If you're part of the Minnesota Internet and software community and you missed Minnedemo on Friday night, you must be bummed — as several of you told me from afar as I was tweetin' it … :-) 
[Evidenced by this clip from my twitterstream that night, which shows a few of those who were talking back at me in real time.] You missed a great event. No worries, though, because myself and my buddies at Minnov8 posted lots of audio and video recorded at the event for your listening and viewing pleasure.
But, for those of you who were there, how many of you noticed what I did? Namely, the almost complete lack of the presenters talking about their business model?
I have something to propose for future Minnedemo pitches: how about, as part of the 7-minute presentation, a new rule is instituted that states a minimum of one minute of that has to be devoted to explaining the business model? Is that an unreasonable request? Even thirty seconds would be a welcome addition.
Now, I realize the traditional audience of Minnedemo is developers, listening to their fellow developers on stage presenting their cool, new code creations. Elegance in app design and functionality have been the focus of pretty much every presentation I've seen at these events. Or features. Or UI design. But, is not the end-game in all this something that might actually be commercially viable, too? That is, a business that could make it in the real world? From where I sit, more and more business people and investors have started to attend these quasi-quarterly events.
I don't mean to imply that none of the presenters on Friday night has a business plan. Of course, all but the very newest, coolest projects must have one, right? And it would then follow that these presenting companies would have to have a business model for how they will make money. They just didn't talk about it Friday night — or, in most cases, even mention it.
I say that's a big thing missing from Minnedemo. What do you think? Should presenters be required to talk more about such things?
As a developer, I have basically no interest in seeing people’s business plans. I go to MinneDemo/MinneBar to see interesting tech, not hear about how people think that tech is going to make money. For instance, my own project, (ActionChess) has no business plan, and certainly won’t have one anytime soon. Then again, I have a day job that I’m happy with, and wouldn’t even think about leaving it unless my side-projects start making a crap-ton of money without much effort on my part. Which, of course, seems extremely unlikely. š
Anyway, I can sympathize with wanting to hear about business plans, and I think there’s probably enough people interested in them that a few panels at MinneBar are not out of the question, but in venue like MinneDemo, where we’re already at risk of just seeing “product sales pitch X Y and Z”, I’d like to keep the focus on the tech. Just my opinion, tho.
Just what I was thinking Graeme. Friday was my first MinneDemo and the energy was great, but I was surprised by the lack of explicit business models. There were mentions, but I thought maybe I misunderstood what MinneDemo was about. I’m all for bringing the business model into the presentations – it was co-sponsored by Split Rock Partners after all. No need for a full business plan, just a simple strategy for creating real value, distributing it and monetizing it.
I think sustainability is an element of good design, and as an entrepreneur that means having a business model. That may not be the motivation for some developers, but their presentation could at least acknowledge that it’s not intended to be commercially viable. There is room for both, but I am most energized by offerings that are both cool AND viable.
Yeah!Great post.The articles in this blog really useful and quality.I go to MinneDemo/MinneBar to see interesting tech, not hear about how people think that tech is going to make money.But,I can sympathize with wanting to hear about business plans, and I think there’s probably enough people interested in them that a few panels at MinneBar.That may not be the motivation for some developers, but their presentation could at least acknowledge that it’s not intended to be commercially viable
I guess, being one of those projects still working the business model out (re-searchr), I would say that I don’t think Minnedemo should require discussion about business plans. When Luke introduced me he asked me if this was a startup or a project, I specifically said project, because though I am thickheaded, I did recognize that with advertising where it is right now my original business model was probably not viable anymore.
So my answer to should minnedemo require company’s to have business plans is another question: would you have rather not seen re-searchr at all?
After re-reading my comment I realized maybe it sounded a little defensive (which is not not how I actually feel). I actually think talking business models at minnedemo is a good thing, I just think it could preclude some projects (not self-inclusive) that are interesting.
Additionally, for folks like me, who could use some help in the marketing/business arena being able to demo is invaluable for the potential connections!