New types of advertising: Pinball with prize

Soon we begin to launch a publicity campaign for online Yes.fm and we want to use unconventional partly formats such as Advergaming.

I teach in preview to see that he looks like a flash game of pinball Yes.fm based on a very cool, in which scores are recorded and the Top 3 of the week receive a free weekly subscription to Yes.fm, amid the Item you can get codes for payment of 1 day or 1 hour.

To do this you have to go through the upper ring of the game, the words "Get" 5 times for payment of 1 hour, and 10 times for 1 day. I admit that I was the only 1 hour and a half viciao'm here playing.

Try it and see what you think! You'll see my score test is tomorrow ... I'm in this package.

(NOTE: You can take a while to load depending on your connection, it is 1 MB, if you read from the Feed and want to play you should go here)

Tags: Advergaming, Campaigns, creativity, games, advertising, Yes.fm

Social networks, creating community

As part of the strategy of communication Yes.fm have begun working on social networks.
I firmly believe this new vehicle of communication, which if it works well and consistently able to establish an excellent channel of communication between users and the staff of any company.
In the beginning our presence will focus on Facebook, Tuenti, MySpace, a video channel on YouTube and a user of Twitter. I think to start are the key points, but if anyone thinks that we let ourselves be somewhere in the air, I'd love to know.

The idea with which we work, and I think that is important is that channels are dynamic and offer new options for the user, run competitions, online events, weekly musical premieres, to encourage the community where we make off portal and exclusive promotions for members Channel; I am particularly concerned that not only are promotional vehicles, but they bring added value to the user trying to get better the more people are sitting around in these channels Yes.fm social media.
I understand that in the coming years we will see flourish dozens of agencies and departments within large companies dedicated to creating community and developing value-added content and promotion within this new type of media.

What power does this have? Suffice it to say that the account of the president-elect of USA, Barack Obama would have continued during the American elections more than 1,700,000 friends on facebook, which provides real-time communication within this social network. Of course it is an extreme case, but today an example to follow.

I have much personal interest in developing these initiatives. I am a user of facebook and twitter, but on a personal level. We have never launched an online campaign and for our products in all these new media social media. I hope we can make them grow and give added value. Create them and take them abandoned half is ridiculous, we must be very active in them and it is a work of hormigita , Working on medium and long term.

If you are a user of these nets canals here are newly created, I hope you snagging one of them, and they're starting to upload content.

Yes community on Facebook

Yes.fm Twitter

Profile Tuenti Yes

Channel Video on Youtube Yes.fm

MySpace Yes

Tags: community, facebook, myspace, social networks, social media, tuenti, twitter, Yes.fm

The world of music is asking for a change

Tags: music, digital music, Yes.fm

Returning to the garage

Last night I read a post by Francisco Carrero, missed on the draft garage ... what those times! And wanted to share a few thoughts about it ...

Those who like me, have more than 10 years on the internet we remember well, and at least I nostalgically of the garage project.

The concept, imported from USA as always we came to pass that talent, the idea (increasingly obsolete) and the execution could do that from a small village in Arkansas, 2 amiguetes in their spare time after school, do something important on the Internet and build a project that could reach the world. It was as real as utopian, on the Internet "you can be the Corte Ingles"

In Spain there was not really so many projects, but if in USA. Many of the companies on the Internet concerning the end of the 90 were born literally in a garage. People like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs started well, literally.

Years ago that the romantic concept of the garage has fallen into disgrace. I guess that was predictable and that is equal to healthy, but these "garage projects" have not disappeared, have been transformed.
What in the year of'98 was an idea, a computer, a small footprint and killed a few hours of programming, creativity, probaturas and work with excitement, today is a power point or at most a pdf and a string of visits to Business Angels, Family Offices, Risk Capital and several events.

I do not want to prejudge or clear position, but if you do a little thinking out loud and hear your opinion:

Did not we spend time now to "find the money," literally, when 10 years ago, nor the previous generation was raised to conduct a Business Plan initially, but what they wanted was to start proving its concept, its execution (with its media, often rudimentary), and his ability?

At the end of the 90 kids were young, often pre-university students who were putting up its project. Today, entrepreneurs rarely look younger than 24-25 years, almost always having finished or close to finish the race, that "must leave" to find life, but not before. With generational change we have not delayed the timming?. Would it be a total change; of concern to the necessity of yesteryear?. Those guys from the institute, under 20 years old, and they had created their project forward, no longer exist?

And finally, if the crisis closes the tap of money, what effect will these pdf and Powerpoint circulating like crazy table in table?. ¿Exacerbate the ingenuity that lack of liquidity?. That is to say, will come back to the garage?

Not if you come back to that point, but if you think that if it were, in some ways would have more charm.

