Start-Up Aims at Google
Google Inc.’s dominant position in Web search isn’t deterring other entrants. The latest, Blekko Inc., hopes to attract users by narrowing search results.
The start-up, which formally is starting its service Monday, hopes to limit the number of spam or low-quality websites that show up for searches in categories such as health, cars and personal finance.
Gaining a significant share in search–a market that generates more than $10 billion in advertising revenue annually in the U.S.–is a long shot. But some Internet analysts have voiced praise for Blekko.com, which has raised $24 million from venture-capital firms and well-known angel investors Ron Conway and Marc Andreessen.
The problem with Google, according to Blekko and some industry analysts, is a proliferation of search results of dubious quality. Sites listed often are filled with content whose source is unclear.
