"Cloud computing will fundamentally transform how software and services on the Web are created," says Albert Wenger, a partner at Union Square Ventures, which this summer invested $1.5 million in cloud computing services provider 10gen. "When the cloud is fully realized, developers will no longer have to worry about provisioning and monitoring machines, whether virtual or real, or whether they will be able to handle a 1000-fold increase in load on their service," Wenger adds. "A single individual will be able to create a site or service that can affect the lives of many millions or even billions of people." Quite a vision. While "cloud computing" has many definitions, undermining the utility of the term, 10gen's goal is simple. The New York startup, founded earlier this year, wants to make it easier and less expensive to create and manage large, complex Web sites. 10Gen is the youngest company in the AlleyCorp network, which is the launching pad for half a dozen technology companies founded by former DoubleClick Inc. executives Dwight Merriman and Kevin Ryan. In a behind-the-scenes video series on AlleyCorp, Tech Confidential talks with Merriman, who is CEO of 10Gen and chairman of AlleyCorp, below. Also see our recent conversations with Ryan, Silicon Alley Insider LLC CEO Henry Blodget and Gilt Groupe co-founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and an earlier discussion with Music Nation CEO Daniel Klaus. -- Mary Kathleen Flynn
