Those boxes full of old videotapes and photos just take up space in many homes. But iMemories Inc., which has raised $6.2 million in Series B financing, hopes to turn those dusty old physical media artifacts into new online social media.

iMemories receives $6.2 million in venture funding to further solidify its leadership position in the emerging market of social entertainment – online video and photo sharing for families, inclusive of both analog and digital media formats.

100 companies were featured as "Brilliant Ideas" in the June issue of Entrepreneur, and iMemories was included in this elite class of rising stars, and fresh concepts...

The ways we have recorded our personal footprints - on paper and tape and plastic, things we could hold in our hands - are forever stalked by the ticking clock...

At a smaller company, "changes are able to happen much faster," says Doug Ducey the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery who left to become chairman of a 30-person company, iMemories, based in Scottsdale, Ariz. "You can really move at an incredible speed."

The former chief executive officer of Cold Stone Creamery is turning his consumer-marketing skills toward home videos.

iMemories - views on and active involvement in social media were featured in a special Entrepreneur’s Guide in the Phoenix Business Journal.

Baby Boomers are getting on the bandwagon when it comes to Web 2.0, and 2008 will be known as the Year of the Boomer. It’s probably not so important that the average consumer or videographer understands how Web 2.0 works, however, but rather that they understand that there has been a major shift, and the benefits it brings to a new, older generation. Thanks to Web 2.0, boomers are mastering the game when it comes to Internet video.

iMemories and Mark Rukavina were featured on Retirement Living TV’s Daily Café program, a weekday two-hour show that services millions of Direct TV and Comcast viewers on the eastern seaboard and covers just about anything that would be of interest to the 50+ crowd.

One of the lessons I learned along the way is that there is beauty and magic that belong to ordinary moments. With video camcorders, we feel compelled, as I did initially, to bring it out just for the milestone occasions. When I finally had a chance to sit down and watch all of the miles of videotape I had shot, however, I realized that, while the special events indeed carried meaning, the chance footage I took of my daughter in everyday activities actually meant more to me, spawning many more sentimental feelings.

iMemories hosted the “After5” Networking event, which is held regularly throughout the year by the Arizona Technology Council. Over 120 of the most influential people in Arizona‘s business community – especially those connected to the high-tech industry – participated in the fall kickoff, from all over metro Phoenix.

The theme this month was “Presenting Our Fondest Memories Digitally,” and Mark Rukavina co-presented at the SMC San Francisco along with Jennifer Myronuk.

Mark Rukavina and the genesis of iMemories were profiled in this national men‘s magazine published by former sports broadcaster Tom Zenner.

iMemories featured on NBC Channel 9 News, Denver, CO

iMemories and Mark Rukavina were featured on NBC Channel 9 News in Denver for a special event, allowing consumers to watch their original home videos on authentic film projectors.

iMemories has been one of Arizona‘s best-kept secrets, preserving over 75,000 movies in its first year. That number is expected to double this year as the company launches on a nationwide scale via its online video sharing website.

“At tonight‘s Social Media Club meeting we saw a really great preview of a new use of social media, the iMemories online site. iMemories is founded by one of the former founders of KnowledgeNet. Its mission is to help people who have old film and videos digitize and edit them online, and then share them with family members.”

Unlike the cultural phenomenon YouTube, iMemories is targeting the 35 and older market through a mix of online and traditional media advertisements. Michael Inouye, a research analyst at Scottsdale-based In-Stat, said iMemories will serve “a pivotal role in establishing a healthy future for the video market” because of its targeted demographic.

The company that made it easy to transform memories saved on old physical media into accessible and enjoyable DVDs is expanding its horizons. iMemories opened its doors just over one year ago in the Airpark area. Since then, they have converted over 75,000 home videos, film reels, photos and slides into digital form allowing for the images to be revitalized and stored in an organized and protected format.

Richard and Sally Low, residents of Payson, Arizona, used iMemories services to convert more than 40 home movie reels to DVDs to preserve their family history and as gifts for their two children. The reels showed their marriage, their children growing in the numerous homes they owned and ended with their two children riding horses on their farm in New Hampshire. The services to convert the reels were “well worth it,” according to Low. “Otherwise, you would not see them again.”

“Saving Your VHS Memories”

“Most people don‘t realize that videotape has a life span. And here‘s the problem, for a lot of those videos you shot 10, 15 or 20 years ago that life span is coming to and end. Just ask Mark Rukavina. He runs a company in Scottsdale called iMemories. It takes all kinds of old home videos in all different formats and converts them to DVDs.”

While videotape is more affordable than film and represents a practical way to capture family moments, it is a dangerous medium to use for archival purposes. Experts agree that degradation of videotape begins as early as 10 years because it is magnetic.

iMemories founder & CEO Mark Rukavina is interviewed by Ron Schott of the Arizona Technology Council on station KFHX 1620 AM as part of their weekly program on technology news and trends.

“His & Hers Gifts”

“iMemories gift set: Convert your old home videos and photos to DVD, $19.99 per VHS tape, $19.99 per 50 ft. film reel, 99 cents per print, negative or 35mm slide at iMemories, 480-767-2510.”

“It‘s showtime for iMemories LLC, and in more ways than one. The Scottsdale company, which specializes in digitizing home videos, is inviting Valley residents to its second Home Movie Film Festival. Even bigger, it‘s launching an online service that will make iMemories available to family movie buffs nationwide.”

Scottsdale‘s iMemories to host metro Phoenix – first annual “Home Movie Day” at its digital studio. Public invited to free event.

“Since I found out about iMemories I haven‘t stopped telling anyone who‘d listen. I‘m that excited about this.”

Business puts old family movies on DVD, video iPods. “It‘s like dropping it off at DreamWorks, only we are local and this is all we do,” Rukavina says.

“Memory Lane”

Taking professional editing to the next level, iMemories creates movie “shorts,” “features” and “epics” that are set to music and include special effects.

“iMemories Turning Old Movies into Lasting DVDs”

Christina Ruttenburg, an iMemories customer, said “The DVDs are professionally packaged, organized and labeled perfectly. It‘s also extremely fast and easy to jump around the DVD menu and find the fun segments I am looking to view.”

“Firm Will Transform Old Movies Into DVD”

iMemories has launched its home movie transformation service as a convenient way for families to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries with professionally edited movies with music soundtracks.

“New Scottsdale Firm Transforms home videos Into Special Occasion Gifts on Contemporary DVDs and Video iPods”

“Families everywhere have boxes of old media stashed away,” said company founder Mark Rukavina. “These physical film reels and video tapes represent memories that are irreplaceable. We professionally inspect, clean, repair, edit and transform them to contemporary digital media, creating a one-of-a-kind spectacular gift for a special event.”

“We take the power of Hollywood and do some real impressive editing [said Rukavina]. I mean some true magic has come within reach. We‘ve assembled a real all-star team of folks, from the technology perspective to the creative perspective to the branding perspective. A lot of people don‘t have a brand they can trust. We are that brand.”