Meet Igor Koshutin, Founder of HipStar

Have you ever been carrying a backpack and wished that you had an easier or more versatile way to carry things? HipStar is a hands-free, lightweight travel cart that you can use to carry 80 pounds of gear with you. The cart is also collapsible and designed to be able to roll easily across uneven surfaces. It can be used as a cart, backpack, or bike trailer. Learn more about this innovative product by visiting http://www.artmatrix.us.

Our interview is with Igor Koshutin, founder of HipStar.

1. When you came up with HipStar, who did you imagine would use it?

HipStar is perfect for a wide range of travelers, from those who want to go on a short stroll, to professional mountain climbers. It works well for anyone who needs to comfortably transport heavy items, including tourists, hikers, mountaineers, backpackers, fishermen, foragers, hunters, and golfers.

It can even be used in professional or military contexts to carry important equipment and supplies over unpredictable terrain. For serious mountain hikers and military use, the HipStar comes in a more durable option featuring additional hardware that reinforces the structure and allows for heavier gear to be carried with the same ease and comfort.

2. How is HipStar different from existing backpacks or rolling luggage?

The rolling bags and backpacks currently on the market were designed for use mainly in areas with smooth flooring like airports and railway stations. Meanwhile, many tourists and hikers prefer to use conventional bags and backpacks instead of wheeled bags because the internal frame and wheels take up valuable storage space and add excess weight.

Our product is collapsible and can be easily converted into a backpack to maximize storage space and for those times when you are using stairs or negotiating some sort of terrain where you don't want to use the wheels. It also adjusts for height and angle between frame and handles, depending on the weight of the equipment (reducing the pressure on the body in the place of mounting), allowing you to comfortably pull the cart behind you without feeling strained.

3. How did you get this idea?

The idea came to me while traveling in Europe with my family. Between the three of us, we had one backpack with all of our things. After half a day of walking around, my shoulders were already sore. There was so much to see, but I was only thinking about my heavy bag. I only wished I had a companion who would carry all of our stuff for us and never get tired. No matter where and how you travel, even a light backpack begins to weigh as much as a few bricks. You get tired. You get impatient. You waste half your day dealing with back pain. All because there's no other way to carry your stuff other than on your back. What about seniors or people with back problems? They are even more affected by carrying weight around. Doesn't matter if it's light or heavy. This is why I invented the HipStar.

4. How much does it weigh? You show a strong muscular man using the HipStar, but how about someone smaller, or a senior citizen? ​

It is not heavy at all! Even a "heavy-duty" prototype's frame weighs approx. 10 lbs. We cannot count the weight of the wheels because we used the regular 2.5 lbs. wheels to prove a concept. Furthermore, the product design stage will result in approx. 50% decrease in weight by utilizing new materials and wheels. The total weight of the heavy-duty model with wheels will be no more than 7-8 lbs.

With the HipStar in a CART MODE a cargo weight is close to zero due to CG balancing. With the HipStar in BACKPACK MODE, users will not notice a 7-8% weight difference in a short run, when traveling over more difficult obstacles (rivers, ravines, steps, etc.) or when moving on rough terrain that the cart cannot traverse. Users would need to make their choice--to carry their load on the spine all day long or a bit heavier load just for a few moments to go over some obstacles.

5. What is your estimated retail price?

Our product designers are working on finalizing the design (mechanical development and integration) and pricing for the components. In the first year of operation, production cost will be higher until volumes are up. The light version's estimated retail price will be around $100. The mid and heavy versions should cost $150 and $250 respectively.

Note: The Kickstarter campaign for Hipstar is scheduled to begin in April. If you'd like to learn more and to be notified when the campaign launches, visit hipstar.us/pre-launch.

Thanks, Igor!

Meet Diego Lopez of Underground Technology

Diego Lopez is the president of a startup company called Underground Technology. This company mainly focuses on developing products for motorcycle riders, and one of them is the NightRage Backpack. The NightRage Backpack has integrated lights to help riders be more visible at night or in poor weather conditions. The backpacks are currently available on eBay. Visit the Underground Technology eBay store for more about their products.

1. Why did you decide to start your company, Underground Technology?

Well, ever since I can remember, I have had a passion for motorcycles. I believe that the Isle of Man TT was the event that captured my attention and has defined my life ever since. When I was a teenager I had an idea, an idea that I have fine-tuned since then, and now we call it the NightRage Backpack. I thought to myself: Why not make my passion into something useful to me and others? Just as in the same way you ride a motorcycle, starting your own business gives you a sense of freedom you don't usually get from a 9 to 5 (or a car), and that was my biggest motivation for starting the Underground Technology engine.

