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Perspectives on the wonderful world of tech

The Innovation Launch Pad – for small businesses selling to government. Deadline 22nd April.

April 6, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

The government recently launched an interesting scheme to help smaller businesses sell to the public sector – The Innovation Launch Pad.

It came out about the same time as the startup Britain initiative but seems to have got a little lost in the noise and could actually be pretty substantive. It is something that should be of interest to any business that wants to sell their products or services to government but has been put off by the prospect of too much red tape, inside jobs or the notion that it will just be too hard to sell to the public sector.

Unlike most government ideas though, it has happened quickly and you need to get your skates on in order to apply – deadline is 22nd April.

Do you want this man on your sales team?

(Clue: you do NOT want him on the other side).

The Innovation Launch Pad is a sort of open pitch of your business idea to government – you pitch and the process is so transparent that you can see all the other pitches that have been made. The best pitches, as chosen in a vote by civil servants from across all government departments will then be invited to present their ideas to government with the help and support of people like Hermann Hauser, Mike Lynch, Jon Moulton and others. Drawn from the ranks of serious business people rather than Dragons and Apprentices I am led to believe…

To be honest, it is not clear how many ideas will be taken on board at this point but if you are an SME and wouldn’t want to get mentoring and advice from those three people alone, you should close your company down now.

Here is the timeline.

28th March – 22nd April – Business Idea Submission Phase

During the first phase SMEs are invited to enter business ideas. Once you have registered, click on the Post Idea button and complete the required fields. Anyone who has registered will be able to comment on ideas submitted. SMEs will be able to modify their ideas at any time during the first phase in response to comments received.

23rd April – 29th April – Final Comment Phase

This short phase is designed to allow time for comments on those ideas submitted near the end of the submission window. During the final comments phase no new ideas will be accepted.

2nd May-27th May – Voting Phase

Civil servants will vote on ideas using the voting options on the site. Only those who have registered using legitimate, verified civil service email addresses will be permitted to vote.

30th May – 1st July – Selection & Presentation Phase

The final selection of ideas will take place and mentoring will be undertaken with those SMEs submitting the best ideas. They will then work with our team of volunteer entrepreneurs on preparing their final presentations for the Product Surgery.

July

Those ideas that demonstrate the highest impact will be invited to present their ideas at a Product Surgery in the summer. In addition, Downing Street will host a reception for those with the best ideas.

Hermann Hauser

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April 6, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Quick note to say thank you for what I thought was an excellent evening this week. In my humble opinion, your events are getting better and better, partly reflecting the caliber of people and of their contribution. Certain other gatherings in this industry are full of people spouting bollox, frankly. Your events are absolutely excellent, extremely useful and I am sure greatly valued by everyone who is fortunate to attend.

April 5, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

It is exciting to be bringing a new event together and our one day event, Money in Mobile, to be held on June 14th is looking like it will be exceptional (even though we say it ourselves).

There are lots of interesting industry mobile events as you would expect from such a rapidly expanding sector. Money in Mobile isn’t an ‘industry event’ though, it is an event to help companies to take advantage of mobile channels to make more money – whether that is by finding new customers, understanding your existing ones and engaging with them more effectively – so that you can make more money from them.

We will hear how some of the UK’s most innovative software, ecommerce, media, retail and financial services companies are using mobile in their businesses today and leave with actionable ideas for your business. (We think immediate action is better than long term pontification).

We will also be showcasing some of the most interesting private mobile companies that are making money for their customers today and awarding one of them our first, BLN Money in Mobile Award. Have a look at the agenda below. This will be updated regularly over the next ten days as our speakers finalise their plans.

Tickets prices:

£295 (PLUS VAT) for companies and investors.
£595 (PLUS VAT) for advisers.
You can save £100 off the ticket price by booking before May 1st.

Money in Mobile – June 14th 2011. How mobile makes companies money.

The BLN Money in Mobile Forum will bring some of the most influential players in the mobile, ecommerce, software and media sectors together for an event that connects entrepreneurs, investors and corporate users of mobile technologies. We will spotlight companies that are directly enabling businesses to make money from mobile. This event will help you understand how to use mobile in your business.

“If you don’t have a mobile strategy, you don’t have a future strategy.” Ian Carrington, Head of Mobile EMEA, Google.

