You’re likely aware of Foursquare, the location-based service that turns checking-in to venues into a game of sorts. You may also be aware of StickyBits, an app that turns barcodes into message boards. What do you get when you combine them? Barcode Hero, a new product by Kima Labs, a startup founded by two Amazon veterans. The main idea behind the service is an app that attempts to make shopping more social. A...

“Foursquare gets all the hype.” It’s something I hear just about every day from just about every other location-based startup. And it’s true, though I would argue that it’s warranted — and investors seem to agree. But it’s also important to keep some perspective. While Foursquare is just shy of 2 million users, other services like MyTown have quickly surpassed that number....

Online grading platform LearnBoost has raised $975,000 in seed funding from an impressive roster of venture capital firms and angel investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures, RRE Ventures, Atlas Ventures, Othman Laraki, Bill Lee, James Hong, Naval Ravikant and Karl Jacob. LearnBoost offers teachers an easy-to-use, web-based gradebook. The startup’s software allows for real time...

In the past, I’ve written pretty extensively about my disdain for business cards — they add to clutter, and when you actually need to look up someone’s contact information, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Alas, they’re still here, but fortunately plenty of startups are working to make them better. Today sees the launch of CardMunch, an iPhone app that lets you take a snapshot of ...

AOL reported another lousy quarter this morning. Even ignoring the $1.4 billion goodwill charge, revenues were down 26 percent and cash from continuing operations was down 44 percent (as was free cash flow). What we are seeing is a very messy transition as AOL shifts multiple lanes from an online subscription business to an advertising one, and at the same time to a new online content production model. AOL CEO...