tenXer: Marrying Big Data and the Workplace

The market is abuzz about “Big Data” and the wealth of innovation that is going to result from harnessing valuable information. With the API-ification of most data sources out there, access is not the problem—context is. Only through relevant context can we truly begin to realize the promise of Big Data.

A few people are doing this really, really well, and one of them is Jeff Ma, a seasoned entrepreneur, data analytics mastermind and member of the infamous MIT Blackjack Team (Jeff is the subject of the best-selling book “Bringing Down the House” and the hit movie “21”). With his new company tenXer, Jeff is applying context to Big Data and bringing it into the realm of employee productivity—a space that is ripe for a huge disruption.

tenXer builds software that allows employees to have better visibility into their own performance. Starting with data collected in cloud-based services, tenXer aggregates information from places where users are already logging in or doing work, and presents this data in an interesting, engaging and compelling format. tenXer users become more intrinsically motivated and, simply put, better at their jobs.

With the onslaught of data that is now accessible, we believe virtually every application category is going to be disrupted. We have to rethink all of these applications with data as the foundation or core, and with tenXer, Jeff is on the cutting edge of this movement.

We love to partner with the most dynamic, promising entrepreneurs out there, and Jeff’s background and the huge market he is attacking made investing in tenXer a no-brainer for True. We are happy to join with co-investors Radar Partners, Google Ventures and several angels in support of tenXer, and we are beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work with someone of Jeff’s caliber. Jeff and team tenXer, welcome to True!

Read more about Jeff and tenXer on the New York Times Bits Blog.