The Naked Truth: Followup

Last night's The Naked Truth event was fairly interesting. Most of the discussion consisted of discussion regarding the best way to get media attention for your startup. The panel consisted of:
- John Cook: Seattle Post Intelligencer
- Tricia Duryee: Seattle Times
- Michael Arrington: TechCrunch
- Fred Vogelstein: Wired
- Becky Buckman: Wall Street Journal

It was an interesting discussion though one whose content I don't have a reason to apply currently.

After the discussion there was a get together which basically meant hundreds of local entrepreneurs and other geeks drinking free beer, eating free bbq, and talking about whatever it is that they're into. I hung out with Hans Omli, met John Li from Menuism, Brian Dorsey from Noonhat (here's is a video of Brian introducing the site concept at SeattleBizJam), and some folks whose names and affiliations I can't remember.

Ignite Seattle - Half Baked Dot Com

Recently it was announced that at the next Ignite Seattle rather than doing a Make Contest as they've done in the past they are going to hold a Half Baked Dot Com event:

"Half-Baked Dot Com is a participatory exercise in entrepreneur improv conducted by five teams of startup addicts and judged by a crackpot panel of venture capitalists & D-list bloggers (or whomever shows up first). Faster than foreplay with jenna jameson, more creative than a VP explaining a quail hunt, and nearly as much suspense as a scheduled train wreck, Half-Baked is the latest Web 2.0 craze sweeping the unconference circuit. Show up early and bring your A-game if you want to participate, otherwise bring your [video]camera to record the heinous crime to be perpetrated on an unsuspecting audience."

In the past I've shown up for the Ignite Seattle events shortly before the talks how for this one I think I'll definitely be showing up early and possibly trying to participate. Team selection starts around 6:30 and the team presentations around 7:30. The Ignite talks will start at 8:30 as usual. They've posted a list of the talks but may be adding more. Here's the current list:

1. Shawn Murphy - Hacking Chocolate
   
   Anybody can create interesting and new chocolates with some basic ingredients, imagination and a little technique.


2. Deepak Singh - Small medicine: Nanotechnology and biology
   
   
   The start of the art in the applications of nanotechnology to healthcare and medicine


3. Derek Gaw - uncluttring Amazon
   
   Amazon’s experience is often criticized for being too cluttered. I decided to see what I could do to clean it up.


4. Elan Lee - My Clothes Tell Secrets
   
   
   Examples of storytelling and entertainment embedded in the fabric of the clothes we wear.


5. Brian Dorsey - An embarrassment of riches - the story of Noonhat
   
   We live in amazing times. Individuals and small groups can build small things with big effects. Even working part time.


6. Dave McClure - Startup Metrics for Pirates: AARRR!
   
   
   A simple 5-step model for measuring startup success: 1) Acquisition 2) Activation 3) Retention 4) Referral 5) Revenue


7. Rob Gruhl - How to buy a new car
   
   Get your next new car for the best price.

The Naked Truth

For what it's worth a friend of mine just talked me into signing up for an event called The Naked Truth on July 24th. Here's what the wiki says:

The Naked Truth is a meet-up for entrepreneurs, journalists, and bloggers to talk about how we tell our stories.

There's a panel discussion that's limited to 200 people and an afterparty limited to 500. When I added my name to the list it was up to around 170 for each so hurry and get your name on the list if you're interested.

Also, the next Ignite Seattle event is happening on August 8th. I'm hoping to make it but we'll have to wait and see.