Moments of Clarity

Have you heard the new Internet Business Podcast called Managing the Edge?

For the last 6 weeks, I've been engaged in a project that brings me great joy.  The project is an Internet Business Podcast called Managing the Edge.  The tag line of the show is that we help you "Become more findable and engaging on the web."

The show is produced by me (Doug Mitchell of Create WOW Media) and by Andy Brudtkuhl of 48 Web Consulting each week at our shiny studio at Impromptu Studio in Des Moines.

What I like most is that the show retains a targeted look at WHY we deploy technology in business.  We're constantly bringing things back from the "tech nerd" approach to the "practical small business approach" and I think our listeners like that.

The show streams LIVE on ustream.tv each week where we take questions in real time, and the recorded video and audio are available at anytime beginning the following Monday after our Friday taping. 

If you are looking to increase your Internet Findability Factor, please tune in or perhaps subscribe in iTunes and listen to all of our episodes in order on your next business trip. 

My Interview with another Doug Mitchell

I've begun tracking down the other Doug Mitchell's on the first page of the Google rankings.  I've always been fascinated to see how we jockey back and forth through the first page (darn you Singer Songwriter Doug Mitchell......you're NEXT!!!)

Well, one of the top ranking Doug's just happened to be an NPR Producer and leader of a project called "Next Generation Radio" where he trained youth in responsible journalism and new media tools...among many other topics.

Doug's position was recently and dare I say..."not-smartly" eliminated so I reached out to him via LinkedIn and got the introduction. Two cheers for social and business networking tools.

My interview with Doug Mitchell is posted here.  He is a fascinating guy and I'm so glad I had the chance to chat with him. 

I will continue the process of interviewing the other Doug Mitchell's of the world to see what drives us, what we all do, and how much we have in common.

I'm off to a good start!

Central Iowa Angels Update

Man oh man.   How time flies.  Our team has been cranking away and I can't believe we're already "nearing the end of January."  I plan on attacking this closer to Mid Feb with a March launch for meeting number one.  We have just moved into Impromptu Studio and now have an amazing facility from which to execute, host, and build out the Central Iowa Angels model of "Open Source Angel Investing". 

Putting the Central Iowa Angels network together is even more relevant now that thousands more are losing their jobs...and injecting their creativity into the self-employed/entrepreneurial space.  Contact me with questions or thoughts.

DM

Guest Post on Kelly Moore's PR Blog: This Ain't No Spin Class

I wrote a guest post that just went live on Kelly Moore's This Ain't No Spin Class PR/Marketing blog.  It's called, "Your Web Strategy? Do it Yesterday".

Here's a sample:

Where will your firm spend its marketing dollars in 2009? If your company fits the trend, it seeks higher returns on marketing investment, reduced upfront costs, high impact and measurability (psssst we've just described Web marketing). 

Please visit the post on her site and let us know what you think.

Thanks again Kelly for letting me emote on your site!

Marketing Explosion Seminar chat on AM 830

I did another quick spot on AM 830 out in Southern CA talking about an upcoming seminar I'm doing with my good friends at Solomon Financial (www.fredsolomon.net).  This time, Fred's wife Lisa and rock star Kerri Kasem will be leading the charge and I'll be delivering the "Become Findable on the Web" content.  Very exciting times around here.

If you're reading this blog in Des Moines, perhaps you will wait until we bring the seminar here...but if you're one of my soCal readers, please consider visiting the registration link and join us.

Download Dougonam830

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Class one - Becoming Findable on the web

Wow.  We have 9 HUNGRY and eager people in our class!  The robust QA was definitely 201 level material.  I felt completely engaged and energized by the group.  The range of experience and exposure to these technologies is excellent.  We have business owners, a high level IT tech, a Marketing VP, and more. 

I'm honored to have the chance to interact with such a wonderful group and I can't wait to see what we do over the next 3 Wednesday nights!

My class "Blogging for Business" starts tonight!

