7.  Berlin start-ups talking about Berlin start-ups 

6. The Dragon slogan and the Dragon Slayers

Here be dragons was the slogan of Next 2013. What does it mean? “Here be dragons” was a phrase from mapping, a marker of the unknown used in the past to define those parts of the world, where you could find every kind of peril, even dragons. In an Era where innovation is also disruptive and able to radically change the way we live… perils and dragons are everywhere. And who are the dragon slayers? Those who face the peril, that slay the dragons: innovators, entrepreneurs, coders, marketers and start-uppers. A dragon slayer is whomever charts a new path to the future.

5. Marina Gorbis and the Future

We love geeks talking about the future, especially when their predictions are based on substantial data. Marina Gorbis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Future, shared her vision of the new digital era. How the world has changed forever. How we are now experiencing a new economic revolution similar to the industrial revolution. Marina Gorbis tells us about a new “socialstructured” world, where individuals use the power of new technology to live and work in a decentralized way.

4. A great Workshop about Storytelling

Thomas Stegmann and Jens Otto Lange of storythinkers offered an engaging workshop dedicated to storytelling. “Stories share visions: use storytelling to prototype digital experiences” - an interesting overview on how telling and listening to stories help your listeners relate to the information you’re trying to communicate. The end result is about creating connections. Creating emotional connections that make your ideas resonate.

3. Start-up Pitches and Competition

Organized by NEXT Berlin and its partner, Deutsche Telekom’s incubator hub: raum, the start-up stage was a laboratory for new ideas; apps, e-commerce, social, education and engineering services. The jury gave tough feedback, just as it should be. The winner, LineMetrics, with a practical solution for machine data acquisition, won a prize worth more than 10,000 Euros. Other start-ups we liked, Geddit and Buzzoole. Check them out!

2. The Cloud

The Cloud was everywhere @ NEXT 2013. The future is made of digital clouds. Not only Cloud Computing but also communities interlinked all over the world. These communities of users, creators, doers and dreamers bring online to offline and vice-versa. In addition, we can’t forget the Cloud of Working where online professionals and experts meet their clients.

1. This guy, Harper Reed

Outstanding speech. That’s all we have to say. Have you ever seen a person with the audience in the palm of their hands within the first 10 seconds of a presentation? That’s Harper Reed – former CTO of Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. Harper gave the NEXT 2013 audience thirty minutes of funny, clever and pragmatic ideas. How to use big data? How to build a great team? How to overcome failure? Why is it  so important to simply listen? If you didn’t catch Harper’s speech at NEXT Berlin, follow him on twitter: @harper. This guy rocks!

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IMAGES: pictures from NEXT 13 Press Section

written by Lorenzo Monfregola  @lorenzomonfreg

1. NAME of the project?

Make your project title as clear and catchy as possible. Try to summarize in a few keywords the job you need completed. For example: “Application for restaurants’ menu“, “Translation from Chinese to Italian“,  ”Redesign web site“…

2. WHAT is the project about?

What is the project’s purpose and what is the expected outcome? Explain what you want and the final goal you have in mind. Make your vision clear:

• Explain the project with your own words. The more information you can provide, the more accurate the quotes submitted by the contractors will be.
• Let the contractor know your experience level in the field of your project. Do you also need consultancy services from the contractor?
• If you have drafts, examples, specific technical or design requirements that help share a better understanding of your expected outcome, attach them!
• Communicate the current status of your project. Is it in an initial concept stage or in-production? In both cases, give specific details.
• Include your company’s brand identity guidelines if available.
• You may have seen an application, website or logo that looks similar to what you want – attach this material.
• Also background info such as target or industry audience can be helpful.

3. WHO should be the contractor?

Who are you looking for? What skills or experience are required? – a PHP programmer, a graphic designer, a Social Media expert, a translator…? If you’re not sure about the type of contractor you need, you can also get in touch with twago support. We are more than happy to help!

4. WHEN should project start and finish?

When do you intend to start the project? What are the important milestones and when should the project be completed? Make everything clear from the beginning.

5. BUDGET for the project?

What is your planned budget? If this is the first time you are posting a project and you don’t know the appropriate budget and/or the budget is negotiable, please let the contractors know in your description.

