Entrepreneurship in Singapore is ALIVE ?

I sometimes consider and wonder why I push my career and social life to the OUTER LIMITS of normality and what many consider traditional and main-stay business – but everytime I consider that I should swing myself back to what REAL people do, the thought kinda seriously bores me and my enthusiasm for living is deminished. (joke)

The real challenges for me I think and what drives me is BREAKING the RULES and finding NEW ways of doing things. There is a group in Singapore called sgentrepreneurs visit http://sgentrepreneurs.com/events/2009/08/15/events-for-the-week-of-15-22nd-aug/ for their eye on what is happening in Singapore for Entrepreneurs this week.

Fostering and reporting on Entrepreneurship is vital to forging new business opportunities to existing issues and issues we can’t even think of now  – Congrats sgentrepreneurs.com – keep it coming…

so… Is Entrepreneurship in Singapore ALIVE ?  Can you see your ideas come to REALITY where you are today or could Singapore give them life ?

ExpatFinder.com Launches Rich Features for CASH strapped EXPATS

ExpatFinder.com launches product comparison and quotation request features to help expatriates find cost effective solutions in recessionary times.

More expats are now facing greater challenges abroad as a result of cut backs caused by the economic recession. ExpatFinder.com are addressing these needs in five key products channels which are Housing & Real Estate, Finance, Insurance, Relocation services and Education. The services are introduced in a new product comparison and quotation request offering as part a major design overhaul of ExpatFinder.com.

Singapore July 6, 2009. Interexpat Pte. Ltd., the Singapore headquartered Internet services company today launched a revamped website to help expatriates save time and money by comparing a wide range of products and services: http://www.expatfinder.com

The one stop website for people on the move or already living abroad is free and articulates around five main products channel: Housing and real estate, Finance, Insurance, Relocation services and Education covering over 30 lines of products and services.

Featuring a simple product and service search interface, ExpatFinder provides its users access to a comprehensive selection of products and detailed information needed to make the moving process easier, life abroad less challenging and more cost effective.

ExpatFinder.com leveraged on the successful launch of its vertical information search engine end of August 2008 that cumulated over 1.5 million visits since then. Following an extensive research and testing period looking at user behavior and needs, the new website offers now content rich information and direct application features.

“The expats are commonly utilizing comparison websites in their home country. For example, sites like Moneysupermarket.com, Uswitch.com and others have proven to be a great solution when searching for products and services. With ExpatFinder.com we have decided to offer the same approach so that our users could compare all the products and services they need wherever they relocate around the world and find the best possible deals” said co-founder Francois Deschamps.

The expatriates have been hit hard by the economic downturn and the comparison site is expected to help them save money in their relocation process as well as in their everyday life abroad locally.

“Companies are reducing expat packages, cutting down allowances therefore changing the way the expatriates have to manage their relocation and overseas everyday life. A large number of expatriates have to shop around on the basic requirements like international insurances or banking services. With ExpatFinder.com the user is able to handle all the aspects of his life abroad in a cost effective way and ultimately make the assignment a success” adds Sébastien Deschamps, co-founder, Interexpat.

The new website comes with an extensive offering of detailed tips and advice articles as well as more than 40 free downloadable city guides to help the international employees and their families in every step of their move and life abroad.

About Interexpat & ExpatFinder.com

French and French-American co-founders Francois and Sébastien Deschamps are currently working on innovative solutions for the expatriate populations around the world. ExpatFinder.com was created to bring support to people and families in global transition or with international lifestyles. ExpatFinder.com is managed by their co-founded Singapore based company: Interexpat Pte Ltd.. For more information visit: http://www.expatfinder.com

Media contact: Andrew Peters The Pacific West Communications m:+65 94519012 e: andrew@thepacificwest.com

Facebook Reaps $200M from Russian Investment Group – MarketingVOX

This week, Russian investor firm Digital Sky Technologies took a $200 million stake in social network Facebook, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg says will make a solid cash “buffer” amidst a rough economic clime.

Zuckerberg declined to estimate a valuation based on the investment figure, arguing the shares are private and thus difficult to quantify, but Facebook’s overall value is nonetheless speculated to be about $10 billion — meaning the $200 million investment reflects a 1.96% stake.

In 2007, Microsoft invested $240 million in Facebook based on a $15 billion valuation, which was later speculated to be too high a figure. Zuckerberg asserted the investment was part of a broader business relationship that included an ad deal and an agreement by which Live Search would power Facebook’s search functionality.

