FatWire founders in new software venture

Mark Fasciano and Ari Kahn, the duo who started Mineola-based FatWire Software more than a decade ago, are back together again in a venture that analyzes an eye-popping 1 billion websites a day for retailers, media companies and political pollsters who want to see how they or their products are perceived by the public.

Fasciano, who in December 2009 started the venture, General Sentiment in Jericho, and assumed the title of chairman, hired Kahn earlier this week to be chief executive.

They first teamed up when they were PhD computer science students at the University of Chicago. In 1997, a few years after they graduated, Fasciano and Kahn started FatWire in the bedroom of Fasciano's parent's home in Oyster Bay Cove. A few years later they sold it to an investors group. FatWire later became a $40-million company. In June it was acquired by business-software giant Oracle Corp. for an undisclosed sum.

Fasciano and Kahn remained close, and Kahn even advised Fasciano on aspects of General Sentiment, but until earlier this week he had no official role.

Kahn "brings a lot of experience both on the technical side and the sales side," said Fasciano.

Kahn said General Sentiment is moving into a new phase. It counts as clients AMC, Bravo, the Gallup Organization and HBO, among others. Now, he said, General Sentiment is seeking wider recognition in the business world and among investor groups.

"We have great technology," Kahn said. "What we do not have is strong marketing and PR. We've been in the backroom. Now is the time to let people know about us."

General Sentiment, which has about 20 employees, will be sending executives out to conferences, trade shows and the like, Kahn said.

Besides software capable of tracking an eye-popping 1 billion websites -- gathering comments and sentiments positive and negative about companies, products and political figures -- General Sentiment has two other PhDs at the helm with Kahn and Fasciano: chief architect Levon Lloyd and chief science officer Steve Skiena.

Kahn said he knows of only two close competitors: Bluefin Labs, based in Cambridge, Mass.; and Radian6, a Canadian company owned by salesforce. com of San Francisco. Radian6 spokeswoman Sarah Carver said the 5-year-old company has about 400 employees.