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Idealab Logo and Office

Idealab (formerly known as idealab!) is a business incubator based in Pasadena, California.

History

Idealab was founded by Bill Gross in March 1996. Prior to Idealab, he founded GNP Loudspeakers (now GNP Audio Video), an audio equipment manufacturer; GNP Development Inc., acquired by Lotus Software; and Knowledge Adventure, an educational software company, later acquired by Cendant. Gross graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and Idealab has historically hired many alumni; Gross now sits on the Institute's board of trustees.

The company leased the right to use the .tv domain, giving the island nation of Tuvalu enough money to join the United Nations in 2000.

In December 2009 the company re-branded and introduced a new logo.^[1]

Noteworthy companies

Idealab has created, invested in, and spun-off a variety of companies including:

• AirWave Wireless, vendor of wireless network management software acquired by Aruba Networks in 2008^[2]
• Aptera Motors, electric car manufacturers
• Blastoff.com
• Citysearch, acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI).
• Commission Junction
• Compete, Inc.
• Desktop Factory
• Desktop.TV
• Energy Innovations
• Evolution Robotics and Evolution Robotics Retail
• eSolar
• eToys.com
• eVoice
• firstlook.com
• FreePC
• HomesDirect.com
• Infogate
• Insider Pages, city guides with customer reviews of restaurants, beauty salons, dentists and other local services.
• Internet Brands, parent of:
  • CarsDirect
  • Autos.com
  • Vamoose.com
  • Vacationhomes.com
  • ApartmentRatings.com
  • Realestateabc.com
  • Wikitravel.org
  • Wikicars.org
  • Jelsoft Enterprises
• Intranets.com
• jackpot.com
• Kidsonline
• Myhome.com
• NetZero (NASDAQ: UNTD).
• Goto.com - Later renamed to Overture Services Inc.. After its acquisition by Yahoo! it became Yahoo! Search Marketing.
• New.net
• Newbury Networks
• Oraxion Diagnostics
• Omnilux, Inc.
• PayMyBills.com, acquired by PayTrust
• Picasa, acquired by Google
• PetSmart.com
• refer.com
• Scout electromedia (venture investment, 2000)
• Snap Technologies (Snap.com)
• Spun.com
• .tv
• Swap.com
• Tickets.com
• WeddingChannel.com
• X1

References

External links

• Idealab official site
• Interview with Bill Gross, founder of Idealab, on his clean technology companies
• News article on Idealab leasing the right to use the .tv domain
• Interview with Stuart MacFarlane of Idealab company InsiderPages.com
• Idealab etc. LinkedIn group