Web 2 Ireland

Last weekend LouderVoice announced that it has launched its first private beta application for the Google Android platform.

ReadWriteWeb have some great coverage

“It is the first Irish Android application and one of the very first reviewing applications on the platform. The application is “all about writing and finding reviews when you are out and about with your Android phone”. It is live now in countries where Android is available.

lv_android_01.pngIn addition to finding reviews written on the company’s Website and Android, you can also browse or search reviews from its partners and clients. That includes reviews of many of Roomex’s 20,000 hotels, Puddleducks outdoor gear, Klipsch audio products and Bubble Brothers wines.”

Cathal Garvey has an excellent video overview

As per the Loudervoice blog, Loudervoice worked with Irish development partners – Marino Software in Dublin and Yazzgoth in Cork.

Irish Times has details on a deal between Muzu.tv and Warner Music.

This follows the Muzu deal with with Universal

“The agreement enables the website to broadcast thousands of videos from Warner Music’s roster of acts which include artists such as Lily Allen, Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Metallica.

As part of the new deal, Warner Music and Muzu will share revenues generated by advertising through the site and its video player.”

Siliconrepublic has details on a new Industry led organization – Irish Internet Growth Alliance (IGA) which is “a new initiative aimed at helping Irish internet start-ups to navigate the unfortunate red-tape of Irish business and go global fast.”

This group has the support of Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Software Association, the Irish Internet Association and the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Colm Lyon, the founder and CEO of Realex Payments – and founder of the IGA will unveil IGA during his address at next week's IIA Congress in Dublin. Other notable people involved include Ray Nolan, founder of Hostelworld and Dylan Collins of Jolt Gaming

Most Web2Ireland companies operate as “lean startups”

Eric Ries has a great blog on Lean Startups – and operates workshops as part of an O’Reilly Master Class

Do check out this video

We do need to share resource in our lean ‘ecosystem’ – who is best to serve lean startups – Angels, VCs, Legal, PR firms, Accountants, Bankers, etc – please share your thoughts in the comments

Pat and the team at Maxroam / Cubic Telecom have just announced a deal with the international charity organisation, the Mission to Seafarers, according to the Irish Examiner

The service known as SeaRoam and will be made available to the 1.7 million seafarers worldwide at 250 ports.

After the first Facebook Garage Ireland – which was very successful we’re planning another one for June

A recent venturebeat article stated “Facebook platform developers could see $500M in revenue this year” and with over 200 million+ users worldwide – plenty of opportunities exist for Irish entrepreneurs.

We're putting the call out – for folks who want to do a quick talk on

- Facebook Application – do show and tell
- Facebook Connect
- Facebook APIs
- Marketing with Facebook

Let us know – by Sunday May 24th – if you want to participate

web2ireland DOT editor AT gmail DOT com

Stay tuned for details on date, venue, time, etc.

Ray Nolan, one of the founders of Hostelworld has launched his new venture – Worky.com

According to a recent piece in the SBPost - Worky is a 'hiring network' – aimed at disrupting the recruitment market.

Qualcomm Ventures, the strategic capital arm of Qualcomm, has unveiled its QPrize competition, which will award up to $550,000 to four startups from around the world.

The competition is open to startups with business plans related to wireless technology in areas that include consumer and cleantech.

Qualcomm Ventures will select four semi-finalists, from North America, Europe, China and India, to receive $100,000 each in convertible notes. Those startups will then compete for an additional $150,000 in convertible notes. The deadline for business plan submissions is July 31, 2009.

Irish Mobile advertising company Xiam was acquired by Qualcomm in March 2008 for approximately $32 million.

Jolt Online Gaming announced today the launch of Playboy Manager, the Massively Casual Online Game (MCOG) you can play on any Internet browser at any time. Check press release.

“In Playboy Manager, you play a crack talent agent managing the career of some of Playboy's hottest up-and-coming models. Competing against thousands of other players, you will guide your model's career toward her ultimate goal: Becoming a world-renowned Playmate with a permanent room in the Playboy Mansion!”

Another impressive client for Dylan and his team.

We’ve mentioned before the iQPrize – created by Dublin internet consultancy iQ Content.

Today they announced the panel of judges for its internet start-up competition, the iQ Prize. Global heavyweights Google, Microsoft and Facebook are all represented on the judging panel, alongside local internet heroes Daft, Statcounter and Loudervoice.

With 6 days to go to the deadline, 63 entries have already been submitted.

The judges are:

* Aodhan Cullen, founder & CEO, StatCounter

* Colm Long, Head of Online Operations (EMEA), Facebook

* Conor O'Neill, co-founder & CEO, LouderVoice

* Eamonn Fallon, co-founder & CEO, Daft.ie

* Gail Power, Senior Manager, Google

* Martha Rotter, Internet Evangelist, Microsoft

iQ Content Managing Director Morgan McKeagney will also sit on the panel, but in a non-executive capacity.

The iQ Prize is an open competition for the best business plan for an internet start-up, with a no-strings-attached grand prize of 10,000 euro. Potential applicants still have until May 12th (6 days and counting!) to send in a brief 5-page business plan to show that they have what it takes to turn their idea into a great online business.

Shortlisted applicants will then be asked to present their business plans in person to the judging panel. The winner will be announced at an event in Dublin in early July.

APPLY NOW