New York City does not have the most developers, the hottest apps or a critical mass of public tech companies, but this city’s tech scene is bloody organized.
We Are NY Tech, supported by a cabal of local tech powerhouses including betaworks, General Assembly and TechStars, launched a website today for all things New York Read More
Paper. We’re over it. The Observer never brings a business card anywhere. Mostly because we don’t have one (note to self: resend “Where is my business card?” email). Luckily, it’s easy to explain that away.
In the tech scene, at least, it’s better to connect on the spot via Twitter–and gain a follower!–or send an Read More
New York startup Hashable got an extensive video treatment by Building43. Michael Yavonditte, CEO of the relationship-tracking company, faces tough questions from Robert Scoble, including his initial reaction to check-in software: “That’s sort of weird, or lame… Why would you check in on a person?”
Mr. Yavonditte maintains that there are people who are Read More
For all the talk about how the Silicon Alley tech scene is exploding, New York can be a scary place for a young startup. Rent is high, beer is expensive and the fierce competition over sparse technical talent means founders had better keep their developers close.
And yet in the past two years, the Read More
Which startup will rule the 2011 South By Southwest Interactive Festival?
New York’s own darling, Foursquare, was declared the breakout app in 2009. Twitter won hearts at the festival in 2007. This year, several New York startups are in the running.
Speculation has begun on Quora that SMS-based apps will probably make a big splash, and Read More
Networking-as-a-game startup Hashable is sending five power users to the South By Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, TX in March at a total cost of $12,500.
Hashable is looking to have a big presence at SXSW, and it’s looking for five well-connected users to schmooze as official “Hash-Evangelists.”
The five “most awesome” Hashable users during Read More
Is Twitter the greatest thing that’s ever happened to contests or what?
Almost no one is too lazy to retweet something, mention somebody, or write a 140-character “essay” in order to get something for free. Social media + free stuff = totally viral.
New York startups know this, and some companies are firing up their Read More
New York-based startup Hashable has a strange way of keeping secrets.
Earlier today, :
Shhhhh, don’t say anything, but Hashable is thinking about sending some of its best users to SXSW (airfare and hotel included) to evangelize
Bam, five retweets and four people replying “pick me!”
Oh, and one blog post.
ajeffries@observer.com | @adrjeffries
Investors are becoming addicted to non-game startups that leverage game mechanics, VentureBeat writes:
Read MoreThe notion of engaging consumers using game thinking and game mechanics has transformed both startup pitches and later-stage company strategies. Investors have taken notice and are ramping up their funding in what they perceive as a major, multi-billion-dollar market opportunity.
The hash, the pound sign, the number sign, the hex–whatever you call it, the four-stroke cross-hatch possibly born at Bell Labs in the 1960s has had a fabulous re-awakening in recent years.
It’s called the octothorpe, according to punctuation nerds, and it’s been called “one of the great comeback stories in the history Read More
