Talk at World Bank workshop in Montevideo. June 24, 2013

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Open Data Business Models
Montevideo, Uruguay
24 June 1980

2. Definitions:
Big Data = “Everything that can’t fit into an Excel spreadsheet.”
Open Data = Abides by the 8 Principles of Open Data
Big Data = Private sector data about customers
Open Data = Public sector data about services
Complementary:
• Yelp
• CloudMade
• Nike+
• Waze
• Everyblock

3. • Data = Information ≠ Knowledge
• Knowledge: Informs decisions
• in info + in choice = in anxiety
Open Data Business Theorems:
People & institutions are willing to pay to reduce
anxiety and gain competitive advantage.

4. Zillow
• 2010 Revenue = $30 million
• 2011 Revenue = $66.1 million
• 2011 successful IPO
• Current valuation = $1 billion

5. Antimordidas
• Developed in 1 week
• 30,000 downloads in first month
• $2 app

6. Sectors and Samples (User Facing)
• Maps: CloudMade, KidsPlayGuide.com
• Finance: BrightScope, Duedil.com, GuideStar
• Legal: CENDOJ, Anti-mordidas
• Weather: Weather Channel - sold to NBC for $3.5 billion in 2008
• Transport: Snips.net
• Travel: FlyOnTime.us, Tripit.com
• Legislative: Popvox.com, ElectNext, BillTrack50.com
• Health: Castlight, iTriage, Healthgrades.com, 100Plus, Healthline
• Safety: CrimeMap.com, Earthquake Apps (UrbanDF)
• Agriculture: ? (Big G8 push
• Energy: Opower.com
• Zoning, Housing: Zillow, Zonability.com
Gov facing: Socrata, Junar, Granicus, Delphi

7. Observations
• You don’t need a business plan to get started, but you either need a
massive user base or a revenue model to attract serious funding
• Human capital is important. Recruit top-rate engineers and statisticians. (Go
to math departments at universities.)
• Gaining access to data could require working with and/or against
government (Brightscope filed 50 FOI requests).
• Take advantage of social nextworks (Facebook Connect, etc.)
• Be the first to examine ethical questions: Privacy, inequality
• Exploit niche markets (moms, handicapped, cyclists)

8. 14
Thx!
David Sasaki
Principal, Investements
Omidyar Network
dsasaki@omidyar.com
@oso
www.omidyar.com
@OmidyarNetwork