PubSummit series hits Zurich this Monday 13th May at BlueLion incubator

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Zurich Pub Summit, cohosted by Niall O’Gorman and Martin Coul will take place this Monday the 13th of May, kickoff 6:30pm at Bluelion incubator for ICT and CleanTech startup companies in Zurich.

Location: Bluelion
Kickoff: 6:30pm
Directions: How to get to BlueLion incubator

Tickets for the event are free but limited so grab one while they last: http://www.inviter.io/zurichpubsummit

Still don’t know about the PUbSummit series? no problem, click here to find out more about the event series (100 Cities, 40 Countries, 5 Continents)

What you can expect on the night:

- Introduction to Bluelion incubator and what supports it has to offer startups in Zurich

- Pubsummit series what its all about?

- Pat Clune, Development Adviser at Enterprise Ireland, will speak briefly on what Ireland has to offer for startups looking towards future expansion.

- Dave Brown, investor/mentor for VC/Angel funded startups, short presentation “why startups are risky”

- Opportunity for startups, those who support startups and those who invest in startups to catch up, share war stories and network

PubSummit Zurich is kindly hosted at BlueLion the incubator for ICT and Clean Tech startup companies in Zurich.It is a joint initiative of the City of Zurich, ETH and University of Zurich, Swisscom and the Zurich State Bank ZKB. BlueLion offers a unique combination of state-of-the-art co-working spaces or offices, intense coaching, a large partnership network and back office support services.

BlueLion especially focuses on early stage projects. Currently 27 startup companies have their home at BlueLion. If you have a hi-potential software or Clean Tech startup project, get more information about us: www.bluelion.ch, info@bluelion.ch or +41 43 299 6060.

See you there,

Niall & Martin

Both Geneva & Zurich PubSummits have changed to May

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Hello all,

In order to facilitate some lineup changes, add some additional elements and a personal conflict we’ve had to change the dates for both the Geneva and Zurich PubSummits.

Both events will now be held in May, all existing tickets already issued remain valid for both events and if you still need a ticket then please go here http://www.pubsummit.com/tickets

In April we will be releasing further detail on both events and look forward to seeing everyone there. Still don’t know about the PUbSummit series? no problem, click here to find out more about the event series (100 Cities, 40 Countries, 5 Continents)

Thanks,

Niall & Martin

What apps are you using to make life easier at #Lift13?

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What apps are you using to make life easier at #Lift13?

Here’s my list, while I’m working off Apple devices, most of these apps are also available cross-platform.

So in no particular order, my list is as follows:

  • Livestream - To follow the livestream realtime broadcast for #Lift13
  • Linkedin - For researching connections, making connections)
  • Instagram - to post images then post to Tumblr, Twitter, Google+,  facebook & Flikr
  • 360Panorama - To look stupid while everyone watches me try to take 360 panoramic shots at the event.
  • Mobino - Seemingly this is how you pay for things like coffees at the event, plus they gave me CHF10 free credit
  • Twitter - Micro blogging
  • Evernote - Note (image/text) capture, indexing and easy retrieval
  • Copy2Contact - Because I’m too lazy to re-type contact signatures from email footers
  • CardMunch (Aquired by Linkedin) – Simply take a snap of a business card and let crowdsourcing do the rest, copy it into your contacts then map it to Linkedin.
  • Shhmooze - Hady way to keeo track of and interact with people at the event
  • Sonor - To tell me who’s nearby from my twitter lists, including those attending #Lift13 and I then have it set to ignore everyone else
  • Ban.jo - Similiar to Sonor, pros and cons with both apps, essentially they automate the discovery of people I either want to or should be meeting at the event.
  • TextExpander - For short codes e.g. tyftc = “Thanks for the connection!”
  • Astrid - For quick voice 2 text to do lists and follow up items for after the event
  • CrunchMap - researching startups
  • Asana - CRM
  • DropBox - For file capture and file sharing
  • TweerDeck - To easily follow the #Lift13 hash tag as Twitter app useless for this
  • Skype - Quick catch ups with folks in and out of the conference by voice and video
  • Viber - to talk to the missus who’s back in Dublin at the moment
  • Scandit - for QRCodes link triggers
  • QR Code Simple - I switched to QR Code Simple as Scandit was not displaying all fields in QR vCards and this app also easily updates your iphone contacts
  • QR Code Generator - Use this to create your QR Vcard then download into your camera roll for easy contact sharing at the event
  • Flashlight - Just in case we have a power outage halfway through like at the superbowl
  • SwissSnow - To keep track of where to go skiing on the weekend