Tags: Entrepreneurs, garage, Web 2.0

Speaking of Yes.fm in the magazine's Ficod08

The journal is published by Active Networking on the occasion of FICOD has devoted a page talking about yes.fm

If you want to download in pdf to read the full article, you can do from here

Tags: FICOD, Active Networking, Newspapers, Yes.fm

Money vs Din € ro

I've a few days wanting to write for money and the din € ro, it may seem the same, but it is not.
A few days ago, an entrepreneur and that I continue to recommend whose blog, Jaime Estevez, commented in a post on this blog, Why I am not going to invest in your project, something very interesting and I hope that has developed in his, "The reasons that I do not want your money. "

I have been fortunate in my dual role of investor and entrepreneur to be my own investor in the moments needed. That is a plum. Out there have been many valid entrepreneurs with good teams and good projects that have fallen on the road because the financial partner was not to be.

It is very important, especially in the early stages of the project, where financial needs are limited by the funds needed to go no more (tempting), nor less, but values and allow you to choose who brings the necessary money. The entrepreneur should -- Yes, sometimes it is something utopian-power to elect their first investors.

We are talking about early stages, in the long term if the project grows and continues, not only will you be able to allow that luxury initial, but the money becomes impersonal.

What is money?

It is the gasoline, is a necessary evil. It is something that evening to early you need but you should not dump all your efforts in achieving. But it comes with added value, it comes with the know-how. If you're looking for money in a Business Angel sector, you'll need to refuel the gasoline, but to look out at the gas station because it will be the additional value and the key that opens doors for you and you will win a lot of time.

- Work: get under way, you're not standing 6 months because there is no funding. There are a thousand and one thing that can possibly be doing in those months: test, development, to create a business structure, a team ... Take advantage of the opportunity cost, gaining time, the Internet is a sector immediately, not create a power point "and the pasta , "Because if you see an investor sees that and that's what you've done, not going to believe in yourself as an entrepreneur.

- Invest: We must sweat shirt, literally. Do not you come with an investment of € 0 to xxx.xxx without asking anything you've invested. On your way you think you should pass on the project and that you, in your capacity you have invested in it. For me it makes far more value the entrepreneur who has invested part of their savings, or has requested an appropriation for the project. You can not pretend that the money you put others, you have to be the first to mojarte if you want to be created in you.

- Select: Not all business angels, investors in general and venture capital funds and Family Office are for everyone. Plantéate stages, especially put your focus on profiles of people, not all the money is the same! Personally, it is best to start with an investment of one or more business angels in the sector, you will be able to help not only grow but with its know-how, networking and synergy with other projects to be able to shoot the project.

If you like this capital contribution as the Venture Capital (almost impossible in the initial phase), a Family Office or a Business Angel, you have a problem, are things that have nothing to do, all useful and valid and all led to a different time of the project.

- Permítete a luxury: Do not accept the first proposal of investment you arrive. The goal is not to get money, get to attract money is a necessary evil for the good of the project, permítete reject abusive conditions or profiles that are not ideal and does not bring value to your idea or company.
And what is the din € ro?

- The din € ro is money but a brutal, dizzying, but no more value added. A refueling of gasoline to the beast and then "bye Lucas," again soon, you do well and get me revenues. That's not disrespectful!, Is a phased project and will need them if you go too far.

- On stages in which to shoot the growth of a mature, you will need to din € ro beast, even at the international level. Rate it solely as a financial investment, is another criterion for selection, are purely financial transactions.

- Do not be intimidated money. The money is superb at times and often intimidating. Saca quítate chest and that pressure will prevent bad times. A few years ago, an average company, which wanted to buy one of my companies, which in the end it is not sold, the food started reunion-ending in a tender with a "we have 500 million euros for acquisitions in the sector." Laugh, tell them the truth "only you have that; din € ro, and that they have many, not just you." Take off the pressure if you're at that stage and especially if you come to find, to bring it to them. Do not lose your thinking, keep a cool head and not get mad at you not ask lame or more of what you need, at times, it loses the entrepreneur and always ends up repenting.

Tags: Business Angel, Business Angels, Venture Capital, money, entrepreneurs, family office, investment, investor

Ketek ¿? ... Keteden!

Those who know me know that sometimes I can have a tremendous bad coffee and be very acid. Today we played because the topic turns to me.

No, I do not want to speak too much of Ketek as a product, the new draft Telefonica Moviles, but for those who want to know the service I recommend you read the post of Loogic about it. Only I will say that I've tested, and it seems to me technically accomplished But a glimpse of the past have all the colors to create it, and that should still have many problems in technology. Apart from that I do want to say that our flagship company, Telefonica, should think someday be the greatest player in Internet company in Spain and the reference is late.

Of course few people will say this, and will be heard thousands of praise, is what has become the first advertiser in the country, which hosts whatever you do "with great affection" and impact (come on, that will hopefully follow through box).

