TechCrunch UK meetup, this Friday
May 7 Mike Butcher
The sun is shining, London is officially in Summer mode, so I think it’s time we started a series of TechCrunch UK meetups. The first is totally impromptu, organised at the last minute, has no sponsors (as yet) and no agenda other than to meet, chat and enjoy a drink on a Friday in the sun by the Thames. So the details are:
Date: This Friday, May 9th.
Time: Midday onwards (I will be there from then) until whenever.
Place: Royal Festival Hall on the outside Terrace, on a map here. (See also images above and below)
Nearest Tubes: Waterloo (follow the crowds to the SouthBank/Royal Festival Hall) or Embankment (walk over the bridge to the Southbank / Festival Hall)
WiFi: The Southbank has free WiFi!
Food: The RFI has a cafe inside which serves hot and cold food.
Tags: The “Official” Flickr tag for this event is TechCrunchUK1
PLAN B: If for whatever reason the Southbank Centre doesn’t work out we’ll switch to the BFI Film Cafe which is literally 100 yards away here under Waterloo Bridge.
How do I check where you are if I get lost?: I will Twitter any relevant info, or text my mobile on 077 2029 1095.
RSVP: Just tell us if you are coming in the comments below.
Agenda: There is no agenda other than TechCrunch UK being able to meet with startups, allowing startups to meet up with eachother, and pulling in anyone else interested in this scene.
OK so there is a little agenda: Helping a guy out who is currently in hospital with a very serious condition and unable to work on his startup. Paul Cleghorn is founder of TIOTI.com, one of the first startups I wrote about on TechCrunch UK in 2006. Anyone who knows Paul will attest to his generosity and good nature. So it was a real shame when he was stuck down with an unknown condition some weeks ago which confined him to the Royal Brompton Hospital’s intensive care unit. Thankfully he is doing slightly better now (he’s off the oxygen) and is now able to send out the occasional Twitter.
However, if there is another startup out there who can afford to help Paul out, that would be great - such as offering some free advertising inventory or perhaps some other form of service, just to help TIOTI tick over while Paul recovers. If you’d like to know more then perhaps contact me and I’ll pass you on to the right person please email eleanor[@]tioti.com.
Further events: Watch out for a TechCrunch meetup in Ireland soon, and some others around Europe, to be announced shortly. Please contact me if you are interested in being a sponsor of these, as we can offer sponsors promotion on TechCrunch UK and TechCrunch.com.
UPDATE: At least one startup is bringing some of its T-Shirts to hand out. Feel free to bring your own schwag along.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
May 7th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
May 9th, 2008 at 11:18 am
May 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Comments
May 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I’ll be in town on Friday afternoon anyway so may pop in and say hi.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Count me in.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:26 am
haven’t been to one of these before, so will pop down. dt
May 7th, 2008 at 9:27 am
OK, I’m up for it. I think we even count as a startup
May 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I’m not in the UK this wknd, but if there’s anything we can do for Paul then please let me know. He’s one of the nicest guys around, so I really wish him a speedy recovery.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
see you there
May 7th, 2008 at 9:35 am
will wander over after Tuttle with @sizemore & @whatleydude. Looking forward to meeting you Mike
May 7th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I would love to come but I can’t.
I’ll be in Belgium to meet the guys from SUN for their Startup Essentials program (http://www.sun.com/emrkt/startupessentials/).
Btw, as you are now using Seesmic on your blog Mike, this should probably interest you:
http://www.commentag.com/blog/2008/05/04/couple-seesmic-with
-commentag-to-allow-scanning-video-comments/
May 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Sounds fun. I’ll try and wander down to join you.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I went to see Paul last week and he’s getting much better. “Life is short, so live it well” was his message. He will come back as Paul Pod 2.0.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Not far from the office so will try to make it down for a while.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Oups the link has been broken for the mashup Seesmic//commentag.
Here it is again http://tinyurl.com/4vgqkf
May 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I’ll be there from about 6pm -7pm
If you’re still there by then!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Sounds great - I’ll be down from about 1ish.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Good news. See you there Mike!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Nice idea, though you know it’s going to rain on Friday, right?
http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=SE1&day=2
See you tonight at Facebook Developer Garage London (if you’re going)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Reckon I might pop along in the afternoon.
Can you get a decent Guinness nearby?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:48 am
UPDATE: At least one startup is bringing some of its T-Shirts to hand out. Feel free to bring your own “schwag” along.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:49 am
dam - bit too much last minute to get down .. perhpas next time ..
May 7th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I’ll try and be there
May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Any chance of one of the future meet ups being somewhere other than London? I’m not biased, but Manchester would be perfect
And the sun shines up here, too. Sometimes.
-pc.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Oh and I’ll try and bring some Dragons along too - http://is.gd/d5g
May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Yes, why not. In.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I’m there.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I will be along for a couple of hours at some point - not sure if earlier or later.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Will definitely try come down at some point in the afternoon, probably towards of end of day, especially since my office just across the river
May 7th, 2008 at 11:04 am
A few of us will be there representin’ Webjam!
