Tim Bursch

Have you noticed the recent celebrity rush into investing in startups? Ashton, Leo, Biebs. Are startups selling out? Or are celebrities renting their name? I think it’s something in the middle.

If I was a startup today and I needed to raise money (that debate is another blog post), I could try to borrow from a bank or seek investors. Now, if I was really connected and venture capital made the most sense, funding from a well known celebrity would have a huge added benefit: recognition and advocacy from a pop culture name.

But is that selling out? Maybe it’s hacking the system. Most startups don’t make it for a lot of reasons. You would certainly increase your odds of survival by jumping on a celebrity coattail.

So, what about the celebrity? Are they just selling their name by investing in companies?

Picture this: you starred in some movies or hit it big in music and now have more money than you know what to do with. Perhaps you think about doing something smart with your resources. Do you invest in the stock market? Probably. Real estate? Sure. Those are basic building blocks in your massive portfolio. Now you have some speculative funds. Why wouldn’t you try venture capital?

In all seriousness, I think high net-worth investors are looking for non-traditional opportunities and see the attractive potential returns of venture investment. The reality is some businesses need funding and investors, even rockstars, want some of their money in alternative investments. But you better have a good product, because even Bieber can’t turn your idea into gold.

Image credit: covilha

Tags: investing, startup, venture capital.

I joined a Google Hangout last week with Chris Carfi to talk about possible scenarios for Google+. Awesome experience. Watch his blog for more details and thoughts soon.

In addition to a lot of other great takeaways from that conversation, I am convinced that Hangouts are here to stay. Hangouts allow you to stay in the network. They have a positive peer pressure effect. When you see a Hangout in your stream with interesting people, you’re drawn in. And video creates deeper connections.

Here are some possible uses for Hangouts:

1. After writing a blog post, start a Hangout to answer questions or discuss.
2. Need help thinking through a business (or fill in the blank) problem? Create a Hangout to mastermind your issue.
3. Schedule a regular time weekly. Topical discussion, guest speaker, networking, the options are endless.
4. Research.
5. Education. Imagine teachers with a whiteboard in the background interacting with people from all over the globe.
6. Real-time customer service.
7. Internal meetings.
8. A non-profit could create an ad-hoc Hangout to crowd-source ideas for response to a local crisis.
9. A recruiter could schedule a Q&A for potential candidates.
10. Musician trying out a new song for feedback, live.
11. A VC could invite people to pitch their ideas.
12. Virtual conference with multiple Hangouts.

What would you add?

Check out the full conversation on Google+ Scenario Planning.

[Shameless plug for Gage] Also, check out the summary on Google+ for Marketing Executives here.

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I’m a Beta junkie. I see a new Noun and jump in for the beta. I think I’ve got over 5 new browser add-ons. Thing is, I’ve never really tried these 5, because I’m too busy using the great tools I have.

It’s really easy to chase the new shiny object, be an early adopter (EA), but get no value out of these tools.

So, here’s my plan to become a better EA and hopefully pass along some value to you:

• Try only 2 products/tools/services at a time.
• Test for shorter period of time.
• Report here on what works, what’s helpful, recommendations, and what to avoid.
• Ask for your help. I will share here what I’m testing. Are you trying to the same new noun? Share your thoughts with the community.

Are you a Beta-tester? Share what works for you.

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The buzz today in business is engagement and listening. Social media tools have made it easier for companies to listen to what customers and prospects are saying. Listening helps business monitor complaints, find fans, track competition, and stay in touch with industry trends.

This is great information to have at our fingertips, right?

Here’s the deal though, having spent some time using free and pro listening tools, I see a few problems.

1. Data overload- Yes tools are getting better at helping find data that matters, but there is still a lot of information that needs a set of human eyes
2. Time shortage- Unless you have a huge budget and FTE’s dedicated to online monitoring, you will have extra work on your hands doing this listening work
3. Hearing-impaired- Are we really hearing people on the other side? Or is this like a game of telephone?