Arriving late, and never wrong, is not new, rather it forever, so if novelty is that it also comes at an unfortunate moment. It is once again evidence of work done badly, and now I might mention the wrong strategy and failed Internet at Telefonica in the past 10 years, talk of Terra Lycos and a thousand small projects ... but that's all we know.

What is said is that Telefonica Moviles discovered in 2009 near the model of Facebook, Tuenti and Second Life and because we are adding the mobile platform. A company like Telefonica should have been at day 0 of Tuenti support, and captains participating the project and they would have received with open arms, but this should have happened 2 years ago.

Gentlemen, District C; taken by me crazy, but I will tell you that the Internet is more than just sell ADSL lines, and it should be something much more relevant to you and represents the future of your company.

Returning to Ketek, has been involved in this project until the bee Maya, and of course have spent mega-bill among others Betybyte (eye, I have good concept of them), Openwave, Nec, Accenture, Tilenus and Telefonica's own R & D , To "create a service aimed at an audience of between 14 and 35 years, supported by the strength, quality, customer management and market knowledge" (juas, juas).

And the marketing should be less cumbersome to launch a competition to see who dinner with Paris Hilton, and spent 200,000 euros or 300,000 in a slapstick way.

What I think is the flipante media campaign that launch, sell the project as "The Community of the Good Roll," and as a creative level of portrayed are so ridiculous; to have produced thousands of images of clown noses-green , Hell, but what corporative was the blue huh? - And grace is that the community's good cheer is to make a little goose with a green nose. ¿Funny? Well, I do not know, so if you think it is launching an online campaign (unconventional finally!), A base of millions of banners and buying massive post sponsored to prescribe the service, and sell "the community of good cheer" while they are preparing a ERE, through which fired 10% of the workforce, some 500 people next month, it sounds the least bit appropriate.

Sure that the press agency forgets to include this post in the press clipping

PS: Hey! Of good cheer, amiguetes ... and without nose green!

Tags: Accenture, betybyte, Ketek, movistar, Nec, Openwave, second life, mobile phone, Tilenus, tuenti

Summary of the 1st Forum of Start Ups

At this time back to Madrid on the AVE and I take the time to the appalling food that today serve for a change; D to write a brief summary of the Forum i Start Ups of First Tuesday which was held last night in which I was a member of jury.

This was an experienced pilot, hosted by First Tuesday from Carlos Blanco and Amaia Helguera, and as such should be understood, as an experiment to see if there is space for initiatives of this type using the platform of First Tuesday in Madrid and Barcelona

We heard a 7 entrepreneurs "sell" their draft informally over 6 minutes and respond to questions from Business Angels, Family Offices and risk capital.

Finally, the jury voted with 1.2 and 3 points its 3 projects favorite and the result was:

1. Unlocked Voice
2. Wedtool.com
3. Sponsor a performer

I would like to comment aloud, some thoughts around my head on the experiment and on the entrepreneurs and what they showed. They are personal opinions, and such sobnre entrepreneurs, the jury is not unanimous, each person is a world.

On entrepreneurs:

- I hope not break any off the record if I recognize that the 3 winners and was only voted in last position of my votes with 1 point to Sponsor an Artist, which I think is an original idea, viable, that is underway and that if adapts his model to the path of digital distribution of music (eye!, which were not very covered) can succeed.

- My votes were for Pomelo.tv that almost nobody else did not vote but I understand. This is a model of shared broadcast in streaming based on p2p retransmitted allowing all kinds of online events. They want 5 million Euros (which is science fiction -1 and 2 tb are science-fiction right now and said those numbers aloud in public rub provocation), invested in a technological model today without agreement and with no customers. Lo said, CONAE, I understand that no one will vote. And because if I did?, For a very simple reason, to this technology, because if they enter into another way of implementing it and are removed from the head pretending to be a distribution channel for major chains and international film producers and base it on advertising, I applied and profitable. I can get to like the idea, with another approach more realistic and less "global conquest of the world"

- The other project that was voted Worth Idea, in this case at some point surealismo, because I thought it much more enterprising than to the idea and the project. I believe that more should outline the business model and put the focus on form REAL in the monetization, but to me she thought, I liked it and as I said before, for me to know the entrepreneur and creérmelo is critical, far more than the IDEA. In that line I saw Lluis Faus and Carlos Blanco, agree on the same impression. In addition she insisted she did not want to count too much in public for fear it will replicate the idea. Great paradox indeed when it comes to a platform that seeks to disseminate ideas, and although cost meterselo in the head, the key is the computer and implementation, the ideas are free and replicable. If you can not compete against your own idea into other hands, your project does not work.

