ExitReality's CEO exits, really

bootstrappr

Mahesh Sharma

From boom to bust, from unconference to BarCamp and beyond, Mahesh Sharma tracks the fortunes of Australia's startup community.

Melbourne-based technology start-up ExitReality confirmed yesterday that it had lost its chief executive just before it formally launched last week.

The company, which purports to allow users to view the entire World Wide Web in 3D through a browser plug-in, had been led by long-time Australian internet executive Dean Jones (the founder and former CEO of local search firm Ansearch) for the last year and three months. However, Jones' LinkedIn profile states he left the role this month.

ExitReality's founder Danny Stefanic, who was the company's CTO under Jones and has now taken the CEO spot, did not respond to a request for comment on the issue. However, ExitReality's external publicist Gillian Yeap confirmed Jones' move in an email.

ExitReality founder
Danny Stefanic

(Credit: ExitReality)

"Dean Jones has not actually 'departed' ExitReality, he has just stepped back from front-line activities," Yeap wrote, adding Jones was still actively involved with the company through his position on its board of advisors.

"Dean still has a vested interest in ExitReality and is currently engineering another major deal that will be announced to the public shortly," she continued.

Commentary
Technology start-ups have historically been a fairly risky proposition for investors and need to fight hard to build credibility.

ExitReality should have disclosed Jones' move when it talked up its launch in the mainstream press last week. The fact that it didn't would clearly make any potential investors in the company extremely shaky.

Talkback

Add your opinion

In order to post a comment, you need to be registered. (Sign In or register below)

Post your comment

Terms of Service - As a ZDNet registrant, and by using this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understand our Privacy Policy.

ZDNet Australia Live

Handy overview of #Android 's major #security flaws: http://t.co/oiVrKSHb #mobile #infosec

The implications of NZ school Principals demanding access to student mobile devices | ZDNet http://t.co/jMSJXzpT

michael kors purse http://www.michaelkorshandbags-online.com/#37 ZLlrPzyxFdu

1 hour ago by YJyqTygeShm on Kodak files for bankruptcy, sues Samsung

Google closes Motorola buy: http://t.co/9ezoLnSg

War talk dominates #AusCERT 2012 - http://t.co/WbuTt174 - #security #cyber

Nuance launches in car voice activated platform (Zack Whittaker ZDNet) http://t.co/9mFEA93c

Sage simplifies SMB payment management http://t.co/gbAKq1ku

A farewell to democracy: Kaspersky http://t.co/zE2SAGol via @zdnetaustralia

Private Cloud: 'Everyone’s got one. Where's yours?': Promising the business a cloud delivered within your own ... http://t.co/jCsDqPlj

BYOD: What the people think http://t.co/hR1pokPG

@ZDNet
R they joking? iPhone only way 2 go!
New 5 out in October (we think) & will kill all copycat phones, AGAIN!!

Android's biggest security flaws - Security - News - ZDNet Australia http://t.co/6nYZRvhh
@sjshock

Google: We now own Motorola Mobility http://t.co/oeFgovzl

@dougsteelman RT @dellsecureworks : Security researcher Tim Vidas of Dell SecureWorks outlines problems with the Androi…http://t.co/BE4LmItr

EMC hones focus on hybrid cloud, big data http://t.co/To6Qpsz4 #bigdata #XBRL #GRC $$

#Security researcher Tim Vidas of @DellSecureworks outlines some concerns with the #Android operating system: http://t.co/gV8MgCiN

Article and Infographic: Retailers attracting the next-gen customer http://t.co/UL3E2Fct #socialmedianews

adgtqMkWiDg //www.2012chanelbagsforsale.com]chanel handbags RKaOBd krFiudOGrBw //www.2012chanelbagsforsale.com]chanel outlet GQXRRYsDNI...

5 hours ago by rfcdvpmubn on Deakin Uni opts for Cisco Unified Computing

“@Techmeme: TiVo streaming coming to iOS this summer (@jasonogrady / ZDNet) http://t.co/07L0ndoD ” < wonder if it will work in AU

Security researcher Tim Vidas of Dell SecureWorks outlines problems with the Android operating system: http://t.co/lA4t9ffu

Why I (now) hate Apple | ZDNet - http://t.co/f5v6BWxu

A farewell to #democracy: (according to)> #Kaspersky http://t.co/82GeK5Ik via @zdnetaustralia

I am not sure how this issue becomes an attack on Mr Turnbull. But I guess he is fair game. In any event I would have thought a Ddos woul...

7 hours ago by Doubt on National Botnet Network coming: Earthwave

RT @JamesVickery: Westpac board goes paperless with iPads http://t.co/L8V05zFs

I still use 98SE. Windows ME was an abortion in a bucket and Vista was ME without the bucket. My screen may look boring, but I jumped str...

