If you have an original idea / business model / startup to kick off on the web, but feel short in cash or resources, then the perfect way for you to nail down a potential partner are OpenCoffee format meetups, which are now going to take place in Riga too.

That goes to investors as well - now you have an opportunity, in a totally informal setting, to consider the ideas while sipping coffee with their authors and negotiating on a potential partnership.

OpenCoffee welcomes all industry professionals as well, those who care about online presence of their business and would like to brainstorm on fresh ideas or just meet the thinkers alike.

Since the start of the last year, when first OpenCoffee meetup was held in London, such format meetings regularly take place all around the world. A few months ago I had a chance to visit the OpenCoffee in Tallinn, together with Maxim and Evgeny. There was very friendly atmosphere reigning in there, enterpreneurs were present, as well as people representing future and ongoing internet services (Skype, for instance), plus some bloggers and even a college professor. And last week, I heard through the grapevine that AlexR is getting the idea of OpenCoffee in Latvia through, which of course is extremely cool and hopefully this movement will become a tradition around here.

The OpenCoffee concept is as easy as it gets: in a previously agreed place, where good coffee and free Wi-Fi should be both a yes, on a previously agreed time, entrepreneurs, investors and all those who think they need to be there, are gathering. Usually, the place is a permanent venue, the time is also scheduled for no change (for example, each Thursday 10 - 12 @ Starbucks Elizabetes St.). It’s not important who comes, perhaps some days there ain’t gonna be anyone coming - people are just need to know that if they wanna meet, the place is here and the time is now. If you don’t make it this time - it’s not the end of the world! You’ll make it next time! That’s why these meetups should be regular. Maybe, if meeting each week for Latvia would be too frequently, then it could be, say, first Thursday of each month.

At this moment, the introduction meetup of Latvian OpenCoffee Club is scheduled for June 5 this year. As the time and venue are still discussable, I’ma vote for 10 AM. I truly believe that this type of gatherings will be way more serious and productive if we throw them up in the mornings, in spite of just the next one bloggers’ “after work” beer drinking evening. After all we are talking “work” here, aren’t we? The SunSet Bar seems to be OK, if not one thing - during the fall/winter off-season it’s not gonna be open in the mornings, and there’s actually no.. “good coffee” in there =) This can be lived with though, but those who know more than two types of coffee (black and white) will surely understand me.

Alrightie, so meet y’all soon, at the OpenCoffee!

For the first meetup, to increase the attendance and interest, there is a topic set up: “The Web 2.0 Evolution or Where is the Web Rolling?”, as well as a visual presentation of a new project to be launched on Latvian market will be held.

My TV remote’s OFF button clicked right when I heard an awful song which was performed by some group dressed like pirates jumpin’ around the stage. At that moment I thought, well yeah, there are hopefully better performers to make it to the Eurovision contest, this one is a flop for sure.

Imagine how shocked I was when I opened nekur and saw Maris’ post saying.. them clowns, um, pirates won.

Well good luck getting higher than the last spot in Belgrade guys.

On the note of TNS releasing the news of the tremendous growth online media advertising market saw through 2007, I would like to praise and applause for this thing we’re so used to: the Web. C’mon y’all, stand up! That’s what I’m talking bout.

Ad market is surely reflecting what the masses chew on - an increase by 81%, for Latvia sounds just amazing. Still amongst the lowest in terms of turnover though the web is soon to get its key rivals - outdoor and radio. Mags, papers and TV are leading the race but the pattern is clearly seen, internet based media are taking the advertising market by storm.

Facing the aftermath of BarCamp Baltics 2008, I start to turn more and more in the direction of getting schooled about New Media and experience exchange seems vital like ain’t never else. My eye was caught by the upcoming conference on e-marketing which is to take place here in Riga on March 12. Hosted by originally Estonian altex marketing and named “More than a banner: The future of internet marketing in Latvia” the self-dubbed Emarketing!1 (E!1) promises to be a pretty interesting event. But these are emotions right here. The facts are available on altex home page. Since they happen to be hookin’ me up with a free admission for this, I will surely try to be there and grab some precious knowledge.

Anyways, my late night message to y’all is like, Latvian online media are developing quicker than you can manage to follow. Blogs are born and banners become old-school. Plenty of proof around that the show is underway and I ain’t the one to sit back, relax and just enjoy it, believe me. I am actively taking part in propelling the whole movement. Yikes.