2. Would you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the idea for your NightRage backpack?

When I was a teenager I was very much into motorcycles, but I also was constantly reminded by everyone I knew about the dangers of riding, both motorcycles and bicycles. I began to think of ideas to make riding safer, both from a preventive standpoint and from a post-accident situation. It took me some time, but I finally decided on a design and electric layout for the NightRage Backpack.

3. What makes your backpacks so useful for motorcyclists and bicyclists?

Nations across the globe are becoming more environmentally conscious and adopting bicycles, one passenger electric vehicles, and even motorcycles as means of transportation to get to work and to run errands; these riders need something that allows them to carry all their personal items with them. Why not combine safety, functionality, and style into one multi-purpose product?

The NightRage backpack has integrated electro light panels which increase the visibility of the rider as far as a half a mile away, and it's also made out of a lightweight hard shell composite to help minimize any damage to the rider and personal items if an accident ever occurs. This backpack with lights also has a padded sleeve for 16-inch laptops, an extra sleeve for tablets, multiple pockets for smaller items, three zippered pockets inside, and enough room to fit a large watermelon in case you ever have to ride to the supermarket to buy one.

4. When it comes to designing a product, how do you make sure that safety is a priority, while also keeping functionality and the look of the product in mind?

I truly believe that functionality, safety, and looks always go hand in hand when designing a product. When designing a product with electro panels, safety is simply a byproduct of the design, or design is a byproduct of the safety element. (They are the same thing.) Another example might be aerodynamics; aerodynamics create sharp shapes and creases that are interesting to the viewer, and the design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

5. How do you hope to grow your company over the next year or so?

There are many things in the works, from our marketing and advertising campaigns to the development of new products, things that I cannot say much about. But one of our biggest milestones at Underground Technology will be the launch of our web store. We are expecting that by the end 2015 we will have it up and running, ready for our current loyal customers and welcoming new ones. One thing is for sure: this is just the beginning.

Thanks, Diego!

Introducing Handshakin.com, a Community for Entrepreneurs

If you're a new entrepreneur, where do you start? How do you find out the useful big and small pieces of information that can help your business grow and succeed? Well, if you're based in Colorado, you're in luck because you can turn to Handshakin.com, an entrepreneurial community that helps new business owners connect with experts and mentors.

The Handshakin site is run by Matt (Handshakin) Holmes. He earned an MBA in 2012 and is the founder of Holmes Real Estate Group, a real estate investment company that, in the words of the bio on his website, "funds his passion for helping startups and entrepreneurs."

By the way, you don't have to be in Colorado to learn from the resources of the Handshakin community. There is a great (and free!) library of videos on their website. These videos feature interviews with successful business owners in Colorado. So far, the videos include people from a variety of industries, from a physician/investor to an artist/entrepreneur.

If you're local to the Denver area, you can join the Startup Denver Meetup to connect in person with other businesspeople. Other local events include mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs to help you meet people who have found success as independent business owners.

For business tips every day and to find out about the latest local Handshakin events, you can like the Handshakin Holmes Facebook page.

Meet Sultan Moni, Entrepreneur and CEO of Central Dominion

Sultan Moni is a Toronto-based entrepreneur, investor, start-up consultant, and public speaker. Starting at a very young age, Sultan launched number of ventures in various industries. He is currently the CEO and founder of Central Dominion, a company that works with entrepreneurs and helps them materialize their goals by providing the resources they need to launch their business.

1. As a teenager (and younger!), what motivated you to start your own business projects?

I grew up in a business family, so I always had that business environment around me. But what got me started at a young age was my parents' denial of letting me do things I want to do. I had expensive dreams; I wanted to help the poor, change the world, just like any normal kid. And whenever I tried reaching out for those, money became a problem, so I started studying rich people and figured out all the top rich people in the world are either business owners or investors. That's what got me started in this entrepreneurial journey.

2. How did you learn to be successful as an entrepreneur, and how much of what you learned was self-taught?

Business was always in me; my dad is a successful businessman. I used to help him with his work once in a while, and that taught me the basics. Other than that, most of it was self-taught. I just jumped in without much knowledge, and learned the most of it while managing a business. Experience is the best knowledge. I guess when you're hungry for success, you just find your way out.

