You can now watch the live footage of Rose Lewis's presentation from Digital Shoreditch, which contains all sorts of handy information about how startups can successfully raise finance. You can watch Rose here, as well as watch many other talks from the eventful week.
One of our startups, Seeker, were invited to an Ogilvy Lab Day yesterday, where the entire event was focused on Big Data. Tielman de Villiers, the co-founder and CTO at Seeker Industries, went along to find out just how big the debate is around big data. He was particularly keen to hear opinions surrounding just who owns all of this data, is it possible data can become too “clever” for its own good, and is there really that much value in “big” data? Here is his report, for those of us who missed the event.
Photo by @nicoleyershon
"There are currently many unanswered questions concerning the creation of big data, it's ownership, and it's accuracy. Let's go through some of the issues discussed at the Lab Day.
Matt Bayfield, head of data practice at OgilvyOne Worldwide, asked what is the role of advertising, if brands start knowing everything there is to know about you? It’s not only the ownership of the underlying data, but also of the data on top the data, as Dr Trevor Davis, consumer products expert at IBM, mentioned. For example, if you start making predictions using Facebook’s Opengraph or Google Trends, where does the legal responsibility start and end?
And what if all that personal data is actually a bit of a lie? So, even if Google, Facebook and Amazon captures, processes, segments, and targets everything users are willing to share, how “truthful” and representative is it really? Liri Andersson, co-founder of This Fluid World, spoke of examples where the “real” data is still outside of the “system”. For example, product recommendations often occur in forum-based discussions, which influence our decisions about purchases. In other words, how useful is the big data really with regards to predicting future behaviour?
Then there’s the slightly “scary” part of big data, when data analysis algorithms become so complex and relied upon by corporations that plain old human common sense goes out the back door. Stan Stalnaker, founder director of Hub Culture and the brains behind the Ven currency, warned of becoming too reliant on machine driven algorithms. Just look at what is happening in the world of corporate finance with programs driving and controlling sales in financial markets. What happens when this happens in the world of digital marketing, with the most personal of our personal data?
Big data also seems to be big grey voids. Spotting the little clusters of data with significance inside the masses of greyness (ie, “sparse” data), and doing it in “slow time” (ie, looking back at long historical trends, as opposed to right here, right now) is something which Dr Davis used to “predict” fashion trends. For those left wandering, it’s steampunk."
huddled is a site dedicated to business news in the North West. Launched in January 2013, huddled is created by a team of North-West based journalists dedicated to providing up-to-date news relating to local companies and issues that affect businesses in the area. Most recently, huddled interviewed the brains behind Collider12 startup Moment.Us, which you can watch below. http://youtu.be/GSOQVrZhyQI
Why?
An informal after-work opportunity to simply get together, have a drink, and have a natter. Build a rapport amongst the startups, investors and brands in and around the Collider12 community.
Where?
Tom Cribb, 36 Panton St, London, Greater London SW1Y 4EA
When?
Wednesday 19th June 2013, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Register
Sign up for the event here, and view all the details for the event.
Digital Shoreditch ran last week, with every day offering a different theme, excellent speakers, and interesting discussions. I went along to sample the event, snaffle a few sandwiches, and even take a look at some artwork. Collider12's very own Rose Lewis was there, and gave a talk on how startups can raise finance, even in this tricky financial climate. In case you couldn't make it on Thursday, here is her slideshow.
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One of the best things at the event was the 'Wall of Networking'. In the largest room, two corners were dedicated entirely to encouraging collaboration between those looking for work, or offering it. The corners always had people milling around, adding their own note or being open to networking, which created a great atmosphere. In such a digital environment, it was nice to see to handwritten notes, as well as having the chance to meet those behind them.
There was also The Great Digital Exhibition, an interaction art exhibition with pieces by over 20 East London artists. Every piece is centered around interactive technological innovations which create a tantalizing experience for all of your senses. Located in the basement, the exhibition celebrated the old (with 'Digital Archaeology' showcasing very early websites and the technology of the time) to the very new ( with ‘ArRay’, a lumino-kinetic sculpture that uses memory shape smart material – Nitinol – to bring it to life).
