With a year under its belt, New York City based online media company, For Your Imagination has released it latest showcase reel to show the world what is has been up to and where it intends to go. First shown at the Winter 2008 showcase and advertiser upfront held in New York City, the reel features clips from DadLabs, the soon to-be-announced  Green House network with GardenFork.TV and Real World Green, the hysterical Break a Leg, the outrageous The Patrice Oneal Show, the informative yet subversise The Shirtless Apprentice, interview show nextNYers and others. The video is also available at the top of For Your Imagination's website and blog. Let us know what you think!

StartUp Alpha Founder and CEO Donna Bogatin offers an insider's look at her company. StartUp Alpha is a Silicon Alley social network for entrepreneurs to not only pitch themselves but to actively network their startup company.

• An online and offline community catering to new startups
• Offers good networking opportunities as well as a platform to pitch ideas

Bogus ‘user generated company’ Slikstr was a big hit again last night at the always excellent Video 2.0 meetup.

Some even believed the company was real. ‘We’ve created a lot of confusion,’ Neovids-founder Matt Feldman said.

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A windowless room with a two-story video wall and a vast digital database is the nerve center of the Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. With the center, police have access to a warehouse of data at their fingertips, providing up-to-date information with ease. The program, according to Government Technology magazine, sets the standard for the use of technology in government. As such, they have placed Police Commissioner Ray Kelly on their annual top 25 list of Doers, Dreamers and Drivers. The individuals on the list “represent the best and brightest in public-sector [information technology].”

“Kelly has continued New York’s pioneering CompStat crime-mapping strategy,” the magazine says, “but he’s also taken city law-enforcement efforts to another level, presiding over the development of New York’s Real Time Crime Center.”

The center, considered a critical tool in keeping crime low, was originally piloted in 2005 to address murder and shootings. But it was expanded in 2006 to include the addition of all police arrest records dating back to 1995, when the system also saw a number of technological improvements. The center supports over 100 detective squads and around a dozen Investigative Response Vans, and its data is available to all detectives investigating major and violent crimes including rapes, robberies, stabbings, kidnappings missing persons, and sex offenders. In his State of the City address the year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he plans to add “a comprehensive database of firearms evidence.” Soon, it will be connected to the city government’s municipal WiFi system.
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For Your Imagination, a New York City based online media company and executive producers of acclaimed web series DadLabs and Break a Leg, has announced that it has received an additional $1 million in seed capital from ConsensueOne Ventures, LLC and will partner with the firm to raise a Series A round of capital.

“For Your Imagination has had an amazing first year,” said ConsensusOne Ventures CEO and For Your Imagination Board Chairman, Garrett “Denny” Denniston.  “To monetize web video ahead of the market is not only a testament to sound management but also to the talent and experience of the team they have in place.  I’m more than pleased with their progress and the strong brand identity the company has built for itself.”  

Expanding on their initial $1 million investment that started in January 2007, ConsensusOne Ventures will also continue to advise the For Your Imagination team on matters of investment and acquisition as the company continues to expand and strengthen its already formidable online media brand.

“We are excited to continue working with Denny and his team at ConsensusOne Ventures.  2007 was a great first year for For Your Imagination and we’re looking forward to launching a bevy of new targeted web video networks and series as the market continues to grow and fall into place,” said For Your Imagination CEO Paul Kontonis.

Mobile Monday at the Columbus Circle Samsung Experience Center again demonstrated the mobile media business requires patience. The carriers set the pace.

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Alright so this one is a bit complicated but let's give it a try. KIT Capital, which has invested in former NY-based ROO Group, has provided an unspecified strategic investment in NY-based Viewdle. Viewdle has created a video search engine based on their proprietary facial recognition software. Side note, why aren't they indexing photos in addition to video?

Part of their software allows you to jump directly inside a video to the portion with the person you are looking for. I wrote about Viewdle on their launch and questioned whether publishers would be ok with interior video jumps when that might skip a pre-roll or other forms of advertising.

The question on everyone's mind is: does Viewdle already recognize Ashley Alexandra Dupre?

Dan at SAI takes a look at the ROO stock collapse. Here is an example of their software in action, this time finding President Bush:

WeMix is a new media company founded by Ludacris and Matt Apfel in 2007 as a joint venture between Disturbing Tha Peace Entertainment and MegaMobile TV. It's a simple deal: you sign up, create your page, upload your original songs, beats, vocals, riffs, and more. As a member you can collaborate on songs, offer feedback, and share ideas for new music with others. Most importantly you can vote for your favorite songs. Disclosure: Courtney currently serves as interim COO for wemix and is on retainer

Very cool video about NYC Jelly. It was produced by the awesome guys at 10ton and released on Current:

Blue Note recording artist Priscilla Ahn will take the New York City LIVE@FYI stage on Monday, March 24th at 2:00 p.m. EST with host Jon Johnnidis as she delves into her new album "Good Day" sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The live feed on www.liveatfyi.com will actually start at 1p.m. EST with interviews of Max Haot from Mogulus, Paul Kontonis from For Your Imagination and host Jon Johnnidis by  Johan Farid Khairuddin, the newest Asia Pacific UN Youth Ambassador and Malaysian radio and satellite celebrity.

All studio guests of LIVE@FYI will get to sample delicious fudge from Brooklyn Fudge with special thanks to Amanda Jones.

LIVE@FYI is a live web series on Mogulus and produced by For Your Imagination which showcases the best and most promising bands and artists the music industry has to offer. Whether it’s an unsigned solo performer, a YouTube video sensation, or household name, LIVE@FYI will instantly bring a unique and exciting live performance to a global online audience.