One year on: dConstructing the Brighton(cisco) scene

So last year around this time I wrote a blog on Blognation ‘ dConstructing the Brighton (cisco) scene’ (Archive). Unfortunately Blognation is no more amongst us but I still feel it was one of the best blogs showcasing the Europe web technology scene.

Going back to our discussion. People aired their opinion on Blognation and BNM (Brighton New Media) list. Over 80 odd replies to the thread on the BNM List (can’t find the thread). Many people blogged about it Will McInnes, Tom Hume, David Stone… So where are we with things now:

Gorilla Testing

• We now have more applications being built in Brighton: SilverBack (User Testing), Pistach.io (Advertising Platform), Locomatrix (Bringing mobile gaming outdoor), HowSocial (brand visibility measurement)… Although some of these are still in their early stage but they have fantastic prospect going forward.
• There is a website dedicated to Brighton’s Digital progress: Project Brighton.  With a Ning social network Project Brighton club. (Gotta’ have a social network). All thanks to the dedicated Rosie Sherry, Ian Ozsvald and Leif Kendall. These guys have kept things going for the geeks. Updated: Another community project started by David Stone, sussexdigital.com now with a Wiki to update information.
• The events we discussed are going strong: dConstruct, £5 App, OpenCoffee Brighton. Though OpenCoffee is now held at the Sussex Innovation Centre (Falmer)
• We still have major companies like Linden Labs, Madgex etc and they are doing very well.

Actually overall we are doing really well.  Geeks are thinking community and building something for profit. Hurrah !

I feel now we need to suppliment this with some real marketing centred around ‘Brighton Digital Hub of UK’. I’m suspect most of the readers now are shaking their heads in disbelief. Although I feel this is seriously required. Something which maybe Brighton and Hove council should think about seriously. If we have the talent, proven ability to build things and sell them then surely its a safe bet. The council would see great ROI (return on investment) with more an more VCs + investors considering based here.

Businesses in the digital technologies sector would be in the spotlight for simply being based in Brighton. We will see more technologist moving to Brighton (Welcome Mr. Roman). Overall there will be more people who wouldn’t mind escaping their 9 to 5 and start their own venture. Question still remains though, Will the council bother ?

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