The GigaOM Network, the company behind this blog, is four years old today (the blog itself is considerably older). In the time since we set up shop in a neighborhood cafe, the world we write about has changed. From nowhere came the iPhone and then Android phones, to upend the entire mobile ecosystem. The atomization of content, relentless commoditization and the broadband sprawl opened up new opportunities for entrepreneurs big and small. Super angels are taking on the venture-capital establishment and new startups are rising faster than mushrooms following a monsoon.
Four years ago, there was no Gilt Group, no Groupon and no Foursquare. Twitter was still spelled Twttr. And the big tech magazines still carried considerable weight. Four years later, things are different. Yahoo and Microsoft aren’t as fearsome as they once seemed. Google is a gargantuan company. And as fearsome as it seems, it is being pushed into a box by a company run by 26-year-old: Facebook.
The whiplash-inducing speed of change is what we love the most about the technology business. The media that covered the tech industry is going through a change itself. The emergence of blogs and Twitter have helped reduce the gap between readers and those the media writes about. It was inevitable that news (or information) would eventually route itself around the institutions in the middle. It is no different than the airline industry or what happened to stock brokers. And like those industries, we need to find a way to provide value for our readers. Or as Slim Charles, an enforcer for Avon Barksdale on The Wire said: “The game is the same, just more fierce.”
Thankfully, we started with a simple premise: the world will always be looking for context. Add to that our three core areas of focus — innovation, strategy and money — and you can see we have stayed pretty true to that belief. We are bigger, have more on our team and we have seem some of our friends leave for new pastures. Nevertheless, the past year has been a great one for the company.
* We celebrated the first birthday of our GigaOM Pro service, which has over 6000 subscribers and many enterprise customers.
* We launched a complete redesign of the GigaOM Network.
* We introduced our GigaOM iPhone app. (Download it now from the iTunes store.)
* All of our events – Structure, Mobilize, Green:Net and NewTeeVee Live are now annual affairs in addition to our very successful GigaOM Bunker Sessions.
But that doesn’t mean our work is done. The technology industry changes with the blink of an eye and perhaps that is why I always think of our anniversaries as an opportunity to start afresh. And why not? Tomorrow’s world is about new ideas, new opportunities and new innovations. Before I go, I want to thank you, all our dear readers and friends who have encouraged us to go on. And same goes for our team, who have worked hard with dedication, love and passion. To our investors — thanks, guys, for continuing to believe!
Congrats Om (and the team) – you’re a fantastic example of new media keeping a high level of analysis and insight – keep it up!
Thanks Ben. Your encouragement is appreciated.
we have enjoyed it as much you have had fun putting it together. well done and here is to another successful 4 yrs and beyond ..
best wishes to you and your great team.
Chetan
Chetan… thanks for being part of the game and being a supporter of ours.
Congrats, Om- here’s to four more, and another four after that!
Keep up the great job 🙂
Now if we could bring you back….
I’m moving back to the Bay Area in a month- so I definitely need to at least stop by. I still haven’t seen the new office!
Well keep me posted of your visit.
Congrats on your success and continued success in the future. It’s always a pleasure to read Gigaom which is my source of what’s happening in the technology world. Thumbs up and keep up the great work, you have a great team in place
Sanjay thanks for being such a strong supporter. Appreciated deeply — of course that means more hard work.
Congrats! Wish you all the success.
Thanks Amit. I appreciate the kind words.
Om
I’ve been an avid reader since your B2.0 days and what was then a precursor to gigaom.com; and it’s heartening to see you become a force in your own right in the industry. Congratulations on the 4th and I look forward to more successes.
Keep up the awesome work!
Srini
Srini… man you are making me nostalgic 🙂
Congrats OM (and all)!
On behalf of our team, thank you Charlie.
congratulations ! I have been following your blog for quite a while and I am really impressed by the growth. All the best for the future !!
Thanks for your support Vineet.
Om,
congratulations… it was really great to see this blog becoming one of the top blogs in my mind and going to the events you organize and the humility that you still have is amazing.
thanks for everything and keep up with this 🙂
Thanks Mariano. Appreciate the kind words and look forward to hearing more from you in the future as well.
I discovered gigaom just 1 year ago and from then its a daily read on my way to work. Thanks Om for a fantastic insight of the telecom industry
Om. We’re loving GigaOM Pro and everything you do. Congratulations on four years! Keep up the great work.
Thanks Matt. 🙂 You are making me blush.
Happy bday Om & crew!
Thanks, MG 🙂
Thanks MG. Hopefully we can celebrate together soon.
Om,
Someone said that to me that start-ups are like surfing in the dark. Not a bad analogy for an entrepreneur – your’e riding a wave without knowing how big or fast it’s going and you use your skill to stay on without being sure of what’s coming. Here’s riding with you my friend — its been fun so far and I know it’s going to get better.
Thanks Ammar for your support and encouragement. It is good to have you on our team — you are my secret weapon. Oh no.. not so secret anymore.
congrats OM and to the team. impressive work so far!