- I collided several things. Except Bubok, which in my opinion it was "out of competition", the remaining projects were in a very early stage, and that's perfect, but everybody talked about its international expansion? . There are good presentations that are lost in these grand words. Do not these barely under way, you are not on the market, your model has not yet successfully validated, those asking for money and you start talking to expand internationally and conquer the universe.? It was something common in all projects. A I do not like, you credibility. AH! And translating a website into English or French is not expand internationally.
In fact, I remember in 10 years more than 20 or 30 Spanish companies in the Internet that have expanded outside of Spain in a real and successful. If your day 0 me talk about conquering the world, believe me, grit.

- All the entrepreneurs talked about money. "Gasoline" is certainly necessary, but I chirría otherwise, nobody is talking about or if you want to set money from a Business Angel and Venture Capital, and are things that have nothing to do. For me, as an entrepreneur, very important to define what kind of money you want, and talk of synergies. Present one of the main Business Angels in the sector, expecting a nod to "something more than money." There are people who primarily provides money, and other people who can deliver the same, more or less but with other added values. Nobody talked about these added values only of money, and from my experience I can assure that these added values, synergies with companies , Have certain level of networking with partners is much more important than the check you receive, and can open many doors to your project. That's not disrespectful to the Risk Capital, is simply that I think are different stages and levels, to assemble and develop your business will need more help than just money.

- Times: I think to sell your company, project or idea in 6 minutes is very little. , Vicente Arias , etc… es una oportunidad única, quizás jamás te reciban personalmente, debes “morir matando” y vender hasta el último suspiro tu proyecto. No puedes usar 3 minutos y se acabó. Then you finish in 3 or 4 I find it incredible because you have people in front of the stature of Louis Martin Cabiedes, Alejandro Santana, Axel Serena, Lluis Faus, Eneko Knörr, Vicente Arias, etc ... is a unique opportunity, you might never receive personally, must "die to kill" and sell until the last breath your project. You can not use 3 minutes and it's over. If you are not yourself passionate about selling your idea in public, do not you notes to do it.

On the format:
At dinner later, as Carlos says today, discussed the ideal format, if this format is used to evaluate a project.

I think that is something for which I was most useful, so you can see, without the Fillers of a power point even enterprising live, fend off questions and explain their project with his chest out. For me, serves to define whether there is "wood enterprising" and that I have always advocated that is basic before sitting down to do a project, which if not believe in the team and the entrepreneur does not make sense.

Of course you will not get out of FT investment, which is to leave impressions and contacts and I think we can safely say that after several meetings in which they can get out of business opportunity. I thought it was a different forum and useful, more informal and less encorsetado, compatible with today, but perhaps most liked to Business Angels that the representatives of Venture Capital.

Tags: Alejandro Santana, to sponsor an artist, axel serene, Carlos Blanco, Entrepreneurs, Eneko Knorr, Lluis Faus, luis martin cabiedes, pomelo.tv, start ups, Vicente Arias, worth idea

Today I am in Barcelona, I forum in the First Ups Start Tuesday

Today when I travel to eat in Barcelona to participate in the First Ups Start forum organized by First Tuesday. I have the pleasure of being one of the jurors who will assess a 7 startups.

The jury is composed of people very prominent Internet, Business Angels, and entrepreneurs:

The 7 finalists will present their projects are:

Some are already old acquaintances as Bubok, Angel Maria and others represented as a Sponsor Artist, new business models that come from USA and France. We will see that happen tonight!

Tags: Antonio Ortiz, Antonio Santana, Sponsor an artist, axel serene, bubok, Carles Ferrer, Carlos Blanco, Didac Lee, Emilio Marquez, Eneko Knorr, Gonzalo Carod, Jose Antonio del Moral, Lluis Faus, Louis Font, luis martin cabiedes, Monazen, Noemi Gomez, Pomelo TV, Ricard Soderberg, Roberto Saint-Malo, Rodolfo Carpintier, Roni Mascaró, Sergi Mora, Black Voice, Vicente Arias, Webtool, Worthidea

The importance of communicating in startups, thinking of EBE

The ideas, projects and entrepreneurs must realize that something is more important than you think, should learn to communicate.

There are several events for entrepreneurs this week, one in Seville (EBE) and the other in Barcelona (Forum Start Ups). Now writing from the EBE, I am here tempranito, not many people in search of an idea or an exciting project where they invest. The novelty this year is the presentation of video projects.

There are 2 kinds of entrepreneurs, which assembles its project and to pull ahead, and seeking funding and financial support. Watching the presentations on Saturday morning in the EBE presentations by the entrepreneurs, who moderates Emilio Marquez, I have a few thoughts come to mind.
Right now I'm watching a collaborative project on books. The project called SoapBook, may be a novel idea and may even have a good market, but I think they failed communication. Personally I think it is important to learn to communicate and sold, especially if what you want is just that; "sell" you to know, attract funding and / or interest in the sector.

