Mashable NextUp NYC: Lessons From the Local Internet Startup Community

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the second Mashable NextUp NYC, which brought together some of New York’s most successful web start-ups to share their experiences, challenges and lessons. Presenters included:

Scott Belsky, Founder and CEO of Behance
Philip James, CEO and Mark Angelillo CTO of Snooth
Melanie Notkin, Founder and CEO, Savvy Auntie
Michael Galpert, Co-Founder of Aviary
Closing presentation by Adam Ostrow, Editor-in-Chief of Mashable

Main take-aways from Behance

Behance creates products and service that organize the creative world to make ideas happen. Scott Belsky’s presentation was particularly inspirational. I had the pleasure of being one of the first people to test Behance’s Action Method project management tool while working as a Senior Agent at Undercurrent. It’s an excellent tool, specially when instituted within an entire team or organization.

1. Behance Network is nominated for a Webby for best portfolio/self-promotion category. Click here to vote.
2. Best practice upon reflection – they develop everything in house.
3. Hire based on initiative, not experience.
4. Find and try to solve frustrations
5. Operate with a bias towards action – They sometimes have standing meetings instead of sitting meetings at Behance.
6. Tilt the balance of power towards design. Being a design centric business that employs technology that follows design, not the other way around.
7. Value the experimental education as compensation
8. Darwinian Prioritization – based on the idea that actions should own their own ecosystem

Main take-aways from Snooth.com

Snooth is the world’s largest and fastest growing community of wine lovers.

1. Groucho Marx Syndrome – nobody wants to partner with you because no one has partnered with you.
2. As a start-up you don’t have the resource to do more than one thing well. You need to be like an F1 car – single minded, single goal, single use and do that one thing better than anyone.
3. Use what’s there, use what’s free, use what’s open, use it all.
4. Benefit from a thriving community – If others have been there, go there. Google everything related to your business, ask the mailing list and listen to bloggers.
5. Give back to the virtuous cycle – post your solutions, join the discussion and collaborate with others

Main take-aways from SavvyAuntie.com

The first community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids.

1. SavvyAuntie is entirely self-funded and recently got nominated for a Webby in the family/parenting category – Click here to vote
2. Twitter @savvyauntie has been on her top 5 referrals since she launched last year and has lead to many press mentions and marketing opportunities.
3. Mashable’s first post about SavvyAuntie lead to her first advertising inquiry the first day she launched.
4. “Save your money for your legacy”. You might not know what your dream is now but when it comes to you having the resources to get it started is key. Read Melanie’s inspirational post “Wait for It”

Main take-aways from Aviary.com

Edit images, create mind-blowing effects, design logos, find colors, collaborate, and more. All you need is a web browser.

1. Design costs are higher than necessary because the amount of people who can use software to create art is limited.
2. Underlying magic of aviary – development focus on tool platform and shared code elements means that new tools can be built rapidly and efficiently. Community Focus – rights, royalties and attribute tracking, users communicate, teach and share, open API access.
3. Be open, listen to your community and think of ways to make things easier and more fun for people.

Main take-aways from panel discussion

NYC vs. Sillicon Valley

It is easier to find talent in New York because people are more passionate, pragmatic and less “drunk” on the technology buzz. The New York tech community is a more close niche group of professionals working more often on what they belief in. There has been a huge growth in the web tech industry in New York in the past two years. There is advertising money in NY but there are only about 15 venture capital groups and very few support consumer products. Sillicon Valley has over 600 venture capital groups, which can make it easier to find funding, but has also lead to a disconnect between technology and consumer needs.

How to get coverage for your start-up

Provide something that is post worthy. A pitch should tell a story that is easy to understand and relates to their audience of the outlet you’re pitching. Go where your journalist is, whether it be Twitter, Facebook, their blog, etc and engage in authentic conversations with them.

Thanks to DUB and Sun Startup Essentials for their sponsorship and Mashable for planning a great event.