3 New Ways to Connect With Content That Interests You


The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Each weekend, Mashable selects startups we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.

This week, we chose three startups that are helping to tailor content in a di! gital en vironment that has become over-saturated with information.

BetaBait connects startups with early adopters who love trying new products and apps. Subjot is a social network in which you follow topics rather than people. Movable Ink is adding dynamic graphic elements to emails, helping your message stand out in a flat inbox.

BetaBait: Connecting Startups With Early Adopters

Quick Pitch: BetaBait connects startups with their target group of beta users, who love to test new apps and products.

Genius Idea: Connecting eager users with exciting new products.

Mashables Take: BetaBaits daily email service makes it easy for startups to find consumers and professional early adopters. Both the consumers and the startups get what they want, so the service is mutually beneficial.

In each daily email blast, BetaBait profiles new apps, businesses, social networking tools and educational resources that early adopters can get their hands on.

Since BetaBaits recent launch, it has amassed more than 500 beta users and 100 startup partners. The startups featured have reported dozens of new users after theyve entered a partnership with BetaBait.

The startups main source of revenue is currently startup sponsorships for its daily emails. Each email blast offers one startup sponsor the top section of the email body, ensuring their content is the first thing the community reads.

Subjot: Follow the Topics You Care About

subjot

Quick Pitch: Subjot is a social network that lets you follow peoples topics, rather than everything they sa! y.

Genius Idea: Fine tuning just the content you want to see.

Mashables Take: You know when you only care about half of the tweets sent by someone you follow on Twitter? Say they have great taste in music, but you couldnt care less about their thoughts on sports. Subjot can help. On this new social network you only follow the subjects that interest you from the people you follow.

You use it just like Twitter post about whatever youd like but your followers will only see posts about the subjects theyve chosen to follow. You also dont need to follow everyone who follows you. You get a bit more space to jot your thoughts than you do on Twitter: 250 characters to be exact.

You can share links, photos, videos and engage in conversations on the nascent social network.

Movable Ink: Brings Your Emails to Life

Quick Pitch: Movable Ink adds elements that update live to otherwise flat emails.

Genius Idea: Creating emails that stand out from a dull inbox.

Mashables Take: Most people today are victims of the too-many-emails bug. Thats why products, like Movable Ink, that make emails a little more interesting are so important. Movable Ink is great because it lets you add countdown timers, live tweets, maps and content from any webpage to your companys blasts.

How it works is the company inserts tidbits of code into email bodies, which add vibrant elements that strengthen messages content.

According to the startups website, people read 75 emails a day. Movable Ink wants to make its enhanced emails the most engaging and compelling on the Web.

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, izusek

Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark

Microsoft BizSpark

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

More About: betabait, bizspark, startup, startup weekend roundip, subjot

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