SF Beta Web 2.0 Event – November 2006

by Brian Solis on November 19, 2006


by Brian Solis

SF Beta is one of the more interesting monthly events in the Silicon Valley/San Francisco 2.0 circuit and this time it was at the Shine Lounge. It’s supposed to be an event for founders, entrepreneurs, developers, bloggers, investors, journalists, and revolutionaries.

SF Beta is a healthy cross between a networking mixer and a night out at a packed bar where everyone knows everyone else (did that sound like the theme song to Cheers for a second?)

I heard a few people mention that it was like going to a frat party.  But, after thinking about that one for a bit, I disagree. For one, there aren’t any jocks screaming at the top of their voice, “CHUG, CHUG, CHUG.”  And I don’t think I heard anyone say, “I love you man” at the end of the night.

However, someone else called it a sausage fest of up-and-coming internet entrepreneurs and bloggers drinking and networking.  Hmmmm, this was closer, but there were some very beautiful women mixing it up with everyone else. In fact, out of all the mixers/events/parties I’ve been to lately, I’d say SF Beta, by far, is drawing a more attractive crowd in general.  In fact, one rather notable attendee of the female persuasion commented that she would bring more of her friends because there were actually “a lot of hot guys here.”


Adriana Gasciogne of Guba

But I digress, after all are we here to drink and socialize or talk business?

The interesting thing about SF Beta to me, from an outsider’s view, is that it really connects people who go off and actually do something.  See, I loathe old-school mixers and networking events – at least those in the traditional sense. They’re usually tacky and cheesy, riddled with a mis-matched group of people who really couldn’t do anything for each other.  But the mixer 2.0 idea is different.  In theory, it attracts a pretty qualified group of professionals looking to expand their tech and marketing network.  This is an area where SF Beta can improve (quality vs. quantity).

So, with that exhaustive introduction, let’s talk a little bit more about why SF Beta has the potential for becoming bub.blicio.us.

For only being out in San Francisco for a few months, SF Beta founder, and host, Christian Perry (CEO of Zaptix) has done a notable job bringing together some very smart people.  His biggest accomplishment this month was landing CNET’s Rafe Needleman as the new MC.

And how else did he mix it up?  Well last month, every tech presenter prepared a Haiku. This month, six startups pitched in limerick form, including:

Shoutfit, Chris Smoak

Guba, Adriana Gascoigne

YouSendIt, Florian Brody (Although he wasn’t the one up there)

LikeBetter, Bryan Kennedy

Joyent, Jason Hoffman

Hosted Labs, Jason Rexilius

   
Photo Credit, Julie Blaustein

I’m learning that presentations at some of these other events, while informative, are also quickly growing old.  But to be honest, and in all fairness, I wouldn’t walk away from this night understanding what any of these companies did if I didn’t already know. 

There were however, some very cool people, a prompt and responsive bartender, and entertaining dialogue (and limericks no less) which made the evening ok.

I spent most of the evening chilling in the back of the club, where a big u-shaped couch sat perched on a small platform. It was almost like a stage, and it definitely felt like the cool kids table.


Greg Narain and James Yu


Brian Solis and Scott Beale, Credit Julie Blaustein


Daniela Barbosa and Kristie Wells

In this one area, I was able to snap pix and catch up with some of the more interesting people behind the tech scene without ever leaving, including:

Scott Beale of Laughing Squid
Daniela Barbosa of Factiva
Cathy Brooks, GuideWire Group
Chris Heuer and Kristie Wells of SocialMediaClub.org
Julie Blaustein of PhotoBucket (and bub.blicio.us photoprapher)
Jeffrey McManus of Approver.com
Jason Hoffman of Joyent
Adriana Gascoigne of GUBA
Angel Investor, Ben Wan
Greg Narain of BlueWhale Labs and SocialRoots
The man himself, Sanford Barr of STIRR
James Yu and Joel Sacks of BuzzShout
Man of the hour, Christian Perry
Shannon Clark of MeshForum.org
Karim Tahawi of My-Currency
Lorna Li
and, Joanne Wan, Ms. Bub.blicio.us herself

Rafe Needleman had some news of his own.  He is now running the new CNET site, Webware, “cool web apps for everyone.” Read his report of SF Beta here (limericks included.)


Jeffrey McManus, Daniela Barbosa, Joanne Wan, Greg Narain


Sanford Barr

Overall, SF Beta was a good night. Its potential has yet to be fully tapped and I’m curious to visualize what will happen when it does. However, in order to grow, SF Beta is going to need to pick a more solid venue and also be a little more proactive about recruiting a higher caliber of qualified attendees.  I’ll talk to Christian about some additional ideas to make it a mainstay, but overall, it’s well on its way.

For the official bub.blicio.us photostream courtesy of Ms. Julie Blaustein, follow the jump. My pictures are available here.

Also, our friends at Guba are hosting a video of the presentations here.

For the record, the night didn’t end here. Stand by for the next event.


Credit: Julie Blaustein

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