6. CONFIDENTIAL PROJECT or public?

Are the details of your project public or confidential? If they are confidential, twago offers an NDA agreement that contractors must sign before receiving confidential information. It’s easy and safe!

7. WHERE should the contractor be located?

Does your contractor need to be located near you? If so, you may want to use the directSearch on twago – a system that helps you find experts in a specific location.

Describe you project now

Done. Did you go through the checklist? Did you check every point? Just one more thing… the project description should be anonymous with no contact details or website links. After awarding your project to the suitable contractor, – contact information can be exchanged.

You followed the checklist but did not receive suitable quotes?

Below are a few other things you can do for a successful project description:

• Extend the bidding period and give contractors more time to prepare quotes.
• Search for suitable contractors on twago and invite them to your project.

Following all the points above will help you find the best contractor to complete your project.

What are you waiting for? Use this 7 point checklist to post a new project. As you know, posting a project on twago is free – you only pay your contractor once your project is complete.

Post you project now

image: © olly – Fotolia.com

An open call for developers, scientists, hackers, designers and managers.

Quoting Phil Simon’s book “Too big to ignore” the phenomenon of BIG DATA simply cannot go unnoticed. The volume of data generated by social and smart sensor networks, company information and transaction systems and by the non-stop process of knowledge digitalization is seen as an essential asset for ICT companies. Some “visionaries” are already envisioning a tax on the ownership of data as corporate asset (Kenneth Cukier – The Economist).

On the other hand, a year of “media hype” about this topic has effectively shown that the mere availability of raw data is not a direct source of value: “data do not speak for themselves.”

The famous sentence by Chris Anderson “With enough data, the numbers speak for themselves” has worked as an effective booster for the open data movement and the evangelization of the masses, but shows his weakness when it comes to huge unstructured databases.

Therefore Big Data is not a purely technical problem, or at least this is not the key issue.

Given a reference stack (Hadoop Distributed File System – HDFS, MapReduce, HBase or Cassandra, Hive, Flume, JDBC and ODBC drivers, Hue, Pig, Oozie, Avro, Zookeeper, etc – Designing for Big Data: The New Architectural Stack, GigaOm), the customizations depend on philosophical choices, usage trends and impositions (heavy or light) by vendors with a wide range of products invented or reinvented to handle big data.

During the recent Strata Conference in Santa Clara the need for a clear business perspective as regards the BIG DATA approach has became clear. The mere availability of the data cannot be considered a self-sustainable business model.

In order to avoid or reduce the effects of the “trough of disillusionment” (Gartner Hype Cycle curve) and quickly reach the “plateau of productivity” data (Big or Small) should be analyzed in a specific context and managed by professionals specifically formed on that issues, able also to avoid systematic errors (bias) related to data samples.

Therefore we need:

- High-value datasets (the big connotation may be not primary), where the “high-value” attribute needs to be measured in terms of social and economic impact.

- Start-ups able to quickly enhance the wealth of information, without the restriction imposed by corporate structures

- Date scientists ready and capable to design “use cases” and business opportunities by using the available technological solutions.

In this sense, the road ahead is still far from being over.

Big Dive, promoted by TOP-IX consortium in collaboration with Axant.it, ISI Foundation and Todo.to.it is a training course aimed at training date scientists.

The course consists of five weeks full-time class in Turin, ITALY, where experts will provide knowledge and skills on code development, visualization and science. After a first edition with 20 participants from 8 different nationalities and prestigious sponsors/partners such as Telecom Working Capital, Palantir Technologies, 10Gen, Seeweb and Amazon Web Services, the second edition will start June 3, 2013.

Application deadline is May 19, 2013.

1 

The Cloud is omnipresent. You can join it everywhere at any time.

2 

The Internet Age began more than 20 years ago. It changed the way people live, communicate and create. Such a revolutionary change also affects the way people work.

3 

The future of work belongs to people who are able to work from anywhere via the Internet. The future of work belongs to companies that are willing to manage their expertise, resources and needs online. The future of work is in the Cloud.

