http://www.lauriemcguinness.com/

A resource list of the most popular APIs available on the web for your very own Web 2.1 Mashup…

http://www.programmableweb.com/apis

Web service APIs are fairly easy to build. If you’re developing software consider including a few APIs to allows others to mash with your application. Think of the context your application is used and if and how information within your app can be used in another. It’s an easy feature to add and can create some upsell opportunities. The more embedded your application is with your customers, the happier your CFO will be; what better way to embed the application then for it to become a critical element in a larger business system?

On the flip side, consider how you can use other free or cheap applications within the scope of your own. Synergy is not just a feel good human resource term for creating productive teams, but can also be used in your development. Example: if you have location data, consider the Google Maps API to bring up instant directions. How about StrikeIron, it has a range of web services that cull data from the US Census and tax bureau tied to real estate listings showing the demographic information of the neighbourhoods.

Opportunities are many; be creative. Think of the value proposition of your application and tie what you’re doing to what else the user staring at your app screen wants to do or would like to do or would be convienient to do. Mash ups are leverage opportunities to provide interesting, unique and fun features at fraction of the development time.

A few months ago I was given a PDA as a birthday gift. It’s an HP iPAQ. It sat in the box for a couple of months until I found the time to try it out. Now I’m getting hooked. The wifi capability is great and the screen resolution is better then I anticipated. It has great features such as the ability to play audio and video files, and calendar syncing.

However, here is my favorite feature:

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If you’re going to spend money on anything, make sure you invest in:

1. Great, comfortable, styl’n, supportive shoes. You walk a lot. Be kind to your body.
2. Mattress. Don’t let it get lumpy and saggy. You sleep many hours a day, make it good!

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Part 2: How to write a knock-out 12 page business plan

Yesterday I wrote about pitching ideas to money-men (or women, but the alliteration of money-men sounds better), ie. raising capital. If you manage to spark the interest of a money-man you may either get the opportunity for a quick pitch (see previous post) or they will request a business plan.

When they ask for a business plan, they don’t want a tome. Try and keep it to 12 pages. Why 12 pages? It’s a nice number, 10, 13, 9, whatever. Keep it short.

Here are the components of those pages broken down (hint: they are in a meaningful hierarchal order, the most important is first..):

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So my brother emails me asking what he would need to present a business idea to raise capital. And this is part 1 of my reply to his query…

Part 1: How to get an investor to cut you a check on the spot

Ok, I’ve raised some cash in the past, angel money mostly, some bank loans, and negotiated with VCs, but never closed that loop. So here’s what I know, a mix of theoretical and practical knowledge.

You need a business plan. But it’s not really a biz plan, it’s more of a sales pitch. Asking for money is the ultimate sales pitch, you’re not asking someone to take a chance on buying 1 widget, but to invest money, time and energy in the business. So for any good sales pitch, you need to have your act together.

30 second pitch. Also known as the elevator or phone pitch. It needs to be hard hitting, concrete and credible. You’re not even talking about what your widget (could be product of service) is, you’re talking about what problem its solving; what’s the pain, who has it, and why would they buy your solution to it?

15 minute presentation. Get your Power Point cued up.

• Put it on your laptop, on your PDA in micro version.
  
• No more then 10 words per slide, use images.

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To fuel the fire of you conspiracy pundits, here you go:

http://masterplanthemovie.com

IF google was evil… oh boy! Don’t get me wrong, I use gmail and love google. I mean look at those colourful playful letters, how cute!

I would argue though, beyond a great technology company, Google’s greatest strength is as a master of PR. It’s like a magician showing you one of his tricks and distracting you with truth while the real illusion is still going on.

Look at their logo. Cute, friendly, playful, non-corporate.

Don’t be evil. I mean they come right out and say it.

Lava lamps. How can the iconic 60’s lavalamp ever be associated with anything but love and goodwill to all people?

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Anthropology is cool…

Interesting definition of web 2.0.