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BAY AREA LINKUP PRESS KIT
  • Fact sheet
  • Founder bio
  • Founder picture
  • Founder interview
  • Founder presentations
  • Images
  • Previous coverage
  • Reliability statistics
  • Patent application
  • Testimonials
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    BAY AREA LINKUP FACT SHEET

    Contact: (925) 286-7573 / press@bayarealinkup.com

    Main site, with mission statement: http://linkupcentral.com

    Date of founding: July, 2003

    Main points:

    • Not a "virtual" community, but a real, in person community.
    • Motto: "Using computers to get people away from them."
    • Unique system of accountability in attending events.
    • Emphasis on quality: Strict screening process, and ~20% of applications are not accepted.
    • Events generally small in order to encourage more intimate, substantial communication.
    • Not a dating service, but more effective than many dating services.
    • Self-selecting: members create their own events, and sub-groups form naturally.
    • Strictly regional, and strictly in person, based on common interests.
    • Events organized by type, as well as by locality.

    Figures below are for Bay Area site only. Systemwide figures are much greater.

    Number of members: 7,037

    New members per week: 25+

    Average number of events per month: 175

    Peak number of events in one month: 215

    Number of sub-groups: 70

    Number of members who have hosted events: 1,139


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    FOUNDER BIO

    Founder of Linkup Central, Firinn Taisdeal has an extensive background in entrepreneurship, business process design, web technology, and video post-production.

    In the early days of the web, he founded a web design company, Fun House Design, in San Francisco. Its clients included Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Novell, and other high-tech companies. In his previous career as a video editor he worked with such clients as Apple, Tandem, KQED, The News Hour on PBS, Sun Microsystems and GM. He was also the Advising Editor for the documentary Genghis Blues, which won the Audience Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.

    Taisdeal has taught classes and consulted for many Bay Area organizations in the areas of email marketing strategy, vendor management, business process design, and competitive strategy. His clients have included the San Jose Entrepreneur Center, the California Institute of Art, and the Commonwealth Club of California. Taisdeal has also led project teams for the launch of such major sites as Games.com, Phone.com, and the Open Directory Project.

    He received a B.A. in Film from the University of California at Berkeley and has pursued a lifelong interest in classical piano and acting, having studied at the American Conservatory Theater and the Jean Shelton Actors Lab, and with British director Richard Seyd.


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    FOUNDER PICTURE

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    INTERVIEW WITH FIRINN TAISDEAL
                 Unpublished interview - December, 2004 - Use freely
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    PRESENTATIONS
    MENSA Keynote: November 26, 2005 - PowerPoint file - 552K
    Commonwealth Club: June 14, 2006 - PowerPoint file - 492K
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    IMAGES
    Linkup Logo - high-resolution PDF file
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    PREVIOUS COVERAGE
    San Francisco Chronicle - June 21, 2006: web version | PDF for printing: page 1 - page 2
    Contra Costa Times - October 31, 2006: web version | PDF for printing: page 1 - page 2
    Boston Globe - November 13, 2006: web version | PDF for printing: page 1 - page 2
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    RELIABILITY STATISTICS
    Because Linkup is fundamentally based on measuring integrity, in other words measuring how reliably members keep their commitments, we keep statistics on percentage of no-shows, cancellations, last-minute cancellations and even "lame excuses." View reliability statistics.
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    PATENT APPLICATION
    1. Patent Application (filed with U.S. Patent Office June 2005)
    2. Diagram 1: Schematic of database and web connections
    3. Diagram 2: Database fields
    4. Diagram 3: Flowchart of process
    5. Diagram 4: Flowchart of process for hosts
    6. Diagram 5: Flowchart of RSVP evaluation process
    7. Diagram 6: Flowchart of process for guests
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    TESTIMONIALS

    "Everyone showed up to my event, and on time. We had a lovely dinner. I really appreciate New York Linkup's environment of accountability. I've dealt with other social sites and have been floored by participants' lack of accountability."
    —Michelle, New York - Literacy teacher

    "Just a quick note -- this is the BEST system ever! I was ready to give up on MeetUp, et al., but you've proven that the net really can bring people together. This combination of scheduling and accountability and j'ne sais pas really works. I've already made some great friends, and appreciate being able to add the various events and people to my life. Thanks bunches!"
    —Kell, Sacramento - web developer

    "Thanks for this 'Flake Factor' system. I think it's great. I've hosted a lot of events for another singles group and we could never figure out how to deal with it. You have. Congratulations. A few weeks ago I was at a BAL event and speaking with someone, who was complaining about the 'Flake Factor' system. I smiled and asked sweetly "Have you ever hosted an event?" Of course she hadn't."
    —JD, San Francisco - Software Engineer

    "I've been a member of BAL for quite some time and have also been a long-time member of various other activities groups, on and off-line. They all have their pros and cons, but I have to say that the Linkup model is probably the most impressive one in terms of functionality and possibly vision -- and by extension, in terms of the possibilities that it creates for people, in the way that it broadens and enriches their worlds by introducing them to experiences and other people they might never have been encountered otherwise."
    —Paula, San Francisco - Web Content Editor

    "I have to say that I'm very happy to have found Linkup, and that I will let other people know about this reliable venue for making new friends. My activity played out like clockwork, everything fell in place, everyone was on time, and I'm looking forward to hosting new events in the near future. Thanks you so much!!!!"

    — Sonia, Miami - Healthcare Industry

    "I've been in software design since 1968, and I think Bay Area Linkup is AMAZING. Congratulations! It's a winner. Very nicely concieved, designed and implemented!!"
    —Mike, San Francisco - Software Entrepreneur

    "Most of the the people I have encountered thru Linkup have been very friendly and sociable towards each other. I think the 'Flake Factor' is a great idea and it weeds out the lame members. Great Going!"
    —Allen, New York - Art Director

    "This is a great place to meet people of every age, background, ethnicity, profession."
    —Jutta, Oakland - IT Consultant

    "I am going to Europe with a group of 12 faboulously fun people coordinated by someone from Sacramento Linkup! Linkup is the best thing that ever happened to me! It has tremendously changed my life! Thank you so much."
    —Rose, Sacramento - Government Administrator

    "Everyone both responded and attended. The event was very successful. This is a wonderful group of thoughtful individuals. Thank you, to Linkup, for creating a system that allowed me to meet these people and to create a valuable and interesting gathering with them!"
    —Jane, Cambridge - Writer

    "I have found Bay Area Linkup a terrific way to find people who like doing the same things I like doing. It's a welcoming, interesting community."
    —Rebecca, Palo Alto - High-Tech Marketing

    "This is a great way to do those things you have always wanted to do and meet a lot of new people in the process."
    —Maggie K, San Francisco - Business Developer

    "Bay Area Linkup is a fabulous concept. I have met some incredibly nice people, tried out new restaurants, enjoyed a trip to the Farallons, and gone to art galleries & films."
    —Sally, San Francisco - Human Resources

    "This is a great social network: fun people, unique events. I've made a lot of new friends and developed a deeper appreciation for my native Bay Area."
    —Julie, Oakland - Teacher

    "Going to my first event took some courage and time on my part, but I was hooked. I have enjoyed going to and hosting many events."
    —Zarina, San Francisco - Interior Designer

    "I moved to CA a little over a year ago, and immediately found BAL. This group has been instrumental both in introducing me to wonderful new friendships and to new activities/places."
    —Debra, San Mateo - Application Scientist - Pharmaceutical Research Instrumentation

    "BAL has been a great way for me to meet a diverse group of interesting people who have many common interests."
    —Dave, San Jose - Technical Support Engineer


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    ©2005 Linkup Central