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Founder Interview – Building an Online Network of 3 Million Users
Tell us about yourself – your background and education. How did you get involved in the web space?
I’m an advertising person by training, a journalist almost by chance and an entrepreneur by temperament… For six years I was the editor of UOL’s homepage. UOL is the leading Internet portal in Brazil. In 2006, together with three partners and an investor, I founded Brancaleone, a communication and technology start-up.
When I started working at UOL I was an advertising professional and a novice in electronic media and felt like a black sheep on a team of online journalists. It was the year 2000 and the Internet was beginning to break out of the early adopters’ niche here in Brazil.
“I felt like my role was to act as an interpreter for people who were new to the Internet, a kind of guide to the virtual world for the average user who was just beginning to explore the Internet.”
It was a major challenge since UOL was the main reference point for Brazilian online content at that time.
How would you say the web has evolved in Brazil from when you were the editor in chief for UOL in 2000 to now? How do you see it evolving in the next 5 years?
“Many things have changed since then. Web portals are still relevant, but Internet users have taken an active role in the hierarchy of content.”
Orkut (google’s version of Facebook launched in 2004) was also an important turning point on the Internet here in Brazil. This social network arrived in Brazil when lower middle class people were beginning to buy computers and, even more importantly, when Lan-Houses (internet cafes without coffee) were sprouting up all over the country. Orkut brought a feeling of active involvement and visibility that allowed Internet users to see themselves for the first time in this new medium. Creating self-content had a significant differentiating aspect for this audience, it allowed them to recognise their own identity by profiling and expressing themselves next to their peers.
I see this way of interacting on the Internet becoming more sophisticated over the next five years. It can clearly be seen that younger Internet users (children, pre-adolescents) are much more critical of content and features, and also much more involved in collaborative projects. So I look at the future with optimism, as a tendency to move from passivity – a maturing process – taking even greater advantage of the possibilities to participate, interact, criticise and build collaboratively.
How did Migux come to life – how did you come up with the idea, and what has it become? How did it grow to over 3M users?
Females Fund Fashion Innovation as Fans
It seems like the enduring trend for both Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter 2010 is fashion retail. There’s been big moves like Balderton selling out of Figleaves for £11.5m and investing $9m in Sarah Curran’s my-wardrobe.com. Michelle Dewberry has found a new partner to grow her Chiconomise.com site and even
I was feeling unusually on the pulse having had the darling of the kitchen, Nigella Lawson, choose to wear my earrings for a forth time (look out for the October edition of Good Housekeeping magazine for the pics!).
The blonde is Katie Eary, the first fashion designer to get funded using the Catwalk Genius funding platform
However Catwalk Genius’ Katie Eary Launch Party soon had me realising who’s sitting pretty and who’s drop dead gorgeous.
Held in The Architecture Foundation in Tooley Street, the blossom of the fashion and tech world came together to raise a cheer for the launch of Katie Eary’s new collection. It’s no ordinary collection either. Aside from having fans like Lady Gaga, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, it’s made history as being the first fan funded collection to launch from Catwalk Genius’ Back A Designer technology.
The concept of Catwalk Genius’ Back a Designer is simple enough that even if you prefer candy floss to cognos you can take part:
- Take a look at the garments designers want to produce
- If you like it, back it by buying a share in it’s production
- When enough people buy shares the collection gets produced
- As the collection sells the fans get their money back
For those with a business mind there’s also the opportunity to become an affiliate and advertise lines on their own websites, earning commissions on sales. That could prove an interesting way for fashion bloggers to get more involved in the fashion industry. To top it all off there are extra perks like advance shopping options and party invites that go with supporting a designer through Catwalk Genius.
“It’s only a small collection,” Catwalk Genius founder Helen Brown told me, “and we’re delighted to see it on it’s way. A big thanks to all our fans.”
Wishing Helen well was a wealth of Female Internet Heroes including Audioboo’s Karen Barber, and Stradbroke Advisor’s Inma Martinez.