3. You have a very unique way of handling your business. You tend to be friends with your clients rather than just making it a business deal. Why is that?

I am a relationship-oriented manager. Let's say you want to buy a new laptop; now if your friend or family member owns a laptop store, you would most likely purchase it from there. Because you know the seller personally, you trust the seller and know you won't get ripped off. That's why I don't look at my clients as just another business deal; I look at them as friends. That way they feel secure, and I gain their trust.

4. What's your best advice to someone who has never started a business before, wants to get started, but maybe feels a bit apprehensive?

Get rid off all the absurdity you have in your head as to why you can't succeed. There will always be drawbacks and weakness in every step. It's good to figure out the drawbacks, but don't let that demotivate you or be the reason why you never started. Turn your setbacks to your comebacks.

5. What are your plans for Central Dominion in 2015?

Our main focus this year is to make starting a business easy as ordering a pizza. We are developing an interactive platform, which will allow entrepreneurs to launch their business by just clicking a few buttons on their keyboard without stepping out of their home. We are trying to introduce the "ordering the pizza" concept to this. The clients choose the package or customize their own package based on what they need and we deliver it right to their doorstep hot and ready just like pizza. Also, it's affordable. We partnered up with some pioneers in the industry to provide our clients a paramount service for an affordable price.

Thanks, Sultan!

Meet Kereen Henry, Entrepreneur, Consultant, and CEO of The EntreMarketing Group

Kereen Henry is the CEO of The EntreMarketing Group, a company which focuses on helping women succeed in business. She has a true passion for helping women start new business ventures and make them successful. As a professional marketing consultant, Kereen has a true knack for helping business women build their brands.

1. What is the goal or purpose of The EntreMarketing Group?

The purpose of The EntreMarketing Group is to help women build successful businesses while balancing their lives. Many of us are mothers and wives. We work full time and still try to make extra income on the side. Juggling all of this is overwhelming, and that's where we come in. We will blog for you, update your website, post via social media--basically we provide all the services that are important but time-consuming. Our work helps women reach a broader audience and stay relevant, which in turn increases their return on investment.

2. How did your own success with real estate inspire you to start The EntreMarketing Group?

Real estate provided me the capital to be able to start The EntreMarketing Group without having to obtain a loan.

3. Why is web marketing so important, and what are some of the activities that are included in "web marketing"?

Web marketing is now more important than ever because statistics show that majority of consumers browse online before going to a store to buy anything. By being able to market and educate your audience online efficiently, you will be able to capitalize on these potential customers who browse before they shop. Some of the activities that are considered as "Web Marketing" are Social Media Marketing, Mobile Marketing, and Content Marketing.

4. How can a PR firm help individuals and businesses in ways that might be more powerful than someone doing their own PR?

Most women entering a business are already overwhelmed with the many facets of running a business, and a PR firm allows them the time to concentrate on internal operations while outsourcing marketing objectives to a company who has the know-how and connections to successfully reach their target market. The majority of corporations engage in this process of outsourcing their PR to a company that concentrates in this arena. We at The Entremarketing Group provide the resources of big business PR & marketing, for women starting a business.

5. As someone who started her own company, do you feel this puts you in a unique position in terms of being able to assist other women entrepreneurs to reach their goals?

Definitely, because not only was I a marketing major in college, but I have experienced my own success and failures. These experiences have given me the knowledge to assist other women starting a business.

Thanks, Kereen!

Introducing The Small Business Loan Store

The Small Business Loan Store is a company which functions in the role of a business consultant to help entrepreneurs who are looking for funding of up to $200,000 unsecured, with no asset, income, and job verification. Since 2007, they have been working to help not only existing businesses but also startups. In 2011, they raised $40 million in funding, and they have continued to see their clients find more and more funding opportunities.

Basically, if your company is in need of funding, you can submit your information to the Small Business Loan Store, and they will review the details of your situation and let you know about the different lending options which are available to you. In other words, they do a lot of research on your behalf so that you don't have to spend your time calling banks, credit providers, etc.

They also have experts who can consult with you on topics such as crowdfunding and angel investors. In short, they love partnering with small businesses, and they invite small business owners to receive the benefit of their years of experience working with thousands of clients to fund a wide variety of projects. They have a staff of lawyers and MBAs who are ready to put their heads together about your business.

