Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

The Web Mission is taking 20 UK Web Entrepreneurs out to Silicon Valley at the end of April this year. The point is to enable the successful entrepreneurs to build relationships with great people in the US and to explore opportunities for their companies.

The Web Mission is supported by UKTI (UK Trade and Investment), Microsoft and Make Your Mark (the National campaign for enterprise). It’s organised by Oli Barrett (also found at http://dailynetworker.co.uk ) and by Polecat.

The trip itself will be a blend of organised activities from drinks receptions to a one day ‘Momentum’ event at Microsoft, one-to-one meetings and opportunities to visit companies in Silicon Valley, from VCs to start ups to high growth success stories. It is designed to coincide with Web 2.0 Expo, so there will be time to drop into that if this is interesting to the companies. They will be working with colleagues in the US to help populate a ‘local calendar’ of coffee shops events and informal drinks, the vibrant business scene for which San Francisco is rightly famous for.

Agenda

Day One. Saturday, 19 April
Arrival and welcome drinks

Day Two, Sunday, 20 April
Digerati Lunch and Optional Event

Day Three, Monday, 21 April
Momentum Event at Microsoft Campus

Day Five: Wednesday, 23 April
Web for Good Event: UKTI

Day Six: Thursday, 24 April
Optional Event: Meet an international Web 2.0 company located in the US
Wrap up Drinks

Day Seven: Friday, 25 April
Depart

Today, they’re opening up the application process to companies all over the UK. The entries will be filtered by UKTI, and individuals who have agreed to feed into that process include Mike Butcher from TechCrunch UK and entrepreneur Doug Richard. They will be looking at the organisation’s market potential, technology, traction, go to market strategy, management team and commercial viability.

Polecat will be assessing the applicants’ sustainability impact. The successful companies will pay a nominal fee which will cover flights, accommodation and passes to Web Mission activities. This will come at a subsidised rate, thanks to the sponsors.

Below are some views from a selection of people who they asked to give their take on what they’re doing.

The Web Mission represents an amazing opportunity for the best of entrepreneurial UK talent to visit Silicon Valley, and learn for themselves the differences that make the US a breeding ground for innovation and more importantly successful execution of ideas. With a spark of inspiration the UK has every opportunity to replicate that success on UK soil.

Michael Birch, Founder, Bebo

Innovation is global, and what better way to help than Web Mission: get the disruptors from both sides of the Atlantic to meet and discuss how they are creating the future. A great initiative!

Fred Destin, Atlas Venture

San Francisco is the world’s leading startup centre. The importance of building ties with the web community there can not be underestimated. I congratulate all involved in this hugely positive initiative.

Robert Loch, Founder, Internet People

I think The Web Mission is a great idea. The best businesses are global from day one and initiatives like this help entrepreneurs build the networks they need to grow their companies internationally.

Nic Brisbourne, DFJ Esprit

In reaching across the Atlantic, the Web Mission is leading the way in networking key talents here with great opportunities in the USA. Good luck in Frisco!

Mark Prisk MP Shadow Minister, Enterprise & Competition

When we create a web business we create it for a global marketplace, we source our products globally, and we’ll probably end up being acquired by a global company or listing on a worldwide stock exchange. It’s absolutely right that we encourage the hottest web talent to look to the unequivocal pace-setter- Silicon Valley – for opportunities, inspiration, and partnership as we build Europe’s answer to the Google, Microsoft and Facebooks the other side of the Atlantic.

James Murray Wells, Glasses Direct

Successful in business comes from meeting people, sharing ideas and creating partnerships. ViaPost has benefited greatly from a close relationship with key partners in the UK such as our Accelerator partnership with Microsoft and we are really excited about the upcoming Web Mission in April.

Simon Campbell, CEO ViaPost

The Web Mission couldn’t come at a better time. The entrepreneurial spirit in the UK is more electric than ever, with communication channels to the US improving all the time. The current climate is one of collaboration and networking, with passionate individuals going out of their way to connect other like-minded peers so they can build stronger relationships, leading to more business.

