1200 people from 30 countries have already put their names down for the LeWeb Conference scheduled for 9 and 10 December in Paris.
Players in the Internet industry will take advantage of the conference to brainstorm solutions to ride out the recession. LOVE – the underlying theme of this year’s LeWeb – will help them find the right dose of optimism.
PARIS – This is the second crisis to hit the web industry, yet the context is completely different to the Y2K crisis. The “LeWeb” conference, now in its 5th year, has grown over the years to become the “WEF” for web professionals. On 9 and 10 December in Paris, 1 200 people from 30 countries will take a close look at the knock-on effect of the recession on their businesses, how they are dealing with the crisis and any emerging opportunities. The first crisis spawned Google and the blogging craze. Who will emerge victorious from what can only be described as a difficult period for start-ups?
“Nothing big will come from apathy and least of all from the general pessimistic outlook. It is time to stop listening to all the doomsayers out there and focus out attention back on the opportunities to be had. 1 200 entrepreneurs and investors from 30 countries are going to pull together to create the success stories of tomorrow’s web industry and go away from the LeWeb conference with a healthy dose of optimism,” explains Loïc Le Meur, the brains behind the event.
How are the heavyweights coping?
The world has never seen so many global leaders brought together in Europe: Marissa Mayer – Google, Vice President of Search Product and User Experience, Dan L Lewin – Microsoft Corporation, Corporate Vice President for Strategic and Emerging Business Development, Chris DeWolfe – MySpace, co-founder and CEO, Dave Morin – Facebook – Senior Platform Manager. Most have anchored their growth entirely on free models (Google, Facebook), while others generate considerable revenue streams from fee-based services (LinkedIn).
Entrepreneurs looking to generate revenues at all costs: fewer freebies for the end customer?
Given the current recession and its effect on every business sector, entrepreneurs are using every means possible to prevent their bottom line from going south. Each model will come under close scrutiny during the 2008 conference:
– Attracting key advertisers and developing publicity? (Orange, L’Oréal)
– Developing a business model based on virtual objects?
– Balancing the company with affiliation-driven revenues and improving profitability with a micro-business (Magnatune)
– Building staggering e-commerce growth (Vente Privée, WinelibraryTV)
– Using email marketing to boost sales (Emailvision)
– Developing a fee-based model generating over 100 million dollars (LinkedIn)
– Generating revenues by creating a personal ecosystem (Facebook)
The opportunity: global success stories such as Google and LinkedIn, a European trailblazer like Meetic and the blogging phenomenon were spawned by the last crisis
Restricted competition, inability to secure funding or financial straights, lower labour costs, easier negotiations with suppliers, end customers with fewer demands for free services or new product features, fewer freebies… just some of the opportunities for entrepreneurs amidst the current crisis. Just as in 2000-2003, those that break into business during rough times and find a quick business model may promptly secure their position in the market. Marc Simoncini will explain how he managed to turn Meetic into a success, despite the lack of venture capitalists willing to invest in his company during the last crisis
The underlying theme – LOVE – for a healthy dose of optimism
Success story pioneers will be on hand to explain how to move forward, support, and motivate their teams and communities. Love, the ultimate weapon against depression, will be wielded for this new edition of LeWeb.
Helen Fisher, a US specialist on relationships, will explain how to focus on love for a successful personal and professional life, while Paolo Coelho will show how he is using Web 2.0 tools for his future creations. Linda Avey, co-founder of 23andme, will take participants on a journey inside the body in search of optimism thanks to a DNA study.
LeWeb ’08 will be held in Paris on 9 and 10 December in 104. For further information, please visit www.leweb.net
About the LeWeb conference:
LeWeb is the largest event for the web industry in Europe and the second largest in the world. In 2007, the conference attracted participants from 40 countries and 300 journalists. Keynote speakers have appeared at previous editions, including Shimon Peres in 2006 and Philippe Starck in 2007. The 2008 event is proud to announce the participation of Paulo Coelho.
