StoryToppers.com

Storytoppers is an online storytelling community that provides cash incentives for the best submissions by utilizing a unique rating system.

  • Stage Prototype Ready
  • Industry Internet / Web Services
  • Location Palo Alto, CA, USA
  • Currency USD
  • Employees 3
  • Website storytoppers.com

Company Summary

StoryToppers has created and patented an online community for hosting storytelling contests (including video and corporate-sponsored contests) for social media users. StoryToppers also will give our users the opportunity to submit ideas for contests they would like to see. We utilize the APIs of existing social media sites to drive user growth and revenue. Our team consists of seasoned internet professionals, developers, and financial experts.

Team

  • Scott O'Brien
    Chief Executive Officer

    Scott has been involved with strategic positioning for Internet advertisers and publishers since co-founding XS Media in 1994. Scott's clients include ValueClick, CPX, Freelotto, GM, and Ford. Previously, Scott was a top Sales Executive at CPX and managed the automobile vertical sales business. Scott's job prior to CPX was Vice President of Strategy at Ward Media where he built and led the search division. Scott received his BA from Arizona State

  • William Taylor IV
    Chief Operating Officer

    William Taylor worked as a Sales Representative, Service manager and Project Manager in the high purity water industry for 8 years with US Filter, Vivendi Environmental and Siemens. William also worked as an advisor with HB United, an Internet consulting business. William received a BS in Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

  • Craig McGuinn
    Chief Marketing Officer

    Prior to joining StoryToppers.com, Craig was the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for XL Marketing Corp. and the COO of Ward Media. At Ward he drove revenue to three-fold growth over two successive years. Previously, Craig was Senior Account Manager at Venture Direct Worldwide, Vice President of Westrock Advisors and COO of The Thornwater Company. Mr. McGuinn holds a BS in Finance from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State.

  • Ethan Straffin
    Chief Technical Officer

    Prior to joining StoryToppers.com, Ethan was a systems software developer at Stanford University HighWire Press. Before joining HighWire, he was a Quality Assurance and Support Engineer at NeXT Computer, Inc. He holds BS and MS CS degrees from Stanford University.

  • Wayne Li
    Director of Design

    A renowned graphic and user interface designer and instructor, Wayne's current work with Pottery Barn continues to push interaction and substance in stylish home design. Wayne also teaches a design class at Stanford University and Georgia Tech. His design career includes stints with IDEO Product Development, Design Edge and Ford Motor Company. Wayne holds an MS in Product Design from Stanford University.

  • Alexander Colley
    Financial Advisor

    Prior to joining Kaufman Bros., Alexander was an associate in Gilford Securities', he was responsible for evaluating, structuring and executing public and private technology sector transactions for the company's merger and acquisition business. Previously, Alexander was an analyst in the merchant banking group at MBF Capital Corp., where he worked on principal investment transactions and advised to the technology and communications industries.

  • Thomas Madson
    Educational Advisor

    Thomas has worked in education and social services for 20 years as an educator, psychologist, principal, and founder of the East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy High School in East Palo Alto, CA. The schools and organizations he has worked with have been funded and supported by several foundations and institutions including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Schwab Foundation, and Stanford University.

Advisors

  • WilmerHale (corp) and Blakely Sokloff Taylor and Zafman (IP)
    Lawyer
    Unconfirmed

Previous Investors

  • Craig McGuinn
    Unconfirmed
    Ethan Straffin
    Unconfirmed
    Michael Bernadicou
    Unconfirmed

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