Sean Nieuwoudt - Web, Business, E-Commerce, Tech

"It is also worth nothing which financial services companies provided APIs for the effort, which..."

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:09:42 +0300

“It is also worth nothing which financial services companies provided APIs for the effort, which exemplifies more open-minded ventures that are looking to partner and facilitate startups.”

- Startup Nation: Hackathon Yields a Twitter Payments App | Bank Innovation

Fantastic to see financial services APIs (finally) starting to emerge; although - surprise, surprise - no “incumbents” on this list…(and to be fair unfortunately no @anthemis group company apis either - must not have been invited!)

Braintree

Check ‘n Go

Dwolla

Kiip

Shopify

Stripe

Twilio

WePay

X.commerce

(via hackingfinance)

until(true): Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder: MongoDB is fine

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:24:55 +0200

until(true): Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder: MongoDB is fine:

slyphon:

I’m getting kind of sick of all of these postings where people slag on MongoDB because they happened to have a bad experience in their environment. Moreover, I’m tired of people who can’t make a decent argument about a piece of technology.

My personal experience w/ MongoDB

A little bit about…

Beyond Business: Building Entrepreneurial Stamina

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:33:40 +0200

Beyond Business: Building Entrepreneurial Stamina:

beverleymerriman:

I often wonder what makes some entrepreneurs better than others. After much thought on the subject, I’m quit certain that stamina makes the biggest difference.

The ability to sustain prolonged effort is what separates the great from the good entrepreneurs.

Think about it. Lack of stamina causes…

Long Term Life Tips: Top 5 Regrets People Make on their Deathbed

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:00:53 +0300

Long Term Life Tips: Top 5 Regrets People Make on their Deathbed:

longtermtips:

By Bronnie Ware (who worked for years nursing the dying)

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they…

Badass JavaScript: location.hash is dead. Long live HTML5 pushState!

Tue, 31 May 2011 17:37:12 +0300

Badass JavaScript: location.hash is dead. Long live HTML5 pushState!:

For a long time, location.hash was a way for AJAX applications to get back button and bookmarking support, and libraries like jQuery BBQ from Ben Alman made dealing with it cross browser a cinch. Now, with HTML5 coming of age, there is a new feature that aims to replace the use of ...

Employee Cliques Are Bad For Business

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:39:00 +0300

Companies should pay very close attention to cliques forming amongst employees - this is a sure indication that there is something very wrong with company dynamic and managers (if present).

The stronger the clique, the less likely employees outside of it will be willing to interact with those inside it.

Employees might even go as far as to feel the need to quit their jobs - this goes way back to schoolyard days feeling like the odd one out.

Cliques are infectious, even the most highly respected people fall prey to it. You may find yourself gossiping about a certain employee via IM or email unexpectedly - just stop it.

The outcasted employees will feel resentment towards the company, not the clique - this is a sure fire way of killing productivity and ultimately the company.

Think about it.

10 Superistic Ninja Productivity Tips

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:34:00 +0300

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a lazy person by nature, so as you can image - getting things done can turn into quite a mission. Even more so when you are an Engineer AND Entrepreneur.

Here are my tips to get actually getting things done and staying productive.

Make sure you end each day with all tabs & apps closed
Make tiny lists, but do write things down
Pen and paper is the way to go
Check & respond to mail twice a day at consistent times
Keep your desk neat at all times
Keep your desktop neat and files structured
Start with the most difficult tasks
Delegate & outsource as much as you can
Don’t let tasks linger - do it as soon as possible
Ask questions if you need answers

If you have any useful GTD tips, please do share.

adii: Just some inspiration.

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:36:36 +0300

adii:

Just some inspiration.

Starkers Photoshop Template

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:20:00 +0300

If you are like me, you like things structured when you do any Photoshop work.

I’ve created a blank Photoshop template with folder structures and grids in place to save you time. Hopefully someone finds it useful.

Preview:

Created with Photoshop CS3.

Is your business successful? Do you make money?

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:14:00 +0300

Is your business successful? Do you make money?:

Most entrepreneurs show unease and discomfort when asked whether they consider their businesses successful. As with those posing such a violating question, entrepreneurs instinctively link the concept of success to financial statements.

I was recently asked by an acquaintance whether my…

13 South African tech startups you might not have heard of

Wed, 19 May 2010 01:05:00 +0300

Firstly, thanks to all for the great feedback on my previous post - extremely valuable insight from some of the top guys in the industry.

With that said; there is a huge misunderstanding of when a company can no longer be called a start-up. This is a very important point and I would like to look into it further at some stage.

