Spent two days at LeWeb09 in Paris and I thought a list of my thoughts would be a sufficient summary:
1. The mood was tired and downtrodden. People weren't necessarily in a bad mood but I've never heard more "I'm tired's" than I did this year.
2. Generally people were upbeat about the start-up industry. 2010 seemed to offer good prospects when listening to people talk about their plans.
3. VC's were most concerned about raising future funds. Almost everyone noted how hard it is or is going to be to get future funds raised. Almost everyone saw the most hurdles for funds focussed on seed and early-stage in general.
4. Business angels are playing ever greater roles in the seed space and more have shown up. At the same time I started hearing a lot more complaining about their terms and behaviour. "Lifestyle angels" were seen as a burden at times.
5. In Germany, Berlin is where it's at. London remains the European hotbed. Heard almost nothing about Southern Europe. The Scandics are coming back.
6. Mobile remains the space where people see the most opportunity. Still hard to tell though how many of the things out there will be monetized.
7. People are looking to raise a lot less money. This trend has been around a while but very few people actually said they were looking for a couple million or more. Actually never heard so many pitches for 100k to 500k deals.
8. Everyone had an iPhone. I've never seen more iPhones at an event than I did this year. Macs galore too. Surpisingly few netbooks though and I didn't see one Droid even though I would of bet I'd see one before the event. .
9. Keynotes and panels were of lesser quality than past years. Networking was much better though. Best LeWeb I've attended so far. (Don't care much for keynotes and panels anyway.) The venue (this year without any heating issues) really is a great space.
10. OK, as always, some fun gripes! Food was worse. Last year, I was shocked at the quality of food available in a very positive way. This year just cheese and coldcuts and some funky finger food? Loic, it's Paris. You're French! This is where you can shine with little effort! Further, I really have to stop working out. Guys, you all know of the urinal stalls in the toilet below the stairs! WTF, I know skinny chic may still be cool in Paris, but in my case "going for distance" is not necessarily a motivating factor when taking a pee! Still had a great time though. Thanks Geraldine and Loic for a fun event.
1. The mood was tired and downtrodden. People weren't necessarily in a bad mood but I've never heard more "I'm tired's" than I did this year.
2. Generally people were upbeat about the start-up industry. 2010 seemed to offer good prospects when listening to people talk about their plans.
3. VC's were most concerned about raising future funds. Almost everyone noted how hard it is or is going to be to get future funds raised. Almost everyone saw the most hurdles for funds focussed on seed and early-stage in general.
4. Business angels are playing ever greater roles in the seed space and more have shown up. At the same time I started hearing a lot more complaining about their terms and behaviour. "Lifestyle angels" were seen as a burden at times.
5. In Germany, Berlin is where it's at. London remains the European hotbed. Heard almost nothing about Southern Europe. The Scandics are coming back.
6. Mobile remains the space where people see the most opportunity. Still hard to tell though how many of the things out there will be monetized.
7. People are looking to raise a lot less money. This trend has been around a while but very few people actually said they were looking for a couple million or more. Actually never heard so many pitches for 100k to 500k deals.
8. Everyone had an iPhone. I've never seen more iPhones at an event than I did this year. Macs galore too. Surpisingly few netbooks though and I didn't see one Droid even though I would of bet I'd see one before the event. .
9. Keynotes and panels were of lesser quality than past years. Networking was much better though. Best LeWeb I've attended so far. (Don't care much for keynotes and panels anyway.) The venue (this year without any heating issues) really is a great space.
10. OK, as always, some fun gripes! Food was worse. Last year, I was shocked at the quality of food available in a very positive way. This year just cheese and coldcuts and some funky finger food? Loic, it's Paris. You're French! This is where you can shine with little effort! Further, I really have to stop working out. Guys, you all know of the urinal stalls in the toilet below the stairs! WTF, I know skinny chic may still be cool in Paris, but in my case "going for distance" is not necessarily a motivating factor when taking a pee! Still had a great time though. Thanks Geraldine and Loic for a fun event.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/12/microsoft-sure-you-can-use-apple-products-at-our-events.ars
You're quoted in that article on something having to do with Windows Mobile 6.5. Seems a Google translation from the even is causing a bit of a stir. Though you might be able to lend some properly translated insight into the quotes since you seem to be someone involved.
Posted by: Derek Licciardi | December 11, 2009 at 04:53 PM
sorry about the point 1) for complaining so much of being tired. was a hard year, no holidays and it's time for some days off :-)
let me add some points:
11) many startups are just features, they just don't have enough independence to grow a fundable company. It might be a good business for many of them but it's not VC fundable - i never advised so many people to bootstrap before pitching VCs right away
12) social is a big thing: many more people and companies realising there social responsibility and also the queen of jordan took the chance to highlight the required real world action.
13) the official "after event"(s) SUCK. I've heard that at the VIP room beers costed 15 EURs?!! that's the price of 2 beers in a berlin table-dance bar (don't ask me where I have that information from :) even in the VIP area they run out of drinks around 1 am.
14) a "chill out area" would be appreciated where you can take a 5 min break to breath and relax
15) thanks to nespresso - coffee really made my day(s)
Posted by: Benjamin Rohé | December 11, 2009 at 06:33 PM
That tweet from me refuses to die and keeps getting re-purposed all over the place. I wish I cared enough about it as much as everyone else seems to. Ballmer vented about the delay in regards to WM6.5 and said he wished it was out. He also said they revamped the team as I tweeted and said WM7 would be out in 2010. It as no big deal. I actually found it cool that he so openly and honestly stated this. Gave me hope for WM7.
Posted by: Paul Jozefak | December 12, 2009 at 03:13 PM
I’m watching remotely and can see it clearly. Whilst I would have love to have come across and catch up with old friends and make new ones, so far, there’s nothing in the discussions that feels like it is moving things on, tackling issues. The announcements that have come are good and I can see a lot of ecosystem changes coming out of them, but they don’t need a conference to announce them. Here’s hoping for something different
Posted by: bali luxury | February 01, 2010 at 04:10 AM