The Web Mission is testimony to the kind of thought leadership that the UK could do with more of. Again, people going out of their way to help other entrepreneurs to build stronger ties with the US. This is a fantastic opportunity for the UK’s top entrepreneurs to build their businesses by either securing investment, collaborative, partnership opportunities. This is also an opportunity for the Americans to see exactly what the UK has to offer.

Paul Walsh, Chairman, BIMA (British Interactive Media Association)

As you can see from my quote above, I had way too much to say as usual. Please note however, that the opening of my second paragraph is dedicated to the guys responsible for putting this initiative together and driving it forward.

Hat tip to Oli Barrett, Bronwyn Kunhardt and Jim Lawn

The Paddies have done something like this before

I just wonder when Damien Mulley (my new Head of Communications at Segala) is going to arrange the next Paddy’s Valley. He managed to pull this off last year with the help of Conor O’Neill and James Corbett. Whats more, they did it without sponsorship and state agency support! The upstarts, I mean, startups, that went out from Ireland included mysay, Loudervoice, Glowday, Nubiq, PutPlace, justroutes, pixenate, Pix.ie touristr, polldaddy, Eoghan McCabe, Spoiltchild, CoClarity, Bench’d, Relevant Media, Mobonode and Lukulu.

This is a call to Ben Metcalfe and any other Valley based person who would like to help, please do

Register now for the UK entrepreneur mission

There’s more to life than Paul Walsh and sometimes I can even admit that. I want to talk about TechLudd, a networking event which I wrote about previously and wasn’t very positive on how well it would work. TechLudd in fact turned out to be a resounding success. I was wrong. Yes, folks, this too will probably appear on TechCrunch UK. Paul Walsh was wrong. Hey, it might even appear on TechCrunch.com

Read more…

[Update. After actually seeing the paper for myself, I can tell that my blog wasn’t ‘awarded’ anything as the title of this post suggests. It was featured in Blogspot of the week, which I’m just as happy with.]

I’m absolutely over the moon about this. We all like our egos stroked from time to time and I’m no different to anyone else. This is particularly true because Segala (or I) have never been nominated and therefore have never been in with a chance, to win an award. Segala has purposely stayed below the media radar until now. My partner in crime, Asheesh Dewan and I have spent the guts of €1m on our new business model and technology so that it would be fit to take to investors. I’m hoping that 2008 is the year that everyone will be talking about Segala and our method of enabling more trust on the Web.

To win best blog of the week by the Irish Times is a great start to 2008. My thanks go to Damien, my new Head of Communications for suggesting that I decouple it from the Segala blog (notice I didn’t say Marketing Director, that’s old school). I must admit, I felt liberated when I started writing here. It’s as if I felt that bit closer to you, as a reader/contributor. Kamrul also did a great job building it within 2 days of Damien’s suggestion. Let me know if there are any features you particular like or dislike or if you think I should implement something.

Read more…

I’d like to call a meeting to discuss the building of a networking ecosystem in Ireland to help increase awareness of events around the country.

One of my previous posts attracted much needed attention to this topic, as passionate people with great intentions (me included) agree to agree, without actually agreeing on an action plan.

I’d like to call this Ireland Inc. Until we decide otherwise, it refers to both Web and Mobile based networking events.

(On a separate note, I’m hosting a meeting in January to discuss the creation of a new Industry Association. This has previously been referred to as Ireland Inc. also. So, for the sake of keeping things simple, I’d like to call the new yet-to-be-created association, IIMA (Irish Interactive Media Association). This is a working name only. Rather than discuss potential names here, I’d like to propose waiting until the meeting.)

Agenda

• Type of events covered by Ireland Inc.
• Should we create some kind of committee to help structure the build of an ecosystem?
• Should we choose one central hub for most events? Where should it be?
• How do we raise awareness for the central hub of communication to people outside of Ireland?
• Action plan
• Anything else?