I can't wait to start back up again as we will in Des Moines for the next 4 Wednesday nights from 630-830PM.  There's still plenty of room so if you're on the edge...please just COME TO CLASS and sign up on the spot! 

We're at Roosevelt High School off 42nd St. in Des Moines and we're at the FAR SOUTH WEST END of the building..so park in the last possible lot.  We're in room 107.

It's only $50 and you'll get a massive dose of what's good for you and your business!

See you there.

Possible tools in the development of Central Iowa Angels

Here's a piece from web worker daily on the use of twitter for distributed fund raising.At least two services -

Tipjoy and Twitpay (which we wrote about last month) are working on making it easy to collect and aggregate micropayments via Twitter. There’s still a bit too much friction to make things really easy (Twitter could do much more if they’d bring this functionality in-house), but the building blocks are there to run a successful on-line giving campaign.

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Des Moines on cutting edge of access to Honda Air Taxi or "VLJ mini jet"

Here's an article that caught me by surprise.  It's from the Des Moines Business Record and it discusses how Des Moines Flying Service is building a facility in Chicago to accommodate their becoming a dealer/sales outlet for the planes.

Des Moines Flying Service (DMFS) will break ground on the HondaJet Midwest headquarters this spring and hopes to move in by summer 2010, a few months before Honda Aircraft Co. Inc. plans to begin delivering its new HondaJet. DMFS will continue its presence at Des Moines International Airport and Chicago as a Piper Aircraft Inc. dealer with its current staff of 35 people, and form a second company of about 25 people in sales and service focused on the Honda aircraft.

Central Iowa Angels Conversation Update

I posted the topic "Bridging the gap between Central Iowa start ups and seed/growth capital..." in the "LinkedIowa" dicussion group on LinkedIn a couple of days ago.  There have been a couple great responses (Thanks Dan/Adam). 

I wanted to share a particular thought with you and ask that you extend the conversation further.  Please chime in. Take a look at this quote by Adam J. Falconer, an Iowan now working in Chicago. (emphasis mine).  Adam's contact information as well as the entire discussion thread is available at the link above.  Also, to really execute on this model properly, I don't believe that January is remotely close to enough time.  This must be done right out of the gate and we must provide enough time for people to get through the holidays, hone their pitches, and WE need enough time to organize investors so you have someone that will listen.  Stay tuned for a certain date but I'm thinking about Thursday, March 5 as a potential.  That will provide a Friday, March 6 Panera University social networking debriefing/download opportunity (that perhaps investors will attend to gleen more follow up information). 

Web site for www.centraliowaangels.com coming soon. 
____________________________________________

My background is in technology licensing and intellectual asset management and I am a native Iowan (Cedar Rapids area) currently living in Chicago. Most often, the real key to keeping momentum in an angel network is the quality of the due diligence not the availability of capital (which is a separate topic).

Evaluating "start-up" ideas is a very specialized skill, and quite different from the type of work VC partners do. Depending on the background of the potential "seed/startup" team, the path forward can be very different (are they researchers from the university, industry folks who are looking to put some equity into a new venture, or possibly an end-of-career executive looking for a last dance, etc). Frankly, the major concern for a small angel network should be lining up a few good quality deals that can be used to market and promote the network to new angels and other people who can help.

Many times the judgment of the angel group becomes clouded by local interests (not the good kind) and the bias of people who are paid to "help" scout for opportunities (local attorneys or managers with little experience in technology, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, commercialization, etc).

No matter the angel model employed, focus on establishing good relationships with the people who are truly committed to doing positive things for the local economic scene and business community. Watch out for bureaucrats and time-wasters....focus on rolling up the sleeves and getting work done to move the seed-stage companies toward the next step - then repeat as quickly as possible on the next project. This should help with deal flow, and help you get an idea of how many "looks" you need to find one "investable project." Stay focused and work hard, manage the angel group's expectations for returns, and have fun!

Please share your comments/questions/thoughts below.