To learn more about the Small Business Loan Store, check out their FAQ page. Just browsing their site is a great way to start thinking about different ways to fund your business idea.

Meet John Teevan, Blogger and Founder of SoshiTech

In 2011, John Teevan founded SoshiTech from a small town in Minnesota. Focusing on quality blog content and social networking, the site received just under three million hits in 2013 and has appeared in such publications as Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Sacramento Bee. John currently divides his time between California, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and St. Louis.

1. What inspired you to start SoshiTech--and how is it like (and unlike!) other blogs?

The technology, blogging, and internet industry in general inspired me to start SoshiTech. It is similar to other blogs in the way it covers certain areas of technology and startups. It is unlike other blogs in that SoshiTech covers a wide variety of topics such as social networking and search engine optimization.

2. Could you tell us a little more about the role that education plays in SoshiTech?

SoshiTech plans to educate people about what is happening in the technology and internet industry right now. Once you visit SoshiTech.com, you will have left the blog with more knowledge than when you first came in with. We try to provide resources that people will utilize in their everyday lives.

3. How do you find contributors for your site?

Contributors will usually contact us through an email with a few writing samples. Once their work is submitted, we will look it over for grammatical errors and publish it as soon as possible. Other contributors are already integrated into our system, and they publish their own posts as they please without having a member of our staff look over the original draft.

4. As a reader yourself, what topics do you personally find engaging?

Personally, I find some of these social networking websites to be pretty interesting. I also really enjoy reading business and finance sections as well. Search engine optimization is a topic which I am currently trying to learn more about.

5. What's your advice to bloggers who hope to learn from your example and expand their own readership?

My advice would be to focus on creating killer content, and everything else will fall into place. It is hard to be ignored when your content is good. Also, social media is a great way to increase your readership without having to spend a ton of money.

Thanks, John!

Introducing Cartrell General Merchandising

I'm always interested in seeing how different entrepreneurs reach out to customers in different ways online. Cartrell General is a unique site which offers a variety of items in limited quantities. It's a great site to find creative gift items, and every time you visit, you're going to find something new.

The store was founded by a married mother of one who works full time in higher education. The founder also enjoys travel, shopping, history, nature, and antiques. Her diverse interests are a big plus to building a site with an interesting repertoire of products!

Here are a few examples of products I noticed on a recent visit to the site. First of all, there are customized towel cakes, made to the specifications of each individual buyer.

These are creative and colorful and would be a one of a kind addition to a party. Personally, I like the idea of taking a "cake" and turning it into a lasting gift item, especially for recipients who might not want to indulge in all the calories in a traditional cake!

Cartrell General also offers clothing items for men, women, and juniors, including a nice line of plus-sized items. A couple of standout items are the ladies' sandal and jacket pictured below.

To see more of the shoes currently featured on Cartrell General, click here.

And click here to see all the different collections of products on the site.

One other refreshing feature of this business is that Cartrell General offers layaway payments. I remember my mom buying our winter coats on layaway when I was a child, and I'm glad to see a retailer reviving this helpful practice.

In short, Cartrell General Merchandising is a start-up business with a lot of heart, so I hope you'll stop by the site and browse the selection of hand-picked products.

Meet Jay Soriano, Entrepreneur

Jay Soriano is a serial entrepreneur and founder of SorianoMedia. He has consulted for various companies in Las Vegas including technology startups and small and medium sized businesses.

Jay Soriano's work has been featured by ABC, Startup America, Under30CEO and various technology publications.

1. What is the focus of your company, SorianoMedia?

I started SorianoMedia in frustration with other consulting companies in Las Vegas. I've watched too many local businesses get burned by bad web designers, unscrupulous SEO consultants, and exorbitant ad agencies that I thought I needed to start up a company that actually helps local businesses at a rate they can afford. I do this by staying small; I much prefer the relationship of a boutique marketing firm, rather than the firm with hundreds of clients in its portfolio, most of which are assigned to project managers.

2. Would you tell us a little bit about how you bring your own experience as an entrepreneur to your work with clients, especially in terms of providing them with an "investment" rather than a "cost"?

Great question! If you're a local business and you hire a web designer, that's a cost. Ongoing web development does little to increasing ROI, and if you're not A/B testing--you could be hurting your ROI. Conversely, I focus on helping clients generate a ROI through digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). Thus, money that they spend with me isn't a cost--it's an investment.