“That was a strategic relationship with a lot of different components,” Zuckerberg stated (via Advertising Age). “It was a year and a half ago, and it was a different world at the time.”

At ad:tech Paris in April, Facebook’s Blake Chandlee, who manages its EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) division, noted that over 70% of the social network’s traffic now comes from outside the US. He hastened to add that this is not because growth on US terrain has slowed; rather, it’s expanded significantly elsewhere.

comScore figures appear to corroborate this claim. In February Facebook logged 275 million global visitors, rising to the #6-ranked online property worldwide, a 75% increase over the same period last year. In 11 major European countries, it took the lead in the social network category.

According to Zuckerberg, Digital Sky Technologies was chosen for its strategic investments in other overseas social networks, which all boast different business models — including direct payments and advertising. It also has a financial claim on a handful of big players in the online Russian ad scene, including portal/search engine Mail.ru and social network Vkontakte.ru, which bears significant similarities to Facebook in appearance.

The company has agreed to buy “at least” another $100 million of Facebook, primarily in stock, from existing and past employees. Zuckerberg says the investment will not affect plans for an IPO, if one ever occurs; and partners from Digital Sky Technologies will not be joining Facebook’s board. On its own, the investment firm is worth about $1 billion and is rumored to be planning its own IPO within the next three years.

Presently, Facebook is testing a payments system for virtual goods. The socnet — which is projected to earn $500 million in revenue this year — aspires to be cashflow positive by 2010.

via Facebook Reaps $200M from Russian Investment Group – MarketingVOX.

A World Wide Rave: What the heck is that?

A World Wide Rave: What the heck is that?

A World Wide Rave is when people around the world are talking about you, your company, and your products. Whether you’re located in San Francisco, Dubai, or Singapore, it’s when global communities eagerly link to your stuff on the Web. It’s when online buzz drives buyers to your virtual doorstep. And it’s when tons of fans visit your Web site and your blog because they genuinely want to be there.

Do you have something to RAVE about ?

Head on over to facebook and join the newest Group “Breakfast Rave” and share your stories – you can also pick up David’s book for some ideas !

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62571422110#/group.php?gid=48558437609

Social Media for Business: The Dos & Don’ts of Sharing

It doesn’t matter if you’re on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr; your online personality is not only part of your overall brand, it becomes an interactive experience for you and your business. So, who is the face or voice of your brand and what do they share? It’s a very important decision in and of itself.

via Social Media for Business: The Dos & Don’ts of Sharing.

BlogOut! 09 To attend visit: http://tdm.sg/events/blogout

future of corporate social media

Blogout! ’09 Blogout! ’09 aims to help make sense of the social media landscape in Singapore. It is an event to celebrate bloggers’ independent voices, emergent forms of social, web technology and to create change for their organizations, communities and society. Corporate + Open Track Open Track Date: 6 & 7 March 2009 7 March 2009 Time: 10.30am to 5.30pm Venue: 8Q, Singapore Art Museum – 8 Queen Street, Singapore Fee: $90/per person (extended to 3 March 2009). Thereafter $120. Free, registration required Gather 4 people that are a confirmed attendee, and you will get the 5th ticket FREE! Hey, the 1st 50 to register & Pay are entitled a chance to win in the lucky draw. This promotion is not applicable for payment made on-site. Please contact Belinda Ong at +65 6220 6643 or email to belinda@firestarter.com.sg Register now! For detailed program: http://tdm.sg/events/blogout Why attend? There’s something for everyone at Blogout! this year. If you are an executive or business owner who wants to see how social media can work for your organization, you definitely do not want to miss Day 1 (Corporate Track) where we feature some of the best speakers and practitioners in the social media scene. Find out more here… Key Speakers Jon Yongfook Yongfook is an award-winning web producer, a blogger (of 10 years!), a proponent of permission-based marketing and a big believer in metrics-based approaches to solving online business problems. A programmer-designer-marketer living in Tokyo. He specialises in usability, platform development and online marketing. He’s the creator of open source lifestream software Sweetcron and the recipe sharing website Open Source Food (now known as Nibbledish), which was acquired by Tsavo Media in January 2009. He helps companies improve user experience, to increase conversions and revenue, assist companies reach new markets, and building online applications to solve a business or communication problem. Melvin Yuan Melvin is Director, Digital Strategies Group (Asia) at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. He’s a co-founder of Scoopasia.com and member of the Social Media Collective and The Digital Movement (Singapore). He is dedicated to helping PR practitioners understand the new world that we live in and to bridge the gap between the wired-world business objectives of today and the traditional PR methods that we’ve been used to. Joel Postman Joel Postman is senior partner and chief enterprise social business strategist for Intridea, a Washington, D.C. based developer of Web 2.0 applications including the popular microblogging platform Present.ly. His background includes a decade of Fortune 500 corporate communications leadership, four years as the speechwriter to the CEO of Sun Microsystems, and experience in print and broadcast news. He is the author of SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate, published December 2008. Joel lives with his family in the Santa Cruz Mountains. To the extent that he could be said to have grown up. He did so in the Silicon Valley, and first lived there before the discovery of silicon. He is also an experienced Zamboni driver. Register today! For detailed program: http://tdm.sg/events/blogout ———————————————————————— Proudly brought to you by: Supported by: Venue Partner: Official Blog Community: Prize Sponsors:

