How To Video Site WonderHowTo Raises First Round; Chao’s Return
By Joseph Weisenthal - Wed 30 Jan 2008 12:18 PM PST
Apparently the world did need another how-to video site: Santa Monica-based WonderHowTo has launched with an unspecified first round from General Catalyst Partners. The site offers classic how-to content, like “How to tie a tie” along with more exotic fare, like “How to train your cat to use the toilet”. The site aggregates and points to video content from around the web, though it will also be accepting user-gen how-to videos directly. It currently has 90,000 videos in its collection. It will be supported by advertising, which in an interesting twist will be managed by Scripps (NYSE: SSP) Networks.
CEO and co-founder Stephen Chao was once a programmer at Fox, and as NYT reports, he had a reputation for antics before being fired. Since then, he’s been a consultant. Others in the space include the recently funded MonkeySee, Expert Village, 5 Min, and Video Jug, not to mention YouTube, which has plenty of how-to clips. Release.
NYT: “In 1992, Mr. Murdoch fired Mr. Chao, considered a gifted but quirky executive, after he engaged a man to remove all of his clothes during a speech being delivered at a company management retreat. The purpose was to drive home a point about decency, but Mr. Murdoch, seated in the audience next to Dick Cheney (then the secretary of defense), was not amused. “
Posted in: Social Media, Video Sharing, VC+M&A, Venture Capital
Tags: general catalyst, wonderhowto,
