From Ruptured Eardrum To Million Dollar

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (1) Message Board
PoemStone PoemStone #1137

From Ruptured Eardrum To Million Dollar Business

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/off-the-cuff/e...25392.html

Cyrus Massoumi was on a flight when he ruptured his eardrum. It took four days to find a doctor, but the experience sparked the idea that led to the founding of ZocDoc, an online doctor search website.

Although some doubted the concept, Massoumi realized that consumers were already searching and rating restaurants online, why not doctors?

"Stay focused and just don't stop," Massoumi said on " Off the Cuff ," as his advice to other entrepreneurs coping with skeptics. "A lot of people are going to tell you there is no way for it to work. If everyone believed it would work, they would all do it."

RELATED: Billionaire Buffett On His Secret Ice Cream Fix

Now, more than 2 million people use ZocDoc each month, and the company is about to open an office in Phoenix. The service provides more than just reviews. It helps people schedule an appointment with a nearby doctor or a dentist, and assists in getting paper work filled out in advance. Patients also can rate their visits, adding an extra incentive to doctors to be nice. The site is free for patients, but doctors pay a fee to list their practices.

To fund its expansion, ZocDoc has raised $95 million over several rounds from the investment heavy-weights like DST Global, Goldman Sachs, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, among others.

As Massoumi works to build his company, the CEO said he finds inspiration in Steve Jobs' biography.

"The great things about him [Steve Jobs] that there is, perhaps, that he was flawed and how those flaws helped him to become such a great man," he said.

ZocDoc is not Massoumi's first entrepreneurial experience. He founded his first web startup in 1999 to specialize in online logistic solutions. In these experiences, he has found that one of the keys to success in a startup is hiring right people. In fact, he often screens through applicants' resumes himself to find a perfect match.

"I love it when my employees love the company like I love the company," Massoumi said. "They've adopted that we are all parents of this five-year-old 'kid' now."

Featured stocks: Coffee Shoppe
For conservative debate: "Keeping it Real"
Game Changing stock $SHMP

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

Dentistry.One Achieves HITRUST i1, Boosts Cybertrust

Updated Category News Views 3

HITRUST i1 Certification: The Gold Standard in Security For a world increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity certification is no longer just a badge of honor; it's a cornerstone of trust. Dentistry.One nailed this down by bagging that coveted HITRUST i1 certification. When folks talk about securing data, HITRUST might as well be speaking gospel. We're...

Continue Reading
NYSE Texas Redefines the U.S. Capital Markets Landscape

Updated Category News Views 10

NYSE Texas: Carving a Niche The notion of 'Y'all Street' might seem like a gimmick, but NYSE Texas is pushing a serious agenda with its newly released white paper, 'NYSE Texas and the Reshaping of U.S. Capital Markets.' This is no small feat. Texas is already housing 235 NYSE-listed companies, boasting a colossal combined worth of $4.8 trillion. With 130 of these firms...

Continue Reading
Epic Political Thriller Explores Humanity's Future

Updated Category News Views 4

Adams' Provocative Debut Asks Timeless Questions Sometimes life throws a philosophical curveball, and that's exactly what John C. Adams has done with his debut novel, The Third Phase. This isn't your average political yarn—it's an intricate tapestry intertwining political intrigue, deep spiritual inquiry, and hearty doses of classic philosophy. A Whirlwind Journey...

Continue Reading
Cala Launches Game-Changer Wearable for Tremor Relief

Updated Category News Views 10

Breaking New Ground in Neuromodulation Medical tech's on a roll, and Cala Health just hopped on the fast track with their latest launch—the Cala kIQ Plus System. This bad boy is aiming to offer relief for those grappling with hand tremors, thanks to its FDA clearance and a host of new features. It's the first of its kind, combining multiple therapy modes with an...

Continue Reading
JiMMYBAR! Expands Creatine Market with Target Launch

Updated Category News Views 10

JiMMYBAR! Breaks New Ground in Supplements You ever notice how some companies just know how to shake things up? Take JiMMYBAR!, for instance. The moment I read they’re making moves to get their Creatine + Protein bars into Target stores nationwide, starting October 4, I thought, “That’s one way to drag creatine out from the dusty tub and onto the shelves of...

Continue Reading
ROKFORM’s Signal Card: A Wallet Tracker for All

Updated Category News Views 7

The Gadget You Didn't Know You Needed Ever feel that momentary panic when your wallet seems to have vanished into thin air? ROKFORM's fresh offering, the Signal Card, tackles that heart-stopping moment head-on. They've taken the mundane act of misplacing your wallet and transformed it with their sleek, credit-card-sized tracker. This baby pairs seamlessly with Apple Find...

Continue Reading
Truss Financial Tackles Home Equity Closing Delays

Updated Category News Views 8

Truss Financial Group's Bold Move Against Closing Delays In real estate, time is money. Even the most casual market observer could tell you delays can slice through a deal like a hot knife through butter. That's the headache home equity borrowers face, blindsided by closing delays that sneak up on them without warning. An Industry Bottleneck Finally Addressed Enter Truss...

Continue Reading
Skandia's Soundproofing Kit Expands to Brazil's Skies

Updated Category News Views 4

Soundproofing Takes Off in Brazil Skandia has just pulled off a neat trick, earning the nod from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) for their King Air soundproofing kit. That means quieter skies ahead for operators of the King Air 200 and 300 series in Brazil. This is no small feat, folks; it's like finally getting that coveted backstage pass after years of...

Continue Reading
TA Services Strengthens U.S.-Mexico Freight Operations

Updated Category News Views 5

TA Services Moves Boldly Across Borders If ever there was a time to play the logistics chessboard like a champ, it's now, and TA Services just slammed the board with a solid move. They've grabbed Carmen Pacheco Transportation and Interload Forwarding, two family-run operations with some real muscle in North American logistics. This isn't a small-time maneuver; they've...

Continue Reading
Community Banks Missing $106B Lending Opportunity?

Updated Category News Views 6

A Missed Opportunity for Community Banks It's a classic tale: community banks sleepwalking while big players snatch up low-hanging fruit right in their own backyards. According to the latest report by Cornerstone Advisors, commissioned by Teslar Software, these banks are essentially leaving $106 billion on the table when it comes to consumer lending. That's not just chump...

Continue Reading
ws Articles" class="btn" href="https://investorshangout.com/blog/news?page=2">More News Articles