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Copyright American City Business Journals Apr 28, 2000

PETE BLACKSHAW

Founder and CEO PlanetFeedback

Age: 35

A native of Pasadena, Calif., it at first seems surprising that Pete BLACKSHAW would decide to set up shop as an Internet entrepreneur in Cincinnati.

But Blackshaw also is a Procter & Gamble alumnus, where he made his mark as a cofounder of its interactive marketing team. So, when he left P&G in September to start his own Internet company, then code-named Project Bark, he stayed in Cincinnati.

He took office space in Over-the-Rhine and has established himself as a vocal proponent of the neighborhood's high-tech potential.

"I think this is a fantastic place to start the business," Blackshaw said. "Everyone who comes down here feels the energy. It is definitely attractive to young people, and you can squint your eyes and feel like you are in Multimedia Gulch or Silicon Alley."

In December, Blackshaw secured $6 million in a first round of venture capital financing for the company and publicly unveiled its name: PlanetFeedback.

PlanetFeedback aims to be an online community that channels complaints, compliments and suggestions from consumers to businesses. The company's Web service launched Feb. 17.

Now, Blackshaw is focused on preparing a marketing blitz to attract users and on revising the site.

"We received a ton of very helpful consumer feedback," Blackshaw said. "The opportunity of the Internet is to learn from what consumers say about what they like and dislike about the site."

Before he began working with consumer products and marketing, Blackshaw was active in California politics. He won a fellowship to work in the governor's office after college and later worked as press secretary to State Sen. Art Torres.

Locally, he has been nominated to the board of Partnership for Greater Cincinnati and serves as a volunteer online consultant to the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative mentor program and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.