Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

I sent a tweet this morning to say I was going to do a ‘#followfriday’ for the very first time. A number of people asked me what that meant, so I’ve decided to write a short post to explain.

#followfriday is a way of recommending people you follow, to other users on Twitter. The idea is that those being recommended will gain new followers.

I feel so strongly about my recommendations that I’ve decided to write why I’m recommending them as potential people for you to follow.

People I recommend and why

@Sheetalmmehta (London)

Helping companies to go global, Innovation, Social entrepreneurship, Technology, Investment…

Sheetal is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Sheetal is the UK Dealmaker for the UK Trade & Investment. She sits on several advisory panels including Shelter, UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), Digital Diaspora Network for Africa, and the LSE Alumni Mentoring Committee. Her volunteer work is extensive and she is currently writing a book on Social Venture Capital. One of her most notable accomplishments is her new foundation that enables developing communities to access cutting-edge technology based on a social enterprise model.

@Mikeyfletch (London)

Technology journalist, Events, Networking

Mike is an established business & lifestyle journalist. He’s launched three magazines on behalf of UK publishing house Haymarket Media Group & specialises in marketing, media & live events. He is Contributing Editor for Visit London and also owns a part-share in digital networking company Net.works. Mike is also one of the best connected, if not the best connected person in the entire UK events industry.

@PatPhelan (Cork)

Technology with a bias towards mobile, Connector, Innovation

Pat is the founder and President of Cubic Telecom, a well known disruptor in telephony circles and one of the leading voices of Voice 2.0. Pat has developed a number of unique products for the USA, UK and Irish markets including MAXroam, and is a board member of Global Roaming, a NASDAQ listed company (OTCBB:GRDB). Pat has a genuine passion for connecting people and has been responsible for connecting me with some truely amazing people.

@JackieDanicki (San Francisco)

Marketing (true expert in the use of new tools, techniques and trends such as social and Web 2.0), Connector, Writer

Jackie is an extremely direct person who always speaks her mind. She’s an incredibly insightful marketer which is difficult to come by. Almost every marketer and PR expert think they know how to make best use of Web 2.0 tools and techniques. Jackie does - which is why she’s the Director of Marketing at Qik; one of the most innovative mobile products companies in the world. Like Pat, Jackie has a genuine passion for connecting people and has been responsible for connecting me with some truely amazing people.

@Jobsworth (London)

Technology, Social Enterprise, Innovation, Writer, OpenSource,

JP has  spent most of his life working in the space where finance meets technology, for a number of very large firms. Since 2006 he has worked for BT, as part of BT Design, where he is Head of Innovation and Strategy. He has a passion for how work is changing: the paradigms created by globalisation, disintermediation and the web; the implications of virtualisation, service orientation and commoditisation.  JP is an inspiring speaker and writer, who I admire most for his passion for how technology can be put to good use for the benefit of society.

If you decide to follow any of these great people, or you do already, please feel free to retweet my message - they all deserve to be heard by as many people as possible.

You can also leave a comment with the people you recommend on Twitter.

Looking for a COO to launch and run this new StartUp.

Many companies and people court the attention and resources of StartUps.

But who to believe?

• What is the best SEO company?
• Who is a good StartUp lawyer?
• Know any great web designers?
• I think I have some IP, who’s best to help me protect it?

How can I get my first bit of funding?

Some think I’m a trusted source of recommendations and am asked these sorts of questions on a daily basis. The idea is to put the answers to these commonly asked questions in one online repository evolved into the “StartUp Marketplace”.

The portal, will allow start-up businesses to connect directly with hundreds of hard-to-reach early-adopter investors in possession of digital funds that range from £6,000 to £600,000.

Marketplace users will also be able to access proven business-plan templates, which can be filled in online and sent directly to interested parties.

A wealth of professional business advice on subjects such as, obtaining Government grants or how to get start-up businesses up and running, will also be freely available.

A special section for aspiring business mentors will ensure that the Marketplace will work as both a business networking portal and a business providing valuable information and leads.

Off-line activity will include regular meet-ups, mentor breakfasts and other opportunities for users to enhance their business potential.

Unfair advantage

I have amassed the list of the people I know and trust in order that they are happy with being involved. Once this list was assembled it occurred to me that I had, in my opinion, THE best team any start-up could have. It occurred to me that StartUp Marketplace could be a StartUp Business itself.

Industry & market niche

I know the StartUp space. Some think I’m also a trusted name within it. So I’m leveraging this trust for the StartUp Marketplace. It’s my name and reputation at risk if I wasn’t to uphold quality and standard of the recommendations.

Marketing & sales process

Good amounts of focused user traffic will be achieved through group recommendation through social networks and word-of-mouth positive referral.

The Marketplace is also plugging straight in to a number of other trusted social networks - which I’m keeping to myself for now…

Management

Little ole me and CFO to start-ups and entrepreneurs, Rob Carter CA.

If you think you have what it takes to create and launch the StartUp Marketing, please email me paulatsegala.com

Remuneration: Equity!

How could I visit this beautiful country and not arrange an informal gathering of like-minded people. Thanks to Jay Oatway for suggesting a venue and helping me arrange a meetup. Thanks also to Thomas, Siok, Sage and Lonnie for telling their friends about it on Twitter. And thanks in advance to Christine Lu for the tweet she will send to her friends

Shame I’m not around for the Web Wednesday meetup - looks very interesting. Well, I might still make it if the cyclone grounds my flight back to London on Tuesday night.

