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Eons(TM) Spins Off Obituary Classifieds Business Launching Tributes.com
Tributes, Inc. Raises $4.2 Million to Establish National Online Resource for Obituary News and Online Community Associated With Loss & Grieving
| Source: Tributes.com
CHARLESTOWN, MA--(Marketwire - February 13, 2008) - Today, Eons, Inc., parent company of online
baby boomer community www.eons.com, announced the formation of Tributes,
Inc. Tributes™ will be focused on developing www.tributes.com into the
leading online destination for timely obituary news and lasting tributes
celebrating loved ones' lives, fulfilling against the original vision for
the eons.com obituary classifieds product -- Eons.com Obits -- which
launched as part of the site in July 2006. Tributes.com also offers an
online community to provide support during times of loss and grieving, and
the site includes an extensive obituary database with obituary records
dating back to the early 1900s, providing an excellent resource for
genealogy and documenting family connections. As part of the new venture,
Dow Jones & Company has signed on as a strategic investor in Tributes,
Inc., and will seek ways to expand the relationship. Tributes raised $4.2
million in Series A financing to fund business operations.
The Tributes executive team represents deep expertise in building consumer
brands, migrating classifieds online and the funeral industry. Jeff Taylor,
founder and CEO of Eons and founder of Monster.com, which transformed the
recruitment advertising industry globally with its pioneering online model,
will act as Chairman of the Board of the new company. Elaine Haney, who
served in several executive product and marketing roles at eons.com and who
previously spent 10 years building Switchboard.com into one of the
industry's leading online white and yellow pages brands, will serve as the
company's President. John Heald, who will serve as the company's Vice
President of Business Development and Sales, is a fourth-generation
licensed funeral director who brings additional industry knowledge as a
former sales consultant to Batesville Casket Company and a consultant in
the pre-need insurance industry. Taylor's & Haney's deep experience
transitioning print classified products to the web along with Heald's
channel expertise, gives Tributes a powerful foundation of knowledge which
can be leveraged to fulfill against its mission.
"The Internet is transforming the way people grieve," said Taylor, "and the
Obituary classifieds is the last laggard classified section that has yet to
make a meaningful transition from print to online. There is a significant
opportunity to establish Tributes.com as a major web brand that marries
reliable, timely obituary data with user generated content and community,
transforming an industry that is over 100 years old and creating a platform
which offers more and better services for families."
Building upon industry relationships previously established by eons.com,
Tributes will partner directly with funeral homes to establish Tributes.com
as an important bridge between funeral homes and consumers searching online
for obituary information and in need of funeral-related services.
About Eons™
Eons.com is the online community for spirited boomers who want to explore
their passions, keep in touch with friends, connect with interesting people
to share life experiences, and most of all have fun. Founded by Jeff
Taylor, creator of Monster.com, Eons has attracted a team of renowned
advisors and industry-leading partners and is backed by venture capital
financing from General Catalyst Partners, Sequoia Capital, Charles River
Ventures and Intel Capital, as well as Humana, Inc. Eons is headquartered
in Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. For more information about Eons, visit
www.eons.com.