BlogOut! returns to Singapore – Register today

Blogout! ’09 aims to help make sense of the social media landscape in Singapore. It is an event to celebrate bloggers’ independent voices, emergent forms of social, web technology, to create change for their organizations, communities and society. Register now!

There’s something for everyone at Blogout! this year. If you are an executive or business owner who wants to see how social media can work for your organization, you definitely do not want to miss Day 1 (Corporate Track) where we feature some of the best speakers and practitioners in the social media scene. Here’s a sneak peak of our programme:

* See what other corporations around the world have done right and wrong
* Enough of the buzz. Get the real deal of what social media strategy will work for your company
* Maximize the effects and potentials of your social media strategy
* and more! See below for detailed program

For Day 2 (Open Track), we welcome everyone (bloggers and non-bloggers alike) to join us for a fun-filled day of learning and sharing. Topic includes “Turning your Blog into a Business”, “WordPress as a Blogging Tool” and more!

Date:
6 – 7 March 2009, Fri and Sat

Time:
Day 1 – Corporate Track (6 March 2009) Day 2 – Open Track (7 March 2009)
10.30am to 5.30pm 10.30am to 5.00pm
Fee: $120 Fee: Free

Venue:
8Q, SAM – 8 Queen Street, Singapore 188535 [Google Map]

Highlights:

Melvin Yuan
MelvinDirector, Digital Strategies Group (Asia) at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. He’s a co-founder of Scoopasia.com and member of the Social Media Collective and The Digital Movement (Singapore). He is dedicated to helping PR practitioners understand the new world that we live in and to bridge the gap between the wired-world business objectives of today and the traditional PR methods that we’ve been used to.

Jon Yongfook
YongfookYongfook is an award-winning web producer, a blogger (of 10 years!), a proponent of permission-based marketing and a big believer in metrics-based approaches to solving online business problems. A programmer-designer-marketer living in Tokyo. He specialises in usability, platform development and online marketing. He’s the creator of open source lifestream software Sweetcron and the recipe sharing website Open Source Food (now known as Nibbledish), which was acquired by Tsavo Media in January 2009. He helps companies improve user experience, to increase conversions and revenue, assist companies reach new markets, and building online applications to solve a business or communication problem.

Joel Postman
JoelJoel Postman is senior partner and chief enterprise social business strategist for Intridea, a Washington, D.C. based developer of Web 2.0 applications including the popular microblogging platform Present.ly. His background includes a decade of Fortune 500 corporate communications leadership, four years as the speechwriter to the CEO of Sun Microsystems, and experience in print and broadcast news. He is the author of SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate, published December 2008. Joel lives with his family in the Santa Cruz Mountains. To the extent that he could be said to have grown up. He did so in the Silicon Valley, and first lived there before the discovery of silicon. He is also an experienced Zamboni driver.

Register now!
*TDM membership is required for all events registration. Membership is free and it only takes 3 minutes.

Event Site: http://tdm.sg/events/blogout

CommonSense Blogging – itsReal

Bloggers are uniting slowly but surely……A bloggers’ Association — the first in Singapore. I’m all for that !!! TDM’s BlogOut 09 is coming soon maybe the new association can join us ?

Alicia Wong http://www.todayonline.com/articles/297601.asp

BIT by bit, the blogging community in Singapore is getting more organised. Its latest move: A bloggers’ association — the first in Singapore.

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The non-profit association, which received the official nod on Friday, will be launched next month. It aims to raise the profile of bloggers and will promote, protect as well as educate its members, said founder and president Jayne Goh in an exclusive interview with Today.

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Even before its formal launch, the association has received emailed media invites to cover events, said Ms Goh. A passionate blogger herself, Ms Goh is also in talks with some Government ministries to allow the association’s members to cover the River Hongbao and some sporting events.

