Friday, July 25, 2008

The Pitch

RoamData seeks up to $7M

By Mass High Tech Staff

Roam Data Inc.
Headquarters: Boston
Employees: 14
Founded: 2005
Web: www.roamdata.com
E-mail: info@roamdata.com
Phone: 888-589-5885
The Pitch: Roam Data plans to continue development of its product, hire mobile sales experts and implement marketing initiatives.

PITCHING THE TECHNOLOGY
Roam Data Inc. says it is in the business of hiding technology, rather than promoting it. The company’s product is a network-agnostic mobile software applications platform that enables the creation of transaction processing applications. Direct sales companies, software-as-a-service providers and systems integrators make up Roam’s target audience, and the company says they can use its technology to deliver user-friendly, real-time mobile data, transactions and secure payments. The company’s founder, CEO Will Graylin, has started several mobile computing, security and payments companies, including Way Systems Inc., EntitleNet Inc. and Marbles Inc. Graylin wrote his graduate thesis, “Addressing the Complexity of Mobile Computing,” at MIT about 10 years ago.

PITCHING THE PEOPLE
Who is on the management team? Will Graylin, founder and CEO; Michael Arner, CTO; John Rodley, vice president of engineering.

Have executives been involved in a cashout prior to this venture? Graylin’s EntitleNet Inc. was acquired by BEA Systems Inc. in 2001.

Who is on the board of advisers? Alan Luce, president, Luce & Associates.

PITCHING THE BUSINESS
How much investment is being sought? Roam Data is seeking $5 million to $7 million.

What partnerships, collaborations or affiliations are already in place? The Traveling Vineyard, a Braintree-based direct wine retailer, served as a pilot tester for Roam’s platform. Sprint Nextel Corp. has been marked as a preferred service provider, and Cambridge-based Vlingo Corp. will add its mobile voice interface to Roam’s development platform.

List any federal or state grants, contracts or awards received: None.

What’s the market size being pursued? Roam Data estimates its U.S. direct sales market at more than $1 billion.

Who are the likely competitors, direct or indirect? The company named Research In Motion Ltd., as well as mobile systems integrators as competitors.

Is the company profitable? No.