We will hear from some of the key ‘action leaders’ (as opposed to ‘thought leaders’) in mobile to let you know about relevant and actionable opportunities for your business.

The format is simple, but productive:

talks, discussions and debate from speakers who are experts by dint of their real world experience
rapid fire pitches from 10 peer-reviewed companies judged by our expert panel to have significant ability to make others Money in Mobile
our final session summarises the day and announces the winner of the Money in Mobile Award, 2011

Programme for the Money in Mobile Forum, including core themes and confirmed speakers:

8:30-9:00

Registration and Networking

9:00-9:45

Welcome and some lovely, really, really, useful data about mobile in Europe

Mark Littlewood, Founder at the BLN – Welcome
Jeremy Copp, VP Mobile Europe at ComScore Inc.

9:45-10:15

Company Presentations

First round of rapid-fire company pitches competing for BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011.
Presenting Companies TBC. Click here to nominate a company to present.

10:15-10:45

Keynote

Ilja Laurs, CEO and Founder at GetJar

10:45-11:15

Networking Coffee Break

11:15-12:15

Customer Acquisition Strategies – Advertising, mobile coupons, group buying – what is working?

Russell Buckley, ex-Admob and Google, will be leading a series of 20 minute interviews and sharing experiences with the following mobile customer acquisition experts:
Andy Smith, Industry Head of Mobile at Google

12:15-12:45

Company Presentations

Second round of company pitches for the BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011.

12:45-14:00

Lunch and Networking

14:00-15:00

Customer Experience – Have we forgotten experience is the secret to getting users?

The importance of great customer experience. How do you deliver great customer experience in practice?

Nick Lansley, Head of R&D at Tesco.com
Simon Davies, MD at Snaptu

15:00-15:30

Company Presentations

Third round of company pitches for the BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011.

15:30-16:15

Networking Coffee Break

16:15-17:15

Exploiting Gamification and Social Networks – Social media ROI – from oxymoron to tautology?

Nicholas Lovell, Founder at Gamesbrief will chair a discussion featuring:
Barry Houlihan, CEO and Founder at Mobile Interactive Group
Mark Curtis, CEO at Flirtomatic

17:15-19:00

Final Analysis

The BLN Money in Mobile Award Presentation – Ladies and Gentlemen. And the Winner Is…

Networking Drinks

BLN Events

BLN events use tried and trusted formats that encourage open discussion and active networking for participants who are invited to ensure the event is more than the sum of its high quality audience.

We really care about hearing interesting stuff from people that matter and can teach people by example. We don’t care about hearing from ‘big names’, that don’t say anything new – or controversial. We really, really care about making sure that the right people are in the room – to listen, to engage, to discuss and find ways of doing business together.

BLN events are universally known for:

great speakers with no BS, thought-provoking, actionable ideas
engaging quality audiences who contribute actively to an event
helping CEOs to spend time working on, not in, their businesses
generous networking time – to extend debate and build commercial links

The first 50 registrations receive a £ 100 discount on full ticket price.

The BLN ‘Money in Mobile’ Forum is sponsored by BDO and Ixonos.

The BLN ‘Money in Mobile’ Forum is run in partnership with Taylor Wessing

April 5, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011

A simple concept

We want to find the UK mobile companies that have the greatest potential to make money for customers. We want those companies to present to potential customers and investors and then decide the winner of our first, BLN Money in Mobile Award.

A short list of ten companies will present their product or service during the Money in Mobile Forum on June 14th held in London. Pitching companies will present to our audience and panel of judges, and explain why they have the biggest potential to enable companies to make money in mobile.
Pitching companies will get a guest pass to attend the Money in Mobile Forum on June 14th in London.
The winner will be announced at the end of the Forum and will receive the BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011.

Why enter the BLN Money in Mobile Award?

Even being recognised on the shortlist of companies to present for the BLN Money in Mobile Award will set you apart from other organisations. You will be recognised as a mobile business that can help other companies make money in mobile.
This is important validation for any business and a very powerful marketing message for the shortlisted businesses and of course, the winner.
The ten presenting companies will benefit from pitching in front of an audience of 140 CEOs, mobile entrepreneurs, corporate users and buyers of mobile technology, as well investors looking to finance high-growth companies. The Money in Mobile Forum will attract the attention of the media and will be covered in the press.
Additionally, all pitches will be recorded and posted on The BLN website where they can be viewed by a wider audience of potential customers and press.

