Startup Island - Next steps

[Ivo Spigel]

Hello people,

here's a doc outlining our requests / suggestions for help in setting up
the Startup Island event. Let me know what you think, either via the
group or, if you prefer, directly to me. I'll upload the doc to the
Hacking New Europe shared GDrive folder as well.

Cheers, thanks,

Ivo

[Bogdan Iordache]

My 2 cents:

 - 200 key-people might be a lot. 

 - don't look for sponsors, everybody should be paying it's on treat (we're on a vacation, right?)

 - don't do a program, do it in an unconference way (again, we're on a vacation)

Bogdan

2013/2/14 Ivo Spigel <ivo.s...@gmail.com>

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[Maxim Gurvits]

Agree with Bogdan on all points.

Our/Eleven contribution could be: early-stage teams and speakers.

On the other points: we don't maintain relationships with sponsors, so that will be very hard for us. Also, regarding late-stage companies: they are so few, and most of them are indeed in London or the US. I am going to mention this to a couple people that I know who fit in this category, but I can imagine they will be hard to convince.

Basically, as I see it, if me and Dilyan are going to drive there, we can convince up to 3 more people to join us in the car. That would be doable.

Overall, I agree with Bogdan that a better format would be a smaller-size unconference event, where we build on our mutual contact, rather than showcase the ecosystem to investors and sponsors. The latter makes it a double-sided marketplace effort, where you need startups to get sponsors, and sponsors to get startups. I'm afraid that the place is just too remote for that.

Max @ eleven

 

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Maxim Gurvits
M. +359 88 685 2881
E. ma...@eleven.bg

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[Ivo Spigel]

Thanks for your input Max & Bogdan, some replies:

* We will really do our best to get the "later stage" teams to join us. Let's see how that works out - your help with suggestions / contacts / intros will be much appreciated
* "Vacation" - actually no, we're not planning this as just a "relaxing" event. We want to configure the right mix of work / networking / relaxing
* I sincerely hope we can gather 150 - 200 people from our (really big) New Europe region. But ... let's see what happens!

Ivo

On 14.2.2013. 9:03, Maxim Gurvits wrote:

Agree with Bogdan on all points.

Our/Eleven contribution could be: early-stage teams and speakers.

On the other points: we don't maintain relationships with sponsors, so that will be very hard for us. Also, regarding late-stage companies: they are so few, and most of them are indeed in London or the US. I am going to mention this to a couple people that I know who fit in this category, but I can imagine they will be hard to convince.

Basically, as I see it, if me and Dilyan are going to drive there, we can convince up to 3 more people to join us in the car. That would be doable.

Overall, I agree with Bogdan that a better format would be a smaller-size unconference event, where we build on our mutual contact, rather than showcase the ecosystem to investors and sponsors. The latter makes it a double-sided marketplace effort, where you need startups to get sponsors, and sponsors to get startups. I'm afraid that the place is just too remote for that.

Max @ eleven

 

---
Maxim Gurvits
M. +359 88 685 2881
E. ma...@eleven.bg

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 8:30 AM, Bogdan Iordache wrote:

My 2 cents:

 - 200 key-people might be a lot. 

 - don't look for sponsors, everybody should be paying it's on treat (we're on a vacation, right?)

 - don't do a program, do it in an unconference way (again, we're on a vacation)

Bogdan

2013/2/14 Ivo Spigel <ivo.s...@gmail.com>

Hello people,

here's a doc outlining our requests / suggestions for help in setting up the Startup Island event. Let me know what you think, either via the group or, if you prefer, directly to me. I'll upload the doc to the Hacking New Europe shared GDrive folder as well.

Cheers, thanks,

Ivo

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[Aleksandar Tasev]

Hi guys. I'm honored to be invited to the group. Thanks Ivo.

I like the unconference concept for the Startup Islands. Here are some activities that I found useful in a C-level unconference in Berlin:

- Peer mentoring: Getting advice on a specific issue from a trusted peer group(10-20) in a round circle setting. Could be at a campfire on a beach. The process is key:

10 minutes: A selected company presents its situation and issue in detail.

10 minutes: Q&A

15 minutes: Peers provide advice. Presenter shuts up.

