Amazon Announces Easier, Eco-Friendly Packaging Effort.

When I hopped over to Amazon.com today to pick up a copy of Visio, I was surprised to see this holiday-ready announcement: Amazon is working directly with manufacturers such as Fisher-Price to develop "Frustration-Free Packaging." This means no plastic clamshells, no wire ties, no molded plastic holders. Just a few simple recyclable cardboard bits.

I've been waiting for one of the online retailers to make this move. (Yes, it's true: I have an unseemly fascination with supply chain management. Thanks, Professor Whang!) Unfriendly packaging has two primary goals: exposing the product for appealing store merchandising (you can see the Barbie on the shelf), and reducing shrinkage (impossible to get the DVD out of the clamshell so you can slide it in your pocket). As a retailer that sells exclusively online, Amazon doesn't have either of these requirements. Photos of the product supersede photos of the box, and the average Joe can't steal a copy of Batman Begins from Amazon's warehouse shelf.

I'm reminded of how Wal-Mart used its clout to drive electronicinventory systems and just-in-time manufacturing and shipping throughits own channel. Now that Amazon has become such a large piece of most consumer product manufacturers' supply chains, it can use its channel clout to drive changes that save money throughout the manufacturer-distributor-retailer ecosystem, enable some positive PR with consumers, and even throw a bone to the environment by reducing waste. Kudos to Amazon for swinging its big stick to benefit all of us.

John Doerr's 11 Tips to Help Survive the Downturn.

As crisply shared by John Doerr at today's Web 2.0 Summit...requiring no embellishment:

1. Don't take a meat cleaver to the core of your business; use a scalpel when making changes.
2. Cut once, and cut deeper than you need to.
3. Keep 18 months of cash flow, being conservative on cash flow from revenue.
4. Defer facilities expansion – don’t spend money on tech or physical expansions.
5. Reevaluate R&D priorities.
6. Renegotiate all contracts that you have, even leases.
7. Remember that everyone in the company needs to be selling the value proposition.
8. Offer people equity instead of cash – e.g., equity bonuses.
9. Secure the cash with things like government-backed securities.
10. Figure out what the leading indicators are for your business so that you can react quickly when things don’t turn out.
11. Communicate honestly with everyone, including all employees, and don’t sugarcoat things.

"Easy" enough, yes?

Green Data Rules at Web 2.0 Summit Launch Pad. Today's Web 2.0 Summit Launch Pad revealed the new trendy areas for Web-based startups: "green" data (Carbonetworks, GoodGuide, and Sungevity) and enhancing visual content (Everyscape and Qik). The audience ranked GoodGuide #1 from the presenters, but I preferred Carbonetworks because of my sneaking sense that commercial emissions management will be strongly encouraged, if not mandated, given the recent changes in political power.

See below for my snapshot reviews, roughly in order of personal preference:

Carbonetworks. The company's software platform helps business to create carbon emissions strategies - even worldwide, as needed. Companies can create an 'emissions inventory' and manage those items as assets and liabilities. The platform replaces expensive energy strategy consultants, and is a good first line of defense against changing government regulation while providing insight into potential business savings. I worry about adoption as well as the size and shape of their target custmer segment, but Carbonetworks is funded and has already started signing up paying clients.

GoodGuide provides comprehensive information on chemical composition and origin of products. It was started by a founder that researched every product in his house to see what chemicals his daughter was being exposed to. Enables consumers to have important information during the purchase process - as a result, they are now delivering this information via SMS and an iPhone application. I like the actionable presentation of data that has been largely inaccessible in the past. It represents a change in behavior for consumers, but if the green wave continues to grow, GoodGuide might be able to ride it.

Qik. Qik has had good buzz this year by enabling live video streaming from cellphones. (As a Seesmicuser, I saw Qik get very popular, very quickly with online video users.I didn't test it since I wasn't a Nokia user.) Nokia has announced thatQik will be on-deck in their next device. Video streams can be shared,archived, and searched. Their hardware support now includes Blackberryhandsets, so maybe I'll go back and try it again.

Sungevityprovides potential solar customers with the education, price quote, andreferrals they need to get the right solar energy solution for theirhome. I've seen a number of companies come to market with a customerinterface that recommends solution and provides installer referrals. Ontrack to make their first year's revenue target of $2.5 million.Thousands of consumers educated on how to save money with solar energy.Trying to become the go-to sales force for solar. The public may beready for this in theory, but can Sungevity do anything to reduce whatis still a very large consumer expense?

Everyscape.Amazing rendering that looks like you need Matrix-like computing powerin order to present it. Trying to present the real world online. Their'2D-immersive' technology is intriguing, but the application presenteddidn't excite me. I think there's much more monetization potential thanproviding restaurants and bars with better event space marketing. (Howdo you think they should make money?)

Predictify hosts 'prediction challenges' such as these: Will Britney get pregant again this year? Who will be the next NCAA champion? When will the Dow next close above 10,000? The data can be used to 'predict the news' for fun (there is a game aspect) and profit (you can create a prediction markets ffrom some categories of prediction, if you can work within SEC regulations). Panorama Capital's Chris Albinson voiced my key concerns: How big can this get? Why will this stand out among the many 'prediction games' that have recently come online?

Happy Holidays (and Dancing) from First Round Capital!.

Some fun and holiday cheer as a respite from the morning news...I (and the entire First Round Capital team) want to express our intense gratitude to everyone whom we have been lucky to collaborate with in these challenging times, with special thanks to our 70 portfolio companies. There’s much work ahead for us in 2009, but also much passion and joy. Let’s together remember the happiness of simple things, and take the time to laugh with our friends and colleagues.

Best wishes to all for a New Year worth dancing about!

First Round Heads to Vancouver.

Following close on the heels of our successful Palo Alto Office Hours experiment in October, First Round Capital is hitting the road with its first international drop-in session.

Vancouver Office Hours will be held on Thursday, January 15thfrom 4pm to 6pm at Agro Café - 1207 Hamilton Street in Vancouver. Chris Fralic and Kent Goldman will be available for informal ~15 minute chats. There’s noagenda. Ask what we think of the market environment or share an ideafor a company – we’ll be sure to have plenty of napkins available tohelp draft that first product plan. We’ll listen, share our perspective,and pay for the coffee.

If you think you'll drop by, a heads-up on our RSVP list or on Facebook would be great.