And it’s not just ladies that realise how profitable being well dressed can be, as I found out chatting to Ari Helgason. Ari’s first foray into the B2B world of fashion was World On A Hanger, a software system for managing a fashion label more effectively. Ari subsequently took the YCombinator programme and has started a new business called Fabricly which helps business side customers source suppliers and customers globally. He’s currently in the process of relocating the business to New York’s fashion hub and has received an offer for his World On A Hanger business. Ari maintained that there is a wealth of untapped opportunity in supply chain optimisation in the fashion sector and I’m sure his expertise will help many reach greater heights.
Another phenomenon sweeping the internet at the moment are the disruptive commerce models. Read more
Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs Discuss Leadership in Edinburgh
Fiona Murray - photo by Jonathan Littlejohn M.A.
Earlier this month The NextWomen was invited to the “New Approaches to Leadership for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs” workshop by Informatic Ventures where female founders from Scotland and across Europe discussed entrepreneurship. The over 50 women attending proved nothing but leadership and innovation in each of their man-dominated fields of technology, yet took the opportunity to discuss new approaches with experts from the MIT Sloan School of Management and each other.
Women and Leadership - Questioning and Understanding Statistics
The one-day programme was led by professors Fiona Murray, Laura Barker Morse and Glenda Burkhart who showed amazing talent in triggering constructive group discussions – from behaviour profiles to case studies and group exercises, always trying to evaluate whether women’s leadership approaches could be generalised as such, and how they could be improved.
The agenda included very interesting discussions around the latest statistics from the Kauffman Foundation about Women in leadership roles. Why are there not more women in boards? Male environments versus executive talent pipelines. Do women not get invited to leadership roles or do they turn them down? Although most people in the room agreed to never have heard of women turning down offers to leadership and board roles. How can we accelerate women access to VC funding? Women often focus on realistic return forecasts on investment and don’t always look as appealing as their male counterparts. Are there enough female investors? Not statistically speaking, and that may impactwomen’s access to funding. Why do women founders tend to lead smaller teams? For various reasons, but is that really a problem or can it be an advantage?
Speed-Mentoring with Google, Microsoft, Legal experts & Entrepreneurs
As The NextWomen move away from regular events to a set of more specialised annual networking encounters, it launches the concept of Speed-Mentoring, in association with The NextWomen Mentoring Programme.
The new concept was created by Jana Hlistova for The NextWomen and focuses on quick hit information, to help address key issues and challenges for mentees in their business, supported by a highly experienced team of mentors.
It is the ideal alternative to entrepreneurs who need help or advice in various areas, or for those who don’t know what Mentor would most suit them. Like all NextWomen events, it is also a great opportunity to network with experts and fellow entrepreneurs in a pleasant atmosphere, over sushi and prosecco.
Entrepreneurs have 4 minutes with each of the 15 Mentors, including Maya Moufarek, regional marketing manager at Google, Bindi Karia of Microsoft, entrepreneurs having fund raised or sold businesses, as well as legal experts.
Mentees will rotate from mentor-to-mentor, split across four entrepreneurship pillars:
- Passion
- New business concepts, product and service idea
- Money
- Funding, angel investors vs private equity, cash-flow, exit strategies
- People
- Making connections, opening doors, hiring people, building partnerships and alliances
- Brains
- Planning, strategy, marketing, operations, infrastructure, outsource vs in-house
Date: June 16th, from 6pm to 10pm.
Venue: The CUBE, Studio 5, 155 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ
Our Next Funding & Pitching Event including Pitching Sessions for Women-Led Start-ups
The NextWomen Funding & Pitching & Networking Evening - 26 April, 2010
The NextWomen, in partnership with Astia, invite you to an event in which you can meet, interact and learn from experienced men and women that know all about funding for both start-ups and growing businesses. Spend an evening in the intimate setting of the Loyens & Loeff Law Firm offices gaining insight into how to raise the financial capital you need, whilst networking with fellow entrepreneurs over prosecco, wine and sushi.
