Natasha Friis Saxberg

It is time for the 2. NordicMeetup on May 26, 2010 at our favourite spot – Ruby’s. We are co-locating the event together with TechCrunch Europe who is in Copenhagen for their third TCNordic event.

Since NordicMeetup got sold out in 1.5 hour – and before we had a chance to publish the tickets, we have arranged with TechCrunch Europe that if you buy a ticket to TCNordic, you will get a special offer by using the promotion code: nordicmeetup giving you access to the evening event as well.

This time BvHD has made NordicMeetup a reality, by sponsoring the ticket to a free drink at Ruby.

Petra & I are so thrilled to see the amazing support for NordicMeetup, people are offering their help, also with co-hosting in other Nordic cities – and most of all by showing up, having fun and supporting the Nordic startup environment, this is exactly what we hoped for.

Looking forward to see you at NordicMeetup!

I had the great privilege of experiencing Queen Rania at LeWeb10 talking about her cause and passion – helping children get access to an education.

Not only does she do a magnificent job, she also has a talent for communicating offline and especially online. She is a role model to other public profiles, using their social position to make a difference in society. But she is also an inspiration to the common multitude, showing how passion burns through the media and how altruism is a responsibility we all should undertake.

An amazing cause, an extraordinary effort and an admirable woman!

More links to Queen Rania online.
Facebook
YouTube
Flickr

A year ago I attended Geek’n´Rolla in London organised By TechCrunch Europe. The following day I was invited to attend a meetup called DrinkTank sponsored by the London startup Huddle. I was told that the purpose of the monthly event is to have an informal meeting point where startups, investors and other people related to tech and entrepreneurship can meet and kick tires. This event reminded me that we needed a meeting point not only to connect Copenhagen, but also to connect like-minded people in the  Nordic area.

What characterises thriving startup environments, is a well connected community, events, proximity to money, creativity and talent. The vision with NordicMeetup is to strengthen the local scenes and to concurrent connect the Nordic cities with each other, to benefit from more scale than a small scene can provide.

Together with Petra Johansson, I started to organise the event. And now NordicMeetup is finally a reality thanks to our sponsors Sunstone Capital and StartupBootcamp.

We will start out in Copenhagen, on April, 8. More info and registration at NordicMeetup.
Follow the Twitter stream hashtagged #NordicMeetup.

We launched Mentory almost a year ago. A lot of interesting profiles have joined as protégés, mentors and even as both. All sorts of skills are represented, but the majority of users are tech and entrepreneurial oriented.

While people have been supporting the idea and the need of an online mentorship, the ideal online transformation still needs to be developed. We must find the way to motivate for participation for all parties, so conversations will flow. Some has mentioned the mentor/protégé relation as a barrier – they do not see them selves as either. The need of access to global skills has been expressed, but not necessary only between two people. Some believe the mentors should be paid, or as in real life get something in return from the protégé i.e. time.

Our thoughts is to strengthen online conversations, and global connection between people. One way is to emphasis the “advisory board”, so one person is connected with a board of people representing different skills. The initiator/protégé can post questions to the board, and the best suited will answer and thereby also share their knowledge with the other members of the board. We are also inclined to turn the focus towards Tech Entrepreneurship, so Mentory will become more focused as a community within this area.

Our objective is to support our users needs, any ideas and feedback to our thoughts are more than welcome – so please throw a comment.

We continually spent more time online – now an average of 13 hours per week. Facebook connectivity increases within new demographics, and the voice of oppressed groups is strengthened online. The platform for social and real-time web is the communities that place the individual in the centre, with tools that helps us construct the story of our ideal self-image.

The range of social services we use including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. covers different needs, but the similarity is that they fulfil our need for curiosity, recognition and profiling. The success of the individual is measured quantitative in terms of the number of friends, followers or connections we gain. By focusing on the ego in a social context, makes our behaviour and perception rather predictable. By keeping us self-centered, has web 2 and social media thereby limited us rather than liberated us as individuals?

Participatory motivation
Linking community behaviour with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, shows a coverage of our need for social belonging and recognition. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can also reflect the evolvement of the Internet, from focus on basic infrastructure and security to the services we use today that support our need for social belonging and esteem. This thesis indicates, that the future of web will move towards supporting our need for self-actualization. According to Maslow our need for self-actualization will rise when the previous needs are met, and therefore not attract us all. So we will probably continue to use services that stimulates us socially, fortifies our ego and most of all – just entertains.

The end of web 2
But as with other trends, we might experience a backlash, where the measurement goes from quantitative in relation to the number of friends, towards qualitative in terms of individual impact and influence in a group with value, meaning and actual change as key indicators. First movers on the web will probably soon sort out friends, contacts and followers, that gave them status during the social web era, and instead move towards the era of “value web” where a friend is chosen on the basis of value. To be a part of these value groups, you will either provide impact, or be exclusively chosen, bringing status to the given social hierarchy.

What do we really achieve from our numerous online hours – do we in fact strengthen our relationships on Facebook, or is it rather entertainment and curiosity that leads us to spend time observing “what is on the mind” of the 10% of users that actually participate.