How to apply

Putting yourself forward is easy. Pitching companies must:

Be privately held and based in the UK
Have paying customers

Just enter your company information and 100 words about your business and how it makes money for other companies by noon on 31^st May.

Candidates will be shortlisted and notified in the subsequent week.
The final ten contenders will present during the Money in Mobile Forum on June 14^th.
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact Marcin Zaba (Marcin@thebln.com, 07702 216 930). I look forward to receiving your applications.

April 4, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

US usage of smartphones increased dramatically in the last 3 months December 2010 – February 2011 fueled by the march of the Android machines. They really do seem to be taking over at frightening speed (if you were Microsoft, RIM, Palm or even Apple). Comscore’s latest MobiLens service.

In a market where Smartphone ownership increased 13% in a 3 month period, Android’s share of the market grew from 26% to 33% IN THREE MONTHS. That is staggering growth although it is not as some observers think, down to Google taking share from Apple. Apple’s share in fact grew slightly from 25%- 25.2% over this period. Microsoft, RIM and Palm dropped 7% between them.

Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending Feb. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Nov. 2010 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
	Nov-10	Feb-11	Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Google	26.0%	33.0%	7.0
RIM	33.5%	28.9%	-4.6
Apple	25.0%	25.2%	0.2
Microsoft	9.0%	7.7%	-1.3
Palm	3.9%	2.8%	-1.1

The platform market seem to be evolving rapidly though this isn’t apparently being driven by the OEMs. Apple has increased market share here but still only represents a relatively small (7.5%) amount of the market.

April 1, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

I recently received this email from a once respected colleague.

“OK. I now have an unlock code you have to enter to unlock it and set your pin.

One of the following two links contains a web page with the code on.

The other contains a video of Rick Astley.

http://bit.ly/8vyyiJ

http://bit.ly/8vyyiK

Are you feeling lucky, punk?

Neil”

This is not good for productivity. Which link would you click on?

March 31, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

The entrepreneur behind one of the UK’s most recognised B2B businesses, Edward Stobart died this morning aged 56. Edward was the son of Eddie Stobart the founder of Eddie Stobart and took over the business 30 years ago. He was responsible for creating what is arguably the best known B2B brands in Britain.

It is virtually impossible to travel on a motorway in the UK without seeing one of the immaculately turned out trucks and drivers. The Eddie Stobart Fan Club has over 25,000 members. The company has featured in its own reality television show.

Eddie was a true visionary who built a great and innovative brand in a sector that didn’t appear at first glance to be about much more than taking things from A-B. Sad to see his passing.

March 29, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Back in October, when I was listening to Young Me Moon at Business of Software, she talked about her book Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd which is about how to be, DIFFERENT. This really resonated when I read this funny post by Sami Paihonen, ex Director of User Design at Samsung.

From my notes at the time:

How can you differentiate between 50 brands of bottled water in one supermarket? In almost every instance, the managers of each and every one of those executives can tell you EXACTLY why and how their brand is different to the others. Sadly, for real people, no one cares very much.

It doesn’t start out like this:

Choice - sparkling or still?

But soon escalates:

Water water everywhere how which drop to drink?

And then the supermarket looks intimidating.

Supermarkets are not consumer friendly anymore. They are intimidating.

Wine connoisseurs see all the differences between all the varieties of wine on a wine list. Most people don’t they see white, red, rose, sparkly. They cannot see the difference. The BIG DEAL then, is can you look at your business from the perspective of a normal consumer, not you – the wine connoisseur in your industry? You might care if your company dies. Do your consumers?

Real difference has become rare in business.

I was reminded of how true her whole thesis was when I came across this excellent blog post by Sami Paihonen, ex Director of User Design at Samsung and now Head of User Experience Design Services at Ixonos. Probably without knowing Young Me’s book, he wrote this quick recipe for a smart phone.

It probably took him about 10 minutes to spec out a complete Smart Phone (and the rationale behind each choice) including chip, Memory, Flash Memory, Screen, Battery, Camera, Supported Media, Social Networking, Location, OS.

