Friday, October 17, 2008

Mark Burnett TV Show seeks entrepreneurs

I received this email.  I found it pretty interesting, and thought that one of our students might be brave enough to try it out.

Subject: Please forward to your students or graduates - New TV Pilot for Major Television Network now casting INVENTORS / ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS!

"Hello. I’m hoping you could post or forward this to any of your students or graduates who might be interested in participating. Thank you.

New TV Pilot for Major Television Network now casting INVENTORS / ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS!
 
Do you have an amazing idea or product but need the money to back it?
Would you like the opportunity to pitch your invention to several multi-millionaire investors? If so, we want to hear from you! 
 
Email a brief paragraph containing only NON-CONFIDENTIAL and NON-PROPRIETARY information about yourself and your idea along with contact info and a recent photo to:
Kris Canning – Casting Producer
 
kcanning@markburnettprod.com
 <mailto:kcanning@markburnettprod.com

HURRY—PLEASE REPLY BY OCTOBER 22, 2008!
You must be 18 or older to participate. 
 
 
By making a submission, you acknowledge that such submission may be identical with or similar to material which has or may come to Mark Burnett Game Shows, Inc., any network or other entity that is licensed to exhibit the pilot, and/or their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, related entities, employees, contractors, agents, representatives, officers, directors, assignees, designees, licensees (collectively "MBGS") from other sources.  You acknowledge that the entities comprising MBGS are engaged in a wide range of business ventures and may be independently developing ideas, projects, or concepts identical with or similar to your submission.  You acknowledge that the submission is submitted voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust, and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between you and MBGS by reason of such submission or otherwise. You agree that no obligation of any kind is assumed by or may be implied against MBGS (including without limitation any obligation to pay money) by reason of MBGS's receipt or potential or actual review of your submission or any discussions or negotiations you may have, except pursuant to an express written agreement which may hereafter be executed by you and MBGS.  Without limiting the foregoing, you specifically acknowledge and agree that you release MBGS from any and all claims, including without limitation so-called "idea submission" or similar claims, you may have now or in the future relating to your submission."

1 comment:

Brian Crozier said...

Mark Burnett is going to have another major hit with this show. I have been watching the Canadian version and look forward to Shark Tank.

I started an online payment company called UseMyBank that gives consumers the option of paying online merchants from their online bank.



Here is a link to a sample transaction to show you the customer experience



http://www.usemybank.com/SampleTransaction/TestTransaction.html



An Overview of UseMyBank



UseMyBank is one of a handful of companies worldwide focusing on providing a more direct and

convenient method for making online payments in today's E-commerce era. As the Internet creates

more global commerce it is imperative for companies to provide their customers with the best possible

services and products. Since its inception in 2002 UseMyBank’s proprietary technology has allowed it’s

merchants to utilize the core technology of online banking systems to provide a payment method that is

safe, easy to use and cost effective for both the merchant and the consumer.



UseMyBank’s proprietary platform acts as a “bridge” between the merchant's web site and the customer's

own online banking center, allowing the usual process of log-in and payment or bill pay authorization to

be reduced down from the usual dozen or more steps to a few simple clicks.



The flexibility of UseMyBank’s core technology allows us to accomplish the end goal of a real-time direct

debit funds transfer through a variety of methods. depending on the technology and processes available at

each bank. At one bank, we might utilize the Bill Payment system, at another, account to account transfers

or email money transfers.



Regardless of the method used, the end result is the same - a real time transfer of funds from the Customer's

bank account - not ACH! UseMyBank transactions are as close to a cash transaction as you can get online -

with a Good Funds Model of 99.999999%!


Here is a step by step overview of the process:



1) Customer selects UseMyBank as their payment option from the Merchant’s shopping cart or check-out page

2) Customer is then presented with a list of banks that are currently accessible through UseMyBank, and selects

their own bank

3) The customer is then presented with a brief series of screens that walks them through the process of logging

into their own bank’s online banking center, choosing the account they wish to use for the transaction and approving

the amount to be paid to the merchant.

4) Once the transaction is approved by the customer, both the merchant and the customer are emailed receipts.

5) Customer returns to the Merchant website, transaction completed, in about the same time as the average credit

card transaction

In most cases, the actual number of steps that would be required to for the customer to complete the above payment

process is reduced by 50% or more!



In the background, the following is taking place:
1) The UseMyBank system is following the appropriate steps to log in the customer according to their bank’s own

unique procedures.

2) UseMyBank is confirming that the details of the transaction match to the details of the bank account, through their

proprietary Anti-Fraud System

3) Once the customer has approved the transaction, UseMyBank initiates the real-time transfer of funds from the customer’s

bank account to a UseMyBank ‘holding’ account at the same bank. The actual method of funds transfer may vary from bank

to bank, depending on the technology available in each bank

4) Settlements are made to the Merchants once a week, or according to the Merchant’s pre-determined schedule




UseMyBank “White Label” Platform



With a White Label, or Private Label, Platform, a Merchant has two options:

1) Utilize the existing UMB infrastructure and bank relationships. This would mean that the customer would see only pages

bearing the Merchant’s brand/log, but funds would still be transferred to the UMB bank accounts for later settlement to the Merchant.

2) Merchant can acquire and use their own bank accounts, so that funds would be transferred directly from the Customer’s bank

account to the Merchant’s account in the same bank. This option gives the Merchant immediate access to funds with little or no

‘float’ time, as well as the cost savings normally associated with settlements. In most countries, accounts at a handful of the top

banks will give the Merchant access to the majority of the potential online banking users.

3) Merchant acquires “Approved Bill Pay Merchant” status - in some countries, simply applying to become an Approved Biller, will

grant the Merchant the same status across multiple bank systems



UseMyBank’s platform has been successfully used or tested with dozens of banking systems around the world, and currently facilitates

real-time direct debit payments in 6 countries and 45 banks. Any bank that offers account to account transfer, online bill pay, or email

money transfers (EMT) is a potential candidate for the UMB system.