Box Playing Hardball < Real Story Group Blog

In September of 2010, the Texas Rangers professional baseball team signed a $3 billion, 20-year television deal. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, perennial big market teams, took serious notice. All of a sudden the Rangers -- a team with a nice offensive lineup, but traditionally weaker pitching -- became a contender at the highest level. They could now compete for high-priced free agents and invest significantly in player development within their farm system.

I bring up the Rangers not because they are alive and well in the 2011 baseball playoffs while the Yankees and Red Sox are sitting at home, but because I was reminded of this moment with the recent Box news that they have received yet another round of VC funding. This round of $81 million brings the funding total to $162 million. Not long ago, many were scoffing at Box as being just another California start-up foolishly comparing themselves to the SharePoint behemoth. Box did not (and still doesn't) offer nearly as much functionality as SharePoint. However, with $162 million in funding, they cannot be ignored as a contender.

Of course, money doesn't guarantee victory (as a die-hard Red Sox fan, I know). Box will need strong management and products that meets the needs of buyers, not just investors. But one thing is certain, many of the collaboration and file-sharing mainstays are taking notice. Buyers likely will too.

Excerpt from the Telligent Enterprise Evaluation

Enterprise Collaboration & Social Software Evaluation Stream looks at... Heavy traffic slows Community Server

"Like nearly all public-facing tools in this report, Community Server is bedeviled by allegations of poor performance under heavy traffic...."
(p. 289)

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