We need tools that cut through the data to find meaning. We need technology that helps us connect with relevant conversations. We need deliberate practices that help the human touch come through all of this monitoring, collecting, and tracking.

I’ve yet to find the perfect tool to help a business really hear, unless you count sitting across from a real person.

Any suggestions?

Image credit: dno1967

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We watch the Superbowl most years. Usually to eat and hang out with family and friends. And the commercials.

We screen them for our kids and I asked what they liked best: Doritos. (2 years running)

Why: “They’re funny dad!” My kids tell the story of the Doritos commercials over and over. My kids are teaching me the simplicity of marketing.

• Tell a good story

• Be memorable. Don’t do something average. Throw things. Go crazy.

• Have fun. Business is serious enough, let’s have more fun.

What was your favorite ad and why?

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This is a guest post by Josh Becerra. Josh is a social entrepreneur and internet start-up guy. He is the co-founder of localtweeps.com and buythechange.com. Josh is also part of a Minneapolis Co-working space called The 3rd Place. Check it out. You can follow him on Twitter @joshbecerra.

Today I was sitting in my neighborhood coffee shop as my neighbors filed in to get their cup of Joe before heading into the office. What amazed me is how everyone standing around waiting for their order was glued to their phone. They were probably checking email, reading the morning news, updating their status on Facebook or Twitter, or becoming “Mayor of Lori’s Coffeehouse” on Foursquare.  Nobody was actually talking on their phone…they were just mesmerized by the glow.

This got me thinking about how these days my Twitter stream and Google Reader is filled with research, reports and studies where analysts identify the top trends for 2010. Buzz words like “Hyperlocal”, “Interactive Local Media”, “Mobile Local Media” seem to be on everyone’s top trends list – and rightly so.  Location and geo-targeted advertising has been an elusive revenue stream. But the mix of technology, usage and advertiser trends is pushing the pace of change. Today I can walk down the street with my smart phone in hand and know what businesses are around me, who has something on sale and who is offering coupons.  Using the same technology I have the ability to geo-target my friends so I can always keep track of the people I know.  So what about the people I don’t know – but might want to get to know better – my neighbors?

It seems most people think about hyperlocal in the context of “an individual’s relationship to the people, places, and things that are located around them at any given time via geo-targeting.” So here are my questions:

Is there room for a second definition of hyperlocal as “an individual’s relationship to their neighbors and neighborhood?

And does anyone else care besides me?

Update: Correction- The 3rd Place is in St. Paul, MN

Tags: hyperlocal.

I was listening to the radio recently and the DJ was talking about asking her colleague for feedback on a movie instead of just checking Google. She emphasized the value of the human process.

Everyday we have questions and problems, right? How many times do you just Google it? I know that’s where I turn sometimes.

But what about our networks? The thing about the Human Process vs the Google Process is that you get more depth, insight, and that connection of helping each other. Nothing wrong with Googling for an answer. I just wonder what we miss out on sometimes in our rush for an immediate answer.

So, what do you think? How about we try the Human Process this week at least 3 times instead of a search engine?
Are you with me?

Image credit: jamuraa

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Is everyone included in social media and digital community? That’s a question I have been wondering about lately.

Are we including people on the margins or seeking connections with those who are different than us? My gut feeling is that we have a ways to go bridging the digital divide.

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You should be. I tweet about connecting, business, social impact, and share valueable links.

Feel free to follow me @timbursch

You might also be interested in trying out a simple and easy blogging platform called Posterous. I will be testing it out here.

Thanks for checking it out.

Tags: posterous, twitter.

There was a discussion this week about online vs. offline relationships over at Liz’s blog. I could not join in, but here is what I would have brought to the table.

It’s all real.

Facebook friend= real.

Linkedin connection= real person.

Twitter followers= again, real people.

All online relationships are real. Yes, you might have a difference level of intimacy with people offline.
Do we need to distinguish between online and offline friends? If I meet you on Twitter are you less real? No.
Let’s just work on relationships.

What do you think? Is it necessary to say IRL (in real life)?

Image credit: quinet

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