2highbehind

Very funny

FACEBOOK | $ 15 BILLION???

WOW. MS owns 1.6% in Facebook and paid $240 million for that. Buble 3.0 has just started before Buble 2.0 ended. Yes FB is fantastic and Yes it's worth a lot, but this is a very expensive 'Google proof vest'. Simon and team at Accel, congratulations ;-)

Petter Nylander | Open your eyes

Because of a strange touch of faith I suddenly find myself with a special interest in this situation. Having thought about it for a while I believe that governments are becoming mob like organizations, if you don't do as told you can expect heavy retaliation. Most countries allow gambling, but only controlled by the government. In Holland for example we only have state owned casinos and lotteries. So hard working entrepreneurs with bright ideas want to get into the very profitable market with new concepts and so on. The trick is that the Internet breaks open the monopolies and makes it very hard to control money flows. Instead of finding ways to collaborate and facilitate these entrepreneurs, the drivers of most economies become haunted game. I am ashamed for the Dutch government in many ways, but this week another said milestone is reached with the arrest of Petter Nylander. I understand we have international laws and agreements between countries, but think that will only work if there is a legal/tax framework that suits all. Keep on dreaming I say to myself, that will never happen. I think Holland should step out the EU and start a new concept for merging countries. My effort would go to merge Holland, Denmark and Switzerland. Once that is in place, I would invite Turkey, Germany and  others that are a like in the way they view life.  Key is we focus on freedom of the individual, same tax systems, focus on entrepreneurship and no religion in the government. How can any politician keep his/her eyes dry in todays world where we talk about democarzy and freedom and at the same time close our borders for people that need a place to hide, send our armies to countries we believe don't have freedom and don't obey our values?? Sorry for this, but sometimes (like now) it creeps up to me and drive me to come with bold statements and disturbing ideas. Dutch government: Free Petter Nylander and let the French bet on another EU sibling.

Keeping it all together

In the last weeks IIP is getting ready to change from a R&D focussed company in a marketing and sales focussed business. FUGA is ready to be sold and the target market understands what we offer. This is a great thing, but those of you knowing what it means to be in a start-up also know that this phase is the most critical one in any venture. We need more funding to roll the product out in respective target markets and make the change internally. For most Venture Capital we are too early stage, they rather have a smaller risk, so we are proving our case with our first big clients. We are lucky that the world is full of entrepreneurs that came from where we are now and understand the opportunity we offer. They don't look at the exit, but at the potential. If you do something right the money will come. Happy to see these people are out there and ready to share resources and knowledge. I have build the IIP team and am proud of the group of people that on a daily basis give the best they got to create the most advanced digital media platform ever build. I have never been so determined in my life to keep things together, both on a business and personal level. Having two kids, a wonderful girl and a business means making sacrifices. I believe in a better world and know it starts with me and the way I do things. I have learned from the past and am simply not willing to compromise. Holding on to what you believe is right is the only thing you can do in times where everything around you is changing so fast that every day feels like a new life. Again a moment for me to thank everybody that is still supporting me and my business in every day life. Thanks!

i Tunes | DRM | Mist

The music industry is adapting to a new reality. This super interesting process brings entrepreneurs like me big opportunities. You can shape the future for the better together with the existing players. But one thing I want to share and get opinions on is Apple iTunes DRM policy. Roughly 30% of all music sold on iTunes comes from Independents (Maybe its far less, maybe its more?). EMI offers DRM free content and that was world news after Steve Jobs wrote his press release. What I don't get is why Apple doesn't sell the Independent music DRM free??? Please give me your views.

Why I hate politics

Today the Kingdom of The Netherlands has a new member of  the  Dutch parliament.  A lady called Rita Verdonk. The new party she started is called 'trots op Nederland', meaning something like proud of Holland. The reason I don't like her and the likes of Geert Wilders is that they think of our Nation as a placeholder for the Dutch. If you are not from here you have no rights. I am Dutch, but happy to be surrounded with people from all over the world. This piece of the planet is not just for the people that have a Dutch ID. Globalisation is something this lady does not understand, for her it's a matter of cash, for me it's a matter of spirit. I don't like this type of politicians, but I wish her all the best. Lets see how the Democrazy works....

Movie from my ETRE presentation

Back in Amsterdam

Wow, a couple of days meeting at least 50 great people and tired of finding out where they close the latest ;-) Thanks everybody for a great Etre and I look frwd to meet you all again. A super dinner with MOrten, thanks for that. Tim should have sang a song at dinner ;-) Next phase for IIP is here. Speed of light. M

ETRE 2007

Still here in Budapest enjoying a great couple of days talking to interesting people, pitching IIP to the crowds and having fun with all the delegates. The conference itself is a bit slow, but everything around it very exiting. What a great city. Almost ready to check out and go back home. Mission accomplished ;-)

Does A Merged Sony BMG Hurt The Indies?

Glenn Peoples from Coolfer made a very interesting blog post about the merger between Sony and BMG and the effect it has according to IMPALA on the business. It's nice to see that fact can give a new insight in things ;-) The coolfer blog is a very good blog about the music business and if I'm correct Glenn still spends most of his time in school. Thanks for being out there and providing me with useful information and articles. M (Coolfer)