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Skype engaged Ariadne
Capital's corporate advisory team in early 2004 to
assist with the development of the London office and
to leverage Ariadne's network for strategic partnerships
across a range of business development activities.
Launched in August 2003,
Skype, the Global Internet Telephony Company™, hit
the market with a bang. The news of the first release
of Skype had millions rushing to www.skype.com to
see for themselves what the excitement was all about.
What they found was free software that made it possible
for broadband users to make unlimited, superior-quality
calls to other Skype users over the Internet for free.
100 million downloads
later and numerous enhancements that include conferencing
calling, multi-platform support and the launch of
premium services SkypeOut and SkypeIn, Skype is continuing
to innovate in a market that was previously dominated
by incumbent telecommunications companies.
Ariadne Capital had Skype
on its radar from the start. Ariadne Capital's team
were early adopters of the technology and continue
to use and evangelise the offering today. When Ariadne
Capital met with Skype CEO and co-founder, Niklas
Zennström, in 2003 the challenge for Skype was
to rapidly scale the business to harness and develop
the opportunities that were streaming in and to ramp
up Skype's presence in London. Ariadne Capital stepped
in to provide operational support for these activities
by providing skilled consultants to assist with navigating
deal flow in the telecoms sector and to execute on
the plan.
"The diverse skills
of the team at Ariadne Capital helped us drive our
business plan forward," said Niklas Zennstrom,
"Ariadne's team contributed to our business development,
marketing and termination partner teams."
'The success of SkypeOut
which allows for global calling to ordinary fixed
and mobile phones worldwide for local rates demonstrates
that savvy customers will pay for value. The success
bodes well for the recently announced SkypeIn and
Skype Voicemail.. SkypeIn expands the Skype value
proposition by giving Skype users a personal number
to receive inbound calls from any traditional phone
in the world, and manage incoming messages with Skype
Voicemail
About Ariadne Capital
Ariadne Capital is a European investment and advisory
group, which invests in early stage private and advises
later stage private and public companies, undergoing
significant growth or change.
Ariadne Capital provides its portfolio companies,
as well as its strategic partners, access to its network
of industry executives and investors, hands-on management
and Board level assistance to implement strategic,
operational and financial plans. Ariadne Capital helps
its company's access capital, secure executives, leverage
innovation and generate sales.
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Ariadne
Capital Journal - Through the Maze Volume
5, Edition 2
