iQ Content presentation at Fowa Dublin, March 2009. Lessons learned from the music industry on how to move from an idea to a successful business. Also, announces the iQ Prize - 10,000 euro for the best business plan for a new web application / or web business.

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

2. 1977: The world is dans le merde.

3. May 27, 1977: Sex Pistols release first single

4. Within months, punk is a global
phenomenon

5. 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

6. 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

7. What was the equivalent web app
moment?

8. Creativity, excitement, energy

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

10. 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….

11. The “worse one” did, and how.

12. 30 years & 140 million albums later…

13. Disclaimer: I’m not a U2 fan

14. 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.

15. 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...

16. 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?

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

18. 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

19. Visit us at iqcontent.com:
Sign-up for free monthly newsletter: iCubed
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