Of Relevance

One of the coolest, most vibrant and funnest events on the conference calendar is SxSW (South by South West), which happens in Austin in March, every year.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery. Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning, business activity thrives at the Trade Shows and global networking opportunities abound. Intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders continues to spark new ideas and carve the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, long after the events’ conclusion.

I’ve always wanted to go … but who wants to go to an event like this alone? So I am hoping that I can get about 30 South Africans together, and make a serious trip out of it. With the traction of Geekretreat, Silicon Cape and the general growing mood of online innovation in South Africa this is the time to do go.

We also have another excellent opportunity to showcase our South African talent and support: one of our own, Toby Shapshak @shapshak, has been offcially chosen as one of the SxSW speakers!!! So we can cheer him on as he and his panel talk about “Battery Life: The final (mobile) Frontier“.

I have organised 15 rooms at a hotel around the corner from the Austin Convention Centre, at a relative bargain and am getting a group discount from Delta for a flight from Joburg – Atlanta -Austin, return. The SxSW tickets start at $395, if you buy early enough. All in all, the trip will cost between R23,000 and R25,000, including top flights, top accommodation and conference ticket. I am going to be looking for sponsorship to help us cover some of the cost, but if you decide to participate you should expect to pay the full cost, just to be safe. Better still, get your boss to pay for you to go.

I also certainly want to include some people on the trip on a full sponsorship. If anyone can help with that, please let me know.

If you are thinking of going, or simply want to learn more about the event, please read what some other sites/people have to say about it:

If you want to come join the rest of us on this trip, please sign up here, email me on eved AT ideabank.co.za or just post a comment below and I’ll get in touch with you.

Others who have expressed interest in coming are:
Gareth Knight
Paul Jacobson
Justin Spratt
Andy Hadfield
Mike Stopforth
Heather Ford (Will be joining us from US)
Guy Taylor
Richard Frank
Rob Stokes
Brett Haggard
Ismail Dhorat
Craig Rodney
Colin Daniels
Jack Kruger
Justin Hartman
Matthew Buckland
Jarred Cinman
Rob Gilmour
Elan Lohmann

For a full list see here.

The dates of the trip are March 10 – March 17 2010.

I’ve got a new project! It’s a “Who’s who in SA” portal, and I’ll give you more info shortly. First I thought I’d share how the project came about. It’s rather unconventional.

Some of you may have heard that I recently came second in the global MIT startup pitch. So not only do I have a pretty cool idea for an online startup, but I also have proof that I am not the only one who thinks so. Now I need to get it off the ground asap, and launch. It’s.A.Big.Project. Even though I was offered access to funding at the MIT event, I opted to take it to launch phase out of my own pocket. In order to raise some more money, I wanted to sell a domain I had had for eons: myzone.co.za.

Personally, I think it’s an awesome domain even if its history is slightly tainted (it was a startup in its previous life, and shut down from one day to the next, with salaries unpaid etc. Although the investors bailed, I managed to keep the domain). Anyway, since I think its an awesome domain, I thought it was worth some money. Apparently, I was wrong. I contacted two major players in the online space who could really work with the domain (you figure them out), but their offer wasn’t really exciting at all.

So I decided to leave it, and carry on focussing on the startup. But then, in a moment of some madness, I figured that the domain would be perfect as a “consolidating” site for SAfricans’ online presences. So I set it up quickly, and managed to build a revenue model in as well. So there you have it.

At first glance, MyZone.co.za looks like another social network, but I assure you it is not. Although it has the functions of a social network (you can befriend people, etc) it’s real value lies in the fact that it isn’t a social network at its core. What it is is a place for you to create a profile, and add links to all your other online spaces (facebook, twitter, linkedin,etc. More will be added as they are suggested). This, I know, is hardly original. What makes it unique though is exactly what makes Zoopy.com unique: it is targeted at the South African audience.

So in theory, if I market it properly, in time it should become the primary place to have yourself “checked out” by other South Africans: the ones most likely to hire you. You meet someone at a conference and want to learn more about them? Look them up on MyZone, where the info will be presented in a local context. And since users can post their skills, if you are looking for an Architect in your city, you could in theory (eventually) search for one on MyZone.co.za, see his links to his other online spaces and read the recommendations others have given him.

In other words, it’s a marketing site for You. I was toying with the tagline of “The best business card you will ever have“.

Btw, if you are asking what the point of this is since you already have your own website, you are missing the point that most people will never have a website of their own, but that they still deserve to have a professional online presence.

