CATEGORIES
- WEB STARTUPS
- CONFERENCES
- WEB JOBS
- MICROSOFT
- INTERVIEWS
- VIDEO
- AMAZON
- ALL TOPICS
CONTRIBUTORS
Girl Ambition Opens to the Public; Our Interview With Co-Founder Hilary DeCesare
Earlier this week I sat down with Girl Ambition co-founder Hilary DeCesare. The service is launching to the public today and I was able to capture our interview on video below. Hilary describes the service as, “Girl Ambition includes an inspirational online show, games, contests and other activities that promote self-esteem and teach on-line safety”. The real goal is to help tween girls (ages 9-13) feel better about themselves.
The site also offers video hosting and chat/IM. In our discussion, we talk about what makes Girl Ambition different than Club Penguin, what about boys?, how the email service works and online safety. The site also offers information for parents. I wonder if they should explore creating a desktop/Adobe Air application that could make sure the child can’t get out to the full Internet and only live within the Girl Ambition service.
Hilary also noted that MySpace deletes 25,000 profiles a day due to underage use.
Girl Ambition is launching with a multi-faceted business model. Account access is $4.95/month and they also are partnering with a variety of companies on content and sponsorships. I think there’s also a great opportunity for brands to leverage the community for focus groups and product learnings. The company is looking to raise a round of funding currently.
We covered the launch of another niche community last summer named SavvyAuntie. Both SavvyAuntie and Girl Ambition have business models and communities that are supportive and encourage heavy usage. Perhaps Hilary and SavvyAuntie founder Melanie Notkin should partner as there could be some good crossover traffic.
apologies for the sound, the cafe was quiet before we started then the staff decided to prepare for lunch!
It is great that you cover companies with real business models and not just silly twitter fart applications – i do not have any kids but will pass it around to my friends with girls.
I like the idea – but I’m stuck on the “account access” fee.
First, you have the challenge of pulling your demographic away from facebook/myspace and onto girlambition (or just onto a social network in the first place). Then second, you have the challenge of getting them to pay. I would think tackling the first would be tough enough – have you considered offering free accounts with a charge for expanded features, e.g. email, video sharing, IM, etc.? Or is there a way to import your already established facebook/myspace account onto girlambition, with a message sent to all “friends” in those networks letting them know of your move?
Also, will parents be able to have an account (they can on facebook/myspace)? And what happens when one turns 13 – do they graduate to new features, can they make friends with boys?
Great point about 25,000 accounts a day being shut down because of age, but my guess is that there’s the same amount set up in a month with false age (probably from the one’s that were shut down) – but if you can reach that market, and convince them of your network, you’ll be onto something.
Best of luck with the lunch.