Practice your Pitch, and Win a Seat in the Astia Doing it Right Programme in London
The NextWomen offer the exclusive opportunity to 6 women to try out their funding pitches before a Panel of Experts and Investors. It is a unique chance to profit from these experts’ insights, and to receive feedback and suggestions on your funding pitch before you throw yourselves in front of the lions. The winning pitch will have a seat guaranteed at the Astia Doing it Right Program in London on May 4-7.
Date: April 26 2010, from 6.00 to 9.30pm
Location: Loyens & Loeff in the City (near Bank)
More details and Agenda, Click here
Inma Martinez - Stradbroke Advisers
Andrew Nutter – Balderton Capital
Tracy Scribner – MMC Ventures
Maria Dramalioti-Taylor - Business Angel
Simone Brummelhuis - Astia Board & CEO of the NextWomen
Attendee Early Bird (Before April 15th) - £39.00
Attendee Late Ticket (After April 15th) - £49.00
Pitching Workshop & Competition – £75,00 (requires that you purchase an attendee ticket prior to submitting your executive summary, the remaining amount will only be charged if you are selected)
To book your ticket, click here.
If you want to pitch your business, you must purchase a normal ticket and send us an executive summary or high-level pitch for your start-up. The 6 best start-up applications will be invited to join the afternoon workshop, from 3 to 5pm, and pitch to our panel of investors in the evening. The £35 difference for the pitching tickets will only be charged if you are selected, directly by The NextWomen.
About Astia and the Winning Prize:
Doing it Right in London: Programme Overview
In Europe, select entrepreneurs can experience Astia’s hallmark Doing it Rightprogramme that has resulted in a greater than 60% funding success rate for prior participants.
Doing it Right London is a programme where exceptional entrepreneurs enhance their company’s ability to attract funding and cultivate invaluable relationships.
Through candid discussions led by local investors and seasoned entrepreneurs,Doing it Right increases participants’ understanding of the current state of venture capital and angel investment.
Entrepreneurs gain important skills and insight when Doing it Right – from developing an effective fundraising strategy, negotiating term sheets, navigating the due diligence process, to leading a successful company. Doing it Right is current, fresh and relevant.
Select entrepreneurs receive:
- Introductions to leading VCs and angel investors through investor-led panels and workshops
- Presentation skills coaching by a leading expert
- Increased business acumen and executive leadership skills
- Expert advice from VCs, angels and successful entrepreneurs
Women are Trending in Brussels Tech Leadership Conference
Clo Willaerts, Woman in Tech
This is an article by Misae Richwoods, Event editor of The NextWomen and organizer of #140conf meetup in London
Brussels is the seat of Europe and as such it has some unusual dynamics, such as:
- The population is multi lingual with the Flemish and French divide being bridged by English.
- The national mobile operators charge for handsets instead of providing it free with a contract and unlimited mobile internet hasn’t happened here yet.
- At the same time there are world renowned global brands based here like Stella Artois.
- The architecture of the city marries the most delightful stone worked terraces of yesteryear with the stark modern lines of post-war reconstruction and the towering offices that deal with the endless red tape of globalisation.
Yes, Belgium is a more traditional country than the UK and yes, many things seem old fashion. Yet there was nothing backward thinking about the first #140conf meeting in Brussels which paneled an all female speaker line up!
An all female speaker line up at #140conf meetup in Brussels!
Having organised the #140conf meetup in London since last year, it was my pleasure to introduce the concept that real time media is a game changer for business and that we need to get a dialogue started about the changes it’s going to create so that we can use them as a force for good. Read more
Launch Interview: Motivating Mums Launches their Mumpreneur Mentor Scheme
Clare Oliver, Laura Tenison and Alli Price
After mumsnet hosted live webchats last month with Gordon Brown and David Cameron, it is believed that the site can greatly improve people’s participation in politics. So it seems the Prime Minister has recognised the rising power of geek mums as they work together in communities for the greater business good, and just looking at the wealth of support coming from, and going to mums on the net, he is spot on.