Where Jaipur
When 12th February 2007 at 7pm
Cost €30

I’d like to propose keeping the number of people to say, 15? It’s very likely that we’ll get more than 15 people interested in this conversation, so please let me know how you think we should choose who comes to the first meeting.

If you’re interested in helping to create the ecosystem for better networking in Ireland, please register your interest now.

[Update. The TechLudd Web site to which this post refers no longer exists. The site and message I commentated on has since been replaced by a new professional one. The logo above was the original one used by the site. It’s also worth pointing out that the new posts on TechCrunch and other blogs link to this post and the new TechLudd Web site, thereby taking the entire debate out of context.]

I love to see people spend their quality time trying to help others. I’m also fond of collaborating, networking and connecting people myself. But, I draw a line in the sand when helping to improve the ecosystem could potentially do more harm than good.

There’s a proposed initiative in Ireland called TechLudd which I think is likely to damage the Ireland Inc brand. On the surface and to an untrained eye, it looks like a great plan. Well, actually it is a great plan and there is nothing other than great intentions behind it. But the execution isn’t great.

According to the site

The aim of TechLudd is simple. It’s an attempt to seed some the hugely open and beneficial networking culture of the Silicon Valley here in “The Auld Sod”. The idea is to create a relaxed social environment where people can socialise with their peers make business contacts or both and hopefully see others demonstrate some cool technology too.

Who should come?

- Founders (of Tech Startups), Developers, Investors, Designers, Journalists, Students, Managers, Directors, Consultants, Marketers, PR, Lawyers, Salespeople, Recruiters, Office Workers, and Everyone Else who has an interest in new technology.

The idea is to be as open to the needs of the various communities that are involved in the newtech community from “inventors to investors” so all your ideas for venues, speakers, covering the event, attendees, press, format, sponsors, and more will help keep the events fresh going forward.

The main thing that’s wrong here is the audience it’s trying to attract. It’s clear to me that the people behind this initiative don’t have experience running networking events and they certainly haven’t collaborated with people who do. I’d bet my house that people such as Fergus, Damien, Conor, James or Tom haven’t been consulted or asked for help prior to starting anything. You shouldn’t try to implement a community initiative without asking those already in that space, for help and advice.

You can’t possibly appeal to absolutely everyone who has an interest in new technology. It’s important to know your audience and then deliver content that’s contextual to them. Why on earth would a salesperson want to network with a coder?

The site goes onto say

First Event

The first event is in Dublin on the 24th but after that the plan is that it will move around the cities on the third thursday of the month. We’re open though so this may change if people prefer a different format.

If you’re interested in helping out in any way (even improving this website) please add your name and what you see yourself helping out with and jump on board - the more the better…

On the surface this looks ok. There’s no harm in providing a half-baked idea and then filling in the blanks as you learn more. Although I’d advise that this approach only be taken when you already have a name that’s respected by the community.

Moreover, you don’t invite people who live in faraway places to an event that’s missing 99% of the ingredients. According to the wiki and Facebook page, they don’t have a keynote speaker, they don’t know who’s going to pitch, they don’t know where it will be hosted and they don’t know who’s going to attend. So, why on earth would people like Loic Le Meur or Ajit Jaokar who have been invited, sign up to this event? I certainly wouldn’t.

This approach will do more damage than good because it may cast a shadow over any future event in Ireland. Ireland is such a small place that people may assume the same organisers are behind them all. I don’t run events in Ireland so I’m not putting myself in the mix.

This initiative was brought to my attention by someone who shall remain nameless as I’m not speaking on their behalf. What I will say, is that they are very well connected and run great events in Ireland. They hold the same opinion as me, but would articulate their thoughts differently. I tend to just say it as I see it without the diplomatic frills.

Another point of contention for me is the constant comparison that’s made between Ireland and the Valley. If it’s an Irish community initiative, it should be branded as such.