Best wishes to Paul. I used to live in the same block of flats as him and have met him at various parties on a couple of occasions. Top bloke!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Would be rude not to. Nice one Mike.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I’ll be there. Sounds good. I’ll try and bring some Blyk T-Shirts, bags, hoodies etc.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I will be popping along, and looking forwards to meeting others from the startup community. A little nervous as it is my first event, but I couldn’t pass up on such a great opportunity.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I’ll be coming along.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I’m looking forward to meeting the Techcrunch crowd in person
May 7th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Just to say best of wishes to Paul -cant make Friday but let us know when the next one is scheduled for and I’ll be there!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I’ll try to pop in sometime at the end of the day.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I’ll coming for 5 o’clock (I’m stuck in meetings between 3-4). I look forward to it.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’ll be there. (plus one) Might ‘open the kimono’ a little on a potential start-up I have brewing
May 7th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Sounds good, please count me in.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I’ll be there. @kosso - oo, err, missus, you pricktease, you’re phreaking me - get it out boy
May 7th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Looking forward to it…
May 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
safe. i’ll be there. am likely to get the 1104 to london bridge then walk along the southbank to the royal festival hall if anybody else from brighton is going ^_^
May 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I’ll weave my way down there after the tuttle club.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I will pop over with the Tutleclub crowd, look forward to seeing everyone there, bring your sunglasses!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I am Not A Startup, but I’ll be popping over anyway
May 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
We are moving offices, but JP and I shall try and pop down for a quick one, always keen to meet fellow start ups and like minded folk.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Will you still be there in the evening (after 6pm)?
May 7th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Sounds great! I’ll try and make it. Looks like it is going to be a good turnout.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
hmmm will there be anyone there around 6?
May 7th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
i’ll be there for a bit
May 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Yes, will be there too.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Aye, wouldn’t miss it…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Sounds like fun, I’ll have a pop over.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Add one more. Looking forward to it.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Looking forward to it
May 7th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Mike - this picture worries me. There appears to be a large black parasol falling out of the sky. This may cause some health and safety problems.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
First time i’ve come across Techcrunch UK before, but i’m interested to hear more from other similar start-ups. I’ll be there before 1.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Nobody seems to care that it’s going to rain on Friday?!
http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=SE1&day=2
I think someone will need to bring parasols (black ones falling out of the sky or otherwise).
May 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
If it wasn’t my birthday on Friday, I’d be there like a bear!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I’ll aim for being there about 2:00 or so, if folks are still there…
May 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Not currently involved with a start-up but really keen to get involved so will definitely head down
May 7th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
So are people ok with all this? I think the “sweet spots” for meeting people are going to be over lunch and ‘after work’.
Other events - yes, I am open to suggestions for venues/sponsors for other TechCrunch meetups around the country. Sponsor packages available.
If raining: Either retreat into the RFH, or, as I said, head down to the Film Cafe which is under the Waterloo Bridge arches.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I am SO there..
May 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I’ll be sure to come along, great idea Mike and great venue.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Hi Mike
soz cant make this one, not been home for feels like months, so back to the Sunny North on Friday, Dave as per chat to night, what is required, is Startup Essential brollies…hahahah the sun is always shining.
Also Xavier Damman, Id be interested in knowing who you are meeting in Belgium, I run the Startup Essential programme across UK and Europe, so good to touch base….
May 7th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Flights changed, room booked, better be good
May 8th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Love to come but to busy with my startup,maybe another time
May 8th, 2008 at 8:07 am
What a nice way to end the week, down by the river! We’ll probably pop a long mid afternoon, see you there!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I’ll most certainly be there….along with a couple of colleagues / drinkers…
May 8th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I forgot to add: If you plans to take photos, the “Official” Flickr tag for this event is TechCrunchUK1
May 8th, 2008 at 8:55 am
would love to attend but other commitments unfortunately. Hold another one soon please!
May 8th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Hi Mike - looking forward to enjoying the sunshine! Was planning to stop by around 4:30pm… think anyone will be there then?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Nice idea. Will probably pop down at lunchtime.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
count me in around lunchtime…
May 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’ll probably come around a little after lunch.
Super.
Rgs
rune
May 8th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Sounds good to me! Will try to get there around 1pm ish…
May 8th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Will definitely drop in
May 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Count me in!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
May 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Looking forward to it. See you tomorrow
May 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Should be there
May 8th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Should be there after 2 pm, if you still are there.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Yep! Will be there 4 sure
PeaCE.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:16 am
See you there !
May 9th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I’ll definitely pop down for some late lunch. I look forward to meeting everyone.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:10 am
any chance of a satellite link-up for those of us in the Highlands of Scotland
May 9th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
See the pictures of the events here:
http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/05/09/live-blog-techcrunch-uk-meetup/
Thanks for coming, those of you who could make it!