Today Alli Price, Founder of Motivating Mum, launches the Motivating Mum Mentor Scheme for businessmums. Aimed to prevent the reinvention of the wheel, the scheme is amazingly cost effective and has some high-profile mentors already signed up, including Laura Tenison of JoJo Maman Bebe. Here, Alli Price talks to The NextWomen about the potential isolation when starting a business on your own, the importance of mentoring in the 21st century and how people should learn to ask for what they want.
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Tell us about yourself – your background and education
I have a Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management and Catering and initially worked in the marketing department of a 4* hotel in Melbourne, working my way up to Marketing Manager. After a few years, I returned to school to study Film and TV and then worked as a Production Manager in a Production Office, also in Melbourne, making TV commercials, corporate videos and pilots.
After years of talking about wanting to travel, I finally left in 1998 aged 28 for a trip to Sweden to edit a film for a friend. The film didn’t work out but the backpacking bug had well and truly bitten and five years later I had been to much of Western Europe, America, India, Nepal, Fiji, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Slovenia and Poland. Although I had worked a lot in the corporate sector, I realised that I was only truly fulfilled when helping people so trained to be a life coach. I completed my training at the same time as giving birth to my daughter and launched Motivating Mum.
What is Motivating mum? When did you launch and what are your objectives for the next three years?
Initially, Motivating Mum was a coaching service for mums, whatever stage of pregnancy, launched in 2006. However, running a business from home, coupled with looking after my daughter full-time quickly revealed how lonely and isolating it can be, being a Mumpreneur. In the belief there must be other mums out there like me, I launched the Businessmums’ Networking Lunch, a chance for mums to get out of the house, network and rest assured they weren’t the only crazy ones. The first lunch attracted 45 mums!
Following three years of mixing with Businessmums, I recently relaunched my service as a website offering support and advice to Mumpreneurs. The site consists of mentoring with established businessmums, a forum, articles and features and details of events now being held across London.
My objectives for the next three years are to provide Mumpreneurs with a service tailored uniquely to them. This includes providing mentoring and events for an exceptionally good price (as mums in business traditionally don’t have a lot of disposable income), having events offered across the UK (as although online support is great, it doesn’t combat the isolation), developing the forum to a point where mums can connect, network and help each other succeed and have each and every visitor to the site or an event walk away with whatever it is they need: a connection, information, inspiration. Lastly, it is to always be accessible. My pet hate is trying to contact businesspeople and their websites offer plenty for you to buy, but no details for contact.
What is your business model and how do you differ from your competitors?
My business model is to help Mumpreneurs. Everything I have done to date has been a case of trying to help fill a need or offer a service and I have had success with this approach as a result. I feel I differ from my competitors in that I always try to maintain approachability no matter how busy I get, I don’t charge membership fees for my services and I encourage face-to-face meetings in addition to online connections. I like to feel that my site is set up to offer support and advice, first and foremost, not to simply make as much money from people while I sleep.
What were your start-up costs and how were they funded?
My start-up costs were minimal as I only needed a website and business cards. The re-launch of my site and other investments have all been funded through money raised by the business. I am lucky in that the most expensive thing required of me for the success of my business was my time.
You are about to launch your Motivating Mum mentor scheme for businessmums and already have some great names onboard like Laura Tenison of JoJo Maman Bebe. How important do think mentoring is in the 21st century and how have you secured your mentors? Read more
Female Internet Hero: Audio Interview with Caterina Fake of Hunch and Flickr
As part of our Female Internet Heroes series, and in conjunction with NCWIT (the National Center for Women & Information Technology), The NextWomen are publishing audio interviews highlighting a diverse group of women innovators from small companies, larger corporations, and non-profits, whose ideas and products are changing the way we think, work, play, and communicate. Listen as these women discuss how they first became involved with tech, why they chose to be entrepreneurs and what advice they would give to young people interested in IT or entrepreneurship.
