Leweb has become in a short time the best way to measure the pulse of the Internet in Europe and the theme this year is the real-time web. With companies like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Ning, Twitter, SixApart and many more trying to own and monetize our digital identities and data streams, I am hoping to find here some initial answers to 5 key questions surrounding the real-time web:

1. Monetization: what are viable options that could attract advertisers/business users, what are bearable options that users will put up with
2. Managing signal/noise: with incredible amounts of data becoming available to search engines and via APIs… who is going to develop effective filters and innovative data display options to ensure this new way of communicating does not become overwhelming?
3. Getting to the mass-market: although it is early days for the real-time web, usage is still dominated by techies, celebrities and companies. With the exception of Facebook, it is hard to see mass-adoption for the average user of real-time content. Can these platforms develop and communicate a clear compelling user value proposition?
4. Global perspective: as always, American companies are leading the way in this new technologies… but what are the European and Asian startups that could emerge as winners in this landgrab?
5. Moving beyond people status updates: keeping in mind the infinite possibilities of IP-connected devices and RFID systems, when are we going to start seeing compelling implementations of platforms that connect not just people, but also objects and devices?

Let’s see how far our web industry has gotten in starting to answer these questions… there are some nice profitable business models to be found if we resolve some of the constraints that these questions represent.

Via BillShrink.com

If you are an entrepreneur in the digital space, one of the key people to follow and learn from is Paul Graham, a highly-influential and experienced Internet player founder of Y-combinator , the popular seed-stage funding company.

Here are some insights on “what startups are REALLY like” he recently gathered from the founders of companies he had invested in:

1. Be Careful with Cofounders

2. Startups Take Over Your Life

3. It’s an Emotional Roller-coaster

4. It Can Be Fun

5. Persistence Is the Key

6. Think Long-Term

7. Lots of Little Things

8. Start with Something Minimal

9. Engage Users

10. Change Your Idea

11. Don’t Worry about Competitors

12. It’s Hard to Get Users

13. Expect the Worst with Deals

14. Investors Are Clueless

15. You May Have to Play Games

16. Luck Is a Big Factor

17. The Value of Community

18. You Get No Respect

19. Things Change as You Grow

Make sure to read the full post here…. print it out, memorize it, don’t let these great lessons learned be forgotten!

• Oct 19: Angel’s Den – Speedfunding
• Oct 20 – 21 : Ecommerce Expo
• Oct 20: Paidcontent UK mixer
• Oct 21: Open Soho
• Oct 22: Open Coffee
• Oct 22: Augmented Reality Mashup

I feel fortunate about all the great companies and entrepreneurs I have already met over the last days and very much look forward to meeting you at the next event.

In addition, feel free to contact me to set up a 1-on-1 appointment.

Cheers, Juan

To kick off our corporate blog… how about some great tips for your next elevator pitch?

Sean Wise from CBC’s version of the Dragon’s Den competition highlights four key tests for a successful elevator pitch:

1. Succinct
2. Easy to understand
3. Greed-inducing
4. Irrefutable