Following is a more formal Q&A that Mike and I prepared together concerning the Geno partnership.  For more details and a link to the online story, please refer to the posting above.

1) Why are we starting this company?

Geno is being created in order to maximize the growth potential of a product already in existence that has shown great promise over the past year. SVI launched genonow.com as an online, highly customizable open learning environment. An official partnership was developed between SVI and Rockfish Interactive because the capabilities, vision and values of both companies will result in developing the most comprehensive and integrated people development and online learning systems in existence.

2) What is your unique selling proposition? How are you different from your competition?

Geno's online learning environment is unique in that it provides a much more valuable alternative to expensive Learning Management Systems (LMS) for companies and corporations. LMS's are typically very complex, inflexible learning systems that are hard for users to grasp and not at all entertaining. Geno's user-friendly and entertaining online learning environment, however, operates organically, delivering "just in time" training from expert trainers from around the globe according to an organization’s specific competency model. Geno’s learning environment also integrates with an online performance review and individual development planning system (IDP) making it one of the most comprehensive online learning systems in existence.

3) Why the two of your together? What brought you together?

Kenny Tomlin and Mike Thompson met based on encouragement from several friends. After an introductory meeting, both Kenny and Mike knew that the relationship could be something very special with enormous opportunity. SVI and Rockfish Interactive share similar visions and hold similar values. Both organizations expect to be global leaders in their industries and believe that to be successful in the 21st century, they must operate with the highest integrity and be mission-minded toward social causes. SVI's and Rockfish Interactive's capabilities fit perfectly together. SVI is very vertically focused in the organizational development (OD) and human resources (HR) industry. Rockfish Interactive is horizontally focused on interactive solutions. It's no secret that the OD and HR industries are in great need of people systems that can be organically and economically deployed according to today’s needs - authentic experiences, constant change, and high customization.  We believe that our partnership will result in developing the most comprehensive and integrated people development and online learning systems in existence.

4) What unique attributes or strengths do both companies have that make this new company unique?

Both SVI and Rockfish Interactive share similar clients. In fact, some of their clients have brought them together on a couple of projects without the knowledge that Rockfish Interactive and SVI were in discussions around forming this new company. SVI is very knowledgeable in the OD industry. SVI creates and conducts talent assessments, designs and delivers leadership and organizational training, offers people development and performance review systems, develops people strategies and captures human capital payout. SVI is also known for its comprehensive leadership development programs such as Radical Sabbatical™ and its emphasis on diversity and inclusion through social network analysis.

Rockfish Interactive has had tremendous growth in bringing interactive solutions to a vast array of needs. Rockfish Interactive is one of the fastest growing interactive company in the Southwest and has brought some of the most innovative systems and world-class design and user experiences to leading companies throughout the country.
With Rockfish Interactive and SVI partnering to create the new company, Geno, they can bring their clients organizational development and human capital expertise along with the most comprehensive and integrated people development and learning systems in existence.

5) What are you selling?

The company GENO is created to deliver the most comprehensive and integrated people development and online learning systems in existence.

6) How does it benefit the customers?

Customers will benefit from this system through its cost-savings, open and customizable system platform, ease of use, integration with an organization’s unique review and development process, entertaining to the user, and potentially unlimited quality training content.

7) Do you have any customers?

Yes. Several. From mid-sized companies to Fortune 100 companies.

8) What stage is the business in?

The formal organization is just underway. However, the product GENO is offering has been deployed in several organizations for almost a year now.

9) What is the future timetable for product development and company growth?

New features such as training module testing and reporting, real-time training module creation, online community, feedback forums, additional search capabilities and administrative features will be added over the next six months. We intend to develop the most comprehensive and integrated people development and online learning systems in existence.