Quick Pitch: Goalkeeper is a hosted free online project management application, team collaboration and issue tracking software.
Genius Idea: Online project management is a big business, and for good reason - Web technology has made it far easier for companies and organizations to collaborate and manage projects and staff. And while there are already some great tools out there (i.e. Basecamp and Freshbooks), a new startup, Goalkeeper brings to the table a simple interface with a lot of very useful features for big companies and freelancers alike.
Goalkeeper is an all-encompassing project management system. With it, you can create new projects, chat with your team, and even track website issues. Goalkeeper didn't skimp on the feature-set. The litany of tasks you can perform include creating support tickets, sharing files, adjusting priorities, tracking project progress, creating checklist, backing up projects, customizing your dashboard, and assigning tasks. And all of that is just under the Projects tab.
For those who are familiar with project management software, most of these features are standard. So where does Goalkeeper stand out? The first area where I believe it excels is in the interface - it's very easy to learn and places some of the most important information in a very useful right hand column. There's also a detailed help section if you don't understand something.
Another strong suit of Goalkeeper is timeline and all of its calendar-based features - they're superb. It was easy for me to navigate through information on a specific month, day, or week. The calendar widget in the right hand column makes it easy to jump to a specific day. It also comes with overview modes and even a gantt chart. It's perfect for when you need a quick glance or a deep drilldown.
Goalkeeper also has an easy-to-use web chat system and even budget tracking for complex projects. The price is fair too: $29 for a freelancer account and $69 for a professional account with a month-long free trial. There are still a few bugs and quirks in Goalkeeper, primarily that this Serbia-based startup has awkward English and could really use some copy help from a fluent English speaker (also goalkeeper, I suggest you change your tagline).
Still, this doesn't detract from Goalkeeper's functionality or usefulness. It's another well-made service for extensive project management.
Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark
BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.