A presentation of brand new WRX Subarus with blue police lights under the grill took place today. Who would those need? Kinda interesting.

The Highway Patrol’s move is surely clever. And there are gonna be some “low IQ drivers” detained. But what about the high-speed chase? Given our roads condition?

I don’t know how it goes down in Cobra series - have never watched, but there’s no doubt that on Autobahns made for high-speed traffic, chase is way different. In Latvia, it can turn out to be a pitiful experience..

Hopefully the Silver Bullets’ drivers will prove they got “higher IQ”.

And yes, cops love us. Nice Valentine’s Day gift.

..Before you start making an incubator, you should decide how many eggs you would like to incubate simultaneously..

We’re at BarCamp are kinda different from all of those farmers and embryologists out there. The eggs being incubated simultaneously, umm, the applications for funding, were not limited - everyone could submit whatever amount of projects to the Innovation Incubator.

Around 80 ideas, approximately from 60 authors in slightly over two months were distributed to the judiciary of potential investors. About near the good half of those thirsty-for-funding start-ups managed to raise the attention of fat walletted gentlemen.

Sure, only some of them will qualify for further cooperation. That’s just how it is: the heating system, temperature and humidity control are of utmost importance in any incubator. One project will have it intact, the other will be sent to the side by sponsors. That’s removing troublesome dead eggs, know I’m sayin’?

These last days, up until this late hour I’ve been in communication with fathers and mothers of future internet giants, with fresh idea generators, so optimistically and positively minded Incubator participants. I wanna wish luck to all of you on Sunday, and wish you to believe in a bright future =)

..To increase the hatching out, you should ensure timely pick-up and correct storage of the eggs..

Our big-name investors know the last rule by heart, no doubt. But this is gonna be completely different story…

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]]> http://rigatalk.com/2008/02/08/how-to-make-an-incubator/feed/langswitch_lang/en http://rigatalk.com/2008/01/21/riga-went-back-to-ice-age/langswitch_lang/en http://rigatalk.com/2008/01/21/riga-went-back-to-ice-age/langswitch_lang/en#comments Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:30:33 +0000 Aleksandrs "Lexxus" Borovenskis http://rigatalk.com/2008/01/21/riga-went-back-to-ice-age/langswitch_lang/en

Russia’s 1st Channel produced figure ice skating reality show Ice Age came to rock the Arena Riga crowd this past week-end. As the City traveled way back through ages to freeze down in Ice Age, the fully packed hall warmed the figure skaters with welcome and a stand-up applause. The 10,000 audience was just amazing, as Ilia Averbukh commented toward the end of the show.

I got lucky to visit the event and once again make sure that figure skating is such a beautiful sport!

Almost all of the major participants of Dance With The Star sampled TV show had shown up. More of the rest we missed Chulpan, Ville, Galustyan, Semenovich, Grebenschikova. A lot of people were frustrated that the winner of Ice Age Chulpan Khamatova did not come to Riga. But impeccable figure skating of pros and actual Olympic champs Tatyana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, as well Igor Vernik’s jokes would not let the Arena down.

Vernik told the story of his trip to Riga - he forgot the passport at home and just 45 minutes before the plane thought he would not make it from Moscow. But actor-figure skater was so happy his kid’s nun managed to bring the travel document on time, that he tried to tell the story several times.

Marat Basharov showed his Latvian language skills, greeting the public “Labvakar Riga” (Good Evening Riga) and later “Sveiki” (Hi there). And we also enjoyed perfect figure skating of our Lithuanian neighbors Povilas Vanagas and Margarita Drobiazko, as well as Alexey Tihonov and Maria Petrova, Lobacheva and Averbuch and other Ice Age participants including Russian prima ballerina Anastasiya Volochkova.

Alexey Makarov looked kinda bored without his Anna Semenovich. He was skating with Albena Denkova, but at the end of the show, when participants were called, he came out alone, looking sad and all.

Irina Slutskaya skated for the first time after her child’s birth. She was so nice - go girl! It was funny though when she dropped right on her butt while sponsor’s presents giveaway. But seems like there was some stuff on ice, flower leftovers or something.

Overall, the show turned out remarkable. Special effects, color lighting, sparks and flames along the border of the ice rink gave the show additional beauty. Ice hockey marking disappointed though. Shame on organizers for saving on ice, leaving so unneeded here blue and red zone lines, goal crease, faceoff spots and circles. At least they cleaned the ice at halftime =)

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