That is, what you can not put a video at 10.00 with raucous music when the whole world is half asleep on a Saturday morning, so you should not do is submit a draft in private beta, unless you invite the assistants, all with your laptop in front to try it with a password, which you can not say is "you have several business projects in the head" is that you do not have any clear, and finally what you can not miss is your 10 minutes.

Finally I do not think that transmit security "to sell a project," in which not even have mounted a society, but what we have is an idea. Personally I think it has a good tan in these events, but we must get more worked.

10 minutes is a little much at once. There are people who manages to communicate in 10 minutes, which communicates well, knows that it sells and transmit, but can also be lengthy and pointless if you can not sell your project, conveying enthusiasm, projection and security. That much we fail in Spanish entrepreneurs.

And believe me, is important.

Ipoki:

Me ha gustado más Ipoki , me había hablado de esta startup un amigo hace tiempo y aunque no le había dedicado mucho tiempo, si que me ha gustado. Recuerdo que estaba viendo un proyecto similar del que me habían mirado un Business Plan, y alguien con mucho criterio, me recomendó ver Ipoki. Tras verlo, deseché invertir en esa startup que valoraba el Business Plan.

Me cuesta un poco ver el modelo de negocio como oportunidad económica real, pero este chico tiene claro lo que está haciendo, si no se vuelve muy loco con los costes y necesita rentabilizar a día de hoy creo que es un proyecto con futuro. Creo mucho en la geolocalización, pero hay que buscarle una mayor utilidad que la de poner un mapita con donde estás en tu blog. Hay mil una aplicaciones de seguridad, de ocio y otras que vendrán en las que se puede trabajar.

Mi única pega: el hablar de expansión internacional en España en un proyecto que aun no está posicionado. Step by step my friend

El emprendedor me ha gustado, y creo que ese es un asunto critico. Le prestaré más atención a su web y lo testearé a fondo. Tiene buena pinta si se encuentra un modelo de negocio claro, y unas nuevas aplicaciones con enfoque más de economía real.

Smmart:

Es una herramienta de analisis, en la url www.analisisdemedios.es ¿? El nombre de Smmart me parece muy complicado, y no guarda relación con la url. Me suena algo rebuscado.

Lo enfocan como herramienta para agencias, para bloggers, una herramienta de diagnostico SEO y SEM. Lo probaré, no me parece muy interesante como modelo de negocio y startup pero si podríamos ser clientes de este tipo de servicio si es tan efectivo como lo venden. Podria ser útil como herramienta de comparación y seguimiento de competencia .

Widgatget:

A esta empresa la conocí hace tiempo y me pareció una iniciativa interesante y con futuro. De hecho ayer precisamente conocí a Isabel Sabadí en las oficinas de Yes.fm porque estamos viendo nuestros desarrollos de Widgets para el proyecto de Yes.

La idea es poder llevar widgets y música a los blogs, y que los usuarios puedan compartir sus propias playlist, asi como ver las posibilidades de desarrollar alertas de escritorio para poder poner un player en el escritorio de los usuarios.

Isabel dice “tuvimos suerte, y para convencer de que podría funcionar, tuvimos que desarrollarlo”. Me parece muy acertado, hay que desarrollar cosas y “enseñar la patita” y por estos lares es bastante habitual “vender” proyectos y pedir dinero para comenzar sin haber desarrollado ni demostrado que eres capaz. Creo que es un punto clave, para que por ejemplo WidGadget lograra en su día su primer cliente; el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona.

Creo que Isabel conoce perfectamente su sector y su trabajo. Lo tiene claro, desarrollan soluciones de futuro, y tienen una valor añadido claro, así como clientes que respaldan sus aplicaciones.

Mobifriends:

No se ha podido ver el vídeo. Una putadilla porque se ha colgado.

Es un servicio para conocer amigos por telefono móvil. Antes era un servicio de geolocalización que no funcionaba, por lo que lo modificaron ¿?

Hoy han abierto Mobifriends la beta privada (bien hecho aprovechar el EBE para abrir y comunicar). Es complicado posicionarse en chat y dating como sectores, pero puede ser un valor añadido a empresas de dating posicionadas.

Tags: analisis de medios , EBE , ipoki , mobifriends , smmart , soapbook , start up soapbook , widgatget

I foro de Startups organizado por First Tuesday

Vía Carlos Blanco me entero de la celebración del I Foro de Startups organizado por First Tuesday , que coincidirá con la Global Entrepreneurship Week (Semana mundial de los emprendedores).

Se trata de la celebración de un evento especial en Barcelona el martes 18 de Noviembre de 2008 a las 19.00 horas en el CDLC (Pso. Maritimo 32 ). En el evento 6 emprendedores  presentarán sus proyectos ante inversores. Yo estaré por alli y seré miembro del jurado que evalue las 6 presentaciones.