Thanks a lot, Ouriel.
thank you o2. see you soon in SF?
Is it so long already? Congratulations! As a long time reader I wouldn’t know what to do without my daily dose of Gigaom. 🙂
Markus thanks — I know it is so long already. Upside is making friends with folks like you.
Congrats to Om and the entire GigaOm family! Keep up the great work.
Thanks Daniel.
congratulation !!!
you’ve made amazing achievements ’till today
Best wishes and keep up the great work, you folks are an inspiration.
Thanks, Marshall.
Marshall
We feel the same way about you. Thanks for your excellent work.
Well done Om.
I have you on my feeds now.
Like the posts and your contributors add great value to the network.
Thank you Simon and appreciate the encouragement.
We love you, G-Om 😛
Keep the world inspired! … and the wannabes growing 😀
Thanks for the shoutout chief.
…simply put, I simply can’t envision TMT landscape without GigaOM and GigaOM Pro, and its Crew.
My favourite destination for Great Content, and Analysis.
Thank you to…all of you!
Tariq now I am blushing. thanks for your kind words.
One of the very few blogs I read on a daily basis. Actually – more than daily when you count the several additions over the course of the day + collateral blogs like TAB and E2T.
The core and key to it all is you, Om. You should blush; but, don’t stop what you’re doing. My wife and I both consider your contributions to this silly world more than worthwhile.
Keep on rocking!
With a friend like you, you know I can’t go wrong.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday GigaOM. You guys are #1! Seriously! There’s a lot of junk blogs out there but you guys are serious professionals and you guys just ROCK. For example, the coverage you guys have had lately on entrepreneurship (Brad Feld, Chris Dixon, et al) is awesome awesome awesome! And your coverage of Structure 2010 (including video for those of us unable to attend) was second to none. Seriously, keep up the great work. Also, on a note to Om Malik, for those of us who have been following GigaOM for a long time we’re also very glad that you have made changes to your life to take care of your health (eating healthy, exercise and getting decent sleep). We want you around a LONG time to come and we need you to keep those so-called “journalists” on their tip toes!
Hi Eddie
Thank you and appreciate your encouragement. We will try our very best to make sure we meet you expectations.
happy birthday and many many returns..looking forward to the oncoming techventure with gigaom.
Congrats Mr. Malik.
Quick question and forgive me if I missed an earlier explanation for this. But why has the tweet button disappeared from the byline…is it just me? Shall I clear my cache?
Hey Zachary
Thanks for your wishes. I think the reason the tweet this button vanished: some API troubles. It should be back soon.
Very much appreciate the blog and PRO – keeps me in the know. Keep the great info flow coming and congrads on your 4th year! And Oh! I love the redesign.
Om: congrats on all the continued success.
You have great investors in Jon Callaghan and True Ventures.
4 years ago I just was “heavily” funded at Podtech 🙁 Now having a blast at SiliconANGLE.com – all self funded 🙂
If we need money or if I was going to take any investment it would be True all the way!
John
You are a true supporter. I appreciate your kind words.
Thanks OM, I have started following you since 2007 to keep myself updated about latest and fairest news from Tech World. It has transformed my views and vision to give many ideas. Really admire and adore the success you have brought to your venture. Cheers. 🙂
Happy 4, look forward to 40 more.
It is rare to see a founder grow the business and put together an awesome team. Your team Gigafies the ‘om’ every day.
Rohit
You said it Rohit. It is the team which makes it happen.
Wow, happy birthday! I just celebrated my 3rd Blogoversary myself.
Here’s to hoping GigaOm lasts a long, long time. I’ll enjoy seeing your next steps being made.
With so many cross-posted articles to the various Gigaom sites, the value of the network seems to be diminished.
Joe can you elaborate so we can address your concerns.
The many cross-posts of articles on various Gigaom sites is reducing the value of the network.
all the changes you guys made over the year or so, have made me come to GigaOM for quality reading.
thanks for raising that bar, and keeping out the run-of-the-mill loudmouthing and fanboi stuff.
Those are great words for my team for it is all their efforts. It makes me proud of them.
Special congrats to my friend Paul Walborsky. I’m sure you’ll agree his contribution to the company has been invaluable. Paul is happy to be the man behind the man, but once in a while we needs to be dragged out and take a bow. So here’s to you Paul and all you do!
+1 to that.
Your site/writers help feed the entrepreneurial famine.
Thanks Gigaom for being a place of “solace” for the aspiring entrepreneur.
Our company has spent 10 years data mining the entrepreneurial trenches of natural langage location based service innovation.
Congratulations GigaOm Team.
You are doing a great job and you simplify my job.
All the best from Germany.
Rasim
Keep up the good work Om ! Happy 4 years. I can’t believe how time went fast.
Om,
Congrats. I became a regular reader after checking your site for couple of years. Good job. Are you planning any such thing for the BRIC world ?
FAN-TA-STIC!!! KEEP IT UP!!!