Startup

In the latest episode of mediabistroTV’s “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler meets with piictu founder Jonathan Slimak. Piictu is a mobile app that allows people to collaborate using pictures. It’s also one of the “What’s Hot” and “New & Noteworthy” apps in Apple’s app  store.

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It seems like a new startup is popping into the media landscape every day. But according to the Small Business Administration, five out of 10 new companies  survive at least five years, one-third will make it 10 years, and only 25 percent stay in business 15 years or more. So what does it take to not just bring the company together, but to maintain its success for a long time?

With help from media moguls, we list the seven traits that makes the difference between a wanna-be with an idea bulb and a successful entrepreneur.

One of the first steps: finding that perfect partner. Cezary Pietrzak was one of four friends who worked together to launch start-up travel site Wanderfly, and he credits their friendship with getting the company off the ground. “You expect to spend a lot of time with other folks in your company and pull late hours, so you have to have a great relationship.”

Read on for more on learning the business, handling those funds and honing on your big idea at 7 Definitive Traits You Need for Startup Success. [sub req'd]

In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler talks with entrepreneur Ella Gorgla about her startup, I-Ella, an online marketplace where users can buy, swap, sell, and borrow clothes, accessories, and shoes.

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To continue the conversation about media startups receiving funding, next up: Contently.

The company, started in 2010 as an open marketplace for writers and publishers, has raised$2 million in funding. According to Ad Age, Lightbank, founded by two early Groupon investors, led the round that included additional investors.

Co-founder Shane Snow told Ad Age that the early vision for Contently was to be “the freelancing software marketing arm of The New York Times.”  He added, “I was hoping to save journalism or something.” But as the article notes, the company has changed directions and now focuses on helping brands like American Express, LinkedIn and Best Buy secure content via its writer marketplace versus connecting writers with traditional media companies. Apparently the demand for content is higher for brands.

“The promise for the journalists now isn’t ‘Hey, you can write for The New York Times,’ it’s ‘Hey, you can write for AmEx,’” Snow said. “Not as glamorous, but it often pays better.”

In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler talks with Kogeto founder and CEO Jeff Glasse about the Dot, his company’s panoramic video iPhone attachment, which was built with funding from Kickstarter.

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In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler talks with Andy Leff about his startup Meporter, a local news site that empowers citizen journalists to share stories as they’re happening (not to be confused with Stephen Colbert’s meReport 6700).

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In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler grills entrepreneur Yaron Samid about his company BillGuard, a credit card protection service that recently closed a $10 million round of financing.

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In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler gets pitched by OnSwipe CEO Jason Baptiste, who says his company’s tablet publishing platform is “insanely easy.”

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In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler grills entrepreneur Aaron Harris about his startup Tutorspree, a site that connects students with private tutors.

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In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler talks to Bo Fishback, CEO and co-founder of the buyer powered online marketplace Zaarly.

For more videos, check out Mediabistro.tv, and be sure to follow us on Twitter: @mediabistroTV