Stardotstar create content, tools and toys that improve people's lives. Our user focused approach has led to agency work with BBC, Channel 4, 3i and local government.

As an IP developer, we have created a platform currently called StardotSite that offers end users the easiest way to update their websites - a demo of the system and it sells itself. It is also stable, scalable and extremely versatile. As well as being user focused at the client facing interface, under the bonnet it also allows agencies to effortlessly set up, manage, and maintain multiple numbers of websites, sharing functionality (or not) where appropriate. Through our agency work StardotSite has won £150k worth of projects, and currently earns us around £30k/year in license revenue. But, we want to make it bigger. A lot bigger.

Out of the many many directions we can take the platform there are two that we are particularly interested in:

* Offer it to agencies: if we can earn 150k work and 30k/year licenses then so can other people. This could be as a part hosted service, or as an Expression Engine style 'honesty box' - pay us if you use it.
* Offer it as a Software as a Service: create platforms for niches at the lower end of the market - the CMS for schools, for sole traders, for SMEs, for 3rd sector, for charities, for sports clubs. In other words, add a layer where my mum could create a good looking site by herself for her walking club, or my brother-in-law for his movie, or my neighbour for their choir… 1000 schools paying £20/month is worth £480k/year, 2000 charities paying £10/month is worth another £480k/year...

For either route, we will need investment in order to develop and improve the offering, and promote it to the appropriate sectors or resellers before we it pays for itself and moves into profit.

Gareth is about to head to San Francisco as part of a trade mission, and is taking part in a Dragons' Den style pitch to investors. So, your thoughts on the platform, routes to market, and advice before he heads to the Valley would be greatly appreciated!