3D web moves a step closer - 5/11/2009

In this fortnights issue:

• 3D web moves a step closer
• 50p tax reminiscent of 1970s - in a bad way
• Penny Power's new book serialised on Entrepreneur Country
• Enrich Social Productions secures £2.1m investment
• StrategyEye launches intelligence platform

You'll find interviews with many of the UK and Europe's leading entrepreneurs at www.entrepreneurcountry.net. Register while you're there and join the growing community.

NearLondon heralds the arrival of the 3D web

This month’s launch of NearLondon – the virtual facsimile of the city’s West End – could mark the beginning of the web’s shift from 2D to 3D, according to the UK’s leading virtual-worlds experts, Rivers Run Red.

Rivers Run Red CEO Justin Bovington believes Near™ represents “an evolutionary step” towards the mainstream adoption of immersive 3D online environments.

“To date the 3D net has been a niche,” says Bovington. “Historically virtual worlds have either been about fantasy gaming, or, like Second Life, a place of personal world building, all of which takes time and commitment.”

“NearLondon is different. It's quick to get into and easy to use. It’s not hermetically sealed like most virtual worlds, it’s connected. This is the start of the 3D web; a place you can literally step into and experience the best of the net in immersive 3D and, using your Facebook account, explore it with your friends too.”

Dozens of the West End’s leading retailers have signed up ahead of NearLondon’s launch. Visitors will be able to hop from virtual window shopping to online purchasing in one click with leading brands Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Liberty, American Apparel, Karen Millen, Kurt Geiger and more.

"We want to radically broaden the appeal of virtual worlds," says NearGlobal founder Alex Wrottesley, “so that pretty much any web user would feel comfortable and confident paying a visit. Our starting point is understanding how people socialise, shop and explore in real places - and looking at how we can apply that to virtual spaces to make them more intuitive, compelling and ultimately, more magical experiences."

NearLondon is the first in a series of iconic global destinations to be launched by the company.

50p tax will harm entrepreneurs, jobs and the economy

by David Parsley

It feels like we’re in the 1970s again. Public sector strikes, warnings from the IMF that Britain must cut debt and pundits calling the end of Labour’s grip on power.

But, for many entrepreneurs there’s one issue that takes us back to an era of punk rock and avocado bathroom suites more than any. The prospect of a 50p tax hike for those earning more than £150,000 has raised that constant of the 1970s – an imminent exodus of leading talent to more favourable tax regimes abroad has been threatened ever since Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the policy in April.

Premiership footballers are quaking in their studded boots at the thought of handing over more of their millions to HM Revenue and Customs. Celebrities such as Michael Caine and scruffy bedroom artist Tracey Emin have voiced their displeasure and the financial world has labelled the move “unfair, complex, inefficient and damaging”.

However, will this threatened exodus actually materialise if the 50p rate does come into force?

Arguing the case against the new tax band are a string of City institutions and economic think tanks. Take the CBI for example. Its president, Martin Broughton, claims the 50p rate had been introduced to divert attention from the government’s “failure” to control its ballooning budget deficit. 
Read more...

A Changing World - the Individual Capitalist

This is an extract from Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me, a new book on the power of social networking, by Penny Power, founder of Ecademy

In December 2008, while I was preparing my mind to start writing this book, I was gathering thoughts, contacts, ideas and inspiration. I heard Julie Meyer of Ariadne Capital, and founder of First Tuesday, talk about ‘individual capitalism’. It was the first time I had heard this phrase and I loved it; a spine-tingling moment that summed up exactly what the future is for us all. As I meet people socially and in business and when I speak to the self-employed or the corporate employee, one theme I consistently hear is ‘I want to be in control of my life and I want to be myself.’ It is tough to share your personality and be yourself when you represent a brand that is not yours, and worse still when you represent a company that does not treat people as you would like to treat them. This period of economic history will be marked by the rise of the individual.

The twenty-first century is about individual capitalism and the end of corporates dominating the business landscape, controlling lives and the economy. Individuals are the strongest force and the large organizations will increasingly learn how to adapt to this workforce and change their business models to the low-cost, highly flexible operations that the individual capitalist is creating. To be an individual capitalist you have to create a brand – You Ltd, You Plc – be in demand, be known and have a globally trusted name that earns you respect and feeds you.
Read more...

Enrich Social Productions secures £2.1m investment

Rising media creation and distribution firm Enrich Social Productions (ESP) has closed a second funding round worth £2.1m, syndicated from new and existing investors by Ariadne Capital.

Edge Performance VCT, the new media investment firm, led the investment round with other high profile investors including Andrew Black, founder of Betfair, Mark Blandford, founder of Sportingbet, Philip Highlander, Principal of Strategic Investments at Goldman Sachs and Richard Glynn, Chairman and former CEO of SportingIndex.

ESP has built a real time technology platform which creates and optimises formats for brands across multiple distribution channels.

“We are delighted to see investors backing ESP again in the second round and with such a solid level of funding," commented co-founder Jonathan Lakin. "This support, especially in the current marketplace, is a really strong vote of confidence. We know that there are some fantastic opportunities out there for ESP and having this capital behind us will really light the touch paper.”

New online publishing solution gives media companies an edge

StrategyEye, a provider of next generation online intelligence solutions, recently launched a new solution designed to help media companies diversify revenues and protect existing audiences.

With the publishing industry going through a massive transition as the shift to online grows and user requirements change, StrategyEye PUBLISHER enables companies to rapidly launch new online information products (subscription or ad-based) and to integrate intelligent content features into existing sites.

It is a white-label platform which integrates relevant global news and blog content alongside a publisher's proprietary content, delivering comprehensive coverage for specialist audiences.

A new textile industry portal, the World Textile Information Network, was launched last month by World Textile Publications and is the first fully integrated digital publishing solution built using the PUBLISHER platform.

Nick Gregg, CEO and founder of StrategyEye commented: "Publishers can create entirely new subscription products to diversify revenue streams, as well as deliver innovative functionality into existing sites to both defend their brand and attract new users - so they stay ahead of competitors as the publishing industry moves to a new equilibrium."