7 hours ago by Treknology on Microsoft admits Vista was 'cheesy'

What is it [url=http://vintage-erotic.com/] retro xxx movies [/url]? And why all this it is possible to look free of charge?

7 hours ago by Drienlyinhibe on Australian police swoop on Warez community

Windows 8 includes enhanced multi-monitor support http://t.co/ZVfVHntw

This story has been voted 10 times in the last 24 hours!

7 hours ago, CeBIT 2012 opens: photos

Android users, you think only Apple are having security problems. See what is your major problem.
http://t.co/cjJYSOJw #infosec

RT @my_CISB: Android users, you think only Apple are having security problems. See what is your major problem.
http://t.co/cjJYSOJw #infosec

This story has been voted 15 times in the last 24 hours!

7 hours ago, Lenovo ThinkPad 3G tablet (32GB)

RT @aimee_maree: "For Buytaert, Drupal owes much of its success to being open source" http://t.co/RdnHB2y9 #Drupal

Malware charges users for free Android apps on Google Play - http://t.co/Zhnf2rtw

Well I don't know what they have done with their EFTPOS machines, local one in WA Coles Express I used this morning and I normally do "ch...

8 hours ago by harryinthesoup on Coles ditches PINs in payment pilot

@TaschaD More information: http://t.co/8rfUsQJ0 I guess I shall simply go without.

RT @zdnetaustralia: The Westpac board have gone paperless using iPads and a secure, home-grown app environment: http://t.co/F1d17bvF ^LH

Chrome overtakes IE: does it matter? http://t.co/JRvKsVdn

"For Buytaert, Drupal owes much of its success to being open source" http://t.co/RdnHB2y9 #Drupal

RT @JamesVickery: Westpac board goes paperless with iPads http://t.co/L8V05zFs

Microsoft's big bet: Windows 8's 'too many cooks' problem http://t.co/8AdrUAWA

RT @JamesVickery: Westpac board goes paperless with iPads http://t.co/L8V05zFs

Will Windows Phone's bumpy start eventually lead to success? http://t.co/OSmxT8k6

@Wellsie777 @zdnetaustralia can be done http://t.co/jIlgdXJ4 I once had 2 phones with the same number without even trying!

ルブタンは彼が彼の靴に女性が感じる方法を好む、 クリスチャンルブタンポンプ これは彼がそれらを...

9 hours ago by Coiffboarieri on Reservoir blogs: Fan fakes Tarantino diary

6.7 M last ditch attempt - interesting - The Auckland region (population 1.4 mil) has estimated to have spent less than this in total ...

11 hours ago by debsteele on Vic scraps HealthSMART system

Interesting - no mention of Win 98/ME/2000 ... which heralded Internet access for millions of users ? I thought Win 98/ME would be the mo...

12 hours ago by gouranga on Microsoft admits Vista was 'cheesy'

An Application like Good from Good Technologies does the same thing, working with the enterprise email server and is off the shelf.

12 hours ago by Helpdesk123 on Westpac board goes paperless with iPads

Never mind a "B+" version, go for "C" and put in a few extras. I'd like a high speed ADC (100Msps) but that's just me... Final size? Equ...

13 hours ago by sa_penguin on Raspberry Pi architect mulls design change

what a non-story. these thing happen all the time. is zdnet short on material?

14 hours ago by paulwrussell on Spotify launch suffers redirect bungle

4 months old phone died. Took 6 weeks, three visits to the authorised repairer (Fonebiz) to "fix it". 2nd hand untested parts used, I say...

14 hours ago by paracin on Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

It's easy to rubbish an old operating system long after the rest of the world has already passed judgement upon it. I would be far more i...

15 hours ago by ramnet on Microsoft admits Vista was 'cheesy'

If Vista is cheesy, Metro is an over-ripe Stilton.

15 hours ago by meski on Microsoft admits Vista was 'cheesy'

you are kidding right - what qualification do you have to make such wildy stupid statements - do you really have customers who pay you fo...

15 hours ago by rant rant rant on National Botnet Network coming: Earthwave

Exactly. There are two topics of discussion, that are co-mingled; 1) Unauthorized software was put on the company device, by an IT person...

19 hours ago by lamont on ABC's Bitcoin miner tackled in minutes

First off, Bitcoin is not a virus. Second off, the only way to generate Bitcoins, is by using a Bitcoin miner. More information on this h...

1 day ago by rizowski on ABC's Bitcoin miner tackled in minutes

When an operating system is sold it should not launch until an approved security service is purchased online with a list of approved supp...

1 day ago by Kevin Cobley on National Botnet Network coming: Earthwave

Admits? Don't fall for their marketing. Vista was beautiful. Microsoft has a history of trashing their older OSes.

1 day ago by anonymuos on Microsoft admits Vista was 'cheesy'

Facebook Activity

Keep up with ZDNet Australia

ZDNet Events Calendar

ZDNet Events Calendar