I remember the times when start-ups would simply launch. I don’t think Yahoo sent out a press release when they first started collecting hyperlink in their dorm room, did they? These days launching a start-up seems to become THE defining moment in the history of the start-up.
It all started with a simple logo, attached to an email, with a press release.
Then we started seeing companies who recorded a ‘Screencast’ of their web service in action. Usually narrated by the lead developer. It was more informative and interesting than a screenshot or logo, but it could be longwinded and the quality of the movie and sounds wasn’t always up to par.
Now there is a new trend: beautiful, artistic, hip, high quality, animated small movies.
The slightly humorous movie that explains it all.
This is an example of such a work of art by tipSpot (Invite Code):
The company who sent me this is still in private beta and I can’t help but wonder how much time and money went into making this movie. They say you never get another chance to make a first impression and that must be the reasoning behind going all out in your introduction movie. But when I first saw the beautiful Google Chrome movies I couldn’t help thinking “Yes this looks great, but can’t you just make the software work?”.
Of course it does work. I did end up watching the whole movie embedded here and I doubt I would’ve read a press release if they would’ve sent me one. Absorbing a message wrapped up in nicely designed moving images is easier than reading plain text.
I wonder what is next. How long will it take before the first start-up launches with a Hollywood produced, 15 minute long, movie. Recorded IMAX style, with a $40 million budget, starring Megan Fox and Adrien Brody?
At all the previous Next Web Conferences we always organized networking events for attending investors, journalists/bloggers and start-ups. These people are attending in huge numbers and are all interested in meeting each other. Instead of relying on chance we decided to actively introduce them to each other which has lead to lots of lasting relationships, articles and funding rounds.
This year we are hosting a speedpitching session on Friday morning. If you are attending the conference and have a start-up, invest in companies or want to report on interesting companies sign up here:
We will actively introduce people to one another using the conference business network (powered by ConfNetwork, to connect you before the conference so you can meet up with potential investors in advance.
Some media companies are still holding on to their old-values, desperately trying to make money like they used to. Take Copiepresse for example, this Belgian French-language newspaper company wants Google News to pay them 49 million Euros. Why? Because Google News drives traffic to their sites? Because Google News introduces kids to this strange phenomenon called newspapers? No.., the way Copiepresse sees it, Google News is stealing away ad revenue by indexing the articles published by Copiepresse’s newspapers.
Sad but true, Copiepresse has already won a case like this against Google in 2006. And now they’re after the money.
Apart from the fact that Copiepresse can prevent the indexing by creating a robot.txt file, their attitude is simply embarrassing. Instead of profiting from all the beautiful opportunities the new web offers, Copiepresse just focuses on destruction.
Not only symbolizes this complaints of many media experts like Dan Lyons – aka Fake Steve Jobs-, it also ruins the reputation of traditional media in general. There’s a lot of talent and potential in that industry which I and probably many others would like to welcome in this beautiful new world, yet their executives are way too busy looking backwards. I’m sorry guys, those good old one-to-many days are almost over.
Level 3 installed a Red Couch in the lobby of the Tuschinski theatre at The Next Web 2007 and interviewed a lot of speakers and visitors. They asked question sush as “What would you change on the web” and “What are you most looking forward to on the web”.
Cara Mascini – amsix
Dick Hardt – sxip
Edo van Santen – TV4B Streaming Business
Daniel McPherson – The Internet Address Book
Joe Drumgoole – putplace
Kaj Hege Haggman – Nokia
Marc Canter – Broadband Mechanics
Onno Baker – ebuddy
Robert Gaal – wakoopa
Rod Beckstrom – Starfish and the Spider
Tapan Bhat – Yahoo
Thomas Owandenko – Trivop
Johannes la Poutre – squio
Atze Zwirs – visitopia
Tommy Ahlers – Zyb Aps
Jeff Clavier – SoftTech VC
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten – Next Web Organizer
Here is another ‘There isn’t any real news so lets create some’ article from none less than the Times.
They listened to Tapan Bath at The Next Web who literally said:
“The future of the web is about personalization. Where search was dominant, now the web is about ‘me.’ It’s about weaving the web together in a way that is smart and personalized for the user”
When asked about his statement Tapan refined his words:
“We’re not admitting defeat. Search still matters, but we need to be providing a wrapper around search to turn the info search offers up into something more useful.”
Ok, so Yahoo isn’t saying that Search is history at all? Nope. Yahoo isn’t saying anything. Tapan is saying that search just can be improved upon. But that wouldn’t make an interesting headline…
Follow up: Read/Writeweb wrote an article based on the Times article but then posted a rectification the next day after Yahoo contacted them. Check both posts:
Written on 14th May 2009
5 COMMENTS 
I remember the times when start-ups would simply launch. I don’t think Yahoo sent out a press release when they first started collecting hyperlink in their dorm room, did they? These days launching a start-up seems to become THE defining moment in the history of the start-up.
Written on 28th May 2008
Level 3 installed a 
The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show off, the future of the Web. (More info 
