Please help spread the word!

I am organizing an OpenCoffee meeting in Joburg for this Thursday evening, at the Hilton Hotel coffee lounge. If you are an entrepreneur with a start up (preferably something to do with the Internet) please consider attending. You can sign up here.

The OpenCoffee movement was started in London by Saul Klein to, :

encourage entrepreneurs, developers and investors to organise real-world informal meetups to chat, network and grow

As Saul Klein said in his blog that launched the movement on Feb 23, 2007:

This is an attempt to establish recognized, open and regular meeting places where entrepreneurs can meet with investors (and anyone else who fancies coming along) in a totally informal setting.

The key is a regular place and a regular time - it’s not important who comes along, some days it might be no one - just that people know if they want to meet, this is the time and this is the place.

We want to create some density for people — a few places where people know they can meet or bump into others.

It is now run globally at over 55 locations, and usually happens on the 3rd Thursday of the month. A past participant has described it as :

“Imagine it more as a big open lounge where people come and go, talk to others in their industry, showcase demo’s of what they are working on, save the world, and ultimately maybe get some work done and run a few small meetings.”

Make no mistake - this is a social event. No name tags, no presentations. Come, order some coffee and chat to others who also play in this crazy Internet world. Attendance is free - you only pay for your drinks.

Hopefully, as the event grows, we will attract angel investors and the likes, to make it even more appealing.

If you are working on a new website or project, bring it along and show the rest of us. Get some feedback.

And, just for fun, I am going to feature a full article on the OpenCoffee concept in my upcoming magazine, Internet Guide. So this is a great opportunity to get yourself in the mag, and let the world know what you are up to.

Please sign up, and see you there!