The Archives
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02.06.09The proprietary/open balance in startup mode.Image via Wikipedia I've written some before on our efforts to peer-produce Shouldess Inc. (^shldlss), the developer of VenTwits and the for-profit cohort of the Social Venture Commons (^svc). We've decided to launch early and iterate rapidly with VenTwits and its group focused cousin GroupTwits (to be turned on soon). We're also planning to open source our code once we've rebuilt a core based on how people actually use it. I believe in the principles and power of peer-production but am finding it a constant tension as we build the for-profit startup. A big part of that I'm sure is my experiential ...
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02.03.09VenTwits is alive and the adventure begins.This really began back at the StartupEmpire conference on November 14th, 2008 in the midst of Howard Lindzon’s StockTwits presentation. Today, VenTwits (^VenTwits) is live as a the first property in a series of initiatives to help things happen and create the world we want. Developed by Shouldless Inc. (^shldlss), VenTwits is a site for people building things they care about. We believe there is something special about communications that happen in public, 140 characters at a time. It seems to encourage a unique breadth and practicality of engagement such as the #hohoto party in Toronto. #hohoto emerged through Twitter (see ...
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02.02.09Getting started on VenTwitsVenTwits is about people building the things they care about. It came from seeing the potential in Twitter as a medium for discovery, connection, and practical engagement. With VenTwits we hope it can help you find new ventures you are interested, give you an opportunity to participate, and simply help things happen. To get started, simply login to VenTwits once using your Twitter user name and password. If you aren’t on twitter there is a link right there where you can sign-up quickly and easily. Once you’ve logged in for the first time, VenTwits knows to follow you and look for ...
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01.27.09Kudos for EquityOwning equity in a for-profit venture is a powerful motivator - particularly in the early stages. It's also one of the most contentious, negotiated parts of building a high-growth venture. This comes from our organizational conventions of control and scarcity - we need to control and amass resources to control and weild power and get things done. In taking a peer-produced approach to building Shldlss, the for-profit offshoot of the Social Venture Commons, I found we needed a new model to fairly attribute the economic value to those who actually created it. After many conversations, including on this post, here's where ...
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01.17.09A quick update on the Social Venture Commons (#svc)I've been head-down these last 2 weeks and we're making great progress toward first launch. For the latest action on the Social Venture Commons - feel free to track the twitter stream. The model for distributing founding equity among those that contribute is essentially set, and I've begun receiving investor commitments on both the charitable and for-profit side. Development has been greatly augmented with the code-mastery of Dan Williams. Will post some more fulsome reports next week. Thanks all for your support so far!
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01.02.09Opportunity ‘09: micro-messaging based collaboration[caption id="" align="alignright" width="182" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption] My focus heading into 2009 is micro-messaging based collaboration. From where I sit I think it will have a profound effect on the way we organize resources to get things done and will mark a fundamental shift in shape of the organizations and systems of our future. Some key features of this are: Broadly accessibile: easy (web-based), distributed (available in any site), portable (sms compatible) Action oriented: every interaction is a contribution, every contribution builds relationship Interest driven: fluidly find, follow, and do things that *are* interesting at every moment I'm tackling this through two tracks: The Social Venture Commons ...
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12.23.08Peer-producing a for-profit startup.[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="By tarotastic (tjt195 on flickr)"][/caption] I've been experimenting with peer-producing the first for-profit property coming out of the social venture commons. So far I'm finding once again that there is no better way to learn than to try doing it. So what's different about bringing 'peer-producion' into the mix? Well so far the difference I've most experienced is the degree to which I'm compelled to share what I'm working on at this early stage. It's not what I'm used to but it is getting more people involved and having a definite impact on how the idea forms and ...
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12.15.08The Social Venture Commons – in developmentThings have been moving quickly in the last few weeks and I'm happy to say that we're in development on the Social Venture Commons. I've created a more descriptive presentation below and have also included a brief primer on peer production of organizations (a quick snapshot of the #hohoto holiday party in Toronto). I'm working on initial partnerships for the commons and am getting ready to reach out for seed investment for one of the for-profit properties (VenTwits.com). In the spirit of peer-producing this as we go below are some specific items we'd love to have taken up. Just post in the ...
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Igniter shared Patriotic munchkin window art.
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Igniter shared A welcoming entrance in the snow..
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Igniter published Interesting mobile neighborhood messaging service....
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