3. How long have you been living in Las Vegas, and what do you like about the area as a home/business base?

I actually just moved to Las Vegas about two years ago inspired by the growing entrepreneurial scene (#VegasTech). If you've never been here, or even if you have--Vegas is so much more that the Strip. It's not for everyone, but for some it's everything. Vegas is always growing, always evolving.

4. When it comes to indie businesspeople who want to expand their web presence, what are some things that people can do themselves, and what are some things that tend to require some additional help?

I turn down a lot of people who approach me for consulting, especially those on a budget. Instead I advise them of a lot of things they can do themselves, and when they reach a plateau, that's when they can talk to me. For example, I was recently approached by a realtor, who wanted to rank for the search term "realtor Las Vegas."

First off, you shouldn't care about rankings: you really want revenue. What she REALLY wants is more clients, and she thinks ranking for that term is synonymous with more clients. Well, that's an extremely competitive niche, especially in Las Vegas. And people searching for that term are more in a discovery phase, as opposed to people searching for "What are the safest neighborhoods in Las Vegas." The latter is known as a long tail phrase; it's a lot easier to rank for, and you're reaching people who are further along in the home buying process. From there, you can talk about a specific townhome community within one of the safest neighborhoods.

So the #1 thing indie businesspeople can do to expand their web presence is to create content that is useful to their market.

5. If you could give just three pieces of advice to someone who has always wanted to start a business but has never acted on their interests, what would you say?

1. Starting a business doesn't have to mean risking everything. Don't start the next Facebook; make your first $1 before trying to make $1 billion.

2. Connect with like-minded people, other entrepreneurs, others that have been successful in the niche you want to be in, etc. Cut out the people distracting you from your goals.

3. Utilize free advertising. Google ads, Twitter and Facebook ads all offer free advertising that startups can take advantage of. Use this to test the demand of your product or service.

Thanks, Jay!

Growth Hacking with Social Empire

"Growth hacking" is one of those terms that you may not have heard before, but the idea will make sense right away. It refers to the practice of thinking creatively and being open to trying different strategies to quickly and effectively start and grow a business. Mark Middo, the founder of Social Empire and the author of a book called 5 Minute Business, shares a variety of ideas (or growth hacks) which help you, in his words, "unconventional marketing techniques to get your product or service in front of thousands (if not millions) of people."

Based in Melbourne, Australia but with contacts all over the globe, Mark and his colleagues give away lots of great tips on the Social Empire website, with posts covering such topics as quickly building your following on Twitter, learning how to successfully promote events on Facebook, and finding the best freelancers through oDesk to help complete tasks that you need to outsource for your new business. In addition to the website itself, you can get more tips each week through the free Social Empire newsletter.

I used to think it took a lot of capital to be an independent entrepreneur and create a startup business, but with the internet, you can reach a lot of people quickly and inexpensively and get the word out about your product or service without spending money on a storefront--or even on postage. Many of the best and most current ideas about indie business are available online, directly from people who are putting those same ideas into practice right now for their own businesses. It's always great to find another website where the free sharing of creative business ideas is actively encouraged!

A New Invention for Public Restrooms

Public restrooms are one of those helpful yet infrequently discussed necessities of the world. I mean, why would you want to initiate a conversation about restrooms? To take that idea a bit farther, upon leaving a public restroom, how hard is it to actually say something to a coworker or business acquaintance or a stranger, even when you might want to give someone a polite warning to "wait a moment before entering"? I'd say it's one of those situations where people just pretend it isn't happening, and that doesn't spare anyone any embarrassment.

A Swedish company called Ixbari Solutions has come up with an invention called WC-Avoider that allows people to discreetly notify others to avoid a "recently used" restroom. We've all seen the indicators on restroom doors that indicate "Vacant" or "Occupied." The WC-Avoider offers a third setting, "Recently Used."

Upon exiting a restroom, a person would have the option of pressing a button or turning a handle inside the restroom door to activate the "Recently Used" setting, thus avoiding the situation of either making an awkward announcement or simply ignoring the issue.

While this invention could be used in public restrooms in all sorts of settings, I think it could be especially useful in the workplace. People spend more and more time working at all hours, and this invention helps restore a little more of a sense of privacy among coworkers.