Para presentarse al I Foro de Startups, tienes que cumplir los siguientes requisitos:

- Empresa creada oa punto de crearse (en España)
- Ser un negocio basado en Internet o Móbile
- Tener un plan de negocio preparado para ser presentado

Para presentar tu proyecto envía un resumen ejecutivo a barcelona@firsttuesday.es

El Jurado esta compuesto por:

Sin duda es una gran oportunidad y una buena iniciativa que puede ayudar a dar conocer tu proyecto o tu empresa ante cualificados inversores. Generalmente en este tipo de encuentros salen muy buenas oportunidades de negocio para los emprendedores con proyectos serios y viables.

Más información e inscripciones en el Blog del First Tuesday

Tags: Emprendedores , First Tuesday , foro startup

La crisis como revulsivo muy positivo

Creo que todos sabemos ya que estamos ante un nuevo escenario económico-social. Eso es un avance, porque hace algunos meses, cuando algunos lo veíamos venir discutíamos primero sobre si había o no crisis y segundo sobre si afectaría o no a las empresas de tecnología.

Pues bien, ya no tenemos ninguno dudas de lo que tenemos encima, aunque nadie de nosotros sabe a ciencia cierta como evolucionará la situación.

Es el momento de descubrir quien está en pelotas , parafraseando  a Warren Buffet en una frase que desconocía y he leído vía Sixto Arias (a quien no conocía personalmente y la semana pasada en el First Tuesday Madrid me causó una gratísima impresión) y Carlos Blanco : “cuando baja la marea se ve quien está en pelotas “. Pues bien, la marea es posible que baje tanto que veamos quien está o no incluso con los zapatos puestos.

Yo, que no sé si por mi carácter conservador o porque me lo veía venir desde Diciembre, he sido muy negativo , y me preocupé mucho en los últimos meses por nuestra empresa más joven, la Red de Blogs de Ocio Networks.

Me preocupó especialmente esta sociedad por varios motivos, principalmente su juventud, la debilidad del mercado publicitario basado en CPM con los blogs y por el alto y deficitario coste operativo que manteníamos con el objetivo de crecer muy de prisa de tamaño por encima de crecer de forma económicamente sostenida.

Por ese motivo desde Diciembre 2007 empecé a concienciar a nuestro staff directivo con Diego, Mónica y Jaume a la cabeza de la que nos podría venir encima. A Diego y Mónica les insistí especialmente por su función de Coordinador de la Red y Redactora Jefe, y durante todos estos meses hemos estado recortando gastos, optimizando rendimientos y estructura, priorizando inversiones y desechando algunas previstas, parando gastos superfluos, creciendo en tráfico e ingresos a un ritmo sostenido y sobre todo equilibrando balances que eran demasiado negativos para el futuro . Sé que ellos dos, que ahora leerán estos pensamientos, lo hacían un poco sorprendidos ya regañadientes y no veían la situación global tan negra como yo les pintaba. Hoy, tengo la convicción personal de que si no hubiéramos tomado todas esas medidas desde hace 9 meses, posiblemente Ocio Networks no podría sobrevivir en el próximo año y no me cabe ninguna duda que ellos lo ven ahora mucho más claro que hace 9 meses.

En varios puntos de este trayecto la empresa ha necesitado financiación, y por ese punto conservador que tengo por virtud-defecto he ido cubriéndola personalmente con objeto de no depender de financiación bancaria ni dar aun entrada a nuevos socios manteniendo el 100% de la compañía. No sólo parece haber sido un acierto sino que hace la empresa hoy sostenible aunque yo a nivel personal tenga un pasivo por recuperar en los próximos años. Haber dependido de un banco podría haber sido en estos meses que vienen un punto crítico e irrecuperable.

En paralelo me interesé por el tema comercial y quise invertir y apoyar una pequeña estructura interna que nos permitiera no sólo depender de nuestra agencia, Addoor sino poder cerrar acuerdos de acciones especiales, patrocinios y partnership a largo plazo con empresas que tuvieran sinergias con nuestras publicaciones. Esta estrategia ha dado su fruto muy claramente y hemos firmado en Septiembre y Octubre 3 acuerdos anuales y 3 acuerdos semestrales que nos garantizan una fuente de ingresos añadida a nuestros habituales.

La otra pata necesaria era el crecimiento y optimización , con menos estructura, con menos presupuesto mensual, había que agudizar el ingenio para seguir creciendo en tráfico y por consiguiente en ingresos. Desde Enero lo hemos conseguido, siendo precisamente Septiembre nuestro mes de mayor crecimiento absoluto y porcentual.

