Web 2.0 LaunchPad Form Guide

By Mike Cannon-Brookes|Uncategorized|2 Comments

Sitting in the pitch session at “Web 2.0″:http://www.web2con.com right now, there are some clear winners and losers (see “Rafe’s post”:http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6661696.html for a full list) to me.
In light of the Melbourne Cup, here’s my “form guide” predictions.
(Remember, I’m a realist – some might say “cynic”:http://www.valleywag.com/tech/web-2.0-con/welcome-to-the-big-con-how-the-web-20-summit-works-213075.php)
h2. The Favourites
*Favourite* – “Stikkit”:http://www.stikkit.com – This is just neat. Just type a simple note, and they ‘interpolate’ a lot of details from it (ie “This looks like a todo list?”). It sounds like Clippy-on-Ajax-hell but it actually looked great in the demo. As Rael Dornfest said, “Simple but not simplistic, smart but not clever”. My pick of the bunch.
*Good Value Chance* – “oDesk”:http://www.odesk.com – these guys are neat, a clever evolution of the old 1997 idea of connecting developers with projects (Antz, HotDispatch, eLance etc). Smart “VC”:HTTP://WWW.benchmark.com, solid features, seems to have size which these networks need. The traditional problem with these services is that you use them as a cheap recruitment tool. Find someone smart, then just hire them outside of the service to stop paying the middle man fees. As I see it their platform is stickier than previous solutions (that said I just talked to “Nik”:http://www.nik.com.au next to me and he said “Omnidrive”:http://www.omnidrive.com hired one of their contractors outside the service – so perhaps it’s not that sticky).
h2. Last Past The Post
*Zero Dollar Bet* – “3B”:http://www.3b.net – what the hell? It’s ugly, slow and they have avatars. Oh god. Haven’t we realised _time and again_ that 3D interfaces tacked onto applications *just don’t work*. I don’t see anything compelling here. In today’s climate, someone will fund it but it certainly won’t be smart money. Seems like a donkey got lost in a horse race.
h2. The Rest Of The Field
* “Omnidrive”:http://www.omnidrive.com – Demo problems but interesting possibilities. Tough competition. Possible place finisher.
* “Turn”:http://www.turn.com/ – Slick, automatic advertising network. Automation seems scary. Could challenge.
* “Adify”:http://www.adify.com – Yawn. Yet another ad network. Middle of the field.
* “In The Chair”:http://www.inthechair.com/index.php – Fantastic. Great demo, slick product but uncertain model. Front runner.
* “Sphere”:http://www.sphere.com/ – Blog search with embeddable Ajax widget. Good publisher support. Strong finisher.
* “TimeBridge”:http://www.timebridge.com/ – Calendar synchronisation. Utterly boring. Been tried before. Short distance runner.
* “SharpCast”:http://www.sharpcast.com/ – FusionOne redone. Syncs data everywhere. Demo failed. Outside chance.
* “Klostu”:http://www.klostu.com – Message board aggregation and social network. One to watch.
* “Instructables”:http://www.instructables.com/ – User generated instructions with related good sales. Commercial wikihow? Late starter.
* “Venyo”:http://www.venyo.org/ – Web 2.0 distributed reputation. Too hard to pull off. Save your money.
People, place your bets!