An Introduction to TrueGether

When it comes to buying and selling online, a lot of people are always interested in finding credible alternatives to eBay. For buyers, they want (of course!) to find the best price as well as a reliable and secure transaction. For sellers--especially those who rely on income from their online sales--it can be helpful to diversify and reach out to customer through multiple platforms rather than putting all their eggs in one basket.

Enter TrueGether, a startup company looking to change the landscape of online transactions by offering a system that is easy to use, secure, and free. That's right: TrueGether charges no fees, which means no listing fees and no transaction fees.

When I asked how TrueGether can afford its fee-free system, they explained that they are developing a release which will allow managing multiple marketplaces from TrueGether. This will be a subscription based feature, and they hope it will generate sufficient revenue for the site. Personally, I can see how this would be a desirable feature for sellers who wish to list items on multiple marketplaces.

TrueGether also distinguishes itself by leveraging social media to build trust in between buyers and sellers, who log in with their Facebook or LinkedIn accounts. In addition, TrueGether adds products to Google shopping for free: when sellers add products to TrueGether, the system automatically adds the same products to Google Shopping.

As someone who regularly uses eBay and Etsy, I look forward to following the development of this new site!

Meet Dion of Ackwired

Ackwired is a web startup marketplace where users can buy and sell established online businesses. Ackwired functions as an aggregator and an easy to use self-listing platform. Keep up with the company's latest news by following their Twitter feed.

1. What is the main purpose of Ackwired, and what inspired you to start it?

There are hundreds of millions of websites in the world, and as you would expect, there is an upwards trend towards businesses and individuals wanting to sell or acquire these websites. Being an end user of the current marketplaces that allow you to buy and sell websites, it was extremely time-consuming to find quality listings. As a user you had to spend huge amounts of time filtering through hundreds of over-priced, uninteresting, and fake listings just to find those few hidden gems.

It was then the idea of "Ackwired" was born.

We launched with the vision of providing our users (who are investors, entrepreneurs, and developers) with a marketplace that the lists only the most exciting websites and startups currently on the market.

2. Could you describe the curated experience provided by Ackwired and how this distinguishes it from other venues for buying and selling websites?

Providing quality listings to our users is our number one objective. We have developed a web crawler that searches through the internet to find all of the most interesting websites based on a variety of metrics including traffic, industry, activity, profitability, and pricing. Then, what differentiates Ackwired from its competitors is that every listing is reviewed, enhanced, and then approved by a real human being.

Obviously we also provide users with a platform to list their website for sale directly on Ackwired--however, we focus on established websites or exciting web startups. All of these listings go through the same review process. We work with business on copywriting and imagery to really promote their listing on Ackwired.

There is no other platform in the market that currently provides this kind of service.

3. What are some tips you recommend to people who want to establish a strong website to be able to sell it on your site?

We look for a range of criteria which can include the following.

--The length of time your website has been established for. We are looking for at least 12 months of operation.
--Do you have a quality engaged user base?
--We love bespoke websites that offer an innovative solution to a problem.
--We like websites that have a great idea, but maybe haven't been marketed to the best of their ability; they offer our buyers with some great opportunities.

We have recently written a blog post that dives into this subject in more detail.

4. Do you find that people have any misconceptions about buying and selling domains?

It's a big business as the value of a domain always goes up due to the ever-increasing demand for domains. It is a lot harder now, but buying a domain, placing some ads, and sitting on it for a few years before flipping it, used to be a great way to make money.

But if you are a serious entrepreneur, investing in a domain, building a website, and establishing a profitable business will return far greater results financially in the long run. It is a lot harder to do--and not everyone has the motivation and skills to do it.

At Ackwired we list very few domains for sale. We believe true value is in an established website with a proven or potentially viable business and revenue model. The existing marketplace for buying and selling purely domains is really cluttered at the moment. We believe the internet should be about quality websites providing quality information to its users; selling domains goes against what our company currently stands for.

5. What are your goals for the future of Ackwired, both in terms of developing your business and being able to give charitable contributions to organizations like Oxfam?

We have so many new features on the roadmap for Ackwired: it's a matter of researching the most valuable to our users and pushing them out. It's going to be a very exciting year for us. Some of our upcoming projects include multilingual support, private listings, as well as a specialized section for smart phone apps. We are also looking to sponsor a few web startup events around the world.

As our business grows, we hope to be able to raise awareness about the charities we support, and obviously continue to increase the donations we can make. We have a few incentive programs in the pipeline as well, to get more of our community on board in the not too distant future.

Thanks, Dion!