Tattletech just received what we believe, to be the coolest invite ever – to tag along on the Nordic Seed Capital Initiative German tour in Berlin November 23-24. Why is this a good thing? This means we get to meet some innovative tech start ups that aren’t just creating apps or platforms for entertainment or for consumers, but real game-changing tech that just might make our lives better. But… the real win for us is to talk with a number of Nordic & German investors, science guys, big thinkers, who see beyond the pop technology and dig in for the long game and look for investments that will help shape the future not only for our health but for our environment, industry and overall global well-being.
The tour is organized by Nordic Investment Solutions and we plan on having a long talk with these guys about the why and the how of it all.
The real show-stopper for us is actually to get more time with one of the most unique and off-book VC firms in the indsutry, VeraVenture. Quietly tucked away in Finland (where snow already exists) this team goes about their days cherry-picking the most innovative pieces of new tech out there. I mean really innovative stuff… they are not into pop start ups or even heavily consumer based web 2.0 companies but technology that will impact our lives… in the long run. They are the cognac of investors, letting their investments mature into industry, municipalities and health care with less emphasis on a fast commercial explosion. Because changing patterns of behavior - recycling technology, smart grids, furniture that charges your mobile devices, mobile phones that monitor your glucose – that takes time. Check out ZenRobotics, PowerKiss,Multitouch, m-Brain. Between their low-profile super stars, Petri Laine and Ari-Pekka Laitsaari, you would think that it’s not big deal, but behind that wall is a vast amount of brain power and financial acumen that makes you sit up and pay attention. “Innovative banking” as Mr. Laitsaari calls it… seeing beyond the present and into the future takes patience and innovative banking. More to come from these two on the road from Berlin. – JLH
Well it’s that time of year again when you can cast your vote for Europe’s best companies in the start up scene in the Europas (use #TheEuropas for Twitter)- from best mobile, music or video or social innovation start up to best service provider to learning start up and even a start up founder. All you have to do is go here — and vote!
Then on November 19, get yourself to London and see who won and then celebrate just cause you can.
There was a trade show going on in Barcelona – did you know that? Or did you just think Mobile World Congress was five days and nights of cocktail parties. We actually it is both. During the day, Mobile World Congress this year put in a grown up face and decided to do some work and companies actually figured out they can do some business there. Some of the same ridiculous nonsense went on -all the big names had big announcements and hogged the spotlight, the increasing convergence of celebrity and tech, obsessed mobile geeks spewing industry stats and glares if you aren’t using an iPhone. But if you were someone with a brain and dug past all of the shiny stuff, you would have seen that the real news was tucked away in several places including the country Pavilions, the Augmented Reality Showcase and App Pavilions – where innovation was percolating. The AR show illustrated that there is more than one company out there with good AR ideas, the App Pavilion gave us one place to look at a variety of apps not only for fun but that help the planet and the Pavilions were a great place to see country by country innovation. The best things we saw were these companies:
Powerkiss – A Finnish start up led by a Maija Itkonen who decided that cables and wires really suck so she decided what better way to charge your mobile device than to build a device in to furniture. We call this lifestyle mobile tech and we love it. Ciara Byne of Venturebeat had the chance to talk to them at MWC and reported their plans here. And Maija has agreed to a TattleTech Hot seat so look for that coming up soon.
Alcosystems – We have covered them before in the top 5 start ups to watch, but in reality, they are beyond where normal web 2.0 start ups are. This a lifestyle and health mobile device that we think will really affect many people around the world. Monitor your own blood alcohol content -the uses are far reaching. Mobile Health is new business in Mobile technology, read here for more.
Myfc - More innovation out of Sweden, and this time along the lines of green tech – a portable fuel cell to be used in current and emerging markets like Africa. Mike Butcher, TechCrunch Europe did a great interview with the CEO at MWC about the fuel cells and their uses. This is the space to watch – emerging markets and renewable energy sources for the mobile market.
TAT – also known at the Astonishing Tribe. The design mobile user interfaces but blend aesthetics and technology together – like mobile face detection and recognition with PolarRose’s FaceLib. Very cool stuff – pushing the envelope to more intuitive UIs including aesthetic augmented reality.
PuddingMedia – Sure a mobile ad network but completely focused on APAC. We think SUPER smart because this is where the next wave of the whole mobile revolution is coming from. Check them out, they are very nice people and focused on creating and delivering this platform in a very specific way to this market.
WidespaceMobile – Also an ad network, but much like PuddingMedia, have been intensely targeted on the Scandinavian market and mastering that market. Talk to them, they don’t care that Google bought AdMob, they think its good for them and their numbers show it and their revenue too. They have the good fortune of working with Ericsson IPX which essentially lets them focus on the sale behind the click and maximizing where that ad its make the most revenue.