5 minutes: Presenter

A person takes detailed notes, and provides a report to the presenter.

- Peer issue: Getting quick solutions from a peer group (30+). A company presents its issue for one minute, then peers who can help raise a hand(or a card). The ones that applied then quickly share how they can help. This can happen in a informal setting. A person takes notes, which are presented later to the participants.

Example issues: recruiting a CTO, looking for a lead in the telecom industry in Bulgaria, etc.

A mix of these plus one or two key-note speeches by a guest star could make for a very useful gathering.

[Maxim Gurvits]

Great input, Alex! Welcome to the club:)

Max

Sent from my iPhone

[Aleksandar Tasev]

Thanks Max! Congratulations on the fantastic voyages and progress!! :)

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:49:26 AM UTC+1, Ivo Spigel wrote:

[Maxim Gurvits]

Thanks, Ivo,

Let's make this happen indeed. Please be more "strict" with deadlines, on what has to happen by when.

One of the problems coming up is that we're getting invites to something like 4-5 events in Croatia within a two-month period; which is hard enough to manage and to fulfil on our own, let alone to invite people to. But let's see how we can best make it happen.

Max @ eleven

 

---
Maxim Gurvits
M. +359 88 685 2881
E. ma...@eleven.bg

[Ivo Spigel]

Thanks Max - I hear you :-))

Re: Croatian events... Yes, I know, things are getting quite hectic here with a real events inflation. I'd say the solution is simple: everyone on this list and our network comes to Startup Island, and for the other events you figure out what else you can fit into your schedule!

Cheers,

Ivo

[Ivo Spigel]

Hello crew,

I'd like to use this opportunity, amongst other things, to promote the
Hacking New Europe network. In that sense, here's what I'd like to ask
you about:

* We will promote HNE via the event, starting with the event brochure /
slide deck. For this, I need your (quality) logos. If you are ok with
this proposal, please email them to me today or tomorrow.

* Please let me know by the end of the week:
*** Do you plan to attend? (apologies to those who have already
indicated, please re-confirm)
*** Can you nominate 2-3 "later stage" startups from your country /
network to whom you can either provide intros or pitch the conference to
them yourselves?
*** Same for early stage teams

* We are finalizing the cost structure / registration fees etc. over the
next few days, stay tuned. Hopefully we will have one free ticket per
each participating organization of the HNE network (perhaps two if we
get lucky with some sponsors).

Thanks in advance for your input & feedback!

Ivo

[Maxim Gurvits]

Ivo,

It was great seeing you today in Sofia, and I will be looking forward to continuing our conversation next week in Zagreb. On your points:

• We will be attending, either 1 or 2 persons from Eleven (most likely 2)
• On late stage companies: most of the BG ones that fall into this category where present in the room today:) Let's try to reach out to them when info becomes available.
• Early stage: we'll do our best to bring a couple of teams from Eleven. Presentation opportunities and cost are the decisive factors here.

Looking forward to making Startup Island a great event together!

Max @ eleven

 

---
Maxim Gurvits
M. +359 88 685 2881
E. ma...@eleven.bg

[Ivo Spigel]

Thanks Max,

"together" is exactly the only way we can pull off a first-time conference in a super-crowded annual calendar of events. That... a nice place, and - of course - a great crowd.
Somehow I'm sure we can make it!

Ivo

[Aleksandar Tasev]

Hey Ivo,

I'm planning to pack a car with a few people, including late and early
stage startup founders. BTW, when is the date?

Let me know if you need speakers on a specific topic.

In the meantime join us at BkVF Sofija on 21-22nd of May. Should be good
fun, to say the least.

Cheers,
Aleks

On 03/12/2013 04:42 PM, Ivo Spigel wrote:
>
> Hello crew,
>
> I'd like to use this opportunity, amongst other things, to promote the
> Hacking New Europe network. In that sense, here's what I'd like to ask
> you about:
>
> * We will promote HNE via the event, starting with the event brochure

> / slide deck. For this, I need your (quality) loStartup Islandgos. If

[Ivo Spigel]

Thanks Aleks! Dates are June 13 - 16, exec summary (re)attached (see
"When" :-))

Cheers,

Ivo