El miedo y la crisis pueden tener un efecto negativo ; la aprensión y el pánico ya que el dinero es cobarde. Pero creo que t ambién puede tener un efecto tremendamente positivo que nosotros internamente hemos vivido . Mi miedo personal ha hecho que hayamos trabajado más que en otros periodos, tomado precauciones, agudizado el ingenio, hayamos sido más agresivos, más exigentes y hayamos podido desarrollar una red comercial. El miedo también puede ser un estímulo, sin el que posiblemente  hubiéramos afrontado mucho peor los tiempos que vienen. Podemos incluir el miedo a la crisis en este caso como un factor más de la pirámide de motivación personal aplicada a la empresa.

En números de Ocio Networks, todo esto se traduce en que desde Diciembre hemos crecido más de un 100% en audiencia de 1,3 a  2,73 millones de usuarios únicos, casi un 100% en páginas vistas de 4,5 a 8,18 millones/mes, más de un más de un 120% en ingresos publicitarios, y en patrocinios e ingresos atípicos hemos quintuplicado los ingresos que teníamos entonces.

En paralelo hemos bajado nuestros gastos y costes de explotación en un 12% desde Enero . El mes pasado fue el primer mes en el que Ocio Networks dió amplios beneficios y ya sabemos que con nuestro crecimiento, costo de explotación actual, controlando los gastos y con los acuerdos firmados en los próximos meses duplicaremos el beneficio de Septiembre de forma sostenida y consolidada.

Esperamos haber hecho los deberes y cuando baje la marea llevar todos el bañador puesto.

Sin el miedo a la crisis y al escenario que parecía venirse encima no hubiera sido posible; es el estímulo de la adversidad.

Tags: Blogs , Carlos Blanco , crisis , estimulos , miedo , motivacion , Ocio Networks , Redes de Blogs , sixto arias

Hoy iré al First Tuesday Madrid

Publica Carlos Blanco (al que por cierto alguien debería agradecer que se haya estado ocupando del First Tuesday incluso en los peores años, sin y prácticamente sin apoyo), que hay 200 personas inscritas en el FT Madrid de esta noche dedicado a la publicidad online.

Esta noche entre los ponentes están Enrique Lara ( Adlink ), Julio Alonso ( Weblogs ) y Jose Manuel Alonso ( Iglue ), a las 19.30 hrs en Lemon

Aunque reconozco que me suele dar una pereza tremenda ir a estos eventos, y que en los últimos 10 años debo haber ido no más de una o dos veces al FT (hace algunos meses en un evento dedicado a música online, donde charló Kiko Fuentes, director de Contenido de Yes.fm ), no faltaré a la cita de esta noche. (y eso que esta noche estaba invitado a cenar al Master Tenis de Madrid , que me apetecía mucho, pero otro día tendrá que ser …)

Me parecen unos acertadísimos ponentes, creo que va a haber muchas preguntas y sobre todo opiniones muy interesantes.

A los que piensan que de estos eventos se saca poca cosa, decirles que al menos históricamente mi experiencia no me dice eso. De hecho, en el FT Madrid que mencionaba antes dedicado a la música digital salió una operación de una adquisición interesante que hemos ejecutado hace pocas fechas.

Felicitar a los organizadores porque me parece el tema del momento, unos grandes ponentes a los que será muy interesante escuchar, y que se haya apuntado tanta gente es un claro síntoma de que no soy el único que lo ve así.

Si alguien quiere venir puede apuntarse de forma gratuita desde el web del evento aqui

(por cierto, tb tengo ganas de ir un día a Iniciador, que organizan Angel María y Javier Martin )

Tags: Adlink , Enrique Lara , First Tuesday Madrid , Havas , Jose Manuel Alonso , Julio Alonso , Kiko Fuentes , musica , Weblogs

Lo que tus compras dicen de ti mismo –quieras o no-

Hay gente que sigue mis pasos de una manera muy aguda y efectivamente, hilando muy fino logra saber mucho de mi según algunos movimientos que hago.

Un buen amigo, empresario del sector y CEO de una compañía con sede en Los Angeles, sabe por un pequeño comentario en mi blog personal de hace unos días, cuando hablaba en que sectores creo que hay que estar en 2009 , de mi interés por la genética es algo más que teórico y que algo  se “está cociendo”.  Posiblemente por eso al ver que esta semana se han vendido dos dominios genéricos en español; testgeneticos.com y genetica.es aunque aun no han sido transferidos ni es público el comprador, mi nombre le va venido instintivamente a la cabeza.

Esta mañana le he comentado entre risas por email, que le contestaría a lo largo del día, y de hecho es lo que estoy haciendo ahora mismo.

En Intenet hay muchos emprendedores interesados por la genetica, no hace mucho leí a Javier y Pablo sobre ello y hay dos grandes compañías americanas que se han lanzado a uno de los negocios más interesantes de los últimos años; la decodificación del genoma humano. Estas compañías son 23 and Me , y Decodeme .

