Startup of the Day - AFTER-MOUSE.COM

The company of the day is AFTER-MOUSE.COM, based in France. AFTER-MOUSE.COM is creating experiences for end-users on tactile platforms like Microsoft Surface™ and Windows Seven™. You will find below an interview with Nicolas Chaillan, CEO of AFTER-MOUSE.COM. All the best to them and congrats for being the startup of the day!

Website: www.after-mouse.com.

Interview with Nicolas Chaillan, CEO of AFTER-MOUSE.COM and SOFTAKT

Who are you?

Nicolas Chaillan, CEO of AFTER-MOUSE.COM and SOFTAKT.

How do you feel being the most promising ‘company of the day’ per Microsoft?

I am proud to receive this title and I would like to thank Microsoft and all my team for its work.

What did you do before creating your company?

Before creating AFTER-MOUSE.COM, I created a company in 1999, been the youngest French CEO, named SOFTAKT. SOFTAKT is an international communication agency with particular focus on the IT world. SOFTAKT is recognized as an expert in Internet and software development, in referencing, in marketing, in hosting and in auditing in 8 countries.

How did you get the idea? What s the genesis?

I got the idea in New York on December, 24, 2008, when I discovered Microsoft Surface™ platform. In a sense, Microsoft gave me a great Christmas present.

What do you sell? What is your company’s mission?

We are making our best to become the European leader in development of customised applications using multi-touch tactile technologies. We’re creating experiences for end-users on tactile platforms like Microsoft Surface™ and Windows Seven™.

What is your market?

We target all business sectors: Travel agencies, retailers, real estate agencies, hospitality, tourism: this list is far from exhaustive.

Any clients? References? Partners?

We already developed an application for FNAIM real estate agencies. This software will be deployed in the tenth biggest FNAIM agencies as a test. We have also developed three prototypes for different businesses sectors: Travel agencies, retailers and restaurants). We have announced a partnership with nsquared, an Australian company directed by Dr. Neil Roodyn, a Regional Director for Microsoft Australia. The objective of this agreement is to accelerate our growth and to develop high quality customized applications using “multi-touch” tactile technologies on all types of surfaces.

Funding history? VCs? BA?

Self-financing.

Growth? Internationalization?

AFTER-MOUSE.COM is established throughout Europe (United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Morocco), the United States, and Argentina. Soon 20 employees in just 5 months.

How many employees do you have? How many developers?

We have 20 employees, 7 developers and 4 designers.

Are you hiring? If yes, what? Where?

Yes we are, we’re looking for WPF developers, senior designers. We’re taking people anywhere but we prefer if they can come in Lyon, where we are based.

Which platform are you building on? Why?

We’re working mainly on Microsoft Surface™ because it’s definitely the best interactive tactile table that exists on the market. We’re putting much effort on Research and Development. We’re also using Windows Seven and tactile screens.

Do you have any Software IP? Is there something that you’re the only one to do on the market?

We develop very intuitive applications for all businesses sectors, with new and unique functionalities, an exceptional and attractive design, and a complete security.

Who’s your role model?

I could say Bill Gates, Larry Page, Sergey Brin or even Mark Zuckerberg, but my mentor is my grand father. Rest in peace.

Where do you see opportunities today in the Software/internet areas?

Today, there are many opportunities in the Software areas. We’re trying to make our best to create rich interfaces and the new rich experiences on rich media technologies (WPF, Silverlight, Windows7, Surface).

Looking for funding? If yes, how much?

No.

What about the BizSpark Program? What do you think? Are you going to join? Why?

We’re already inside the BizSpark Program. It allows us to access to current, full-featured Microsoft tools and technologies, plus production licensing for hosted solutions. It creates also a very important visibility for AFTER-MOUSE.COM and enables us to be on the good way to enter inside the IDEES program. A special thanks to the programs organized by the startup team as the Startup Challenges with DDB communication agency where we received the visitors' award.

Any advice to young Software entrepreneurs?

Do your best.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I would like to thank all the Microsoft team and specially the Microsoft Surface team that did a great job, the French’s Microsoft Team and also, the French IDEES team.