Someone asked me today why they need to be on MyZone if they are already on three other social networks. My answer: “You need to be on MyZone BECAUSE you are on three other social networks.” You need to give others the opportunity to explore all your online spaces, if they are interested.

So, I present you with MyZone.co.za. Please join. Spread the word and all that good stuff. See you there!

You can’t go very far in the local blogosphere without stumbling across a conversation on the lack of funds for web entrepreneurs, lack of online innovation, lack of skills etc.

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I have been trying to come to grips with this problem for some time, but to not much avail. The simple fact is that South Africa lacks angel investors to seed an entrepreneur’s idea, and there is little incentive for a strong angel network to establish itself.

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Part of the problem is that few people, especially the “youngsters”, have both the technical and the business skills to take an online project forward, successfully. They can develop a “killer app”, but have no idea how to take it to market. Sometimes, they’re not even sure if there is a market.

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I was discussing these issues with Dr. Jill Sawers who is the Manager of Entrepreneurship at the Innovation Hub, and she has now spearheaded an exciting initiative to bridge some of these gaps.

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The Maxum Incubator, together with University of Pretoria and IdeaBank (my company) are organising the fist pre-incubation offering for young online entrepreneurs.

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All successful applicants will receive:
•    Free plug and play shared office space for a 3 months (a R500 deposit, telephone costs and  consumables will be for your own account)
•    Attending Izazi entrepreneur forums (opportunity to network with like-minded entrepreneurs)
•    Exposure to experienced business mentors and Maxum management team who will guide you in the process of deciding what is necessary to convert your proposed business concept/prototype into a real, viable business opportunity
•    An opportunity at the end of your pre-incubation period to decide whether your business idea has the potential for making money and become part of the Maxum Business Incubator programme
•    If your business opportunity is good enough, you will be introduced to venture capitalists who may be interested in investing in your business

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Basically, it is a foot in the door of a very connected Hub. You will work on your idea while utilising Maxxum’s office space and bandwith, and you will work together with MBA graduates to fine tune your business plan and prototype.

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Once you have a the foundations in place, you wil be introduced to the venture capitalists who have been identified specifically for their interest in funding online start up businesses.

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It is an ideal opportunity for someone in the Pretoria vicinity to become ingrained in both the tech and business spheres at the same time. Plus, the Innovation Hub is a great place to work (my office is across the road, so I am there often) and the energy and vibe are invigorating!

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If you are working on an online venture, if you need some guidance, help or will be needing funding to take your product to market, I strongly suggest you review this opportunity.

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Five simple application steps:
1.    Prepare a 5 slide PowerPoint concept, or a five point document, that outlines your proposition and illustrates commitment to the business enterprise (see accompanying example) and forward this, together with “Assessment of potential ICT Entrepreneurs” form,  to gsetumo@theinnovationhub.com. The business idea must demonstrate technological innovation in at least one of The Innovation Hub’s focus areas: ICT, biosciences, electronics, advanced manufacturing and materials, or energy and the sustainable environment.
2.     As an IT start-up or “Techie with an idea” you will present to a group of MBA students who, if they see an opportunity of building a business around your idea, will engage in a discussion with you over a glass of wine/beer/cool drink after your presentation.
3.    If you agree that this is a business opportunity, you will put together a business proposal and submit this to Maxum for entry into the pre-incubation programme.
4.    If the plan looks viable, you will present to the Selection Advisory Panel who will discuss  the feasibility of your concept.
5.    Should your application be successful you will be invited to pre-incubate your business idea and locate your business in Maxum’s pre-incubation premises at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria. And….if your business proposal is good enough, you will be linked up with Venture Capitalist who may consider investing in your business.

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Important dates to remember:

• 1 September 2008:    Deadline for receipt of applications to be submitted to Maxum

• 8 October 2008:      Successful applicants invited to prepare presentation forBusiness Beat Function

• 21 October 2008:    Business Beat function at The Innovation Hub, Pretoria

• 17 November 2008:    Deadline for receipt of proposals for Maxum’s pre-incubation                programme

• 26 November 2008:    Presentation of selected proposals to Maxum’s Selection Panel

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For more information contact Patricia Dlamini, Manager: Maxum: (012) 844 0084, pdlamini@theinnovationhub.com or visit www.maxum.co.za

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Or you can give me a shout at eved@ideabank.co.za.

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Example of presentation