CrowdSourcing
TechShop BE
Intro…
• Goal : Start a TechShop in Belgium
• TechShop ?
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US Company – www.techshop.us
Assessing the European landscape
Existing Business Plan
Existing Implementation Plan
• Proven
• US based
2 Challenges
• Find 1000 candidate members
• Find a suitable Location
1000 members
200 Individuals : Artist, DIY, Hobbyist, Crafter, Dreamer, Hacker, …
800 Professionals : Academics, ProductDevelopers, TechSupport, …
Individuals
• Reach through Social Media
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Website, made with WordPress (25€)
Twitter account (free)
FlipBoard feed (free)
Visiting HackerSpace (free)
PostCards (50€)
Personal Network
Instructables.com (free)
• Why ?
• Listen to them – your future customers
• Group them
• Create awareness - appetite
• Takes 6 months ?
Organisations
2 Problems
1. Identify them
2. get Access
• why should they spend time on you ?
• Are you credible ?
Solution :
• Work through Mediators which
are already connected with them
• Eager to add you to their network
Identifying & Accessing Professional Customers
Innovation Landscape Players
>= 1000 Potential Members ?
Network
1. IdeaLabs
DecisionMaker
Karel de Grote – Artesis – UA
M
2. The Second Phase
TechShop BE
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Verhaert - Materialise
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3. Stad Antwerpen
Urban Crafters
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n-1. Federaties
n. Organisation
MemberGroup n
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Lessons Learned
• Mediators only allow you in their network, when there is a win for
them
• Identify and Show the Win-Win
• Show your commitment to long-term membership to the network
• Things go Slow (not viral)
• In the mediators network there is Fried Air, your Customers are suspicious
• Many, Fragmented things are happening, competing for their attention
Thanks
Your feedback is Welcome !
http://strooom.be
@TechShopBe
techshop@strooom.be