Yet another web app? Or serious business?
Morgan McKeagney, MD iQ Content

1977: The world is dan le merde.

May 27, 1977: Sex Pistols release first single

Within months, punk is a global
phenomenon

Even Ireland gets in on the act…
The Blades, The Undertones, The Virgin Prunes,
Berlin, DC 9, Stiff Little Fingers, The Atrix, The
Facets, Frankie Corpse & The Undertakers, The Boy
Scouts, The Vipers, The Sussed, Victim, The
Outcasts, U2 (then called The Hype), The Radiators
From Space, Rudi, The Boomtown Rats, Rocky
De Valera & The Gravediggers, Frankie Corpse &
The Undertakers, The Radiators From Space

Liberation, excitement, creative energy
“Here was music that gave you licence
to do it yourself. Punk allowed you to
steal or borrow a guitar and anyone
could form a band. You didn't need to
be as intelligent as Bowie or have a
third level degree. It was liberating.
You could just do it.”
Gavin Friday, Virgin Prunes

What was the equivalent web app
moment?

Creativity, excitement, energy

But a word caution: does your app solve
real problems? Deliver real value?
The backlash has started…

1979: A tale of two bands
“Until the U2 phenomenon broke
the Blades were considered to
be the Irish band most likely to
go global. This Dublin trio
acquired a massive hometown
reputation in the early 80s with
their dynamic blend of punk, pop
and soul but somehow failed to
make the vital commercial
breakthrough.”
The “better one” didn’t make it….

The “worse one” did, and how.

30 years & 140 million albums later…

Disclaimer: I don’t like U2

From hobby to serious business – a
journey
U2
The Blades, The
Undertones, The
Virgin Prunes,
Stiff Little Fingers.
The Atrix, The
Facets, Frankie
Corpse & The
Undertakers, etc.

U2 | Anatomy of success
Attitude, product, competitiveness, ambition, work-ethic,
record company, team & personalities, Paul
McGuinness, money, talent, luck, evolution, marketing,
value, music, drive, doing it for the punters,
togetherness, in for the long haul, time, longevity, brass necks,
commercial-savvy, ego, lack of ego, local to
global, vision, brand, community, timing...

Lessons for Web app start-ups?
Team: balanced, ego-full and ego-less

Product: real value for real people

 Punters: its about them, not you
Commercial focus

 Local, then global?

Time to get serious.
2009 – Ireland is dan le merde, again.

Announcing the iQ Prize.
Build a business, not just an app

We want to help

iQ Prize: 10k for best business plan

No strings attached

Details released Friday 20th of March

Winner announced, iQ BootCamp 10th of June


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 Get useful user experience tips from our blog: iQ Blog
 Watch out for the iQ Bootcamp: User Experience
Conference: Dublin, 9th – 12th June 2009
Thanks for your attention & good luck!
Contact Details:
Morgan McKeagney e: morgan@iqcontent.com
Managing Director t: +353 1 817 0768
iQ Content Ltd www.iqcontent.com