Elefanta.pl is the first Polish toolbar-based application for social bookmarking, with usability similar to offered by StumbleUpon, currently owned by Ebay.SU has more than 3,8 mio users. Elefanta within one week after launch gained attention of more than 10.000 users and it has some advertising contrats proposals.
The business model of the Polish website is dual: targeted advertising and premium accounts (to be released after achieving critical mass of users).
Elefanta is created by four persons team. Piotr Krawiec, the leader of the project is responsible for the communication and marketing strategy of the website. Piotr has previously worked at Onet.pl (the biggest portal in Poland), and in Money.pl (leading financial portal in Poland).
Adam Cuper, Paweł Majewski and Błażej Karmelita are working at technological issues of the elefanta. They are IT professionals with an experience gainedg in both Polish and international projects.
I am not sure whether Polish market is matured enough for social browsing/bookmarking, but elefanta as the first clone of StumbleUpon have an opportunity to lead this segment in Poland.
There are of course some threats for elefanta's business plan. If any of the existing social networking websites in Poland (such as Grono) launch similar feature with toolbar it will easily smash elefanta with the mass of users.
Also original StumbleUpon has the possibility to localize its interface and use its existing users from Poland to expand business here, with proven technology and marketing budget.
Is elefanta.pl able to achieve its target of unique users before it happens?
Without external investor and promotion, I would not bet for it.
However, I wish to Piotr and his team all the best.
You may see Polish source for this article at wnet.
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