When Twitter emphasises the situation in Iran after the June 2009 election, whereafter to be surpassed by Michael Jackson’s death, how great impact has our participation actually had? As Queen Rania expressed at LeWeb:

“Can the real time web bring real world change?”

There are not many services available today that support self-actualization, altruism, and other elements that moves focus from the ego towards value in and to a group. And will motivational factors supported by the successful communities of today, still be necessary on the value orientated communities of tomorrow? Does the multitude truly want to act for a good purpose, if they are not rewarded with recognition and profiling? One thing is to show that you support a good cause on Facebook – which also supports our perfect online image, another thing is to actually spent the necessary time to act and change.

Social web – limits rather than liberates
Maslow´s hierarchy of needs is distinguished by its visual simplicity, but there are other interesting thoughts on what motivates us to act. Spinoza´s philosophy is that everything is determined by cause and effect, so even if we believe as individuals that we act based on our free will, we are in fact externally influenced including socially.

Maslow also considers a self-actualized person as free in relation to social influence, which enables us to make decisions based on our beliefs and values, rather than social norms and rules. Taoism and Zen Buddhism has a similar view – man is truly liberated when freed from worldly possessions, social pressure and power, thereby decisions are no longer made on the basis of external authority. Spinoza´s definition is a virtuous free person who pursues goals that benefits all, sharing knowledge and makes other virtuous, free and good, the focus is not on the ego but on the surrounding world.

As long as the web of today supports egocentrism and restrains us in a social context, do we then loose the opportunity of self-actualization, self-development and ethics, thus other underlying values?

From social to value web
If only some of our countless online hours were spent on altruism, we might ultimately get more sustainable gratification than Facebook and similar services are able to give us today.

My personal hope is that services and users in the future stimulates value, meaning and altruism in a social and global context. Research indicates that altruism affects the same area of the brain as sex. If altruism is so closely related to this driving force, why aren´t more people doing it? Are we able to influence altruism by how we design our web services, in order to motivate people to do something for others with ultimate satisfaction as reward?

But is it not okay to spend our time on social trivialities and entertainment, without necessarily being self-developed or changing the world, but where the objective is just to relax. The answer must depend on the individuals needs, but hopefully the future communities will make it easier for individuals to make a difference.

What´s in it for me?
The views above are based on the believe that people desire more meaning and value, but in a busy daily life it can be difficult to see how we can actually contribute. If we look at community behaviour, we are more inclined to contribute if we are rewarded, whether we gain recognition or profiling. The interesting aspect is how to motivate individuals, in a direction that gives a more prolonged and/or enhanced satisfaction. So, from quantitatively measurement by the number of friends, the future services will rather measure the impact of the individual, whether it is in a group, in society, or globally. If this proves to be the trend for the future, we may get closer to – real time web bringing real world change.

Danish version

Today we launch Konfect – a service that makes it easy for you through one interface, to find, explore and connect with people across your communities. Search by entering the persons common username, profile link or real name, and Konfect will show your new contacts social networks.

The person you are searching for does not have to be signed up on Konfect. As long as the persons social networks uses friendly microformats, Konfect can list the services used by that person.

The idea came from attending conferences, receiving numerous names and business cards, with the need to convert your new contacts into online connections – leading to the name KONFerence connECT.

Konfect is solving the problem of finding a contact on multiple communities. Before Konfect you had to search for the person on every single relevant community, or go through pages of Google search, either way time consuming.

Konfect has been in closed beta since September 2009, and with our public launch we offer easy search and connect. Konfect is produced by Webcom Labs, which plans more convenient cross-network features in the future – and to speed that process up, we are in the search for funding.

We launch in connection with LeWeb, making it easy for you to expand your network. I will be at LeWeb, if you want to meet or Konfect.

When describing RSS to corporations and the state of the technology, I weave on the observation that all though RSS was a gift to us all when it emerged, the social evolution of the web today means that RSS no longer supports our need in the reader form. Recently I stumbled over Steve Gillmor´s article on TechCrunch, with the observation that RSS has been taken over by Twitter – and there it was, the obvious explanation to the state of RSS.

Unfortunately for Dave Winer – time has changed since 2002 when he released RSS version 2.0. Back then it was a major relief to have information pushed instead of pulled, but now RSS has turned into information overload with data that is quickly outdated. And since my Google Reader most of all reminds me of my inbox in worst of times – I stay away.

And yes – Twitter has taken its place. I want live information, from “real” people that I choose as my reliable source to information, with no sign of old data that needs to be processed. So thanks to Gillmor´s article I will be able to give a proper explanation of what happened to RSS – Twitter happened!

While jumping on a plane to New York with 20 hours notice, Sinatra’s song “New York, New York” just wouldn´t leave my mind. Everyone in the Twittersphere was talking about this event, and thanks to an article I wrote for The Next Women, I won a ticket and was lucky – to be a part of it!

The 140 CC took place on June 16 & 17 on Broadway at the New World Stages, as many speakers noticed this was their first performance on Broadway, and it was indeed a fabulous show.

