[DevNext Talent Hunt] Web Funters : See the innovation as an opportunity - Not a threat!

Innovation is the definite device of entrepreneurship. The action that empowers resources with a creative ability to create wealth. The vision of the Web Funters. – http://www.webfunters.com/ is established on the same rationale by two young entrepreneurs Mohib uddin and Aly Abdullah; both 19. Mohib is a practiced Copywriter, Blogger, Internet Marketer, Communications Specialist and a self-made entrepreneur. So far, his goal is to reach high revenues by the end of his first year on their enterprise venture Web Funters, which is by winter of 2009. Mohib was a Media Sciences student at a reputable university but his erratic behaviour and destructive lifestyle soon got him turfed out. He laid waste to the varsity’s conference rooms, the classrooms, and even common corridors, tossing things out of the place. Aly’s expertise covers Search Engine Marketing, Blog Integration and Website Development. He has been a thriving freelancer as well as an industrious entrepreneur. Aly’s persona is designed to be consistent, efficient and studious. He’s currently doing BS in Public Administration from the University of Karachi, Department of Public Administration.

The company is aiming to inject fun into producing juicy web portals and ventures. They are seeking finance to mass produce their ideas and have been visiting entrepreneurship technology conferences to gain some local exposure.

Nearly half a dozen “Funter” web products are under-construction or planned. A few of their accomplished products include:

MindCafé – http://www.mindcafe.org/: MindCafe is a blog about mind power dedicated to offering you with news, discoveries and advice regarding mind power, self improvement and tips on how to maximize your subconscious mind power to revolutionize your life.

FamousLogos – http://www.famouslogos.org/: Famous Logos is a website solely dedicated to offer you reviews, information and suggestions about world famous logos. It is a comprehensive website which enables you to understand a logo design of a company in a logical way.

DubaiJobber – http://www.dubaijobber.com/: DubaiJobber is a rapid growing community linking employers with talented people. Because of its simplicity, DubaiJobber is attracting companies to utilize the site to find their ideal employees. The website is also connecting job seekers with employers in search for their perfect job.

01 Interactive – http://www.01interactive.com/: 01 Interactive is a leading Web Design Studio based out of Karachi, Pakistan.

Wrox User Group Program sponsors DevNext

Wrox Press is committed to supporting the programming community. As part of that commitment, we have developed the Wrox User Group Program to support the efforts of user groups

DevNext is a user group which has been created with the intention of providing a platform for the Next Generation Developers sharing and discussing knowledge regarding different tools and technologies. Their mission from inception has been to develop a peer group of developers, architects, and managers who are interested in learning, sharing and growing their knowledge and capabilities. The group’s vision is to provide members with a forum to hear top industry experts speak, learn and teach others who are interested in the same technologies as you and are facing the same challenges.

DevNext User Group is supported by many organizations around the world like Microsoft, Adobe, INETA, Culminis, Wiley, Apress, .Net University, Re-Sharper, Peach Pit and many more. Join us at the newly created [Facebook Group]

The First-Time CEO’s Recession Survival Guide

Startups can be the most conservative organizations in the world. We spend so much energy nurturing our delicate egos against naysayers and self-doubt that we can hardly admit mistakes. This is especially true of first-time CEOs. Thousands of new web companies were born in the last few years, and many of us just got the job.

We set off with the same directions: tackle a big problem, listen to customers, work hard, pinch pennies, hire slow, fire fast. Still good advice. But I think we’ll have different advice for one another once we’ve come through this downturn, about how we had to change to survive. Since real estate crashed before the overall market, Redfin (my online real estate company) has had a year’s head-start sorting out which changes seem to be working for us. [Read More]

So True . .

You're feeling a bit torn between two options, one of which is easy and the other of which feels like the right thing to do. This is definitely the day to go with what's right -- no matter what!

Source - Yahoo Horoscope (Pisces)

The Story of the Pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point, he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’

His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:

‘I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up. ’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.

‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite interior. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.’

Source - Paulo Coelho (2006), Like the Flowing River, HarperCollinsPublishers.

[MyGoodiesShop.com] Behind the Scenes

[MyGoodiesShop.com] Design a T-Shirt for DICE 2008

After the successful event of PASHA ICT Awards 2008, we are launching another T-Shirt designing competition and this one is for DICE 2008. DICE is an all Pakistan Digital Innovation Competition and Exhibition going to be held in the month of December at NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. The main motive of the competition is to expedite the process of Digital Revolution in Pakistan by motivating both academia and industry to acquire, promote and utilize state-of-art digital technologies/high-tech software for the rapid development of innovative products.

This event will cater to a minimum of 5000 visitors, including 300 competitors, 400 corporate guests, 4000 currently enrolled students, 500 graduates of NED University, 400 faculty members of different universities, 1000 visitors and media personnel. So, this is your chance to show the world your creativity.

Winner will get a FREE T-Shirt. So, what are you waiting for? start submitting at MyGoodiesShop@gmail.com . Please make sure that your designs reach us by 28th November, 2008.

Why to sponsor? - Part 01

If you are running a company, you will get sponsorship request each and every week. One simple question? Do you really get any benefits from all this?

• Company recognition - Promotion on the event sites, in the program, all associated papers, brochure distributions and media reports.

• Interaction with Stakeholders - Participation will also provide your company with an opportunity to network with senior university management, academics, officials and other key stakeholders in higher education.

• Student-Industry Collaboration – Collaboration with students to create a healthy student-industry relationship.

• Product Marketing – Opportunity to showcase your products or services to a diverse audience maximizing your potential.

• Long-term Relationship – Beneficial to groom engineers of tomorrow with industry today.

[Random Thoughts] Happiness

The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. - Allan

Pakistan News Watch‏ : Never Load Another News Site

After the launch of AllTop Pakistan, PakMarkaz, PakHeadlines and many others, there is another one joining the list i.e. “Pakistan News Watch”, a pet project by Aleem Bawany. Though we already have many websites running but most of them lack the quality news and real time updates. Pakistan News Watch currently features live news from Pakistan (updated every 60 seconds), multiple perspectives, minimalist interface and some other features. According to the website, its currently in Beta and aims to become a part of the daily morning routine for all avid Pakistani news audiences. In its quest, News Watch Pakistan offers some compelling features:

• Live news coverage
• Multiple perspectives (Retuers, AP, Dawn, Business Recorder etc)
• News snapshot of any historical day (Archives link)
• Related news stories
• Powerful search
• Unique interface provides quick overview
• Mobile friendly
• RSS feeds for your favorite news reader