startups

Social Gaming to Gamification - March 14th

Gamification uses the same mechanics that hook gamers but applies them to your daily interactions. It is seen by marketers as an effective way to create loyalty, increase the value of the customer and generate new business.

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Date: 14 March 2011
Location: Olswang, UK

Chinwag's Global Grill @ SXSW Interactive supported by UK Trade & Investment

Join us for Chinwag's Global Grill supported by UK Trade & Investment, an official SXSW party, for all the international folks heading to Austin for South by South West (SXSW). What better way to bring together the the best people in digital from across the world? Enjoy some classic BBQ and discover opportunities beyond your own borders.

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Date: 13 March 2011
Location: East Tent, Brush Square Park, US

Cambridge StartupWeekend

Designers and Creative Folk Wanted!!! Got an idea for a business? Got the skills to help turn an idea into reality? Cambridge Startup Weekend is the event that brings people with ideas and skills together to make things happen.

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Date: 11 March 2011
Location: St John's Innovation Centre, UK

London Funding Conference

Each year the expert speakers from the London Funding Conference address the key issues in raising finance and explain how to avoid the many pitfalls that await ill informed businesses.

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Date: 9 March 2011
Location: British Library Conference Centre, UK

TSB Launches £200,000 IC tomorrow Scheme for Digital Media Entrepreneurs

ICtomorrow

A new initiative announced by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), sees the launch of IC tomorrow, a platform for content owners and app developers to test drive ideas and applications with a closed group of consumers (sign-up here) using content from major content owners including Sony Music, Getty Images and Crytek.

The platform will host 20 consumer trials focused on the creative industries including music, TV/film and publishing, with a total fund of £200,000 up for grabs to support six month-long trials on the platform. Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to use the platform which will also include mentoring, as well as up to £10,000 per project funding and access to premium content.

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15 February 2011 by Sam Michel

Great British Breakfast: SXSWi

UK Trade & Investment and Chinwag are hosting a networking event with the best and brightest from the UK digital media industry along with US investors and international media.

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Date: 15 March 2011
Location: Cedar Street Courtyard, US

GeeknRolla London

In 2010 more than 500 participants gathered in London for a full day of ‘speed’ presentations, interactive discussions and pitches. 2011 will see the return of GeeknRolla with the day dedicated to startups.

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Date: 30 March 2011
Location: Park Plaza Victoria, UK

PechaKucha London App Edition

PechKucha London App Edition is a creative way for users, developers, and entrepreneurs to meet and discuss the future of the mobile web.

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Date: 28 April 2011
Location: Bar Music Hall, UK

UKTI Mission to SXSW Interactive 2011 - The Companies Announced

Packed SXSW Interactive Keynote by Mary Sledd

Congratulations to the 31 leading UK digital companies that have been selected for this year's UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Mission to SXSW Interactive 2011.

This trip will see the companies travel out to Austin, Texas for a five day trip in and around South by South West Interactive, one of the largest conferences focused on digital media and technology.

Each of the companies is listed below, don't hesitate to drop them a line directly to arrange a time to meet up in Austin, or follow their progress via their Twitter accounts below. You can follow the UKTI team's coverage of the mission on Twitter @uktiatsxswi.

UKTI SXSW 2011 Mission Companies

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14 February 2011 by Francesca Heath

The Inspire Conference

The inspire Conference is fuelling the next wave of change in Technology, Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Society

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Date: 7 June 2011
Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, UK

Ways to monetize using online video

Tools and services we can use to monetize the use of internet video. Audience conversion to customers; Internet Video's ROI.

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Date: 21 February 2011
Location: Hummus Bros Victoria House, UK

Bringing Home the Gongs: Shorty Awards, Tech Startup 100, NMA Effectiveness, Best Awards

Awards Dinner Lighting - Vodafone001 by Rob Sayer

I'm not sure if there's an awards season per-se for the digital world, but they seem to be cropping up thick and fast at the moment.

And who doesn't like a shiny gong to add to their awards cabinet? Below are details of four sets of awards from the digital, marketing, content and start-up worlds. In their own words, here you go:

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6 February 2011 by Sam Michel

Brookson Enterprise Freelance Fair

We give you an opportunity to build a face-to-face network and find out more about the people and businesses you could be working with. You’ll leave the Enterprise Freelance Fair with new connections, new ideas and an improved blueprint for progress.

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Date: 16 February 2011
Location: Innospace, UK

Digital Shoreditch

The Digital Shoreditch festival celebrates outstanding creativity in the heart of the UK's digital hub.

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Date: 3 May 2011
Location: Various locations in and around Shoreditch including Brick Lane, UK

TechPitch 4.5

TechPitch4.5 is an evening pitch event created by 2Pears, in order to showcase some of the tech startups, which have been taking part in the UKTI pitch-training workshops in the past 6 months. TechPitch4.5 will be held at TechHub on 10th February 2011, with TechCrunch Europe’s editor Mike Butcher as the MC for the evening.

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Date: 10 February 2011
Location: TechHub, UK