Football Team Managed By Fans

Back in April 2011, we spotted the "crowdsourcing a concert" concept where music fans direct song list order and what videos get projected on stage for their favourite band. Well it appears that similar crowdsourcing concept is going strong and is showing no sign of slowing down in the sporting arena.

In Mexico, the Murcielagio Football club from Guamuchil which plays in the Mexican football second division national league takes the concept to another level. The team has no coach/trainer but are managed by the fans who use SMS and the club's website to manage the team.

Whenever a decision is required, a voting system is used by fans to make the decision. The fans make decisions such as, basic team line-up, substitutions, what players to chat with at half time along with player of the match who then earns a financial bonus. 

Perfect example of embracing the crowdsourcing concept where the crowd drives decisions and truly impacts on the outcome.

Have you thought about how your business can embrace a similar concept?

Ticketometer

Ticketometer is taking the risk out of the concert business.

Introducing a platform where bands, promoters and venues can create concerts that only happen if the minimum number of invitees are reached.

At the moment still in beta, the platform has yet to flex it's full features but at the moment still offers a basic set of features that allow organisation and target setting for cities in the US.

Web 2.0 has been offering a legion of startups that are working towards a more efficient existence online and offline. And Ticketometer certainly seems like one that could potentially enhance the quality of life for a music industry that has been slowly heaving itself into new technologies and mediums.

Could this also pose a direction in thinking in regards to potential overheads? We've seen the pop-up store happen for retail, now Ticketometer for venues and artists, Airbnb for the renters, and what next?

As well as an overhead saving grace for venues and artists, Ticketometer has the potential to encourage the fan-artist relationship. …Really want to see that band in your third tier city? Rally your friends, and your friend's friends and they may just make it.

Drivers Auction Public Parking Spaces

We have all experienced the inconvenience with lack of parking space and not to mention high cost of parking in central business districts. New York based startup Parking Auction Inc is resolving this everyday problem for city drivers. 

Launched 1st August 2011 in Manhattan, Parking Auction iPhone app has created a crowdsourcing marketplace for public parking, by connecting drivers vacating a parking space (the seller) with those searching for a one (the buyer) for a small fee.

The car spaces are not for sale. What is actually been sold is the information and knowledge that a space will be available soon. If someone gets the space before the buyer, both buyer and seller are out of luck hence buyer does not need to pay the seller.

Currently in Beta testing, buyers are paying between $3 to $20 to find out soon to be available parking spaces. Parking Auction take a small commission on each transaction.

Parking Auction have plans to expand worldwide and partner with major car parks to offer guaranteed reserved parking spaces. 

As stated on their site, Parking Auction's mission is to "Make parking convenient" at the same time reducing traffic congestion, stress, time and money for drivers, along with reducing carbon on the environment.

We can see a similar concept been adopted to many other market segments especially the entertainment or event industry and the like, where space and seating is a premium. So what are you waiting for start molding a similar concept to your corner of the globe.

Photo courtesy of Christian S/Flicker

One Big Switch

We have seen the likes of Spreets, Living Social and Groupon leading the trend in the group buying concept over the last couple of years. It's popularity has increased immensely over the last year or so with the crowd, who are always looking for a great deal. We are starting to see a number of new startups taking the crowd power group buying concept to a new level.

Australian startup One Big Switch, is using crowd power to obtain better mortgage deals with the various financial institutions for everyday mortgage holders. One Big Switch launched its first campaign "Choice Big Bank Switch" on the 31st July 2011 to find 1000 Australian mortgage holders willing to switch banks for a better mortgage deal. 10,000 Australian consumers registered in the first 12 hrs and 40,000 registered in the first 2 weeks.

Concept is simple, mortgage holders interested in switching banks for a better deal register on the One Big Switch site. One Big Switch negotiates with lenders, seeking the best deal and rate for the switchers. Mortgage lenders compete with each other to attract the group of switchers with a special offer and rate. The registered mortgage holders then have the opportunity to determine if the winning lender offer is right for them.

One Big Switch monetization is based on a commission model which is paid by the lending company who win over the switchers. One Big Switch advises that full disclosure of commission payments is disclosed to all switchers.

Currently One Big Switch is looking at other switching offers such as electricity and other market segments.

Another great example of an innovative startup creating a twist on an existing competitive market concept. Why not start a similar concept in your corner of the globe, inturn demolishing government and corporate dominance. People power is showing no signs of slowing down.

SceneTap

Have you ever gone to a new city or wanted to checkout a new nightclub or bar but was worried that it might be empty or overpopulated by a particular gender.  

Let SceneTap determine your probabilty of getting picked up by providing you a realtime snap shot of the male to female ratio at a nightclub or bar prior to arriving at the venue.

SceneTap utilise facial recognition technology with cameras installed at the entrance of clubs and bars which deterrmines the number of patrons along with male to female ratio at a venue.

The companies Chief Executive Colin Harper came up with the idea after spending money on cabs barhopping at clubs and pubs but not having a good time.

The idea leads to possible privacy accusations or seen as promoting stalking or sexual behaviour. SceneTap claims that their cameras do not identify individuals but determines male and female patrons. They also claim that data collected is completely anonymous.

In the US, 200 bars and clubs have signed for the service. The iPhone and Android app is free and is planned for launch sometime in July 2011.

SceneTap joins the likes of similar apps such as Grindr, 

Technology adding another twist and angle to the social dating scene.