VC » mobilegroove

In brief: Inma Martinez, a leading digital media strategist and advisor to venture capitalists, joins with MSearchGroove to co-host Mobile Groove, a no-holds-barred commentary on the companies and trends that matter most. Inma, who has been referred to as a “free radical” by Red Herring and Fast Company, speaks out on the rise and demise of Blyk, what went wrong at Spinvox, what we can expect from Microsoft. High on her investment radar: a new fund that could give startups in Europe the financial muscle they need. When I first met Inma Martinez at Mobile 2.0 Europe I was struck by the depth of her knowledge and the strength of her determination to speak her mind. I made the decision to work with her at some level. A few in-person meetings in London (where she is based) and many Skype chats later we are proud to take the wraps off Mobile Groove, a monthly podcast series here at MSearchGroove that will provide short, digestible and insightful commentary on what's hot in news, investments and developments impacting the mobile space at all levels. Mobile Groove will air on the last Friday of every month and consist of three thought-provoking segments: The Big Picture, a wrap of the month's news and views; Street Groove, an informed discussion of the companies and technologies sure to rock the mobile space; and The Radar, a roundup of talk on the street and what is highest on investors' radars. OUTRAGEOUS & INSIGHTFUL The first in the series kicks of with a look at the the rise and fall of ad-funded MVNO Blyk, the controversy surrounding voice-to-text provider Spinvox and an in-depth look at the key platform players (Apple, Google and Microsoft) – particularly the news via Taiwan handset makers that Microsoft plans to adopt a dual platform strategy to promote its Windows Mobile OS (operating system) and, thus, take aim at both Android- and iPhone-based platforms. Inma, who stands out as an über-connected advisor to venture capital firms, also gives us the inside track a new fund by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs that may spell relief for European startups and smart people with brilliant ideas.

I'm back with Part 2 of my favorite podcast, an interview with Tom Huseby, Managing Partner, SeaPoint Ventures, that also marks the start of MSG's new series of interviews with VCs and early-stage and emerging startups. In fact, I'm in touch with the great line-up of 20 early-stage and emerging startups presenting at the Mobile Peer Awards (which I also judge) for similar podcasts and hope to circle back with the best and brightest of the pack after the event. In the meantime, I encourage you to listen in to Tom, who offers entrepreneurs valuable advice and the inside track on the mobile companies and concepts highest on his radar. Some good news in these challenging economic times: There is plenty of money and opportunity, but it's up to entrepreneurs to structure their good ideas so VCs get it. What pitches are getting the most traction? The Apple App Store and similar schemes from Google (Android), RIM at one end of the spectrum and Qualcomm and Amdocs at the other (check next week for an MSG exclusive on Amdocs app store strategy) have - as Tom put it - "changed the entrepreneurial landscape." Open systems, open storefronts and open operators. Now all we need is the apps.

I've done dozens of podcasts to date, but this one stands out as the one I can listen to again and again. In fact, rather than edit it down, I turned it into a two-part series. Why? Because Tom Huseby, Managing Partner who formed SeaPoint Ventures back in 1997, is an industry veteran who calls them as he see them. A browse through Tom's bio and it's clear he's not one to follow the crowd of lemming investors who rush to the next new thing, only to drop if when the cool factor has gone cold. To the contrary, Tom is convinced early-stage startups can pay-off big if investors stick with them for the long-term. To identify the do's and don'ts for startups in a downturn we started off talking through the business basics, such as the best exit strategies and the opportunities for "kitchen-table startups" - as he calls them - and app developers. Tom's answers are insightful and entertaining - all the more reason to listen in. But the main attraction is Tom's take on what mobile advertising really needs: Engagement. In his view, it's all about providing and managing a one-to-one conversation between brands and people, and he's looking for companies that "get" it. As he puts it: "There are a few agencies that appear to get it, but they und up getting slotted as a mobile agency...What you want to be is a creative advertiser [agency] that uses mobile." Since there are so few on the horizon, the time may be right to start one yourself.

How viable is mobile advertising in an economic slowdown? How will the current economy impact businesses that derive revenues from mobile advertising? Can mobile advertising count on VC funding?

These were just a few of the key questions that thought leaders, startups, investors, mobile carriers, device manufacturers, and mobile application developers debated during Mobile 2.0 in San Francisco.

The mobile conference – organized by the Mobile 2.0 Organizing Committee ( Daniel Appel…