In the meantime, I’ve listed a few more local startups that are creating value and grabbing attention. I’ve intentionally left off blogs & web dev agencies due to a few good points raised in my previous post.

MiMoney

MiMoney is a new way to shop online. If you do not have a credit card or do not want to use one online, MiMoney is for you.

wiWallet

wiWallet is a mobile payment technology provider.

Ammo Mobile

Ammo Mobile is also a mobile payment provider with a few cool features such as paying friends directly to their mobile phones and more.

AD:Dynamo

A global pay-per-click market place

Advurt

Mobile advertising platform turning ad’s into useful interactive information to end users. Their implementation promises an average of a 25% response rate on ads.

ChessCube

An online social chess platform allowing you to play live tournaments and/or against your friends. Their membership is bridging the 1 million mark.

CrowdFund

CrowdFund isn’t your regular startup company offering a product or service, It’s a start-up angel investment fund. There is undoubtedly a space for this kind of business in the South African market and they deserve a mention.

BetTech

BetTech focusses on creating gaming software primarily in the gambling sector.

Aduity

Aduity has been somewhat secretive with details, but they will be providing a product or service in the mobile advertising space. We also know that they are funded.

Obox Design

Obox is headed up by the Perel brothers. They create premium designer themes for Wordpress, Tumblr and Posterous. They’re based in Camps Bay and are definitely a business to watch out for in future.

Mooblr

A powerful new socially driven e-commerce platform aiming to revolutionize the current e-commerce landscape. Mooblr aims to be to store owners what Wordpress is to bloggers. Soon to be launched.

Personera

Personera is a funded startup that allows you to a create and print a physical calendar using the information (birthdays, events, photo’s etc) from your Facebook account.

UrbanKhana

UrbanKhana is a very convenient food preparation and delivery service. A very simple concept. You get to download the menu, choose your meals, pay for it weekly and they deliver on time and straight to your doorstep.

Thanks to all of those who gave constructive input and contributed to the lists, especially:

10 South African Tech Startups

Tue, 18 May 2010 13:47:00 +0300

South Africa is abuzz with startup fever. It’s a good thing - we’re gaining traction on other technology hubs.

UPDATE: This list is not based on revenue in any way what so ever.

I define a startup as a company that is in it’s first or second phase of the business cycle; inception(product development) and growth(market development).

Here’s a list of 10 Popular South African tech startups as nominated on Twitter (in no particular order):

1) Yola

A website builder for anyone that wants to build and host a website quickly and easily. Heavily based on the Freemium model with paid upgrades. They were founded in Cape Town in 2007 and currently have offices in Cape Town and San Francisco.

Google Page Rank: 7
Alexa Rank: 4478
Compete Rank: 4152

2) Blueworld

A Cape Town based social network started by Charl Norman and Bradley Voges

Google Page Rank: 6
Alexa Rank: 41,597
Compete Rank: 295,336

3) Zoopy

Zoopy is a social platform for sharing video, photo’s and audio.

Google Page Rank: 5
Alexa Rank: 19,301
Compete Rank: 72,983

4) Afrigator

Africa’s largest social media aggregator and blog directory founded by Justin Hartman and Mike Stopforth and Stii Pretorius.

Google Page Rank: 4
Alexa Rank: 40,332
Compete Rank: 409,766

5) Springleap

A community based platform where users create designs, vote and interact with one another. Winning designs are printed on t-shirts and sold.

Google Page Rank: 5
Alexa Rank: 39,231
Compete Rank: 2,012,918

6) Memeburn

A blog focussed on tracking startup news and tech entrepreneurs’ stories from the emerging market sector. Founded by Mathew Buckland.

Google Page Rank: 0
Alexa Rank: 37,197
Compete Rank: 0

7) WooThemes

WooThemes is probably one of the most successful designer Wordpress Theme businesses in the world.

Google Page Rank: 7
Alexa Rank: 1747
Compete Rank: 5755

8) SACamera

An online store focussing entirely on photographic equipment and accessories.

Google Page Rank: 3
Alexa Rank: 101,668
Compete Rank: 1,903,636

9) Skyrove

A WIFI hotspot provider with a twist. Skyrove pays a percentage of revenue to people who host the Skyrove routers at the end of each month.

Google Page Rank: 5
Alexa Rank: 314,499
Compete Rank: 4,260,344

10) FireID

A universal authentication system that makes accessing internet transactions and secure data safer than ever.

Google Page Rank: 4
Alexa Rank: 491,683
Compete Rank: n/a

There are a few other startups running under the radar of attention, but as Jason Fried sais: “Competition that kills isn’t pre-announced - it catches an unsuspecting incumbent by surprise”.

