$3 million for Kansas search enginePosted 12/08/2004
Search engine Kozoru has reportedly been awarded $3 million in financing.
The series A funding from the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp (KTEC) is being viewed as the first major investment in search engine technology by the state of Kansas.
Kozoru claims its mission is "to revolutionize the world of search technology". Michael J Brown, co-founder and CEO of EuroNet Worldwide, commented: "The world of search technology is inadequate and needs to change. kozoru represents a huge step in the right direction. The market for this idea is nearly infinite."
KTEC praised Kozoru for its "unique, intriguing approach to search technology" and Senator Dave Kerr, president of the Kansas Senate, added: "I am excited that kozoru's groundbreaking technology is being developed in Kansas. It has long been both a professional and personal goal of mine to have this kind of investment happen in our state."
Kozoru is building a natural language search system that will allow people to ask real questions and get real answers. The new system will rank information by giving dictionaries, encyclopaedias and news stories more credibility than subjective sources, thereby establishing confidence and authority.
Executives of the new Kansas-base search engine include former InQuisit boss John Flowers and Ask Jeeves co-founder David Warthen, and Ridgely C Evers, founder of Intuit's QuickBooks.
Mr Flowers said: "With kozoru, we're creating a way for information to reach its full potential. Our system will streamline the search process in a very common sense way so people can find relevant, accurate information in record time. The keyword approach of our competitors represents a system that is unsustainable. We believe questions and answers are the future."
The company also includes Board members David Warthen, founder of the Ask Jeeves search engine, © DeHavilland Information Services plc
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