Web 2.0: forthcoming London event

So we have decided to follow up on our previous two events (opensource and mobile multimedia) with one event which, in my mind, draws many of the themes we've been discussing together under the moniker of web 2.0. I know there are many people who hate this term and many people who think it very useful ; I think it's a very convenient way of pulling together the themes that I see pre-occupying many of the more visionary VCs and underlying the more strategic acqusitions.

If you want to come along drop me a mail or apply via our website: http://www.firstcapital.co.uk/news/events.php

Its a great speaker panel:

John Battelle Founder of Federated media publishing http://battellemedia.com/

Judy Gibbons, Board of Directors, O2. Corporate Vice President, MSN Global Sales and Marketing. http://www.02.com/about/gibbons.asp

Simon Levene, Managing Director, Corporate Development Yahoo!

Nick Kingsbury, Global Software Head & Partner, 3i. http://www.3i.com/contacts/biographies/nickkingsbury.html

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Web 2.0: disruption creates opportunity

"Thomas J. Watson famously said that he saw no need for more than five computers in the world.

We now know that he was wrong…

...we now know that he overestimated the number by four."*

Web 2.0 is here but how do VCs and entrepreneurs make sense of the disruption and identify where the real opportunities lie?

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The speakers are:

* John Battelle, Founder and Chairman of Federated Media Publishing. Previously, Battelle was founder, chairman, and CEO of Standard Media International (SMI), publisher of The Industry Standard and TheStandard.com. Prior to founding The Standard, Battelle was a co-founding editor of Wired magazine and Wired Ventures. He is the author of "The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture" (Portfolio, 2005).

* Judy Gibbons, Board of Directors, O2. Corporate Vice President, MSN Global Sales and Marketing.

Judy founded the MSN business in the UK and then went on to manage MSN Europe and then MSN International. She was most recently responsible for MSN sales and marketing across the US and 39 other markets worldwide. Prior to joining Microsoft, Judy held positions in systems engineering, applications development and marketing with Hewlett Packard and Apple Computer. In 2004, she was presented with an award for 'Thought Leadership' by the IVCA for her contribution to the digital economy.

* Simon Levene, Managing Director, Corporate Development Yahoo!

The Yahoo! corporate development group reports to Terry Semel, Chairman and CEO of Yahoo!, and is responsible for developing corporate strategy and leading transaction activities across the company worldwide. Prior to Yahoo!, Simon was at AOL Time Warner, Excite@Home, Goldman Sachs and the LEK Partnership.

* Nick Kingsbury, Global Software Head & Partner, 3i. Nick's role involves setting the strategy for investment in software and he is a key member of the team reviewing all software investments globally. He also works closely with the major IT corporates to ensure that 3i understands their strategies, and makes introductions at very senior levels for 3i's portfolio companies.

*Credit to Clay Shirky.

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The Internet is being transformed by lightweight & compatible software services, business models that rely on efficient lead generation, a very low cost of entry, and an equally low cost of scaling with huge operating margins.

ASPs, mashing, P2P, user generated content, monetising the long tail, podcasting, blogging, media convergence, AJAX, REST, cooperating internet services, multi device software, data syndication. What is this brave new world and where is the smart money going?

If the web is truly becoming one big operating system in the sky, how should VCs differentiate between the fads and the longer term trends?

This event is bringing together key individuals from the venture capital community, the entrepreneurial community and industry to stimulate ideas and discussion, through a number of short presentations from industry leaders, followed by a panel debate.

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Registration will commence at 8.15am with coffee and pastries, with presentations commencing at 9am. After the debate there will be an opportunity for networking, and the event will finish at 11am.

This seminar is by invitation only, and is open to venture capitalists, strategic investors, business angels and entrepreneurs.

Comments

[valerie thompson]

Will you be posting a semi transcript of the event? Please email me if you do.
Thanks
Valerie

[Mr J Jackson]

…If another day comes when I walk into work and my boss tells me I have to phone BT (again) I will kill myself. This is not a joke! And it isnt funny! I was just sitting here talking to my friend about how I was going to set up a “I hate BT” website and it seems (to no surprise) it has already been done!

I have to say before I relay my script to you as I do to 10 members of BT a day that I am not out to destroy the reputation of BT as I’m sure alot of people are happy with the service they offer.

…but I’m sure EVERYONE must agree BT have the worse customer service in the whole world!

I work for a small business that has recently moved in to a shop and I (being the admin guy) have to set up the broadband, business mobiles and phone line. I spoke to someone in early Feb in the business sales team and agreed a contract and dates to fit the lines (both being set on the same day.) And also agreed a mobile phone contract which headset options were sent through to me via e-mail, I responded with the choice of phones and was told over the phone (on another call) that the set’s were on the way. The BT engineer arrived drunk and kept leaving to “get parts” for about an hour in total. He then told me he was only there to fit the phone lines and not the internet and to call BT. I’m (personally :’( ) right on the phone to BT and was informed that noone ever told me that the lines would be set up on the same day and I must be lying, okkk…I’m still pretty calm but tense as the reason I phoned early in the month was to be sure everything was set up and ready to go! The internet is now going to be installed in 5 days which is no good to us (and loses us money) but I cant dop anything else. NO MATTER HOW MANY HOURS I AM LIED TO OR TOLD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTTTTTTTTT AND HUNG UP ON AND LIED TO A BIT MOREEE! 2 weeks later (23 hours in calls) and alot of stress and thoughts about death I now have a cancelled mobile phone contact (cancelled twice) a day wasted with the business support team trying to use a homehub at my business address with no1 thinking of tellin me I needed a business hub (which should have arrived 2 days before - more money) a phone line in the back room rather than reception and a large bill (for what!??!) plus calls. STAY AWAY FROM BT < …oh wait you cant…I am sorry we as humans have to deal with this ****