Idealab (formerly known as idealab!) is a business incubator based in Pasadena, California.

History

Idealab was founded by Bill Gross in March 1996. Prior to Idealab, he founded GNP Loudspeakers (now GNP Audio Video), an audio equipment manufacturer; GNP Development Inc., acquired by Lotus Software; and Knowledge Adventure, an educational software company, later acquired by Cendant. Gross graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and Idealab! has historically hired many alumni; Gross now sits on the Institute's board of trustees.

The company leased the right to use the .tv domain, giving the island nation of Tuvalu enough money to join the United Nations in 2000.

Noteworthy companies

Idealab has spun off a variety of companies including:

• Insider Pages, city guides with customer reviews of restaurants, beauty salons, dentists and other local services.
• Citysearch, acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp ().
• Commission Junction
• Compete, Inc.
• HomesDirect.com
• Infogate
• Myhome.com
• Intranets.com
• Oraxion Diagnostics
• WeddingChannel.com
• NetZero ().
• Goto.com - Later renamed to Overture Services Inc.. After its acquisition by Yahoo! it became Yahoo! Search Marketing.
• eToys.com
• jackpot.com
• New.net
• Picasa, acquired by Google
• PETsMART.com
• .tv
• FreePC
• Spun.com
• Kidsonline
• Swap.com
• Internet Brands, parent of:
• CarsDirect.com
• Autos.com
• Vamoose.com
• Vacationhomes.com
• ApartmentRatings.com
• Realestateabc.com
• Wikitravel.org
• Wikicars.org
• Jelsoft Enterprises
• Desktop Factory
• Energy Innovations
• Evolution Robotics
• Evolution Robotics Retail
• eSolar
• Tickets.com
• X1
• Snap (search engine)
• PayMyBills.com, acquired by PayTrust
• Omnilux, Inc.
• Blastoff.com
• Aptera Motors
• Newbury Networks
• refer.com

External links

• Idealab official site
• Interview with Bill Gross, founder of Idealab, on his clean technology companies
• News article on Idealab leasing the right to use the .tv domain
• Interview with Stuart MacFarlane of Idealab company InsiderPages.com
• Idealab etc. LinkedIn group

Sources

• Bill Gross' Management Team Page at Idealab
• Idealab homepage