Photos: The return of dot-com fever
Once more into the breach...
"Got, got, got... need." The Second Chance Tuesday event, held at The Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue, resurrected a networking staple of yesteryear with attendees choosing a coloured sticker to denote what their role in the whole bash is. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to wear a green sticker while the investors, of whom there were plenty present wore red. Casual bystanders or those not looking to be so clearly labelled – such as press – wore amber to denote their neither-nor status.
The idea behind the system is that the two interested parties, like couples on a speed date would be able to find each other. Green stickers could speak to red stickers with a view to striking deals that will inject fresh vigour into the UK dot-com sector.
Photo: Will Sturgeon
Fancy seeing Tew here: Alex Tew, creator of the Million Dollar Homepage, now set on dot-com domination, said: "I think this event will be incredibly valuable. There are people here who will be useful for getting investment but also it is important that I can meet people in the same situation and the same industry."
However, he confessed he had a slight 'impostor complex', following the overnight success of his web phenomenon. "I feel like I shouldn't really be here," he admitted.
Photo: Will Sturgeon
Crowded house: Organiser Judith Clegg told silicon.com she was shocked at the turnout as the crowds continued to pour through the door. "We're going to need a bigger venue next time," she said.
Clegg and co-founder of Second Chance Tuesday, Michael Smith, footed the bill for the event themselves having declined sponsorship from a number of financiers.
"The next one will be sponsored," said Clegg. "But we wanted to keep this one fairly clean."
Photo: Will Sturgeon
A job well done: The founders of Second Chance Tuesday, Michael Smith and Judith Clegg take a breather from the networking and chaos of getting everybody into the venue.
Photo: Will Sturgeon