Category Archives: entrepreneur

The Twilight Zone

Is it advertising or PR? How do you measure it? I spent this Wednesday contemplating that while attending the event held in SF’s Presidio. Disappointed by the lack of on-stage decorum but oh well.

Still many questions linger about measurement…fewer answers. Of note:

  • ComScore’s Gian Fulgoni – Despite PA-system glitches, Gian brought up their research on cookiesnot being infallible; he also reframed the “hater” questions about ComScore’s panel-based approach as about Basic Sampling Methodologies, i.e. Market Research/Statistics 101; Chicago-based Gian also dispelled a few myths about the growth of the ComScore panel and suggested that next year Mac users will be included.
  • Meet-up’s Scott HeifermanThe Heif managed to insult agencies and advertising clients but let everyone know that Meetup is now accepting sponsorships! huh? Scott wants you to know he favors Obama, all while throwing f-bombs for some reason; glad to hear that Meetup is now at breakeven AND doesn’t need any VC money. BTW, did IScott hails from suburban Chicago.
  • Quantcast’s Adam Gerber– Fascinating product with lots of potential; they don’t exactly spell out what their business model is for some reason.
  • Dave Smith of Medismith – Dave brought a rapidly escalating rhetorical 50,000-foot conversation down to Earth with one line: “…but I have campaigns to run.”
  • FM’s, John Battelle – for a few fleeting minutes, the Conversational Measurement Toolbox was being dangled, it was live…so close yet so far away. When can the clients beta test it?
  • Starcom’s Susan Desmond – fielded an unusual question from host John Battelle (bordering on obsequious) about Mad Men -“Was it really like that in advertising?” Susan was bullish on analytics in the emerging digital media agency; Susan is also based in Chicago.

Hmmmm…

Entrepreneurship on the Streets of Chicago…

Six-Corners in Wicker Park & Bucktown
(That’s Damen, North Avenue & Milwaukee for out-of-towners…)

Nice slice of life from Todd Allen…haven’t seen that one yet in Palo Alto.

On the other hand, as an undergrad matriculating at UIC’s CBA…I fondly recall the Halsted St. hustlers that we’re looking for quick cash. Eventually, I decided to start asking them for money just before they could: the look- priceless.

Thanks Todd!

Chicago Start-up/Creative Scene Documenter Gets Tribune Ink

The Chicago Tribune published a fair enough story about BusinessPOV (a consulting client of mine), a locally-based online media start-up in the city. BusinessPOV has created over 100 bite-sized video segments on local Chicago business available via RSS. Founded by non-technologists, they combine a fresh journalistic style with high production values to document entrepreneurs, investors, thought-leaders and innovators alike.

http://www.businespov.com/