Caterina Fake, Co-Founder of Hunch and Flickr and TNW Female Internet Hero
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Listen to the NCWIT Entrepreneurial Interview with Caterina Fake. |
Caterina Fake
Caterina Fake is a NextWomen Female Internet Hero and co-founder of Flickr, the popular photo-sharing site that helped transform the web into the participatory environment it is today. Flickr was launched early 2004, but Caterina’s love affair with the net and web development started as early as 1994 when she worked as an art director at Salon.com and on the development of online communities, social networks and personal publishing.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Fake graduated from Vassar College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. In 2001 she cofounded Ludicorp which in 2004 launched Flickr, later acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. While there, she worked on MyWeb and Yahoo! Answers and ran Yahoo’s Technology Development group, known for its Hack Yahoo! program, designed to stimulate innovation and creativity, and Brickhouse, a rapid development environment for new products.
In March 2009 her new company, Hunch.com which helps people make decisions and Read more
The Ladies go Gaga for Music Entrepreneurs
Here The NextWomen Events Editor, Misae Richwoods, waxes lyrical about Music4point5.
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Misae Richwoods (flickr cc: pevijo)
When it comes to the old sing-a-long, two girls who’ve been backing many an act are Petra Johansson and Rassami Hok Ljungberg, whose duo performances are made under the stage name of 2 Pears. Better known for their encore performances staging Tech Crunch Europe’s regular events, 2 Pears noticed that tech was starting to rock the music industry and put out a ballad called Music 4.5 to serenade the two together. Would it be an A-ha moment, INXS of expectations or Simply Red?
Panels
Held at Central London’s Cavendish Conference Centre near Harley Street, the line up was equally plush. An opening panel was made by The Guardian’s Jemima Kiss interviewing the head of The Performing Rights Society, Fergal Sharkey. Whilst half expecting him to break into a medley of ‘a good right these days is hard to find’, successive panels focussed on key topic areas and played a percussive chorus of music being a strong industry.
“Let’s get this clear,”
said Jeremy Silver of the FAC,
“all this talk of music being an industry in crisis is media hype. Look at the facts. Live music is massively on the up. Merchandising is on the up. The only area that technology has affected is recorded music and that’s the area that technology created in the first place.”
This was backed up by Chris Corey of the PRS
“From £1.3bn to £1.4bn last year in recorded, music is a growing industry and a great industry to be in”.
“The issue,” continued Jeremy, “is simply of an industry trying to modernise itself. And like the Post Office, it’s messy!” Read more
The NextWomen Invite Female Entrepreneurs to Dine with Michelle Dewberry and Chiconomise
Continuing with their ever popular series of Kitchen Dinners, The NextWomen are excited to announce their newest feast – Dine with Chiconmise on Wednesday March 24th, 2010 in London. Join Michelle Dewberry in The NextWomen’s very own kitchen for an intimate dinner and learn more about the ‘act of living stylishly for less’ from the founding Chiconomist herself. Enjoy peer-to-peer networking with successful online female entrepreneurs, a three course meal, speed mentoring and a fascinating keynote.
BOOK NOW
For more details visit our kitchen dinner and upcoming events pages and watch the video from our hugely successful Big Kitchen Dinner and photos.
MICHELLE DEWBERRY
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Head Hunted by a Major Internet Service Provider
After leaving school in Hull aged 16 with no qualifications, Michelle Dewberry started her career with a modern apprenticeship in business. Alongside this, she studied IT in her spare time and quickly moved up the corporate ladder. Aged just 22, Michelle was head-hunted by a major Internet Service Provider to manage one of their biggest international projects. Following the successful delivery of this project, Dewberry established herself as a self employed consultant, managing multi-million pound projects spanning across Europe and Asia. She was just 23 years old.
Winner of The Apprentice
Aged 24, Michelle seized the opportunity to apply for the second series of BBC’s The Apprentice and beat over 15,000 people to become the first female and youngest winner of the show.
Founder of Michelle Dewberry ltd and Chiconomise Read more
BOOK NOW!
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