ThePort CEO Bob Cramer
ATLANTA – ThePort Network started out ten years ago building software and widgets using XML to deliver information to user desktops, but CEO Bob Cramer’s involvement with the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless led him to move the company down another path. He realized that evolving social media could help non-profit organizations engage their members’ shared passions and interests.
The company has raised an additional $500,000 from its current investors, who include Charlotte, NC-based American City Business Journals, publisher of more than 40 regional business journals and other publications. ACBJ also led the company’s previous raise of $4.1 million.
We talked with CEO Cramer about his company a few months ago.
Great place to build a business
A serial entrepreneur, he’s been in the Atlanta tech scene for two decades and his first company, Adam Inc., is now traded on Nasdaq. “Atlanta is a great place to build a business,” Cramer says. “There are a lot of very smart people here, the cost of living is right, you can get space and it’s a nice place to raise a family.”
Cramer believes social media will move from a mass medium in which everyone is on Facebook to more niche communities. “Facebook is good for connecting with old friends, but if you get into serious topics like health, causes, or faith-based, you want to be in a community with other people sharing the same values. That bodes well for ThePort.”
ThePort’s vision
“ThePort’s vision is to create a comprehensive social media platform that helps nonprofit organizations bring together their supporters,” Cramer says.
The company’s clients include CARE, the global humanitarian nonprofit that empowers women worldwide to combat poverty and improve their standards of living. CARE uses a variety of social media tools from ThePort to create a sense of community based on supporter participation as opposed to geographic location, and to encourage donations and advocacy.
Others include The Arthritis Foundation and the Sierra Club.
Its customers are not all issue-oriented or philanthropy organizations. Other customers include The Restaurant Facility Management Association and The American College of Healthcare Executives.
Advice to entrepreneurs
Getting people with shared interests actively involved in an organization has a number of significant effects, says Cramer.
“With ThePort’s Social Media Solutions, we can help members share news and resources online, create more involvement in association events, and introduce new methods for increasing non-dues revenue,” Cramer says. “It expands their brand, helps them acquire and keep members, drives donations and thought leadership.”
The 25-employee company sells its product on a software as a service basis.
We asked Cramer if he had any advice for other entrepreneurs. He says, “Start while you’re young. Take it as far as you can and try to create revenue streams as early as you can. Be persistent. Both of my companies took a long time to develop, especially in this environment where venture money is hard to get.” – By Allan Maurer (allan@techjournalsouth.com)
Online: www.theport.com
Join hundreds of Marketing Professionals and Internet Execs at Atlanta’s premier Digital event – Digital Summit 2012
www.digitalsummit.com
Related Stories:
- ThePort docks $4.1 million round led by American City Business Journals
- Atlanta’s ThePort Network raises $2.8M of $4M financing
- Maryland-based QuTech names Drew Cramer CEO
- MemberHub melds membership managment with collaboration tools
- Five best practices for social customer relationship management
© 2009, TechJournal. All rights reserved.