Then, when it comes to the product category;

“Our device is ultimate time and people management tool, amazing music phone, tremendous media center, unrivaled social network hub, excellent navigation device, best-in-class internet surfing board, pack along with intuitive UI. Who could be the customers for this…? hmm… Who would not be customer for this super smartphone! No need to categorize this beast, it is simply too awesome to be put in some category!”

Read the full spec, and the rationale behind it here – I can hear the sound of a million product teams reading this and saying, “Let’s go!” This is all too depressingly familiar and Sami parodies the process perfectly.

From Young Me Moon at the Business of Software again.

If you are actually looking for an Outlier solution, you should not rely on the views of others. What would you expect a manager to improve?

: Market research suggests…

But all that happens then is a more mulchy solution – particularly when you multiply that across a ton of companies in the industry. Why not try the lopsided solution? The more crowded and competitive market you are in, the more you need to be lopsided.

: Accentuate the positive, ignore the negative and be different…

Sami though, does give me some hope that somewhere, people aren’t just aiming to make the highest specified product across all known possible dimensions.

“Why I wanted to show you this “product planning” in action was to show the current status of mainstream smartphone competition; mobile device market is driven by too much the same. And if something is driven by too much the same, then it becomes easily specification war; who has the longest and most impressive product specifications.

“So my humble wish is for every product planning people in the companies in this market; please think before introducing another boring, dull, uninspiring specification monster. What the world needs is inspiring products, which simply work and don’t fail to meet expectations. Everything between those must be designed, not just thrown in product specifications.

“And that design, my friends, is user experience design.”

Nice thought Sami, but from what I see on the market today, no one is listening. When someone does, they will discover the power of different.

If you want to be different…

You have to be willing to ignore your critics
You have to be able to ignore your customers as well
- Just ask Google, Facebook, Apple (though most of them won’t respond)

Different and crazy can look the same at first.

Go on! Bet you are too chicken to try!

March 27, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Simply one of the best Lightning Talks ever from Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) at last year’s Business of Software.

IF you want to learn about how to target niche minority markets like non-Americans, non-techies and even the 50% of the world’s population that is, shock horror, female, AND you enjoy laughing out loud, this is worth 7 minutes 30 seconds of your life.

Don’t forget that the Early Bird booking discount for Business of Software finishes at midnight PST tonight and you get to save $900 on the full ticket price. Over 150 people are now registered to attend.

Anyway, here is a commercial break.

March 25, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

LinkedIn Growth

I didn’t realise until now that I was such an early adopter of LinkedIn. Congratulations on 100 million members, the forthcoming IPO and for changing the way that people do business. A very powerful tool for business. I cannot imagine how we would run our busines without it.

Dear Mark,

I want to personally thank you because you were one of LinkedIn’s first million members (member number 502467 in fact!*). In any technology adoption lifecycle, there are the early adopters, those who help lead the way. That was you.

We hit a big milestone at LinkedIn this week when our 100 millionth member joined the site.

When we founded LinkedIn, our vision was to help the world’s professionals be more successful and productive. Today, with your help, LinkedIn is changing the lives of millions of members by helping them connect with others, find jobs, get insights, start a business, and much more.

We are grateful for your support and look forward to helping you accomplish much more in the years to come. I hope that you are having a great year.

Sincerely,

Reid Hoffman

Co-founder and Chairman

*Your member number is the number embedded in your LinkedIn profile URL (after “id=”).

Blog

Perspectives on the wonderful world of tech

The Innovation Launch Pad – for small businesses selling to government. Deadline 22nd April.

April 6, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Here is the timeline.

April 6, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Money in Mobile – How mobile makes companies money. June 14th 2011.

April 5, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Money in Mobile – June 14th 2011. How mobile makes companies money.

Money in Mobile Awards 2011. Are you a UK mobile company making money for your customers?

April 5, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

BLN Money in Mobile Award, 2011

Android increases Smartphone market share by 27% in three months!

April 4, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Help cracking the code

April 1, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Edward Stobart dies aged 56. Keep on trucking.

March 31, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Let’s make a smartphone! No. Don’t be boring, be DIFFERENT.

March 29, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Hello Ladies! Patrick McKenzie markets to minorities at Business of Software 2010.

March 27, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood

Apparently an early adopter at LinkedIn

March 25, 2011 by Mark T Littlewood