4

 The future of work has already started. Cloud working platforms are connecting companies with local and international experts. Old geographical boundaries have been crossed. Companies of every type and size can find the best freelancers and agencies in the Cloud. The Cloud is a huge advantage for small and medium-sized businesses.

5

 The Cloud is the digital space where companies find IT experts, creative talents, marketing  and communication consultants,  and many other professionals. The Cloud means team work across virtual offices: collaboration on a global scale.

6

Cloud Working means a digital expert can decide how to optimize and organize the work process. Cloud Working means autonomous time management, flexibility and independent working spaces. That’s why coworking spaces are one of the best environments for the new digital work.

7

 Cloud computing and its services are the best supports for Cloud Working. Cloud computing is the natural evolution of the brand new connected world. Fast and easy access to different applications, files and software are the winning points for working mobility, digital nomadism and freelance life.

8

Cloud Working means local and global interaction. Cloud Work is the opportunity for every kind of business to operate in the international market without local offices. Borders no longer exists, while different cultures are seen as something valuable and positive.

9 

Cloud Working is green. The effects of traditional carbon transportation can be reduced. Cloud Working is equal. It allows autonomous working time management with no gender bias. It brings work and personal life together. 

10

 The way of working  is evolving,  the new Digital Era has begun. The world is changing; the world of work is changing. Also politics seems to start to understand the importance of supporting, simplifying and promoting  digital professionalism. 30 out of 100 working people will work online as  freelancers in the next couple of years.  At the same time, many companies will improve their business results with the help of external contractors
Be part of this change. Join the Cloud.

Welcome in Berlin Codemotion 2013!

Codemotion is an Italian-founded Developer Conference that will happen for the first time in Germany, 9-11 May.
The three-day event includes themes such as Web, Mobile, Game Development, Makers and Creative Coding.

Codemotion is open to all programming languages,innovative technologies and new trends.

During a workshop day (9.5) and two conference days (10/11.05) Codemotion appeals to Developers as well as those in the creative scene.

The lectures and panels of the main conference will be made up of international IT experts and members oftech-communities. Included in the list of presenters will be Arduino founder, Massimo Banzi, Soundcloudfront-end developer and interaction designer, Tiffany Conroy, and Creative Technologist, Grant Skinner.
A “Hard and Soft(ware)” hackathon, diverse workshops and Tech-labs as well as a Start-Up area will give attendees the possibility to test and discuss their technology and business ideas concretely during the threeday event.
The event will be held on the new HTW Campus (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft in Berlin) direct on the Spree.

Join Codemotion 2013!

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Election trends in Germany: Freelancers with high vote for the Green Party

The well known German Research Institute FORSA conducted a survey on behalf of twago to ask freelancers in Germany whom they would vote for if parliamentary elections were held today. The result is interesting! The Green Party could receive 28% of the votes and therefore become the second strongest party in the parliament behind the CDU, which would collect 34% of the votes.

You can find all numbers, facts and infographics according to this topic in the recently published report #twagotrends !

What else can be found in the new #twagotrends report?

Market figures – Increased cloudiness: What are the top benefits of being a freelancer? What is the average hourly wage on twago.com? How many people are going to be working as a freelancer in the next couple of year?

The answers are in the #twagotrends report.

Most wanted digital expertise – Skills that Pay the Bills: No matter if it’s the increasing demand for Social Media experts, Web Designers or App Developers. Read about the hottest cloudworking jobs in the current #twagotrends.

Websites for doctors – Help needed? Doctors looking for web developers: What role does the Internet play in case you are ill and in need of a suitable doctor? How does a doctor get his own website? There are various ways – we present two.

Digital Bohéme – The whole world in one company: We are changing the world of work. Learn more about our vision, our team and become part of the family twago.

Which other political concerns do international freelancers have? We were in the betahaus Berlin to meet a few of them. Take a look at the video below and see what they told us.

Click below to download you free #twagotrends copy:

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Hi Eleonore, so let’s start from the end, you got the Google Certification… what is it precisely?

The Google AdWords Certification Program offers advertisers the possibility to show their proficiency in Adwords. I got qualified as a Google Adwords professional with specialization in Search Advertising by passing two exams. No matter the specialization  everyone who wants to become qualified has to pass the basic exam first and then may choose between 3 advanced exams, concentrating either on Search Advertising, Display Advertising or Reporting. Once you have passed the exams you receive a Google-branded certificate and a public profile page hosted by Google showcasing your current status.

