Yet another web app? Or serious business?

Morgan McKeagney, MD iQ Content

1977: The world is dan le merde.

May 27, 1977: Sex Pistols release first single

Within months, punk is a global phenomenon

Even Ireland gets in on the act…

The Blades, The Undertones, The Virgin Prunes, Berlin, DC 9, Stiff Little Fingers, The Atrix, The Facets, Frankie Corpse & The Undertakers, The Boy Scouts, The Vipers, The Sussed, Victim, The

Outcasts, U2 (then called The Hype), The Radiators From Space, Rudi, The Boomtown Rats, Rocky De Valera & The Gravediggers, Frankie Corpse & The Undertakers, The Radiators From Space

Liberation, excitement, creative energy

“Here was music that gave you licence to do it yourself. Punk allowed you to steal or borrow a guitar and anyonecould form a band. You didn't need to be as intelligent as Bowie or have athird level degree. It was liberating. You could just do it.”

Gavin Friday, Virgin Prunes

What was the equivalent web app moment?

Creativity, excitement, energy

But a word caution: does your app solve real problems? Deliver real value?

The backlash has started…

1979: A tale of two bands

“Until the U2 phenomenon broke the Blades were considered to be the Irish band most likely to go global. This Dublin trio acquired a massive hometown reputation in the early 80s with their dynamic blend of punk, pop and soul but somehow failed to make the vital commercial breakthrough.”

The “better one” didn’t make it….

The “worse one” did, and how.

30 years & 140 million albums later…

Disclaimer: I don’t like U2

From hobby to serious business – a journey

The Atrix, The Facets, Frankie Corpse & The Undertakers, etc.

The Blades, The Undertones, The Virgin Prunes, Stiff Little Fingers.

U2

U2 | Anatomy of success

Attitude, product, competitiveness, ambition, work-ethic,

record company, team & personalities, Paul

McGuinness, money, talent, luck, evolution, marketing,

value, music, drive, doing it for the punters,

togetherness, in for the long haul, time, longevity, brass necks,

commercial-savvy, ego, lack of ego, local to global, vision, brand, community, timing...

Lessons for Web app start-ups?

Team: balanced, ego-full and ego-less Product: real value for real people Punters: its about them, not you Commercial focus Local, then global?

Time to get serious.

2009 – Ireland is dan le merde, again.

Build a business, not just an app We want to help iQ Prize: 10k for best business plan No strings attached Details released Friday 20th of March Winner announced, iQ BootCamp 10th of June

Announcing the iQ Prize.

Thanks for your attention & good luck!

Contact Details:

Morgan McKeagneyManaging DirectoriQ Content Ltd

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Conference: Dublin, 9th – 12th June 2009

e: morgan@iqcontent.comt: +353 1 817 0768www.iqcontent.com