I think the logo sums it up nicely. What do you make of it? A caveman holding a club in front of a computer is hardly a good impression to give about Irish entrepreneurs. I certainly don’t want to be associated with it. I actually find it embarrassing and very insulting.

Summary

I think any type of initiative to bring people together is great. However, I’d like to advise the TechLudd guys to collaborate before starting a collaborative project like this. Speak to people like Damien, Fergus, Conor, James and Tom. Get their buyin, advice and help.

If I had my way, I’d scrap this initiative and run whatever they had in mind, under Web2Ireland.

I’ve previously grumbled about the lack of support in Ireland for Web based companies. Heck, Enterprise Ireland doesn’t even have the word ‘Internet’ in the ‘Industry sector’ section of their application forms for grants etc. What does that tell you?

[Update, the point I’m making is that ‘Internet’ ‘digital based companies aren’t getting the independent support they deserve in Ireland. This has nothing to do with Enterprise Ireland]

If you’re interested in helping me improve the ecosystem for the Digital Industry in Ireland, please join me for dinner in January. This is not just about having a conversation over dinner, people will need to contribute in some way, even if only to help open doors.

This won’t be a bitching session for individuals with gripes. It’ll be a proactive and positive discussion to move things in the right direction.

I intend to setup a new non-profit independent association. I will propose 12 Executive Directors, 1 Chair and up to 5 Advisors. I will not automatically qualify for any of the seats. Everything will be open and transparent. I will of course, put myself forward for the position as Chair, so if you like what I do for BIMA then you’ll give me your vote
We can only fit so many people around one table where everyone can have an equal say. So I will be forced to restrict the final invitations to something manageable. I’ll consult the people I know and trust to ensure we get good representation at the table.

The invitation is open to Academia, Government, Investors, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe and Google, and anyone else with a vested interest in helping improve the system. This invitation is only extended to Enterprise Ireland if its board commits to taking away action items.

Damien Mulley and Fergus Burns are coming so far. Please leave a comment if you’re interested in coming. Normally I wouldn’t care how you get in touch, but on this occasion I want everyone to see who’s interested. Silence means you’re not interested.

Some sponsorship to cover expenses and to help get this off the ground would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you can help.

Date in January yet to be decided.

[Update, since writing this post I’ve had at least 6 private messages on Facebook which lead me to believe that I’ve given the wrong impression about my intentions. The association I have in mind has nothing to do with Enterprise Ireland or fund raising. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned them in this post. Sorry for any confusion caused]

I attended the launch of the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) in London last week. Conor Foley, co-founder and chief executive of WorldSpreads is the man behind the neat idea.

I met some great people such as Rory Dennis from Bdirect, who indecently, will soon become a Segala-certified partner.

I also met Damon from Zebtab and of course, I bumped into my fellow-networking addict, Nicola Bryne from Benchmark Capital.

I was delighted when Stephen Hughes, Director of Northern Europe for Enterprise Ireland introduced himself and asked if we could meet up to discuss how to improve the ecosystem for startups in Dublin.

I give Enterprise Ireland a hard time from time to time but it’s only because I care and would like to see them get more involved. Overall they’re great for Ireland and have supported some great companies along the way. So, forever the optimist I’m very much looking forward to meeting Stephen to see what improvements and initiatives we can make happen. I’d be very happy to see both Dublin and London forge a presence on Europe’s centre stage – with a joint venture between them.

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Claire O’Halloran from Microsoft. I knew straight away that we have enough in common to warrant a follow up meeting. I didn’t realise just how much we had in common though, until I read her blog and exchanged a few emails. So, we’re meeting up next week to go through ‘stuff’.

Conor has asked if I’d consider joining the IIBN’s committee, so I look forward to getting involved in future events. Clair and I have agreed to get the community Web site/blog up and running. I’m sure that means we’ll get our teams to work on the project.