Philadelphia startup 7Mainstreet has brought Web 2.0 resources to the static online directory model by combining social networking, e-commerce, and wide-ranging business listings.
Tapping into the popularity of sites like Facebook and Myspace, businesses can create their own profile and customize it with pictures, text, video, maps and blogs. 7Mainstreet even has a patent-pending feature for real-time e-commerce.
Founded by 27-year-old Andy Leff, who says he got the idea from hearing that an unsigned band went platinum because of Myspace popularity, 7Mainstreet seeks to do for businesses what Myspace has done for more than a few bands: Get the word out and get people involved.
The company, which launched a beta site in February, claims 16 million businesses in its database and 2,100 activated accounts. As social networks become an ever more integral part of business, 7Mainstreet just might be the right kind of startup to appear at just the right time.