I'm excited to say another day, another Detroit start-up! This time I've had the pleasure of meeting Nareg Sagherian, co-founder of BongoTones.com. BongoTones is a Detroit-based Web site which allows users to upload, customize and create ringtones from their personal music files or search and send multimedia from our user-generated portfolio of 15,000 ringtones for free. I did an email interview with Nareg, check it out below: Tell us about your company (your elevator pitch)

BongoTones.com is a Detroit-based Web site that redefines the way mobile phone users gain access to mobile multimedia through custom applications. BongoTones.com allows users a forum to upload, customize, and create mobile multimedia (ringtones). These applications allow users to upload their own personal music and create their ringtones in whatever fashion they desire. Also, we have an extensive user-generated database of over 15,000 free ringtones that users can automatically send to their mobile phones. Furthermore, BongoTones.com has created a social network dynamic that establishes a community of users that have the same interests. In essence, the Web site saves the users both time and money when it comes to creating multimedia for their phones, as well as allowing them to enjoy their visit through interaction with others. Moreover, BongoTones.com has established a highly-anticipated artist sign up page, allowing musicians and bands the opportunity to convert their original music into ringtones in minutes, making them instantly available to fans. Basically, Bongotones.com is a simple and easy way to access free ringtones through the Internet and deliver them to your mobile phone. With an extensive user-generated database of mobile multimedia, we seek to simplify the tedious task of enhancing one’s mobile phone while also connecting individuals together.

What problem is your company solving or what opportunities is it creating?

Bongotones.com is saving users both time and money when it comes to creating/accessing multimedia for their phones, along with allowing them a forum to interact with other users with similar interests. Furthermore, with the artist sign up page, Bongotones.com is allowing musicians and bands to create a personal profile page for any current and future fans. Bongotones.com lets artists convert their original music into ringtones in minutes, making them instantly available to fans. But that’s just the beginning. Bongotones.com gives artists a bunch of great tools to promote their content, including the ability to cross promote their own website. We are also in the process of providing artists the capacity to build awareness on upcoming events (CD releases, tour dates, etc.), convert fans on our site to Twitter followers, MySpace fans, and Facebook fans, and further market themselves via feature stories and interviews on our home page. Our R&D department is also in the process of creating custom applications for free wallpapers, videos, and games that users can send to their phones. Clearly, having a Bongotones.com profile page is a vital asset for the music industry and will hopefully be established as the norm.

What stage are you currently at?

Presently, we have completed our Web Development stage and are concentrating on four main areas of Search Engine Optimization/Internet Marketing: Creating more custom applications for increased usability (wallpaper, video, games), Enhancing our brand name in the marketplace (stories with media outlets), Increasing our artist-user base (building connections with record labels), and Increasing our advertising base (partnerships with national and international advertising agencies). We believe this is vital for us because a new, innovate Web site is nice, but if more and more users around the world cannot find you, then sustained growth and success will be difficult to accomplish.

How many people are working at your company?

We currently have seven people working at our company: The three founders, a business advisor and three interns.

What are some challenges you’re currently facing?

The standard challenges, such as trying to build the infrastructure to success over the last six months, which is always a challenge when you don’t have a lot of people. I think people and money make the difference in the company. So at the very beginning stages, I don’t think they’re woes, I think they are just part of the start-up experience. The biggest technology challenge has been keep up with the Internet because technology changes so rapidly. Thus, if you are not at the forefront of technology, you are getting left behind.

What advice would you give others that are currently or want to be involved in a startup?

The most important advice we can provide others that are currently or want to be involved in a startup is that a Web site idea is only as good as the hard work you are willing to put into it in order to make it succeed. You might not know everything about the Internet or the industry you are trying to enter, but that should not discourage you. Simply surrounding yourself with committed individuals that fill in your weaknesses will go a long way to future success.

Works great!

I of course tried out their service and had a great first experience. I currently own a LG Voyager cell phone and have had problems with ringtones sites not supporting my phone. Not the case with BongoTones, it was a very smooth process as I downloaded Drake to my phone. The guys at BongoTones are definitely putting out a quality service, be sure to check it out at http://www.bongotones.com.