Got talent? There's a new network for you

Jeremy Levanthal was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. With the help of his New York friends and $250,000, he has founded Talent Maven. "Connecting the world of entertainment" is the company's slogan.

Like any social network, Talent Maven lets members set up profiles, make connections with other members and share updates through a news stream. They can also upload music mixes, photos and videos, and create an online portfolio or electronic press kit. "Unlike Facebook, you can prevent people from contacting you," Leventhal told TechCrunch. To connect to a member you need to know somebody who knows that person and get an introduction.  

Already 1,000 entertainment industry people have been testing the site, including agents at William Morris and MTV. Rapper Timbaland's production company is in discussions to sign two new singers discovered on the site.