IsIt
Software Advises How To Win Israel Startup Weekend 2010

By
Herb Brandon
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem
---- July 15, 2010
. Sitting at over two dozen tables at
the new Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa Tel Aviv today are entrepreneurs
from Israel and Palestine territories. From Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
and Haifa to Rahmallah, Nablus and Qalqilya they all share one
dream. At Israel Startup Weekend 2010 they have been provided
with a platform to suggest the most creative ideas in technology
and Web 2.0 and a means to turn their dreams into reality.
Israel
Startup Weekend is a partnership between the Shimon Peres
Center for Peace, as the first ever collaboration of Jewish and
Arab hi tech, Web 2.0 and new media entrepreneurs and developers
from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United States.
IsIt
Software, which measures in realtime the accuracy of information
on the Internet won the first Israel Startup Weekend held 8 months
ago at IBM Israel. They were one of over 60 ideas and 13 startups
created at the event.
"It's
an exciting opportunity," says IsIt Senior VP of Marketing
Joel Leyden.
"Both Amir Harel and Eddie Reznik, the coordinators of Israel
Startup Weekend are to be applauded for having created this special
initiative in Israel. The participants should look at both Amir
and Eddie for inspiration. They are focused, work hard and completely
dedicated to their work."
Leyden, an
Internet pioneer who co-created Israel's first Website - NetKing
and serves today as an international marketing, branding, SEO
and digital PR crisis communications consultant to both commercial
organizations and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides
the following advice on how to win at Israel Startup Weekend.
"First
off, arrive to the Israel Startup Weekend well rested. It is three
very intensive days of creation, work and presentation. Then provide
or join a team whose idea really turns you on. Each team member
should be responsible for one professional task - directing as
a CEO, developing, marketing, Web 2.0, creating graphics and research."
Leyden adds:
"Use the Internet to search out to see if anyone else has
your idea. Even if they do, continue, go on and try to improve
upon that idea. Borrowing ideas from others and integrating them
into something new is what it's all about. Buy a domain name and
start to build a Website to promote the idea. Writing about who
you are and what you are doing will help both you and your team
define what you are doing while at the same time creating a marketing
and PR buzz."

Photo:
Israel News Agency
"Listen
to what your other team members have to say. If you don't agree,
then compromise and move forward. Creating a startup is not just
about coming up with a good idea but establishing a dynamic team
which can commit to that idea with time, effort and communicate
that idea to the public. While developing your ideas speak with
Israel Startup Weekend coordinators, ask them for advice. This
is not a time to be shy. Be aggressive with a smile. Perform research
on which markets would have a need for your startup, developers
should find a code which is easy to use, copywriters and graphic
professionals need to keep the message simple and strong."
Leyden concludes:
"You got this far. You dedicated three days to finding that
one startup which just might change your life and the lives of
many others. As you enter day 3, get some rest, sleep well and
create a visual presentation which is both simple and powerful.
Make sure to include a business plan in your presentation with
projected markets and figures needed for investment and growth.
Rehearse your presentation and rehearse answering questions from
the judges. Be sure to have your new startup Web address on
your last presentation slide so that people can contact you after
the Weekend. Smile and be confident. Make it happen!"
"Startup
Weekend is an international event that integrates the networking
of both the mobile and Internet community," said Israel Startup
Weekend organizer Eddie Reznik. "But this year, we are going
to transcend all digital and political borders. There is no greater
tool for peace and understanding than technology, the Net and
Web 2.0 and as such we are proud to bring creative minds together
from both Israel and the Palestinian territories."
Israel Startup
Weekend 2010 is taking place July 14 -16, at the Peres Peace House
in Jaffa.
Startup Weekend has been introduced to more than 15,000 entrepreneurs
in over 100 cities around the world. Founded in June 2007, Startup
Weekend provides a platform to pitch an idea, build the concept
and present it to the audience in around 50 hours. At least 500
companies have been created over the lifetime of the worldwide
event raising more than $2M in financing.

Photo:
Israel News Agency
Israel Startup Weekend 2010 judges are comprised of representatives
of leading companies, investors and representatives of foundations
such as the law firm of Amit Pollak Matalon, Google Israel, IBM,
Paypal, Deloitte and others.
Last year,
Israel Startup Weekend was sponsored by IBM Israel, Google Israel
and several other leading brands in the field of hi-tech and Internet.
From over 200 participants and 13 startups created, IsIt
Fact Checking Software was created and captured first place.
IsIt Software recently registered its patent pending and is currently
negotiating with several investors (angels and VC companies).
Startup Weekend
was born in 2007 in the US by Andrew Hyde. Today Startup Weekend
is operated out of Seattle, WA by Marc Nager and Clint Nelsen
with development support coming from Cameron Preston, Mick Thompson
and Timothy Ting.

Sponsors of
Israel Startup Weekend 2010 in Jaffa Tel Aviv include: The Peres
Center For Peace, Mercy Corps, Amit, Pollak, Matalon and Co.,
Paypal Pte Ltd., IBM Israel, Google Israel, Deloitte Accounting,
Hamovil Jack
Yulzari Ltd., Itay Strum Financial Services, Newsgeek, ESOP Management
and Trust Company Ltd., The Leyden Digital PR, SEO, Internet Marketing
Web 2.0 Communications Group and IsIt? Online Fact Checking Software.
According
to Resnik, Israel is the most logical place for StartUp Weekend.
It is
well known that Israel is the Silicon Wadi next to
the US West Coast "Silicon Valley". For any number of
reasons enjoying a hi-tech IDF army, a heavy influx of
highly intelligent and motivated Russian immigrants, a lack of
natural resources - Israel has become and is respected for being
a hotbed for startups and innovation."
The majority
of participants at the sold out Israel Startup Weekend discovered
the event as it was advertised using viral marketing on social
networking Internet sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Photo:
Israel News Agency
"Israel Startup
Weekend is not about who wins first place prize," says Leyden.
"It's about networking with professional people, developing
an idea and then marketing that idea. The real work begins after
Startup Weekend when you and your team must commit both the time
and effort to legally establish a company and secure funds. The
process is not easy. There will be many mountains and valleys
but if you persevere and don't become greedy, the rewards could
transcend anything you may have imagined."
The Israel
News Agency will continue to report live from Israel Startup
Weekend via Twitter and Facebook status updates and Google
News stories.
For more photos
from Startup Weekend Israel, please see Newsgeek.
The
Israel News Agency,
which is accredited by Israel Government Press Office, was the
first on line news organization in Israel. The INA reaches up
to 60 million readers through Google News and Internet social
networking channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from
New York, London, Moscow and Paris to Toronto, Los Angeles, China
and India. Leyden is presently launching the United
States News Agency using the INA as a successful working model.
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