Yesterday was the first gathering of Mobile Brain Bank. The air was filled with excitement as we were setting up the room and equipment around 5:30 pm with Petri. People started to arrive surprisingly on time, and we were able to kickoff with introduction at around 6:10 already. Punctual people these brainiacs.

I opened with some slides, but as we were only 12 people, it was just the right sized group for real discussion. No power point theater, but the good interactive stuff.  We bounced some ideas on how to take this initiative forward. Both online, and f2f attendance was much appreciated so we'll continue with the chosen setup. Naturally we need to enhance the online presence, the baby steps we have been taking are far from what the experience should be. Here is where everyone's help is appreciated. If you can come and shoot video, tweet, stream online, take images, or any kind of help, all is warmly welcomed.

Peter Vesterbacka, an experienced person when it comes to setting up new initiatives or startups, adviced us to open up the LinkedIn group for all. So far we've ran on by-invitation basis. Our reasoning for keeping it closed, was to limit corporate ads and spam, and also to keep a cozy and safe environment to talk about recruitment and employment issues. However, I trust Peter's expertese and have now opened the group for everyone. It should be visible in the LinkedIn groups directory.

Petri threw in a teaser on a J.W.Mullins book on a new business road test, which also resulted comments. The people currently planning their startups thought J.W.Mullins to have a rather theoretical approach. Judge for yourself from slides, and video to be uploaded on http://www.mobilebrainbank.org/Events.html

Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita explained his TV related plans for Iterative Insights Oy.

Timo Pastila from Kii Oy had a well articulated presentation on Kii's business idea and service concept. Also Taylan Baysefer from Kii was present answering questions.

Markku Ranta from Familiq pitched their business concept on connecting families in a way that's currently not done, on a global scale. There's a video of Markku as well, uploaded on the MoBB website as soon as I get them edited and compressed (turned out my N78 was a bad choice for taking video).

We ran a bit overtime, and it seemed that once the official part was over, the real networking and discussion was just beginning. Some of us continued to the Open Coffee Helsinki event a few blocks away, and continued talks there with more local entrepreneurial talents.

All in all it was a succesful evening, and I went home feeling charged and full of that sweet "something big is about to happen" feeling. The next gathering will be in Helsinki in 4-6 weeks, details to be announced.