Clickshare For Sale (plus a followup)
The Clickshare Service has been shut down. The home page, and a
directory of technical and marketing information, is still up at http://www.clickshare.com.
The two initial publishers are no longer using the service to
authenticate subscribers. The service can still be
demonstrated -- but only "by appointment".
Co-founder William P. Densmore, Jr. was again effectively in charge
after the incoming CEO left in early December, soon followed by the
technical staff and co-founders. (For my description of earlier
developments, see Clickshare Set
Back.)
He got nowhere during three precious months. Unwilling to focus solely
on cleaning up a messy corporate structure and selling the company, he
and the remaining board members resigned February 28 and closed down the
active authentication portion of the service. The home page now includes
a pointer to Clickshare Service
prototype suspended, where an as-ever-optimistic Densmore gives few
clues to the reality of Clickshare's current status.
Ironically, many recent online events have highlighted the need for a
service like Clickshare. Clickshare continues to receive inquiries from
possible users and investors. Do you know of any possible
purchaser? A buyer could be acontent provider, an ISP, a telco,
or any other entity that who would launch the service (the software
operates perfectly on several server platforms), provide non-exclusive
software licenses to create an immediate revenue stream, secure
strategic partners, and continue development efforts.
In my opinion, any established company purchasing Clickshare will be
able with low initial financial outlays to obtain a controlling interest
plus sufficient access to Clickshare's technical and marketing resources
to help bring the product to market. (Of course, existing shareholders
will want to ensure their participation in the future upside potential
of Clickshare, and the company's existing debts can be deferred.)
Several Clickshare shareholders have been authorized to act as
commissioned agents in finding buyers for the company or the technology.
If you are interested in pursuing this, you can contact Felix Kramer (or
Densmore), or the agents, chiefly:
Gregory M. Rogers (the most recent outgoing chairman of
the Clickshare Board of Directors)
608/274-0323 or <grogers@mail.tds.com>
Stephen D. Kramer (Felix Kramer's brother, and founder of
a Bay Area hi-tech startup)
510/452-1492 or <nephets2@aol.com>
FLASH
Steve Outing's March 7, 1997 Stop
the Presses column carries a report on Clickshare's status. The March
10 column includes a shorter version of my response below:
Bill Densmore disputes my statement that the company and its
technology are now for sale. Densmore's view is not shared by Greg
Rogers, Clickshare's immediate past Board Chair -- he's one of the
commissioned agents who has been talking to potential purchasers. We've
lost enough time to founderitis.
It is almost inconceivable to me that Densmore would pass up the
opportunity for a speedy resolution of the situation (which would
require completing the previously planned merger the two companies) and
instead launch a time-wasting and probably unsuccessful effort to gain
greater ownership and control. I hope if a buyer appears, he will return
to his senses, and set Clickshare free.
Otherwise he risks being seen as
the Internet's version of the stubborn mother in King Solomon's parable.
Return to:
Clickshare Home Page | Kramer Communications Home Page |Clickshare Set
Back
This page
(http://www.nlightning.com/clickshare/forsale.html) written 4 March
and updated 10 March 1997