With over 70 speakers talking in 10 minute slots, there was a vibrant atmosphere encouraged by the difference in topics, speakers and scenery. I tweeted the highlights from most sessions, and thanks to those tweets I can separate the speakers from each other. This event proved once again that there is at least 140 different ways to use Twitter, and it is up to you as a user to unfold this potential.

Some of the headlines were:

The Power of Passed Links and Earned Media
Fred Wilson @FredWilson – VC and principal of Union Square Ventures:

- Links is the currency of the Internet

Marketing for the eavesdroppers in the tridimensional conversation
Liz Strauss @lizstrauss – Strategist and presenter of Successful-Blog:

- Was there ever a conference as this about the telephone – are we getting to precious about our tools?

The effect of Twitter on My Business
Marcel LeBrun @lebrun – CEO, Radian6:

- Line up for your customer, instead of your customer lining up to you.

- What are companies doing wrong? One way thinking – pushing their message out without understanding the media.

Twitter as a News Gathering Tool
Ann Curry @AnnCurry- News Anchor on NBC’s Today Show and host of Dateline NBC

- Thats why I use Twitter, everything I can´t get out on TV I make sure to get out on Twitter. My followers are my newspaper.

- Our mandate is this: Whether you are in Tehran, Kosovo or Congo shoot that story as if it were your mother father or sister.

- I think of Twitter as of what ever you want to make it – two way broadcasting.

Robert Scoble – @Scobleizer:
-Turned on CNN for Iran news but they showed trivial TV shows. Has CNN lost some since not affected by a disruptive force.

What we are learning
Jeffrey Hayzlett @JeffreyHayzlett – Chief Marketing Officer, Kodak:

- Few years ago we had Chief Blog Officers – now we have Chief Listening Officers.

- Don’t ask what is the Return on Investment, ask what is the Return on Ignoring.

Twitter, the media and chaos theory
Bronwen Clune @bronwen – CEO, Norg Media.

- Chaos theory, making order from random information – that is what Twitter does for us.

How I became a twitter character – rules of engagement
Hjortur Smarason @hjortur – Editor in chief IMinnovation.org. Co-founder:
IfTheWorldCouldVote.com.

- When Fidel Castro can express himself in 140 characters – then Twitter has peaked.

You can see more tweets from the event by searching for the hashtag #140conf on Twitter or see my tweets from June 16th. on @nfsaxberg. I wrote a 140 CC report from the event for The Next Women “The 140 Characters Conference in New York – Welcome home Tweople!” which covers further details from the conference.

After 2 days I was ready to leave this amazing city, with the pleasure of meeting several fellow and follow tweeters – finally in face and even though we had unlimited characters to express our selves, somehow we only needed 140!

When people ask me what the fuss is all about on Twitter, and how I can comprehend all the information, I try to explain the power of random and the tremendous source to knowledge. Twitter is a random stream of information, but the stream makes sense, because we as individuals are able to unconsciously screen much more input than we are aware of.

It might seem chaotic, but when you occasionally dip into the stream, you are conscious about the topics and keywords that matters to you right now. And somehow you are able to spot those tweets that matters.

I wrote a blog post in 2008 about the “Pattern of random” that received a comment on the similarity with Synchronicity (by Jung). And after reading the book it often strikes me that the phenomena of synchronicity also rules on Twitter and other social services. Somehow the topics I am working on at the moment are always supported by great links and thoughts from other users, giving me valuable sources for my work. 3 years ago I had to rely on meeting someone in the real world as in the train, at a party or over lunch. Thanks to Twitter I now need to take a deep breathe, jump into the massive pool of information, follow the stream and grasp on to everything that catch my interest.

Bronwen Clune CEO at Norg Media put it this way at the 140 CC in NYC.

“Chaos theory, making order from random information – that is what Twitter does for us”

Hear hear Bronwen!

When a jazz band gather for a jam session it is all about improvising based on experience, skills and creativity. They are focused on the opportunities that arises from the chord chart (the frame that defines the rhythm and harmonic). They sense, they listen, they collaborate while creating unique unpredictable art.

Based on the same principles we create jam session startups, meaning that we set a course and we gather the perfect team of highly skilled people. We do not create an agenda or agreements, but we focus, do our best, sense and listen to our users. We collaborate on creating unique, unpredictable and user driven startups.

What happens when we skip the business plan, the agreements and the technical specifications? It is simple – we execute, learn and improve. Instead of a business plan, we set an overall strategy i.e. our course, set up milestones and deadlines, and we take these very seriously. Our deadlines makes us prioritize and fight the perfectionist part of us, that want´s to launch a perfect service, which will never happen.

I have tried both ways of running a startup, but somehow the more effort I put into planning, structure and great business plans, the less I achieve. The reason is that I miss out on spontaneity, which in many cases are the best source for innovation.

When we build Mentory, we knew that we should launch a basic version i.e. no Rolls Royce to start with, but instead sense the adaption while listening to our users. In the past three months since we launched, we have learned lessons and gotten ideas that couldn´t have been predicted up front. The journey is also much more exciting, we know our course but we do not know where it will take us a long the way, and in the end – it is all about Jazz.