Archive for the ‘Startups’ Category
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Skyhook and the future of location data for outdoor advertising

Skyhook Wireless is a software-only location system that quickly determines device location with 10 to 20 meter accuracy. It uses it’s worldwide database of mapped Wi-Fi access points to provide quick and accurate location results where GPS and Cell tower triangulation drop the ball. Shyhook is relatively unknown by customers, but the driving power behind modern location services and included in many mobile devices from big brands.

The battle for location data has started recently with Apple and Google moving into Skyhook’s turf.  Skyhooks seem to be entering some interesting times and is well prepared to defend their turf.

Optimizing the private beta invites process

invitation systemOne great way to create continues buzz around your startup is to release private beta invites in multiple phases. Startups often choose to do this at big events in collaboration with media partners to generate publicity and attract new users. The feeling of exclusivity of the participants will motivate influentials to sign up and hopefully write about your company. A good example of this has been the madness surrounding the Google Wave invites.

There are a few problems which startups seem to face in the process of rolling out invitations. In the case of Google Wave many people with an invite discovered they had non of their friends on the service to interact with. This is not beneficial for the user experience of your new service. Another problem is

News as a Service startup concept

startup challengeThe Amsterdam Antwerp Challenge is a local business plan competition which’s main goal is to stimulate innovation and international entrepreneurship in this region. By submitting a 100 word startup idea you can win some of the price money or even the possibility to pitch at the finals.  I’ve used this opportunity to put one of the news service concepts I’ve been thinking about on paper:

Currently newspapers struggle with innovation, many seems only to focus on digitalizing their news product while not offering real new value to the readers.
I believe newspaper should add services to their product instead of just digitalizing their product.

Top 5 internet startups in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is becoming a city where more and more Internet and mobile related startups are starting to see the daylight. In this big city, which is made smaller by staying connected through services like twitter, it’s easy to get to know many of the passionate people behind these companies. Here follows an highlight of the top 5 startup companies in Amsterdam and the people behind them.

My name is E

mynameise logo iconE allows you to make online business cards with all your network accounts (Facebook, linkedIn, Twitter ect.) and easily share them in real life using a mobile phone or their Connector.

Their motto ‘E connects you to the real world’ shows that while their current activities mainly connect people, in the future they want to enable connecting with objects and environments.

While the current publicly available product focus on a modern way to share business cards, the mind blowing product is yet to come. E seems to be doing research & development on using NFC technology(short-range RFID) in new mobile phones to allow people to connect with objects like advertising billboards. In Asia QR-codes are used as mainstream technology in advertisements

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