customer base, but also market itself to scrapbookers either frustrated by the strip-mall stores or looking for the convenience and savings of shopping on-line. Like Fleischmann and Sigal, if Lippitt fears another "bubble burst" coming, he's not showing it. "What the bubble burst taught me is that only real, solid businesses sur- vive and grow:' he said. "You have to be focused on building a business from the ground up. Anything that is all smoke and mirrors, even if it draws attention for a while, won't last:' ❑ Jimmy Wolk stars in Front of the Class. Actor Discusses Disabilities Film Actor Jimmy Wolk will make a pre- sentation at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, followed by a 2 p.m. screening of the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Front of the Class. In the film, based on a true story, Wolk plays Brad Cohen, a young man diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome who became a successful teacher, motivational speaker and author. Wolk is a native of Farmington Hills and a graduate of North Farmington High School and the University of Michigan. He just completed a film, You Again, with actress Kristen Bell. The presentation of Front of the Class is sponsored by Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education's Opening the Doors Program as part of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month. A dessert reception with Wolk will fol- low. Cost is $5 per family at the door or pre-register by calling (248) 642- 4260 ext. 533. Job Seeker Session People seeking employment are invit- ed to attend the first JVS "J Seekers Strategy Session." It is free, open to the public and held 9:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday at the Jewish Community Center,15110 W.10 Mile, Oak Park. The meeting helps job seekers obtain leads, make connections and hone networking skills. Participants will also receive valuable advice from experts on resume writing, interview- ing, recruiting and emerging jobs. For information, contact Karen Gutman, (248) 233-4248 or kgutman@jvsdet.org .