Interested to hear what other people are planning to use for #Lift13 and events in general

We have Lift Off! Are you ready for #Lift13?

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Screen Shot 2013-02-05 at 8.50.33 PM#Lift13 one of Europe’s leading technology and innovation events exploring the business- and social implications of digital technologies will kick off tomorrow in the heart of Geneva. A three day event packed with great speakers, thought provoking workshops, startup competitions and of course great networking opportunities.

The series was founded in 2006 by Laurent Haug a well known face within the Swiss tech circuit and beyond, who has a passion for innovation and new technologies that have an impact on society and business. An Entrepreneur (coComment, Lift conference, Lift lab), lecturer (HEC University of Lausanne), writer (Wired UK, Techcrunch, Le Temps) and speaker.

He was twice honored as one of the most influential people in Switzerland (L’Hebdo in 2006, Bilan in 2011), won a Swiss ICT award, and was named one of the top 20 Swiss young entrepreneurs in 2011.

He now works as an innovation strategist with CEOs and boards, helping them answer the challenges raised by the growing importance of digital technologies working with clients like Lindt, Nespresso, Leroy Merlin, LeShop, banks, Cimark, WDHB and more.

This is my first year attending the Lift event, so I’m very much looking forward to catching the diverse mix of talks, interacting in the workshops, but more importantly for me the opportunity to network. Its an opportunity to easily network with some of the most creative and innovative people within the tech space today, whether that is for commercial gain, academic endeavors or humanitarian applications within large organisations or tiny startups.

Like most self confessed geeks, I’ll be leveraging a selection of gadgets and gizmos throughout the event to capture my thoughts and keep pace with interesting people that I meet throughout the event.

Today I’m mainly an io6 guy, so will be depending on my iPhone 4s and iPad to help me keep up with everything as the event unfolds, except of course for native ios maps, I’ll not be depending that to help me find the event (sorry I couldn’t resist it)

So here goes, my list is far from exhaustive and I’m interested to hear about what other apps people attending the event will be leveraging to capture the magic as it unfolds over the next three days.

Apps: (in no particular order)

  • Livestream – To follow the livestream realtime broadcast for the event
  • Linkedin – For researching connections, making connections)
  • Instagram – to post images then post to Tumblr, Twitter, Google+,  facebook & Flikr
  • 360Panorama – To look stupid while everyone watches me try to take 360 panoramic shots at the event.
  • Mobino - Seemingly this is how you pay for things like coffees at the event, plus they gave me CHF10 free credit
  • Twitter – Micro blogging
  • Evernote – Note (image/text) capture, indexing and easy retrieval
  • Copy2Contact - Because I’m too lazy to re-type contact signatures from email footers
  • CardMunch (Aquired by Linkedin) – Simply take a snap of a business card and let crowdsourcing do the rest, copy it into your contacts then map it to Linkedin.
  • Shhmooze – Hady way to keeo track of and interact with people at the event
  • Sonor – To tell me who’s nearby from my twitter lists, including those attending #Lift13 and I then have it set to ignore everyone else
  • Ban.jo – Similiar to Sonor, pros and cons with both apps, essentially they automate the discovery of people I either want to or should be meeting at the event.
  • TextExpander – For short codes e.g. tyftc = “Thanks for the connection!”
  • Astrid – For quick voice 2 text to do lists and follow up items for after the event
  • CrunchMap – researching startups
  • Asana – CRM
  • DropBox - For file capture and file sharing
  • TweerDeck – To easily follow the #Lift13 hash tag as Twitter app useless for this
  • Skype – Quick catch ups with folks in and out of the conference by voice and video
  • Viber – to talk to the missus who’s back in Dublin at the moment
  • Scandit – for QRCodes link triggers
  • New QR Code Simple - I switched to QR Code Simple as Scandit was not displaying all fields in QR vCards and this app also easily updates your iphone contacts
  • New QR Code Generator - Use this to create your QR Vcard then download into your camera roll for easy contact sharing at the event
  • Flashlight – Just in case we have a power outage halfway through like at the superbowl
  • SwissSnow – To keep track of where to go skiing on the weekend