Provided I get agreement from the team, I might demo Wubud tonight.

• Where: Lotus
• When: tonight, 7pm

I was really pissed off until I saw this picture. I can’t and won’t say why. Let’s just say that a certain PR company doesn’t know anything about social marketing and the art of conversation and as a result, screwed up what could have been a stunning story for a mutual client.

Within seconds of talking to my very good mate, Duncan on Skype, through which he sent me the file, I couldn’t stop laughing at the picture. Isn’t it great when a friend can change your mood for the better like that. Cheers Duncan

Take a dozen Irish technology entrepreneurs, digital enthusiasts, marketers and journalists. Place in a large Indian restaurant. Sprinkle in a smattering of venture capitalists, Government representatives, Enterprise Ireland executives. Add wine liberally. Stir vigorously for two hours. Result: curry 2.0.

curry 2.0 is a new regular networking event based in Dublin. Each month, top-tier executives will meet over delicious Indian food to connect with peers, to share knowledge and discuss/debate hot topics of interest.

Primary goals are:

• Learn about startups, technology and industry trends
• Meet and connect with interesting people
• Eat, drink, & have fun

Membership of curry 2.0, which includes invitations to dinners each month, is just €150 per annum. The first networking dinner is June 18th and sponsored by BT and Hosting365.

Networking dinners for members will cost €40 and €55 for non-members. I’m not expecting many to become a member for a while, so I’ll try to secure sponsorship for the first few dinners - to give attendees a taste for the event.

I’m hoping to turn curry 2.0 into a regular event like Rob Loch’s Internet People in London. I didn’t even come up with the idea to copy someone else’s idea. Fergus Burns suggested I evolve curry 2.0 so it was more inline with Internet People - thanks to them both for the inspiration

Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to learn more about upcoming dinners, or how to become a Founding Member for €50. Founding membership is open until end of September.

Look who’s coming to dinner on June 18th - this one was invite-only

• Brian Caulfield, Non-Executive Director, PutPlace
• Caelen King, Founder/CEO, RevaHealth.com
• Campbell Scott, CEO, IGOpeople
• Daniel Becker, Founder, GlowDay
• Dylan Collins, CEO, OMAC Industries
• Ivan MacDonald, CEO, Dial2Do
• Joe Drumgoole, Founder/CEO, PutPlace
• John Collins, Journalist, Irish Times
• Marcus Macinnes, Founder/CEO, pix.ie
• Martha Rotter, Technology Evangelist , Microsoft Ireland DPE
• Martin Kelly, Partner EMEA, IBM Venture Capital Group
• Mary Rose, Consultant, Brightspark Consulting
• Paul Walsh, Founder/CEO, Segala & wubud
• Sean Sullivan, CTO, Dial2Do
• Sorcha Moore, IA/UI Designer, Pocketkings
• Stephen McCarron, Founder/CEO, Hosting365
• Tom Murphy, Head of Public Relations & Citizenship, Microsoft Ireland

• 200 registered attendees
• 5 Sponsors: BT, Blacknight putplace, Segala and wubud
• Popcorn provided by Cineworld! (party venue - arranged by IOTC)
• Lots of drink and nibbles
• Good coverage online

The Irish need to live up to the great name we have for partying so come and help us generate the loudest Mozilla PARTY around the world to celebrate the Firefox 3 launch.

The party is being sponsored by BT, Putplace.com, Blacknight Hosting, Segala, wubud and Mozilla is sending over lots of prizes/swag for us to give away on the night.

Registration to attend is required. Over 100 people have already registered so make sure you get your name on the list before it’s closed. Register here.

I’d like to thank Barry Alistair from IOTC for helping us secure the venue. The party will be streamed live thanks to intruders.tv. Bookmark the page where you can view the party live.

This is a great opportunity to network with the Irish tech industry.

I’m delighted to announce June 12th as the date for the next gathering of Top Cats. We’re testing out Adam Street private members club for the next gathering - One Alfred Place was good, but a 21:30 finish is a little early.

If you’re a Top Cat, pencil it in now. Please don’t register your interest just yet - I just wanted to give you a heads up. I received a response from 70 Top Cats within 24 hours of sending out the invite for May. So, make sure you’ve got your finger on the ’send’ button.

Sponsored by

Our thanks for June’s sponsorship goes to TH_NK

How to become a Top Cat

The purpose of the event is to forge greater collaboration between London’s Internet startup, Web design, interactive marketing, mobile, TV and advertising communities at the highest level.

Top Cats are now permitted to recommend up to 2 new members each month. To become a member of this exclusive club, you’ll need to be recommended by another Top Cat. Less than 20% of recommendations make it however, so please don’t be offended if you don’t get accepted

Sponsorship opportunity for future gatherings

Get in touch if you’d like to sponsor a future Top Cat event. Email paul@segala.com

WEBPAGEIRELAND is likely to be the worst designed Web site I have ever seen. Seeing is believing. I twittered it moments ago and at least 20 people replied. That’s a decent response. So, I’ve setup an unbiased/responsible poll to solicit your opinion.

It’s not all negative. I’m going to write a post about the best designed 404 page I’ve seen. Sounds a little sad, I know, but it does demonstrate how this particular company has thought about the usability of its entire Web site. It rocks.