Dotbank, a newly formed online person-to-person payments business, was rapidly falling behind PayPal, the market leader. Dotbank executives asked Weinstein Consulting to develop a business plan to set strategic direction and accelerate market share growth.

Weinstein created several global initiatives to develop new product types, leveraging existing system infrastructure. Value propositions were created for end users and affiliates, using Dotbank’s competitive advantages. Several target markets were sized, and worldwide penetration rates projected. Weinstein’s activity based models projected future performance, and helped to make pricing recommendations.

The Business Plan identified two key success factors: 1) establish alliances with large user bases, and 2) expand functionality to accommodate international markets. Both goals were set in motion when Yahoo acquired Dotbank for $120 million. Weinstein and Dotbank’s president met with several Yahoo executives to close the deal; the business is now called Yahoo PayDirect. Shortly thereafter, Yahoo formed a partnership with Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HSBC) to strengthen its operations and to expand internationally.