On the down side, the media coverage still focused on the big names only (shall we say big advertisers?) and in a feeding frienzy around their favorite topics related to the big boys -they were totally oblivious to other innovative companies that were floating around. Not one single media outlet covered the more than 10 country pavilions which was a shame because sometimes the best ideas start small with the exception of the Show daily which covered the Sweden Pavilion. Despite all of that, it was one of the best MWC that I have attended in the past 13 years. Yes, that was lucky 13.
Just when you think it’s all fun and games, leave it to the mobile location smarty pants (Daniel Appelquist @torgo, Christine Perey @ceperey and Mark Kramer (@mamk) to create a Mobile Augmented Reality Showcase that is guaranteed to shed some insight into how this technology will be and can be applied in our daily lives. The companies that have agreed to showcase this much hyped future technology are AcrossAir, metaio, Layar, LibreGeoSocial, Mobilizy and Kooaba. We are super happy that we finally get to see a variety of companies showcased in this AR market. We want to hear more than the hype and “ain’t it cool” - we want to see and hear more perspective on AR, which is why we will be at the Showcase.
The most interesting company out there we think is LibreGeoSocial out of Spain. They are are applying AR to tourism and as someone that travels alot and is curious about just about every corner, street and old building, I find this something to look forward to. We are also keeping an eye out on AcrossAir, very smart group of folks over there and metaio who represents the best hope we have for mainstreaming the technology out of the tech bubble.
We are are hoping to see this market evolve but also to force these companies (and listen up Layer) to give us more insight into how it will be applied to our daily lives and why we fracking need it. See you at the showcase, Feb. 17 from 17:00 to 19:00, North East corner of the Courtyard, the area bordered by Halls 1, 2, 4 and 5.
So we thought we would showcase another start up we like – and this is interesting and might be a good character defination of the collective soul of Tattletech. We like the company because of two main reason 1) their CEO’s attitude and 2) the overall nature of the start up itself (can it work, does it have mass market (aka the normal people out side of the tech bubble) appeal. So without delay, here is a company we are keeping an eye on.
Auctionopia - Fresh (mostly) out of college and starting up in a location that clearly is NOT known for start ups, Virginia Beach, Virginia is the feisty start up that wants to change how you interact with the seller in online auctions. eBay is too slow and you gotta wait around for that pesky auction to end and there is no real-time interaction with the seller. Auctionopia says, whose got time for that when you can be out living life (and surfing in Virginia Beach) talk to the other party via IM and get the show on the road. But it is more than that, you have more control of price, when you want to bid and you can have a direct dialog with the seller. Sure it’s not eBay but I bet you forgot about all the folks that said, ‘why would we buy something in an auction online?’ Plus, I like the CEO, smart, savvy, not afraid to admit when he makes a mistake – a real thinker, that’s sexy.
We get around quite a bit and when we venture out of our IPTV/Telecommunications cave and into the start up cave, we are always amazed by the degree of innovation we see in both worlds. It is a different type of innovation but you can see an agenda brewing in both markets.
We recently were in Dusseldorf (European Venture Summit) and London (TechCrunch Christmas Crunch) and realized we finally saw some true innovation – for us this means a couple of things. It means that 1) we can and will use it in our daily lives even if we didn’t /dont work/live in a tech bubble 2) that the technology or service will help change behaviour, ours and the world around us and 3) it just appealed to us as humans.
Without further ado or ridiculous narrative, here are our five start ups to watch for 2010.
1. Flinc – a real-time ride sharing system enabling spontaneous short rides in suburban areas. It is navigation software connected to mobile phones enables the user to find a car within a few minutes. We really like it and for so many reasons. It is not just because we think the two founders, Michael and Benjamin (ok so Benjamin makes us blush a little, there is nothing wrong with that) channel the best characteristics of entrepreneurs we have seen in 15 years, or because they want to build a sustainable business and change people’s mobile/driving behavior but because it makes sense. People didn’t like Zip Car for that matter when it came on the market and Christopher Colombus had one heck of hard time getting that extra ship. So we think its time for a change. Save gas, share rides, use technology to make a better planet. Just do it.
2. mmatcher - We are all about how local can you go and this start up out of Slovenia we think is going to nail it on the head. The core team is amazing – the perfect blend of technical and business acumen – plus their ability to make a true one page executive summary is amazing. They are methodical and have a secret algorithm that will even make Google envious. Look for them as they make their way out into the marketplace.
