
First Index Shuts Down: History and Context
Yesterday, we reported that First Index, a sourcing marketplace for industrial parts and former consulting firm, had closed its doors earlier this week. My tip on the situation came from AJ Sweatt, a colleague and friend who serves as community and b…

First Index: A Consultancy and Marketplace Closes Its Doors
On Tuesday, March 9th, First Index, a supplier-pays marketplace and former direct materials sourcing and supply chain consultancy, closed its doors. First Index had received significant funding from LMS Capital, a UK-based firm, and Bessemer ventures…

Cortera — A New D&B Competitor in the Supply Risk Content Market(Part 2)
In my first column tackling Cortera, a new upstart that provides supply risk content that competes against D&B, Equifax and others, I examined their potentially disruptive business model. Today, I’ll continue this analysis digging into how Cortera ha…

Cortera — A New D&B Competitor in the Supply Risk Content Market (Part 1)
Every week, I try to give myself an hour or two to surf the web and do research on companies and news that I might not otherwise come across in the regular contingent of sites and publications I peruse (don’t ask — it’s probably upwards of 150 now)….