It's Hammer Time in Silicon Valley for DanceJam.com

Former rapper MC Hammer a.k.a Stanley Burrell, has danced himself into a new career as co-founder and chief strategy officer of DanceJam.com.

The Web site, scheduled to debut in mid-January, attempting to upstage YouTube and become the Internet's hub for sharing and watching dance videos. DanceJam aims to make money by grabbing a piece of the rapidly growing Internet advertising market, which is expected to rake in $27.5 billion in 2008, according to eMarketer.

Hammer's comeback in DanceJam is due to his technological savvy, said Ron Conway, a longtime Silicon Valley investor who is part of a small group that provided DanceJam with $1 million in startup funds.

"I expect him to integrate all his knowledge into this Web site," said Conway, who befriended Hammer at a baseball game seven years ago and has been tutoring him in the ways of technology ever since. "He is the lightning rod for this whole thing."

Hammer, 45, garnered interest in Silicon Valley while he was still selling millions of records. Back in the day, he hoped to learn more about how technology might help his music career by hanging out at computer makers like Silicon Graphics Inc. and Apple Inc.

Hammer says,"There is no high-tech lingo or business strategy that you can talk that is above my head."
Go Hammer, Go Hammer, Go!!!

Harrods Gets the Golden Touch

Laban Roomes with investor James Caan (centre) and Harrods owner, Mohamed Al Fayed


In addition to celebrating an investment from BBC2's Dragon's Den, businessman Laban Roomes is ecstatic about signing a deal with exclusive retailers, Harrods.

Laban, whose gold plating business, 'Goldgenie' won a £60,000 investment from equity boss James Caan, has a range of luxurious 24-carat gold plated items such as iPods on sale in the top store.

As part of the contract with Harrods, 'Goldgenie' products will be available for purchase through their store and online shop later this month.

Roomes, 38, originally from Leytonstone, in east London, has done high profile work for clients such as the Emmy Awards in the US. Goldgenie was responsible for the gold plating of the awards that went to Helen Mirren and Denzel Washington.

Ethics are also important to Goldgenie, which donates a percentage of their profits to a Ugandan mining charity. They are striving to secure 'ethical gold' status for the mines of Uganda, ensuring that miners work in safe and sanitary conditions.

Laban said of the contract with Harrods, "We are of course delighted to be associated with such high end retailers as Harrods, and to know that when I first started my company the ultimate goal was to have my products selling from this iconic store, is amazing."

Black CEO Emerges for Nestle Waters

All hail John J. Harris!! He currently is the CEO of Nestlé Purina Europe and has been recenty promoted to the position of CEO of Nestlé Waters (brands such as Perrrier and Poland Springs) and executive vice president of Nestlé S.A. Mr. Harris will assume responsibility in the Paris location and will be operating with $8.9 billion in sales when CEO Carlo Donati retires, which is planned for December 1, 2008.

Nestlé stock is at an all-time high at $455, based on the success of the Nestlé Waters division. In North America, the Pure Life water brand saw sales jump more than 10% to reach $4.8 billion.

Harris says "I am very excited about the opportunity to work in a dynamic growth category. Water will become more important in the future as we look at ways to combat the growing obesity problem, especially among young people."
He plans to expand products in Africa, China and the Middle East.

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