FUNKENSPRUNG Heartbeat

#SiliconValley2009: Facebook – or: you cannot clone google

Florian M. Stieger — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:34:46 +0000

We had the chance to have a meeting at facebook and to get some insights on facebook. The office is great – fresh design and a very smart working environment. They do offer a lot of benefits to their employes – quite comparable to google. They gave us a tour through the headquarter and we had the chance to talk to people of different departments. Everything was hip, cool and trendy – and so much fun. But still there was something missing – most probably something like a „soul“. why? Most of the culture was copied from google (free food, open space working, relaxing zones, laundry, ….) but they missed out on the central points of this concept: it is much more than free stuff, google has thoroughly designed human capital mechanism and built it on core values that are visible in many ways. That helped google to rise from a small startup up to the international enterprise tey are now. I doubt facebook will be able to imitate google on the human capital DNA.

Tagged: google, Heartbeat, Innovation

#SiliconValley2009: Dave McMurtry Loomia and Kiva.org

Florian M. Stieger — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:27:17 +0000

FUNKENSPRUNG Silicon Valley discovery tour 2009 – day 1: The program for today finsihed with Dave McMurtry, Director, Co-Founder, Loomia and Kiva.org. He gave us detailed insight on his 2 ventures (one business oriented, one non profit). We talked a lot about the right setup of your team, the board and the funding rounds and what he regards as the key essential levers for starting and keeping a venture at speed.

He also shared his experiences from micro loand. He just arrived in SF from a 2 months customer deep dive in Lybia and the impact such micro loans can have on the people in this country. His service kiva.org is a very smart and effektive donation site engaging the donors with the entrepreneurs. pls check it out and start your own micro venture capital ventures!

Veröffentlicht in Heartbeat, Silicon Valley Tagged: Economics, Funkensprung, Innovation, Web 2.0

#SiliconValley2009: Top 10 Elements of Technology Entrepreneurship for High-Growth Innovation

bhoetzl — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:25:18 +0000

We were able to participate on a great lecture on „New Ventures – From Idea to Enterprise“ by Prof. Tom Byers, Stanford University.

From a “Helicopter View” participants learn about the life cycle of entrepreneurship. How to find an idea an opportunity? How to find the right team? Where to find investors and how to convince them about your business plan. What kind of funds are best for your new business? What are the major challenges for young entrepreneurs and what their biggest mistakes? Why should one think of how to get out of the new business before even starting it? These questions will make participants aware of very crucial aspects which might decide on failure or success. This lecture will provide a fundamental attitude towards the look at numerous examples of enterprises presented during the whole study week.

Read his Top 10 Elements of Technology Entrepreneurship. We also highly recommend to check out Stanford Entrepreneurship Corner and watch several video clips or listen to a podcast.

Veröffentlicht in 1 Tagged: Innovation, management education

#SiliconValley2009: Swissnext

Florian M. Stieger — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:04:47 +0000

FUNKENSPRUNG Silicon Valley discovery tour 2009 – day 1: the future of diplomacy (as the Swiss Consulate titled this venture) is located in San Francisco and serves as a business/ innovation hub for swiss companies and US. companies. Actually it reminded me of what the ONE Smart Spaces back in 2003/ 2004 could have reached to (besides not be located in San Fran.) It calls itself not an „business incubator“ (they are not breeding) but more as an accelerator and „connecting the dots“. They offer open and closed events, they foster a well selected network of entrepreneurs, companies and VCs. For Swiss start ups they offer temporary offices and business services.

So what about Austria?

www.swissnex.org

Tagged: Funkensprung, Innovation, Web 2.0

#SiliconValley2009: 12 Features of an Advanced High Tech Entrepreneurial Habitat

bhoetzl — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:03:02 +0000

We were honored to meet Prof. William Miller, Stanford University, on our FUNKENSPRUNG Silicon Valley Discovery Tour this morning.

Prof. Miller who has been a pioneer in the Valley from its early days on gave a fantastic lecture about History and Development of Silicon Valley.

To understand what makes Silicon Valley such an exceptional place for innovation and entrepreneurship by learning about the history and development of the Silicon Valley and the habitat for innovation and entrepreneurship. Who were the major players, individuals and institutions.? What was the role of universities, governments, and private industry? Why has Silicon Valley been able to keep reinventing itself? Could it have happened at any other place in the USA or in the world? Answers to this and many more questions will be discussed and first hand background will be provided by one of these pioneers.

Tagged: Economics, Innovation

#SiliconValley2009: 12 Features of an Advanced High Tech Entrepreneurial Habitat

bhoetzl — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:03:02 +0000

We were honored to meet Prof. William Miller, Stanford University, on our FUNKENSPRUNG Silicon Valley Discovery Tour this morning.

Prof. Miller who has been a pioneer in the Valley from its early days on gave a fantastic lecture about History and Development of Silicon Valley.

To understand what makes Silicon Valley such an exceptional place for innovation and entrepreneurship by learning about the history and development of the Silicon Valley and the habitat for innovation and entrepreneurship. Who were the major players, individuals and institutions.? What was the role of universities, governments, and private industry? Why has Silicon Valley been able to keep reinventing itself? Could it have happened at any other place in the USA or in the world? Answers to this and many more questions will be discussed and first hand background will be provided by one of these pioneers.

Tagged: Economics, Innovation

Eric Schmidt on technology, innovation & the global economy

bhoetzl — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:00:42 +0000

Some interesting statements:

„Eric Schmidt speaks at a forum jointly hosted by Google and the Pittsburgh Technology Council on September 23, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA.„

We are looking forward to visit Google next week in Mountain View!

Tagged: Economics, Innovation, Web 2.0

How Facebook Copes with 300 Million Users

bhoetzl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:49:08 +0000

VP of Engineering Mike Schroepfer reveals the tricks that keep the world’s biggest social network going.

Tagged: Enterprise 2.0, Web 2.0

OUR #Web 2.0 TIP OF THE DAY

bhoetzl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:45:59 +0000

WUFOO.com – Simple to use web form builder.

Tagged: Enterprise 2.0, Web 2.0

How Much Are You Worth to Facebook?

bhoetzl — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:09:20 +0000

„Facebook and others have tapped into the power of viral loops to build massive audiences in record time. Now they’re using these growth engines to create the future of online advertising.“

Recommended article by ADAM L. PENENBERG, Fast Company.com

Tagged: Enterprise 2.0, Web 2.0