La primera de estas empresas está fundada por la mujer de Sergey Brin de Google, y en la que han invertido Bussines Angels tan interesante como Martin Varsavsky , lo que obviamente le ha abierto muchas puertas sobre todo a nivel económico. La segunda, es una empresa pionera, que tenía tomada la delantera en este campo y con un impresionante laboratorio en Islandia estaba llamada a liderar el sector, pero - poderoso caballero es don dinero- en los últimos meses se está viendo totalmente eclipsada por el poderío de 23 and Me, especialmente con el golpe de efecto de bajar los test genéticos de la barrera psicológica de los casi 1.000US$ hasta los 399US$ de golpe, precio MUY MUY CERCANO al costo operativo real. ¿Pero entonces, si van casi al costo, donde está el negocio?

El negocio está en que esa compañía es la “guardiana” de tu perfil genético y te podrá cobrar un fee anual o  mensual por acceder a la comparativa de los descubrimientos futuros relacionados con ese perfil genético que tu tienes. Posiblemente mejorarán y alargarán tu calidad de vida a medida que cada año aparecen cientos de pistas y claves genéticas, y te enseñaran los hábitos más saludables que a ti te interesan en contraposición con los consejos genéricos de medicina preventiva. Sabrás cada día más con los descubrimientos genéticos que llegan día a día que riesgos reales tienes.

Es un negocio apasionante. No se entenderá la medicina moderna sin tener un perfil genético, lo que llamamos DNI genético.

Tras la decodificación del genoma hace años, por parte de Celera Genetics (¡lo que debe el mundo a esta compañía!) y la donación de ese conocimiento al mundo por parte del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos la medicina ha dado un vuelco. A partir de ahora podremos prevenir enfermedades, saber si somos especialmente propensos a algunas de ellas (lo que nos hará en ocasiones evitarlas, y en ocasiones no), decodificar enfermedades y ver que perfiles genéticos son especialmente sensibles a estas….

Es decir, la llegada de una nueva medicina preventiva real. Dentro de 10 años , el mundo civilizado no se podrá concebir sin este DNI genético que posiblemente en los países del primer mundo todo el mundo portará desde su nacimiento.

También este nuevo panorama tiene un enorme componente moral que hay que legislar y limitar. ¿Es ético anunciar a un paciente, que muy posiblemente a lo largo de su vida generara un cáncer que no tiene cura?. ¿No quedará alterado psicológicamente desde entonces y reduciremos su calidad y capacidad de vida?
La Unión Europea, el Gobierno de Estados Unidos e incluso en España, se realizan ya los primeros estudios para acotar este campo, y legislar en consecuencia.

¿Donde queda España en este mapa global de compañías genéticas?. En primer lugar hemos hablado de 2 americanas, pero también en Europa hay 2 compañías que luchan por abrirse camino.

España es junto a Grecia el único país que en la Facultad de Medicina no se estudia Genética. Esa materia está curiosamente destinada a la Facultad de Biología. Eso nos hace compartir el dudoso honor con los griegos que los médicos en nuestro país, si no es por inquietud personal, de genética lo justo.

Pero si puedo adelantar que hay una iniciativa muy interesante en genética en España, una de las 2 iniciativas de este nivel en Europa, -y ambas a la altura de las 2 grandes compañías américanas-, de la que pronto hablaré más y que es realmente apasionante. Una compañía con tanta o más experiencia que Decodeme que podría en breve salir del laboratorio offline para convertirse en una startup de internet con marcada vocación internacional y objetivo en el mercado español, latino y portugués y con productos muy innovadores y mucho más específicos que las mencionadas compañías.

Y volviendo al comienzo del post, si, efectivamente, yo compré genética.es y testgeneticos.com , y en este mundo, nada es casual y como el ADN, todo está conectado.

Más próximamente.

Tags: 23 and me , ADN , decodeme , genetica , genetica.es , testgeneticos.com

Creando mi playlist de música española en Yes.fm

Estos dias me he puesto a crear y añadir música a mi primera playlist en Yes.fm .

Esta playlist es de música española , en un primer momento pensé sólo de los 80 y 90 pero finalmente hay también temas de estos años (aunque pocos). (tengo que hacer otra de los 90 y 2000 que no sólo sea de música española cuando tenga un rato)

Puedes ver lo que he incluido y escuchar siempre que quieras mi playlist por supuesto de forma totalmente gratuita desde aqui

Son 79 temas y 5 hrs de duración. Se que falta mucha música que se podría añadir a este estilo de playlist, si crees que debería añadir alguna canción española dejamela en los comentarios de este post y la pondré encantado.

Tags: alejandro suarez , musica española , playlist , Yes.fm