StoryDesk Company Profile

Background

Overview

StoryDesk was a New York-based company founded in 2010, specializing in creating interactive iPad presentations aimed at enhancing sales and marketing efforts for businesses. Their flagship product, CatalogApp, allowed businesses to bring their sales catalogs to the iPad, enabling sales teams to deliver engaging and interactive presentations.

Mission and Vision

The company's mission was to revolutionize traditional sales presentations by leveraging the iPad's capabilities to create interactive, multimedia-rich experiences. This approach aimed to improve sales effectiveness and engagement by moving beyond static slideshows to dynamic, touch-interactive presentations.

Industry Significance

StoryDesk's innovative approach addressed a critical need in the enterprise software market for mobile solutions that enhance sales and marketing presentations. By focusing on the iPad platform, they tapped into the growing trend of mobile device adoption in business environments, offering a solution that combined mobility with interactive content delivery.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

StoryDesk aimed to empower sales and marketing teams by providing tools to create interactive presentations that could be easily managed and updated, ensuring that sales teams always had access to the most current and engaging content.

Areas of Specialization

The company specialized in mobile presentation solutions, particularly for the iPad, focusing on:

Interactive Presentations: Enabling touch-interactive, nonlinear navigation within presentations.

Multimedia Support: Incorporating photos, text, audio, and video to create rich, engaging content.

Centralized Content Management: Allowing for easy updates and management of presentation materials.

Offline Functionality: Ensuring presentations could be accessed and used without an internet connection.

Key Technologies Utilized

StoryDesk leveraged the iPad's hardware and software capabilities to deliver interactive presentations, utilizing technologies that supported multimedia integration and touch interactivity.

Primary Markets Targeted

The company's solutions were primarily targeted at B2B enterprises across various industries, including:

Retail

Manufacturing

Professional and Media Services

Non-Profit Organizations

These sectors benefited from enhanced sales presentations that could effectively showcase products and services.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Specific details regarding StoryDesk's funding history, including total funds raised and notable investors, are not publicly disclosed.

Acquisition by Showpad

In December 2014, StoryDesk's assets were acquired by Showpad, a mobile-first sales support platform. This acquisition aimed to integrate StoryDesk's interactive presentation capabilities into Showpad's offerings, enhancing their sales enablement solutions.

Pipeline Development

As of the acquisition in 2014, StoryDesk's primary product was CatalogApp, an iPad application designed to bring sales catalogs to the tablet. Post-acquisition, the development and enhancement of this product were integrated into Showpad's platform.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

StoryDesk developed CatalogApp, an iPad application that allowed businesses to create interactive sales presentations directly on the device. This application supported multimedia content and offered features like offline access and centralized content management.

Significant Scientific Methods

The company's approach focused on leveraging the iPad's touch interface to create nonlinear, interactive presentations, moving beyond traditional slideshow formats to engage audiences more effectively.

Leadership Team

Key Executives

Jordan Stolper: Co-founder and CEO of StoryDesk. Prior to StoryDesk, Stolper co-founded gliider, an online travel research tool, which was acquired in 2010. He has a background in journalism and brand consulting.

Michael Romanowicz: Co-founder and VP of Product at StoryDesk.

Leadership Changes

Following the acquisition by Showpad in 2014, StoryDesk ceased independent operations, and its leadership transitioned to roles within Showpad.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The market for mobile sales enablement and interactive presentation tools has seen significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices in business settings and the need for more engaging sales presentations.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in this space include:

Showpad: A mobile-first sales support platform that acquired StoryDesk's assets in 2014.

Accent Technologies: Provides cloud-based sales enablement software with features like performance visibility and intelligent recommendations.

Natterbox: Offers voice-based sales enablement solutions.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

The acquisition by Showpad in 2014 was a significant strategic collaboration, allowing StoryDesk's technology to be integrated into a broader sales enablement platform.

Operational Insights

Post-acquisition, StoryDesk's operations were integrated into Showpad, contributing to the enhancement of Showpad's mobile sales enablement solutions.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Following the acquisition, the strategic direction of StoryDesk's technology was aligned with Showpad's objectives, focusing on enhancing sales enablement through interactive and mobile-friendly solutions.

Contact Information

Official Website

As of the acquisition in 2014, StoryDesk's official website was active, but post-acquisition, information about StoryDesk's offerings is available on Showpad's platform.

Social Media