SOMEWHAT FRANK -- offers candid editorial on Web & Personal Technology and Social Media through the blog SOMEWHAT FRANK and video podcast SOMEWHAT FRANK TV. SOMEWHAT FRANK was named one of the best Web 2.0 blogs, has been named as a "must know" blog for startups and was also selected by Intel as an Intel Insider brand ambassador. SOMEWHAT FRANK is more than just a publication as it also offers boutique consultancy services and hosts and sponsors community events. Through SOMEWHAT FRANK you can connect and share your SOMEWHAT FRANK opinion with its worldwide audience of business and tech industry leaders, venture capitalists, investment professionals and entrepreneurs. SOMEWHAT FRANK is published by SOMEWHAT FRANK, LLC.
jet-setting entrepreneur, connector, writer and speaker
Email: Contact Frank
Blogger Since: June 2005
Location: Washington, DC / Arlington, VA (map it)
Astrological Sign: Taurus (Mess with the bull, you get the horns.)
I enjoy: Sunshine, strumming my six-string, long walks on the beach, baseball, mojitos and taking photos/videos of pretty much anything that moves.
Bio:
Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) is well known new media journalist focused on sharing his Web product expertise and analysis on Web 2.0, social media and emerging technologies in articles and videos online. His works have been featured in TechCrunch, iMediaConnection, ReadWriteWeb Network and on his popular personal tech blog, Somewhat Frank. He keynotes regularly about entrepreneurship, emerging technology trends, social media and his love for the “shiny objects” or Web products across the country at industry events. Frank has been dubbed by the Washingtpost Post and LATimes as a "digital nomad" for his on the go work anywhere and everywhere lifestyle. Frank was also named on of 100 DC Tech Titans by Washingtonain Magazine in May 2009.
Frank co-founded TECH cocktail with Eric Olson, in Chicago (Frank's hometown - Go Cubs!) in 2006 to help better connect and amplify the local technology signal and have some fun doing it. Since 2006, TECH cocktail has grown to become a media company offering technology news, events and community-powered projects open to technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs & professionals interested in the latest technology in their community.
Frank was formerly a product strategist and evangelist for the Aol social networking group, which included such products as AIM, SocialThing, Goowy, Bebo and ICQ with a focus on communications and lifestreaming products. Frank was instrumental in connecting Aol with a number of industry experts, media and start-ups (some of which were acquired by Aol). Frank’s previous team was also responsible for the launch of the widget driven myAOL personalized homepage/startpage product in 2007. Frank departed Aol right before the Aol spinoff January 1, 2010 (as covered by TechCrunch).
Frank has experience bootstrapping on a variety of start-up endeavors. Frank is a co-founder of Shiny Heart Ventures, a technology start-up focused on building community driven products that remind people of the joys of life. Shiny Heart Ventures first product, Thankfulfor.com is an online gratitude journaling community that has been praised by CNN, TechCrunch and CBS News among others. Shiny Heart Ventures is also co-producer of Digital Capital Week (@DCWEEK), a 10 day festival in Washington DC focused on technology, innovation and all things digital in our nation’s capital.
Frank currently lives in Washington, D.C. but travels a lot as he circles the globe speaking, hosting events and helping to amplify the local technology signal.
Publications:
TechCrunch Articles:
The State of Online Feed Readers
Let's Buy Some Music: Part 1
Subscription Music Services Compared: Part 2
Comparing the Mapping Services
Do More: Online To Do Lists Compared
Nine Chicago Startups Present at TECH cocktail
Midwest Startups Unite at Second TECH cocktail
Alt Search Engines Article:
iMedia Connection Articles:
WOM in the Social Media Landscape
Creating the Positive User Experience
Integrate Your Local Media Strategy
Advertising on Social Networks
Audio/Video:
A Social Media Discussion Lifestreamed
Trend TV Interviews Somewhat Frank Gruber
2007 Supernova Interview Series v3
TechCrunch - Video Of Unlaunched AOL Products
The Forces Behind TECH cocktail - BusinessPOV
TalkCrunch - Episode 4: Battle of the Online Feed Readers
Waxxi Interactive Podcast: Robert Scoble & Shel Israel
Waxxi Interactive Podcast: Michael Parekh & Mike Arrington
Frank Gruber and Eric Olson talk TECHCocktail 3
In The News Archive:
10/12/06 - TECH cocktail: Eric Olson & Frank Gruber, Technology Evangelist
03/13/06 - The Innovators: Frank Gruber, Technology Evangelist
11/06/05 - Advanced ads, or attack of the splog people, Toronto Star
10/29/05 - How To Fight Those Surging Splogs, Wired News
10/19/05 - 'Splogs' Roil Web, and Some Blame Google, Wall Street Journal