What is the main goal of  Adwords campaigns?

The main goal of Adwords campaigns is to reach Google users at a point where they are already interested in whatever you might have to offer – when they are searching on Google for your service, your products etc.  – and then trigger some kind of reaction. This reaction is called a conversion and can be very different depending on what are the individual goals for your campaigns. Some companies just want to drive traffic to their website, some companies run Adwords campaigns to get people to register for their newsletters, some shops want users to buy their products… there are many many possibilities.

Eleonore doing Yoga. What did she learn from it? Focus on your goals, stay flexible, listen (to the customer) and don’t forget to breathe!

How did you start working with Adwords?

I got into Adwords when I started working for twago in Search Engine Marketing. Prior to that I knew what Adwords was about and how it works in general, but to really understand how it works and to see all the small factors that can make the difference between running successful campaigns and failing took some time and practical experience.

As many web marketing related fields, also Adwords is a fast changing one. Which are the most recent changes and what you think will be go on in the next months?

The biggest recent change that will have a huge impact on Adwords advertisers this year is the introduction of enhanced campaigns. For now using enhanced campaigns is optional, but latest mid of the year all campaigns will be converted into the new model. It basically allows advertisers to target users on different devices and in different locations with the same campaign, but adjusted ads, bids etc. Google also improved and expanded reporting options, so at first sight this seems to be a good change. However some important options like for example the ability to target specific mobile devices and carriers will be removed. This is a big loss for advertisers targeting mobile users specifically and as click prices are in general lower on mobile devices, malicious tongues say that Google just had to find a new way to drive the CPC up…

5 things you should never forget when you work with Adwords?

1        It´s not about what you think, like or want, it´s about what the users do.
2        Never stop testing.
3        The competition never sleeps
4        Base your decisions on statistically significant data.
5        Google is not a friend, but a business partner.

You’re also a Yoga passionate. Is there anything that you can learn from Yoga to improve success in online marketing?

I just can tell you the same basic principles every self-help book out there would tell you: Focus on your goals, stay flexible, listen (to the customer) and don’t forget to breathe!

Sign up as Marketing Expert

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Gunnar Berning, CEO of twago, explained in a public panel how to internationalize businesses and focused on the potential of cloud working for medium and little companies…

We got also several visits of some of our most successful twago contractors, enjoy here the pictures…

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 On Saturday also Carolina Lopez, Marketing Manager @ twago, explained the concept of working in the Cloud.

Start your project in the Cloud

And last but not least, our special congrats to Daniela and Markus, CODE-n 2013 winners with Changers!!

See you @ CeBIT 2014!!!

CeBIT is the world’s largest trade fair showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions for home and work environments. Main target groups are users from industry, the wholesale/retail sector, skilled trades, banks, the services sector, government agencies, science and all users passionate about technology. It is an international platform perfect to discover current industry trends, for networking, and product presentations.

This year´s booth is focused on something we have been hearing for long time now: CLOUD WORKING. We will be presenting some of our best freelancers and agencies in a very special way… we hope you can come to see it but if not, follow us during the whole event using #twagoCeBIT.

We will be sharing info about the event; posting pictures, etc… we will bring the CeBIT to your timeline!

Apart from this, there are other cool things we will have at our booth like for example, an iPhone made-of-paper sound-amp. YES: made of paper. Don´t believe us? Check the pictures out…

It REALLY drives the sound. It is a DIY present we are giving to our visitors.

We really hope to see you there so come see us! There is more info to come, STAY TUNED!

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Find experts in the cloud

One day Paul ran into his friend Thomas. Thomas told Paul about twago.com. Paul went home that night and searched for twago.
Paul created a profile and uploaded his portfolio.

The next morning, Paul received 4 alerts about projects he was interested in. He read them through and sent out his quotes.
Now Paul has new clients and projects to work on. He can trust he’ll be paid on time because twago uses safePay.
As soon as Paul is done with the project and his client is happy, Paul receives his money. 

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