A Smarter Search Engine – Oingo

A search engine that tries harder to understand the exact nature of your questions, and lead you to the right sites, is called Oingo. This search engine, which helps you define your search by asking you questions about the meaning of your words, is the invention of two Cal Tech students. Its creators say the search engine is able to help specify searches better than any existing search engine, thanks to a massive lexicon that keeps track of the meanings and associations of any given word. Oingo won a Best of Show award at Internet World this fall.

World Wide Web: www.oingo.com

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The word Koldoon, apparently, means "wizard" in Russian, and the folks behind the Koldoon Web site say their database wizardry enables them to conjure up an impressive collection of data on technology start-ups. Tel Aviv, Israel-based DataSphere - a start-up itself - says its Koldoon service can help entrepreneurs looking for investors at the same time that it helps venture capitalists track down up-and-coming businesses yet to hit investor radar screens. A subscription to the site is not cheap - $2,000 for one year’s access - but five-day free trials are currently available, and fledgling companies can have access for free as long as they keep their comprehensive listings up to date and have yet to hit annual sales of $1 million. DataSphere says that behind Koldoon is a team of journalists who work to ensure information is fresh and double-checked for accuracy.

World Wide Web: http://www.koldoon.com

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