Podio, a danish startup that has received $4.5 m in funding, will unveil tomorrow how it intends to reinvent collaboration in the workplace. faberNovel had the chance to take a look at this offer before its launch.

Podio‘s approach offers some continuity with the current trends in IT for the workplace, especially as regards collaboration: very much like Yammer, it provides an activity stream where you can see all actions related to your items (new tasks, comment, files, discussion…).

The startup’s vision relies on two completing aspects:

• Centralization: Podio aims at replacing the wealth of tools we are using and becomes “Facebook for your workplace”, the first website you will check in the morning. Podio claims that centralizing all interactions in the same place will increase companies’ productivity and provides messaging, calendars, tasks, contact management… out of the box.
• Open innovation: since Podio can’t develop all the apps companies are using (task management, time tracking, file sharing, knowledge management, sales pipeline, vacations…), it also features an App Store as well as a tool to create your own apps. Promoting more than 2,000 items, available apps range from client project management to software development.

Creating an app is pretty straightforward and does not require any coding (which explains why it may seem quite limited at the same time): for instance, you can set up your own sales pipeline workflow or quickly modify an existing one.

Two of Podio’s main challenges may be:

• Proving that this “one size fits all” solution can be more efficient than a wealth of dedicated, simple tools. Apple’s App Store has shown that there is a strong trend toward very specialized micro-application: as Google’s philosophy puts it, “it’s best to do one thing really, really well.”
• Delivering a solution that will effectively accompany the transition for companies, which are often very reluctant to change their workflows: will Podio’s solution be sufficiently flexible? The startup does plan to provide APIs.

A French version should be released tomorrow.

He built the first website for Apple Support in 1995, founded two ISPs during the dot-com boom (one too early, one too late!), was senior strategist for IBM’s Pervasive Computing initiative, and is now the founder and CEO of Tech Propulsion Labs, a Vietnam-based web and mobile development firm providing services to startups in the US and Europe. He has written several technical books and holds over a dozen patents.

Ask the Startup CTO will be able to help with technology strategy assessment for startups and firms of all stages. Make sure your technology choices support your business model, explore options to pivot or expand your business based on tech capabilities, map out a development roadmap that aligns with your business objectives, discuss recruiting and managing development resources or even your very own CTO, and more!

Sebastian will be at pariSoma on March 22nd, from noon – 5pm.  There will be eight 30-min time slots available.  Email us office [at] parisoma.com to reserve your spot now.