« BackCE Interactive, Inc.

One Line Pitch: CE Interactive has created Wirewize.com, a suite of software and services that helps you set up, optimize and enjoy your consumer electronics.

Business Summary:

Wirewize addresses the rapidly-growing premium technical support industry for consumer electronics. It builds software tools and offers services to overcome the complexity of today's CE devices and provides one centralized place for consumers to organize their home entertainment systems online. CEI delivers these tools and services in partnership with major consumer electronics manufacturers, warranty providers and retailers and at Wirewize.com

Management:

Our CEO founded Partsearch Technologies, the industry standard platform for parts and accessories, and built it to over $50 million in revenue. He has reunited his core Partsearch team to tackle similar technological and business development challenges at CEI. His deep contacts and credibility in the industry enables CEI to build true industry-standard data and software in a way that few other teams can.

Customer Problem:

Product complexity causes customer frustration, product returns, lost sales opportunities, and high product support costs. Manufacturers and retailers need strong marketing relationships with their customers.

Product/Services:

Wirewize.com leverages a database of very deep information on 20,000+ consumer electronics products and proprietary logic to provide brand and model specific hook-up instructions for TVs, DVRs, gaming consoles and similar products. Users may store their owners manuals, access product descriptions and contact other users of similar products conveniently. Major manufacturers integrate Wirewize technology into their marketing and service websites.

Target Market:

The consumer electronics industry is a $160 billion plus industry. Wirewize addresses the services segment of the consumer electronics industry, which is one of the quickest-growing segments of the overall market. Spending on such services is estimated to be well over $2 billion in 2009.

Customers:

Key industry partners: Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Radio Shack, Tiger Direct, BrandsMart, Warrantech, Nebraska Furniture Mart. Active Pipeline: Sharp,NEW, WalMart, Best Buy, Sears, CostCo, Monster Cable, Assurant.

Sales/Marketing Strategy:

CEI is leveraging Mr. Summers' deep industry contacts to sign up retailers and OEMs as distribution partners and to build the Wirewize brand. Partners may utilize CEI technology on a private label basis or may participate in our affiliate program, which drive their customers to Wirewize.com. We also bundle our software with warranties sold by major retailers and offer premium versions of our service online.

Business Model:

Custom development fees; Licensing; sale of products and services; consumer product ownership data.

Competitors:

Competition for Wirewize consists of: generic product configuration tools found on many sites; custom installation companies such as Geek Squad; manufacturer and third party help desk support; and online product support/recommendation sites such as AVS Forums and Fixya. In many cases, Wirewize can enhance these existing solutions.

Competitive Advantage:

CEI's product data, its industry relationships and a partnership w/CEA are hard-to-replicate assets that convey first mover advantage. Its customer profiles generate switching costs for partners and end users.