Let me know if there are any you would like to see on the list.

Design Posters, Not Landing Pages

Mon, 17 May 2010 13:18:00 +0300

What are posters?

Well, in a nutshell, posters are visually pleasing single pages of highly optimized information for quick scanning and understanding.

Does that not sound exactly like what you are trying to achieve with your landing page?

The guys over at Carsonified understand this concept really well and they managed to convert really well with this style.

Designing a poster is easier said than done; here’s what you need to focus on:

Well placed headlines
Concise and to the point copy
Eye catching imagery and design
Creative use of color
Simplicity

Here are some great examples of “posterphile” type web design:

Carsonified

Noel Design

Carsonified Summer Camp

Carsonified Twiggy

Additional Resources:

The Freemium Model - The Enterprising Troll

Wed, 12 May 2010 10:44:00 +0300

Firstly, this is just my opinion; use it, don’t use it…

Via wikipedia.org, “Freemium is a business model that works by offering basic Web services, or a basic downloadable digital product, for free, while charging a premium for advanced or special features.”

What exactly is the cost of “free”? Nothing is free, the cost could either be incurred by the customer or the provider, but one guarantee is that there is always a cost involved - its the cost of doing business.

That old automatron of “Let’s get them in the door and we’ll become rich” no longer applies today; you need to be creating enough value to keep your free to paid conversion rate up.

Users are a strange breed - a huge percentage of your users will always only use the free version of your product or service and essentially you will still be paying the bills.

Focus on revenue from the start, then build a quality user base - do you really care about the loafers that will undoubtedly burden you with support queries and never spend a dime?

The Freemium model is plagued with the issue of perceived value - how can something for free be of value? This is where your marketing needs to kick in …

So, before you vigorously consume the Freemium model, check that:

This is the business model you want to start off with.
Ensure that your business can scale to meet the requirements of free AND paid users.
You know your revenue streams.
You don’t play in the dark forrest, ensure that you are creating tangible value.

Thoughts?

No Space for Complacency

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:17:00 +0300

adii:

One thing that I’ve learned over and over again of late is that there is absolutely no space for compromise & complacency when dealing with customers. These are the people that makes your business a success and they ensure that you are able to pay the bills; so never - ever - stop short of pulling out all the stops to please your customers!

What Success Means to me

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:42:15 +0300

Every person has a different definition for success, here are mine. Hopefully it inspires you in some way.
It’s a good idea to write them down as it tends to solidify them in your mind as opposed to simply thinking about it.

Doing what I love every day
Looking forward to waking up in the morning
Being a good person
Being happy
Being financially secure
Not feeling stressed or constantly worried
Not having to work 12+ hour days
Being able to spend time with family and friends
Being recognized in my industry as a knowledgeable colleague
Developing un-hindered self confidence in what I do
Having a clear vision
Being able to make my decisions based purely on enjoyment
Having lifetime financial plans in place
Learning to embrace change
Becoming a renaissance man
Becoming a better public speaker
Staying true to my values
Being in a healthy relationship
Having time to actually enjoy life
Not having to answer to anyone
Building valuable personal networks
Being in control of my own life
Finding time for a hobby

These are just a few, feel free to add yours.

More Great CodeIgniter Resources

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:03:17 +0300

More Great CodeIgniter Resources:

A few great codeigniter scripts, tutorials and other resources to grok.

CSS Word Wrap Property

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:34:00 +0300

Ever so often you encounter text that just won’t behave in place. Long text is guilty of this, it tends to break it’s containing block and layout.

A useful tip - use the break-word css property to fix this.

.wrap-this { word-wrap: break-word; }

The Complete iPhone Development Toolbox

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:24:05 +0200

The Complete iPhone Development Toolbox:

A comprehensive list of resources and tutorials for those of you building iPhone Apps.

Bring out the Guns, Stick to your Price.

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 09:48:00 +0200

You: So Dave, what is it that you envision your project to be like in the next few months?

Client: I want this, this, that, this, this, this and this … and oh yes, that.

You: Ok … what kind of budget have you set asside for it?

Client: Shoestring.

You: FML.

Admit it, we all know this kind of conversation.

As a freelancer, you are faced with two evils - one is the constant influx of chancers and the other is you - just trying to get by.

It tends to be easy to fall into the “I’ll do the job fo cheap” trap when you have to put food on the table, but please don’t be quick to take on work like this - you inevitably end up regretting it.

Stick to your price, do not deviate - clients will respect you for this, remember this is your hard work we’re talking about.

You are more likely to get more work and make more money if you are slightly more expensive, thanks to a fundamental human flaw causing us to only want the best of things :)

Happy freelancing!