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Describing bloggers as “loose sand scattered all over,” Ms Goh wants the blogging community to have “grown-up conversations, blogging responsibility and creative growth”.

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“I find the state of our blogosphere in Singapore appalling,” said Ms Goh, “When discussions get heated, crude language, insults and other off-colour comments may be encountered … I want to change that,” she said.

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The Government is relaxing its restrictions and is willing to listen to reasonable feedback, she said, referring to the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally Speech last year.

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But how will the Association of Bloggers (Singapore) engage the Government now that authorities have made it clear engagement will only take place on the Government website, Reach?

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Agreeing with what Mr P N Balji — the director of the Asian Journalism Fellowship — wrote in his recent commentary in Today, Ms Goh said: “He’s right to say, ‘Why obsess with Government response?’ … We help ourselves, we help one another. We look for solutions. Singapore citizens don’t (always) have to go to the REACH website.”

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Besides Ms Goh, the association currently has nine other committee members.

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The chairman for the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society Cheong Yip Seng believes the association can help raise the quality of online discussion.

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“While you can find thoughtful content online, there is also a great deal of destructive cycnicism. If they can persuade the general public to support their cause, that would be a good start,” he said.

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MP and P65.sg blogger Lam Pin Min said: “It may be worth considering joining the association or even to contribute in the educational process.” But he cautioned that unless the good practice guidelines set up by the association are accepted by the “general blogger,” its efficacy may be “undermined”.

Read more: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/297601.asp

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The association can be reached at bloggers @singapore.com.

event: Doing Business in Virtual Worlds

For high resolution version, click here.

Date: 20th January 2009, Tuesday
Time: 14:00-16:00
Venue: LT18, NUS Business School
Map: http://www.cit.nus.edu.sg/nusfacilities/map/business_map.htm

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Multiple Worlds; Multiple Lives; Multiple Identities; Multiple ways to making money.

In conjunction with NUS Entrepreneurship Week, TDM brings to you “Doing Business in Virtual Worlds”. Step forward on 20 January 2009 to find out more about TDM and how you can be a part of it, as we present to you a quick overview of the organization AND a little preview of what it means to do business in Virtual Worlds.

Programme Details:

14:00-14:30 TDM Welcome Address
14:30-14:50 Social Networking versus Virtual Worlds by Aroon Tan, Magma Studios
14:50-15:30 Panel Discussion: Doing Business in Virtual Worlds
– Aileen Sim (First Meta)
– Ho Chee Yue (Association of Machinima Arts & Sciences (AMAS)
– Jeremy Snyder(Twinity)
– Walter Lim (National Heritage Board)

15:30-15:50 Question and Answer Session
15:50-16:00 Ending Remarks and Competition Details

RSVP visit: http://www.thedigitalmovement.org/doing-business-in-virtual-worlds-tdm-in-nus-entrepreneurship-week/

click to join twinity - powered by real life

AVW appoints Marketing Director – itsReal

The Association of Virtual Worlds Welcomes Andrew Peters as Marketing Director

Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) December 4, 2008, The Association of Virtual Worlds today announced the appointment of Andrew Peters, virtual world advocate and community creator
to the position of Marketing Director. Andrew is well known to the Virtual Worlds Industry and has served as a member of the Association’s Advisory Board. Peters will be chartered with launching the AVW Platinum Membership Program as well as growing the community which has enjoyed rapid growth in just a few short months to become one of the largest groups in the virtual worlds’ arena.

“I am delighted to welcome Andrew Peters as our first marketing director, and to have him spearhead our exciting new AVW Platinum Membership,” says Edita Kaye, founder. “He brings a great deal of talent, experience, and global success.”

Dave Elchoness, Executive Director adds, “Andrew Peters is an accomplished and well regarded advocate for virtual worlds. I am very pleased he’s joining the AVW in this capacity and look forward to the Association’s continued growth with Andrew on board.”

The new AVW Platinum is a high visibility premium membership package that offers members the opportunity to showcase their companies, products and services in order to build both sales and brand awareness. This is an exciting way to stand out on the main AVW site, on the active and growing AVW business and social network and inside the AVW Global Virtual Headquarters.

Andrew Peters, has years of experience in B2B and B2C marketing and sales and more recently building of communities for companies internationally. Instrumental in founding the Internet Industry Association of Singapore (IIAS), he provides communications support for the 3D online world, Twinity as well as advisory services to The Digital Movement.

Visit Association of Virtual Worlds at: http://network.associationofvirtualworlds.com