3. NimBuzz – They have a ton of venture funding but that is not the point – the point is that they are useful and practical and we love them. Free calls, chat and messaging on your mobile phone or from your computer. Hello? How can this not be a great thing. Launched recently in the US, we expect great things from our favorite regularly and frequently used application, even my mom and and dad could use this.
4. Ubervu - Big fan, huge fan of the startup from Romania (now London) led by the brilliant and charming Dragos Llinca. Why? Cause again, it makes sense. Tracking and following conversations around the web is like trying to nail jelly to a tree and this company solves that problem. And why is it a problem? Because we should all keep up with ourselves in cyberspace, plus it puts all of that chatter into context and gives it meaning. Meaning is good.
5. Alcosystems - Living in Europe now, specifically France at the moment, it is evident they are serious about drinking and driving. Yea I am a product of the early 80s so that term was barely in existence in the US at the time, but when you are driving here and its 13:30 in the afternoon and the Gendarme pulls you over and makes you blow air into a tube, you are pretty darned glad you didn’t stop for lunch and throw back a couple of Vin du Pays. This is why we think Alcosystems (you can also see them as they debut at MWC in Barcelona in the Sweden Pavilion (Hall 2, stand 2 F13) is a great idea. Alcohol is the third largest risk factor for illnesses and accidents and this mobile device will help you self monitor your own blood alcohol content and let you know if its safe to drive or you should just stay put and drink some more. Viva la France.
Between all the mega events like CES and the upcoming MWC in Barcelona on Feb. 15-18, and the one day learn a little, drink a little events, there was something missing. The VC/entrepreneur ecosystem was lacking a venue that provided a bit of networking with C-level execs, corporates and the venture community outside of the early stage start-up scene. Now, that gap has been filled by WhiteBull with a series of White Bull Summits. The idea was to create a series of CEO cocktail and networking events throughout Europe and culminate with a two-day summit that didn’t break the bank. Now, in 2010, we are on our way. With a focus on the Exit Ecosystem, White Bulll and its leader, Farley Duvall, plan to make it happen.
Tattletech: For events like the White Bull Summits, what do you see as the value of bringing in the biggest players? (UBS,Google, MS) Are they there to get deals or just out of their sense of corporate duty?
Farley Duvall: My gut says that there are two questions there. Let me give you two answers: My observations while working with some of the larger global players is they have a lot of ground to cover and not enough people to handle the job. I see the events produced by White Bull as an opportunity to bring together relevant people from across Europe – putting 300 people in the same room for three days with similar interests, with the potential to do deals. Sometimes good deals need to find them. If corporate development people are all in one room for three days, some really interesting opportunities might find them.
To the other, I think the global giants should have some sense of noblesse oblige to give back to the industry by supporting events that help all constituents.
TT: You were formerly the man behind the successful Red Herring Europe events, what makes you think you can do the same on your own with White Bull?
FD: Over the years I’ve been organizing events I’ve been blessed, not just with professional contacts but with really getting to know personally a lot of people in the industry. I’ve learned from what I’ve seen and heard and done. And I’ve developed a vision for an event that I believe this industry wants and deserves….There’s always room for another good event.
In any case, it’s not about me, it’s about the people that will gather together. With so many talented people in one room for three days, how can we miss?
TT: Why do you think bringing people physically together for events like these is helpful in the arena of emerging technology?
I am a great supporter of technology. I see definite advantages and benefits from the latest developments in teleconferencing, social networking and other communication technologies. However, when it comes to entrepreneurs and investors, being able to gage characteristics like passion, character and integrity, nothing beats looking someone in the eyes and shaking their hand.
Putting a lot of great minds in the same room at the same time creates a ripple effect: unintended consequences, chance meetings and serendipity. These are things that you might not be able to quantify, but the fact is that these chance meetings can produce unanticipated results and sometimes incredible opportunities.
TT: What makes you think that 2010 is the year of Exits?
FD: It’s no secret that the IPO market has practically disappeared over the last few years. Even acquisitions are few and far between. The venture model depends on companies getting funded, and eventually achieving a liquidity event. After a few years of drought, White Bull is not necessarily predicting that this will change, but we feel it is a critical year to start priming the pump and discussing the what the exit market will look like. If we can somehow be a catalyst then that benefits everyone. The main thing is that at White Bull we think exits or the exit market may be the most important component to a global economic recovery and a return to a stable growth-oriented industry.
TT: You are an American ex-pat living in Switzerland which occupies a weird third cousin role to the EU. As a foreigner, what are the biggest advantages to living in Europe but living outside the EU?