That’s my list, what’s yours? If you’re attending #Lift13 might see you there, enjoy!

100 Cities, 40 Countries and 5 Continents the #PubSummit series returns to Switzerland in 2013

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Pub Summits are brought to you by the team behind the WebSummit series and are a great opportunity to meet startups, investors, media and advisors and make those vital connections in your hometown. As always tickets are complimentary. Simply RSVP and invite 3 friends below. More…

Both Swiss events will be cohosted by Niall O’Gorman and Martin Coul

1. Geneva PubSummit 26th March 2013 – Venue TBD - Time 18:30 - Get Tickets

2. Zurich PubSummit 28th March 2013 – Venue TBD – Time 18:30 - Get Tickets

The Spark of Genius is the largest startup competition in, we reckon, the world. We’re searching the planet for 200 incredible startups to pitch in front of over 5,000 attendees from around the world this coming October at the Web Summit in Dublin. Half of these finalists will be sourced from our Pub Summits.

For each Pub Summit, startups can submit an application. We’ll then open up voting to the public. The most popular startup for each city will be fast-tracked to Day 1 at the Dublin Web Summit. Enter your Startup

Why are conversion rates so low? [infographic]

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Source: This infographic uses stats from econsultancy’s fourth annual Conversion Rate Optimization Report, produced in association with RedEye, and looks at the methods used by websites to increase conversion rates. via

Tips for manufacturers to avoid channel conflict when selling direct online

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In my day back when the internet was in black & white running an e-commerce operation for a manufacturer was a frustrating business.

There was always an eternal struggle between selling direct and indirect, a highly contested battle ground that raged throughout many manufacturers during the early days of e-commerce and in many cases continues today.

Anyone who came through this period of evolution between direct and indirect channels, typically has the battle scars and war stories to prove it. To put some perspective around this, at the time typically over 95% of a manufacturers business came in from traditional channels while direct e-commerce normally accounted for between 1-5%, if that.

While totally understandable, at the time it was a very frustrating period to be anywhere close to e-commerce activities for a manufacturer as everyone that supported traditional channel at best ignored you.

As e-commerce matured within manufacturers to counter conflict, we went to great lengths to brief our channel colleagues on what we were doing, why and how we intended to not only to avoid channel conflict but in fact drive even more business out to channel as a result of our activities.

As a result we came up with some simple steps to help avoid channel conflict:

  • Don’t sell products cheaper than the channel and stick to list or RRP (Recommended Retail Pricing). It’s very simple, people who buy direct off the manufacturer are typically service sensitive versus price sensitive.
  • When doing promotions stick to offering free shipping, special configs, limited availability, value add services or virtual bundling versus discounted pricing
  • Any product discounts should be on end of life, returned and repaired items that have limited quantities or are no longer available for sale in the channel
  • Your ‘find now’, ‘buy it now’, ‘where to buy’, ‘dealer locator’ solutions should give fair and consistent placement for all direct and indirect channels
  • Regional or in country business units should be properly incentivised to support both direct and indirect business. By the same token the e-commerce manager should be incentivised to also drive indirect channel leads/sale both offline and online.
  • Keep your channel colleagues informed well in advance of all promotions that you are planning to run in order to give them sufficient time to identify any potential challenges and work with you on a suitable solution, this avoids constant firefighting.

The above list is by no means exhaustive, there will always be challenges to overcome and conflicts to resolve but if you follow some of the tips suggested above you will dramatically reduce the risk of conflict.