Klickable

Interview with Roger Wu, CEO of Klickable

March 9, 2009

Briefly, describe Klickable and its products/services, what drove its development and what problem it is trying to solve?  Please explain why you feel you've built a better mousetrap.
KlickableTV is an interactive video platform, which allows users to create "klickable" video.  Viewers can click on anything inside the video to spawn more information via the web.  It started as a way to make video more engaging than simply repurposing TV for the web and as a way to help web video producers monetize their properties.  The beauty of Klickable's platform is that it is super simple and can be plugged into any existing system.  Every build is literally tested by my mom to make sure that she can use it, because if she can't then we go back to the drawing board!

Who are your main competitors and what do you think differentiates you from competitor offerings? (Please do not say "we have no competitors")
Well there are some companies that create overlays over video and put advertisements into open areas on video.  There are other companies that serve up a lower third overlay inside a video.  I think that since what we do is 100% user initiated (i.e. there's no forcing an ad upon you) we can charge a higher CPM/CPC because users are ASKING for it.  Furthermore, we aren't working with the original video which many others are doing.  We leave the original video untouched.  We can appeal to all audiences this way: Audiences don't have to utilize the extra functionality if they still want the TV experience, but new savvier users can.

Are you angel investor or venture capital backed?  Are you currently fundraising?  How would you describe the current fundraising environment?
We're backed by angel investors and are currently fundraising.  The current environment is tough because the market has sunk to such lows.  Investors are looking at high risk, illiquid investments vs lower risk, liquid stocks.  However, people are still investing, and I really think that we have the future of video in our hands and that should be an exciting proposition for any investor.

How many employees does Klickable have, and how would you describe the company's culture?
We have 4 employees and the company culture is very laid back.  There are definitely times of high stress but work hard play hard.  We encourage extra curricular activities which helps to stimulate out of the box thinking, after all if chocolate and peanut butter kept to their niche we'd never have Reese's Pieces.

Currently and as you grow, what types of people do you feel will succeed at Klickable?  Are you currently hiring?
We need people that can wear multiple hats and not be stubborn about old business models.  We also need smart people where no is not in their vocabulary.  The company started with little tech background and now I can tell you whatever you want to know about Flash video delivery from a high level to how to open up sockets. 

Yes, we're currently hiring.  I think everyone is always hiring.  If you find someone good, make sure you hold onto them.  

What is the ultimate goal for Klickable, e.g., how would you define success?
The ultimate goal for us is to make our investor's happy (obviously) by growing the value of the company and providing some type of liquidity event.  

With regards to achieving this success, what keeps you up at night, e.g. what do you worry about?
Um ... everything.  I worry about the technology, about our users, about our competition, about the markets....

How is the current economy impacting Klickable?  What challenges are you encountering?  What opportunities is the down economy creating for you?
Since we are such an experimental concept, companies are very weary of putting money into something that's not proven.  After all the old saying that no one ever got fired for buying a TV commercial still holds.  In today's uncertain job market, people are holding onto certainty.  However, that being said, there are some folks that want to rise above the din and be rewarded for the risks that they are taking.

What Klickable accomplishment are you most proud of?
Just getting here with very little money and being savvy on resources!  We worked out of a Tea shop for 9 months utilizing their free wifi, while a hotel lobby was our conference room!
CEO/Founder-Centric - Your views & perceptions (more general topics)

What advice would you give to other current or aspiring entrepreneurs?
I'd say to go for it.  I started this company with a computer that i won from a viral video contest, a "Learn Flash in 24 hours" book and the tea shop.  In today's day and age, we have so much information, so many ways to connect with others, and so many resources that if you want to do it, go for it.

Personally, how would you describe your management style?
I'm very hands off.  I hate being a micro-manager.  However, that means that if you break the level of trust that I give you, then...well then its really bad.

What other startup(s) do you admire and why?
Bloomberg LP although that's not really a startup anymore.  Mike started that company by himself.  It's an amazing story.

A start up today that i admire is etsy who really developed  a niche and filled it well.  

I also like NY based drop.io, i think that they sometimes run into the same issues that we have which is too many applications for your product.

What is the worst job you've ever had?
I worked at Taco Bell and Roy Rogers, made $5.05 an hour, got burned, bruised, and seared more than any other job.  

If you weren't running Klickable, what would you be doing?
I'd be starting another company.

Who do you regularly seek the counsel of?
My dad who is an entrepreneur and my other enterpreneurial friends.

What inspires you?
Great stories like David vs Goliath and of underdogs doing impossible things.  I'm also inspired by things that have never been done and people saying that it can't be done and then someone actually doing it.

What startups or areas of innovation do you feel there is too much hype about?
Social networking!  There's too many!  There's also too much hype about Twitter.  It's a great tool but i'm so sick of hearing about it!  

What do you think of the NY startup scene?  Do you expect it will change as a result of the current economy?  If yes, how so?
The NY startup scene has built a community recently.  I think that the energy of other companies is great.  i think that more and more people will be entering the scene given that Wall Street is hurting so much.