FD: The short answer: TAXES. The long answer: Let me avoid the political discussion of the EU versus Switzerland. There are advantages of being in the largest unified market in the world. There are also advantages to being in a small country like Switzerland; the fact that Google, Yahoo and McDonald’s have all established their European headquarters here demonstrates that it is a very business friendly nation.
TT: Tell us about the first White Bull CEO Cocktail in Amsterdam. What would complete victory look like there, the Dutch paying for their drinks?
FD: So, Jennifer, Amsterdam is the first leg of our European tour. We’re a new event and it’s important for us to begin to galvanize tech and VC communities throughout Europe. What we really want to achieve with this first event is, as Steve Jobs says, to create raving fans and evangelists for White Bull, and if we could actually get the Dutch to pay for their drinks, I think we’ve hit a home run!
TT: In 2009 you got married on the threshhold of middle age to the talented and beautiful Mainer, Elizabeth Perry, how has marriage changed your view on things?
FD: Uhhhhhhhhh. Middle age? Well, obviously, it’s only made my life 1,000 percent better … and she completes me. But seriously, Tom Cruise aside, our talents are very complementary and it’s great to have a partner who can do the things that I have no ability to do.
In the most recent ICT Development Index (2002 – 2007) by the International Telecommunications Union, Sweden ranked number one in the level of ICT advancement in the world. As a result, Swedish mobile and telecommunications companies are in the midst of a renaissance of both development and innovation bringing mobile technologies to edge markets as well as adapting them to existing and new products. Sweden is also ranked as the second largest online networked economy in the world according to a 2009 World Economic Forum report.
But there is more, since 2005, Sweden has had the highest penetration of mobile phones in the world, with more than one handset per person across the country. And, in 2008 more than half of all mobile phones sold in Sweden were 3G and in 2009, they joined Norway as the first two countries to launch4G service.
Want more? At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from Feb. 15 to 18, you can talk to the next generation of innovation at the Sweden Pavilion. The Swedish Pavilion (Hall 2, stand 2 F13) represents the best and newest of Sweden’s mobile technology companies, products and services. With 18 co-exhibitors and more than 40 affiliated companies, the pavilion showcases a veritable revolution in mobile technology and innovation from Sweden.
Also on the stand is the Swedish Mobile Association, www.swedishmobileassociation.com, which provides data and analysis on the Swedish mobile and wireless market. The 18 exhibiting companies in the Pavilion represent the vanguard of this technology leadership in the evolving mobile landscape. The Pavilion showcases the entire spectrum of Swedish mobile technology from mobile advertising and gaming to online payments, devices and next generation mobile enterprise. Visitors to the Pavilion will be able to talk and meet with C-level executives from the following companies to learn about innovations in mobile and telecommunications technology for the next decade and beyond.
Since 2002, Swedish Trade Council has managed the Pavilion at Mobile World Congress. The Pavilion will also host two on stand parties during the show. The first party is hosted by Sweden Mobile Association, www.swedenmobileassociation.com, on Monday, February 15. The second party is hosted by the Sweden Trade Council on Tuesday, February 16. Both evenings will be opportunities to talk with some of Sweden’s leading mobile and telecommunications leaders regarding their plans for Mobile 3.0. RSVP to @sweden_at_mwc. — JLH
So today, f»dforwardlet its widget out into the wild wild web. I am not sure you realize how old recommendation tools actually are for the fancy new web we live and work in. These tools from f»dforward are for readers AND writers. Why? Clearly you need both to make it work. It is just as important for bloggers and content editors to see what others are writing about as it is for avid consumers of that content to see where the content they are interested in is written about elsewhere. Obviously the web doesn’t specifically segregate between readers and writers. Many, if not most people who are on the web are BOTH of those, they comment, they have their own blog and they tweet. You can’t continue to throw up walls in the garden of the next web, we have to let the sun shine in. F»dforward is a large step in knocking those walls down intelligently.
Let me put it this way. Fitzgerald and Hemingway used to go out, have a few drinks, and then one would agree to write a flattering review for the other’s new novel. Then a year later (cause they used typewriters and drank a lot) when the other wrote a book, they would write a flattering review for their novel. Thus, the logroll was born, which we now know as the “blog roll“, which f»dforward has now completely revolutionized. We call it blogroll 3.0. – JLH
Apparently, there is money out there for start ups and all you need is a good idea that you don’t talk about and a super star management team. Ok we are being sarcastic, but MOBShop just got about $2.5 million USD from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, plus they spent two partner’s time on this investment. And no one really knows what they are doing. Well I guess Kleiner does but for now it’s a secret – related to the iPhone. So, here’s the deal – the story is that we “don’t know” what they are up to which makes it a story. So what is news these days? — JLH
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