Live: Brave New Web – Where do I get my Web 2.0?

A discussion about Web 2.0 and what's it all about. Panel includes: Scott Smigler – Exclusive concepts, Brian Shin, Visible Measures Founder, David McFarlane, COO Nexaweb Technologies and Phil Follows, CEO Feedblitz. Moderator Rafe Needleman from CNET. This was an excellent workshop. Perfect amount of time and time was left for a good group discussion. 

Download the audio on Rapidshare 

Moderator: Is there a Web 2.0 business philosophy?
David: It's about giving up control and giving users ways to engage with your products and services.
Scott: Web 2.0 is hard to define with a great definition. They can adopt ways on a business purpose or a tactical purpose.
Brian: It's about the user centricity. We talk about the new technologies but its about redefining interfaces.
Phil: It's defined as the web talks back and you gotta pay attention to it. Transparency is key.

Moderator: Don't solve easy problems, solve expensive ones. How much does it take to start a web-based business?
Brian: Look at Digg starting for $200.

Moderator: How much can you actually spend if vc wants to give you money?
Phil: When your business is successful, you need money like there is no end. Audit trails, better servers, compliant code, etc. You need to scale out technically and managerially.
Scott: I think you need to bring in some kind of braintrust and you need smart people.
Phil: The challenge is differentiating yourself. Do it, do it well, pick your targets and get people on board.
David: The importance is to catch a wave of opportunity and ride that wave through your execution.

Attendee: It seems the Web 2.0 business model is all or nothing bet because its based on advertising.
David: In the consumer world that is more the case. Think about the enterprise!

Attendee: Do you have any strategies for virality in the enterprise?
Rafe: I don't think of the enterprise as being viral.
David: The enterprise is now about what the employees are using vs. the CIO demanding what they use.

Moderator: Monetization with freemium services comments?
Phil: gotta find the revenues – spread the risk
Brian: if you look at LinkedIn it is an example of this

Attendee: Could panel comment on technical side of Web 2.0? Do you see what technologies are fueling Web 2.0?
Phil: We stand on the shoulders of giants. The key to success is how you package the technologies together. And it has to be able to scale.

There was a bit of talk about security and reliability for Web 2.0 services. There is also talk that Web 2.0 apps can be completely secured.

David: Make your business a viable business without needing a post on TechCrunch.