CNET writes about a new “stealth startup” from former Google News product manager Nathan Stoll. The new site “Mechanical Zoo” is reportedly in alpha right now. Here’s how CNET’s Stefanie Olson describes its intended function:

At a high level, Mechanical Zoo is building an application–rather than a destination site–that will help people tap into the knowledge of their social circle to find information, such as what movie to see or where to go out on a Friday night. The company is not ready to publicly preview or talk about its technology, but it currently has at least 100 “alpha” users testing the service. According to [ex-Googler Max] Ventilla, it will be a Yahoo Answers-type product, with more built-in intelligence about your personal tastes.

The description is intriguing as part social and part local search application. The company apparently has raised close to a million dollars in Angel money to date. The article suggests Mechanical Zoo will launch next month.

Mechanical Zoo is simply the latest in a growing list of startups being founded (and in some cases funded) by Xooglers.

Related Topics: Google: Employees | Search Engines: Social Search Engines

About The Author: Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog Screenwerk, about SoLoMo issues and connecting the dots between online and offline. He also posts at Internet2Go, which is focused on the mobile Internet. Follow him @gsterling. See more articles by Greg Sterling