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Anyone trying to get a software start-up off the ground will know how hard it is to get exposure, to drum up the sort of interest that leads to the type of investment that allows further development of the idea and hopefully its commercial success.
So it is good to see the guys at Start-Up Media offering a pretty unique opportunity for start-up companies to pitch their ideas as part of a reality TV show. I've been writing some features on the New Zealand Web 2.0 scene for Start-Up magazine which launched in December and have seen what the plans are for the upcoming TV show and the activity surrounding it. It looks very promising.
Start-Up and Silicon Welly, a community group of web entrepreneurs based in Wellington are setting up a Web 2.0 incubator on Wellington's waterfront. The idea is that fledgling web companies share office space with more established software companies and collaboration leads on to new projects and new ideas. This already happens in the tight-knit Wellington technology scene where the "Glazier mafia" – a large group of software makers who founded or worked for Glazier Systems back in the nineties have gone on to form other tech companies, some of which have done very well.
The planned TV series will select 10 internet start-ups and put them through 12 weeks of challenges – sort of like The Apprentice or Dragon's Den. Aardvark has a view on the appropriateness of using a TV show to try and launch your big idea. As he says, TV producers are interested in drama and TV that will rate. That may not align with your desire to take your website or software service to the world.
Still, the pay-off for the company that wins the 12 week course, as judged by a group of respected local web experts, is great and the others who will be eliminated as the TV series progresses, may get some valuable exposure along the way. The winning company will go to Silicon Valley to launch their product – at a big show like TechCrunch or the Web 2.0 conference.
I saw Wellington start-up Ponoko launch at TechCrunch last year. It gave them an incredible amount of exposure to the Silicon Valley community and led to them forging some important relationships. Ponoko opened its San Francisco headquarters last month.
So get a pitch together and apply to be featured among the top 10. What are the requirements?
Says Start-Up: "We're looking for companies with an international focus from day 1. The minimum entry requirements will be that they will have a product in development or beta phase however we may make an exception for someone that has an exceptional idea supported by market validation."
There's no application form up yet on the website, but check back later today for details on how to enter.
