Posted by anonymous
on December 31, 2009 at 12:20 AM
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DISCLAIMER: These are all wild guesses and some tongue firmly in cheek predictions. These are not based on any factual information other than my own edumacated guesses.
1. (NASDAQ: FBOK, BOOK, FRND, POKE or ZUCK)
Facebook files to go public in first half of 2010 to raise at least $2 billion after hitting $1.2-$1.5 billion revenue run rate. Facebook goes public in second half of 2010 (between April and September 2010) at $20-25 billion market capitalization. Nasdaq ticker symbol might be FBOK or BOOK (FACE is taken) although I think FRND, POKE or ZUCK would be cute. Facebook millionaires from vintage years 2004-2007 era go traveling around the world, starting/funding charities and starting new cool companies. IPO propels David Kirkpatrick's book The Facebook Effect to the best sellers list- yet another example of the Facebook effect.
2. Activision Blizzynga
Zynga hits $750-$900m run rate by year end 2010. Files to go public by end of 2010. Friendship between Kotick and Pincus leads to Zynga getting bought by Activision Blizzard (ATVI) (Blizzynga!) for $4-5 billion stock/cash deal in December 2010. Reduced virality of web-based social gaming on platforms such as Facebook and increasing ad rates help make it clear this was a great result for the company versus an IPO. Mark Pincus buys a bigger jet to supplement his cool Micro-Jet. Pincus stays on at Activision and gets groomed to be the next CEO or he becomes a VC at a top firm like Kleiner Perkins.
3. NASDAQ: LINK, LNKD or REID?
LinkedIn files to public by years end. I would expect LinkedIN to raise at least $800-$1 billion at a minimum $4-$5 billion market capitalization and hitting a run rate of at least $750m by end of 2010. Look for Linkedin to make a huge acquisition in the space
4. Apple-Google Mobile Wars Heat Up
iPhone continues its incredible march across the planet crossing 100 million active units. Android with Nexus One leading the charge begins to become a serious contender to iPhone with a thriving App Economy and breaks 30+ million active units. Apple and Google go on spending sprees acquiring companies (see Admob and Lala as prototypes). Expect Apple to acquire a competing mobile ad network like Millenial Media or similar company. Both companies double marketing dollars to push their competing mobile solutions and both launch Tablets that break 10 million units by year end.
5. Mobile Social Gaming is the new Hotness
The Mobile Social Gaming space on iPhone and Android becomes as hot as Web-Based Social Gaming Space was in 2009. SGN, Tapulous and NGMOCO become the Zynga, Playfish and Playdom's of the space. Fueled by Apple iPhone and Android growth and free-to-play models, Mobile Social Gaming marketplace hits hundreds of millions. Due to ever increasing quality and ever present nature of Mobile Social Gaming, the space begins to gain more momentum, profits and engagement than its predecessor, Web-Based Social Gaming. [Disclosure: I am the founder of SGN so I am a obviously biased here and have a vested interest in a thriving Mobile Social Gaming ecosystem!].