Comments on: OpenCoffee in London, queue was too long http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/ Enabling a Reliable, Consistent and Trusted Experience Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:14:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Paul Walsh http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-1683 Paul Walsh Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:07:49 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-1683 I agree John - both is great. I've got coComment switched on but I don't bother to check up on it for some reason. I agree John - both is great.

I’ve got coComment switched on but I don’t bother to check up on it for some reason.

]]> By: John Wilson http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-1264 John Wilson Fri, 09 Mar 2007 07:06:03 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-1264 Paul - the good news is that Open Coffee seems to be able to support both requirements at present. I am meeting many entrepreneurs that want to talk to investors (and I know other investors are getting the same experience) so they are happy with the arrangement. At the same time it's evident that there is a set of people who are simply there to hang out. BTW - you made a comment to Phil Wilkinson on his blog about turning on email/rss for comments. Even easier - try coComment which is a personal comment aggregator that will track any comments you specify for review at your own convenience. Paul - the good news is that Open Coffee seems to be able to support both requirements at present. I am meeting many entrepreneurs that want to talk to investors (and I know other investors are getting the same experience) so they are happy with the arrangement. At the same time it’s evident that there is a set of people who are simply there to hang out.

BTW - you made a comment to Phil Wilkinson on his blog about turning on email/rss for comments. Even easier - try coComment which is a personal comment aggregator that will track any comments you specify for review at your own convenience.

]]> By: Paul Walsh http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-658 Paul Walsh Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:44:40 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-658 Saul - that's great news, see you Thursday! Saul - that’s great news, see you Thursday!

]]> By: Saul Klein http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-655 Saul Klein Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:29:30 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-655 Paul - thanks for coming along. Agree opencoffee is not about talent meeting money, it's just about people who are passionate about startups hanging out informally and meeting other people (developers, entrepreneurs, investors etc) in an informal space. Look forward to seeing you there again. Paul - thanks for coming along. Agree opencoffee is not about talent meeting money, it’s just about people who are passionate about startups hanging out informally and meeting other people (developers, entrepreneurs, investors etc) in an informal space. Look forward to seeing you there again.

]]> By: Paul Walsh http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-616 Paul Walsh Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:45:19 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-616 Paul - I agree with the method (full stop) :) I'm not sure I expected this event to be that... otherwise I wouldn't have attended. *Personally*, I'd rather hand pick investors. When I introduced myself to (the lovely) Nicola from Benchmark, she already knew who I was... that's the position I'd rather be in. I can see how other companies that I may start will be different though. Just not this event for me if it's about speed dating. I want an OpenCoffee morning where I can sit down, drink coffee and conjure new ideas with people like you and then turn to an investor to see if they like the idea. I met people like Paul Birch there - he's hardly in need of a speed dating service either. Paul - I agree with the method (full stop) :)

I’m not sure I expected this event to be that… otherwise I wouldn’t have attended. *Personally*, I’d rather hand pick investors. When I introduced myself to (the lovely) Nicola from Benchmark, she already knew who I was… that’s the position I’d rather be in. I can see how other companies that I may start will be different though. Just not this event for me if it’s about speed dating. I want an OpenCoffee morning where I can sit down, drink coffee and conjure new ideas with people like you and then turn to an investor to see if they like the idea.

I met people like Paul Birch there - he’s hardly in need of a speed dating service either.

]]> By: Paul Littlebury http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-613 Paul Littlebury Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:06:16 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-613 I had a good discussion with a VC about the concept of a VC "speed dating" type event. He reckoned it would be a more efficient way to separate wheat from the chaff. Human beings usually make judgement on someones character within first two minutes, so I think there is something to this method ... I had a good discussion with a VC about the concept of a VC “speed dating” type event. He reckoned it would be a more efficient way to separate wheat from the chaff. Human beings usually make judgement on someones character within first two minutes, so I think there is something to this method …

]]> By: Paul Walsh http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-610 Paul Walsh Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:21:30 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-610 John - it's taking a long time for your blog to load and scrolling is painful. You might wish to consider cutting down on the amount of content on the page by reducing the number of posts on view. Just a thought. Congrats on your coverage in the Guardian. The Sunday Tribune dedicated an entire page to me and 4 other Irish folk in London recently. http://segala.com/blog/irish-whove-made-it-into-londons-marketing-elite/ John - it’s taking a long time for your blog to load and scrolling is painful. You might wish to consider cutting down on the amount of content on the page by reducing the number of posts on view. Just a thought.

Congrats on your coverage in the Guardian. The Sunday Tribune dedicated an entire page to me and 4 other Irish folk in London recently. http://segala.com/blog/irish-whove-made-it-into-londons-marketing-elite/

]]> By: Paul Walsh http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-609 Paul Walsh Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:08:02 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-609 Good to meet you too John :) <blockquote>Entrepreneurs want a place to meet. So come enjoy the wifi every Thursday between 1000-1200 at the Starbucks in Espirit on Regent Street. You are likely to meet other entrepreneurs and some investors -- if not, at least you can work in peace.</blockquote> I take your point, but I personally don't see this particular meeting as a form of speed dating as your comment suggests - but hey, we'll all want to get something different out of it... Isn't it more about meeting like-minded people in an informal environment where business owners and investors 'also' have the opportunity to meet and have a friendly chat? I'm interested to learn more about what others think. I enjoyed it and will go again next week. But I'd like to hear if people are getting what they expect for their 'buck'. I’m likely to stop going if it’s the same environment every week though as I get enough of that type of meeting during the evenings. That said, not everyone can get out in the evening so… Good to meet you too John :)

Entrepreneurs want a place to meet. So come enjoy the wifi every Thursday between 1000-1200 at the Starbucks in Espirit on Regent Street. You are likely to meet other entrepreneurs and some investors — if not, at least you can work in peace.

I take your point, but I personally don’t see this particular meeting as a form of speed dating as your comment suggests - but hey, we’ll all want to get something different out of it…

Isn’t it more about meeting like-minded people in an informal environment where business owners and investors ‘also’ have the opportunity to meet and have a friendly chat?

I’m interested to learn more about what others think. I enjoyed it and will go again next week. But I’d like to hear if people are getting what they expect for their ‘buck’. I’m likely to stop going if it’s the same environment every week though as I get enough of that type of meeting during the evenings. That said, not everyone can get out in the evening so…

]]> By: John Wilson http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-606 John Wilson Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:42:31 +0000 http://segala.com/blog/opencoffee-in-london-queue-was-too-long/#comment-606 Paul, enjoyed meeting you today. As I've just posted on my blog, I don't think we need wifi at the event - this is about "talent" introducing themselves to "money". This means a brief 5 mins explanation of what you do and what you are looking for. If the investor is interested and you fit their investment profile (sector, size etc) then you can do a follow up meeting. If people do think their site is the best communicator, then after doing an intro simply invite the investor to look at your site after the event and get agreement you can follow up. Remember, the investor is there to meet lots of people as well. Paul, enjoyed meeting you today. As I’ve just posted on my blog, I don’t think we need wifi at the event - this is about “talent” introducing themselves to “money”. This means a brief 5 mins explanation of what you do and what you are looking for. If the investor is interested and you fit their investment profile (sector, size etc) then you can do a follow up meeting.

If people do think their site is the best communicator, then after doing an intro simply invite the investor to look at your site after the event and get agreement you can follow up.

Remember, the investor is there to meet lots of people as well.

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