Re: [kFW] Company formation and funding...

[Daniel Harris <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 08:59 25/06/2002 +0100, Scott Pollard, BIBC wrote:
>Isn't "the Kendra system" just what the Broadband Content Delivery Forum
>www.bcdforum.org are all about already?

Well. For sure, both organisations are working in similar space but, I 
think, there are some big differences. The Kendra system is not just about 
broadband content delivery. It's about narrowband too. Streaming (live and 
on demand) and pure download. See:
[kNT] Road map for kNT...
http://www.kendra.org.uk/lists/archive/k-networktrial/msg00001.html

Also, BCDF is a trade association representing its members whereas Kendra 
Initiative is a project with a goal to define and build the Kendra system 
supported in this task by Kendra Participants, all of whom selflessly work 
towards the goal for the common good.

Also BCDF charge a hefty whack for membership whereas there is no fee to 
participate in Kendra Initiative.

These are all good differences and both organisations have their merits. 
Vive la différence!

>Check out what they demonstrated at a recent US Industry Show.  It all looks
>pretty similar to me...

Is this a general solution? What does it actually enable? Is it an open 
architecture? Can anyone plug in? Can a record label sign up? Can all 
content owners (big or small) participate and gain revenue for their 
products? Can all service providers participate? Can I, as a consumer, use 
any payment system I want to? These are good questions and ones that should 
be asked of the Kendra system too.

>As Kendra is already a participant...

Err... Really? I think it's just a link in their "links" section. I asked 
for it after I put one up to them.

>... might there not be some
>collaborative mileage in setting up the European end of BCD Forum and use
>their legal/staffing/funding skills rather than starting out from scratch
>upon what I assure you will be a very dreary grind.

Hum... Given that Goals("Kendra Initiative") != Goals("BCDF") I don't think 
there's any reason to do that. I think there *is* mileage in collaboration, 
for sure.

Please explain what the "dreary grind" is going to be? Where are the 
pitfalls? Advice! Advice!

I'm not a novice at setting up commercial companies: I founded (with 2 
others) Cerbernet (business ISP) in 1995. As managing director took it to 
around 25 people, turning over a cool million and sold it in 2000 for 4 
million. 2 months later the market crashed. Sure, lots of luck involved. 
But I've learnt a lot: keep the company small (it's more fun), work with 
professionals (and pay them good wages), automate all administration tasks 
*before* you go live! ;-)

>PS -- I think the people you are looking for are kind _souls_ not soles --
>the _sole_ is of a shoe, or a flat fish ;-)

No! I'm right! I'm looking for flat fish, for sure! ;-) Yes, should have 
mentioned in my grand list of things I've learnt, spelling still escapes 
me! ;-)

Cheers Daniel