Tag: new
ABCey’s Startup Monday: Zipline!
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that showcases some of the best and most innovative startups based in the San Francisco Bay Area! These are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past. This week, the spotlight’s on Zipline – the startup devoted to delivering life-saving medical supplies, even to the most remote locations!
What is Zipline?
Zipline is the only startup to take to the skies to deliver urgently-needed medicines, like blood and vaccines. They are able to work at a national level to provide these services to anyone with the help of drones! Since its launch in 2016, the team has delivered thousands of units of blood to those in need in Rwanda.
How does it work?
Their process is simplified into 5 steps. First, health workers at clinics and hospitals send a text message requesting the medical supplies they need. Then, the Zipline team quickly responds and packages the items at the Zipline Distribution Center. In addition to immediate access, having valued medicines located in the center maintains product integrity! Afterward, health workers receive a confirmation text when their order is launched. Traveling at over 100 km/h, the medical supplies are delivered in 30 minutes or less. When the order has safely descended via parachute in the designated recovery area, health workers are notified. Lastly, the drone returns to the Distribution Center to be quickly restocked and sent off again!
Why do we love Zipline?
We love Zipline for its innovation and its service! They were able to develop a revolutionary idea by utilizing one of the hottest tech trends of 2016 – drones. Their work ensures that those who live in remote locations are able to provide immediate medical care without worrying about access to medicines. Also, their drone delivery service cuts down the wait time by over an hour! We really admire that Zipline has given opportunities to thousands of individuals.
Have you heard of them? Do you like Zipline, too? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
If you’d like to see other San Francisco startups we’ve featured before, click here.
ABCey Presents: 10 Creative Event Promotion Ideas
Event promotion is essential for putting on a fantastic event. However, it can start to feel like you’re using the same techniques over and over again. ABCey recognizes that keeping your event marketing strategy fresh can be a challenge, so here are 10 creative event promotion ideas that are sure to attract huge audiences!
1. Comp Passes
Offer sponsors, exhibitors and vendors attendee free passes so that they can share them with their best clients or invite their colleagues, family, and friends. They can help return the favor by sharing them on social media to help spread the word!
2. Chatbots When People are Buying Tickets
Use chatbots to take care of anyone looking for answers on your website before they commit to buying tickets. Live chat on your website, Facebook messenger, and text chatbots can answer any questions potential attendees might have, so that there’s less of a chance they’ll leave the page and forget to purchase tickets!
3. Create a Live Spectacle
Plan a live activity that can grow and develop in a busy public place over a period of a few hours so that passers-by can stop and watch! This could be a group of artists making a huge structure or art piece of some sort. Try to make it relate to your event and create a timelapse of progress, so you can share it online to further promote your event!
4. Gear Your Content Marketing Efforts Towards Leadership
When it comes to creating your own content, it can be tempting to focus on search engine optimization and stuffing your copy with keywords, but this isn’t an effective way to increase your attendance. Instead, try to create thoughtful content that showcases your event brand as a thought leader, so that people view your company as a place they can turn to for new, insightful information. The more people trust your brand, the more likely they are to support you!
5. Host a Free or Sponsored Webinar
If your event is business related or offers some sort of expertise, a webinar can offer a preview of what to expect to draw people in. If you give them valuable information in the free webinar, it’ll make them wonder how much more they can gain from attending the actual event!
6. Set Up a City Photo Booth
Instead of just using a photo booth at the actual event, try using one as a promo opportunity by setting it up somewhere in the city beforehand! This can be simple by just getting a polaroid camera or an iPad, signed backdrop curtain with event dates and details, and fun props to get people excited!
7. Use Image Quotes From Past Attendees
Gather quotes from past attendees and overlay them on images from the event. Note their name, job title, and organization if they give you permission to share it. These make for great social media and blog posts to promote your next event!
8. Pop-Up Henna Wall
Who doesn’t love Henna? Set up a pop-up stall at a local event or the local supermarket and have an artist offer Henna tattoos to people passing by! Have the Henna artist create a unique style that incorporates your logo or represents your event theme. Use this opportunity to hand out event details, and offer free swag or discounts to those who show up on event day with their henna tattoo!
9. Social Media Takeover
Let someone else from your company who doesn’t usually control your social media accounts to take the reins. This could be your interns or bloggers, for example. It will offer an alternative voice and can present a different perspective. The goal is to encourage people like them to start following your event account!
10. A Photo a Day
In the months leading up to the event, try to share a photo every day from your past events on social media. This will give potential attendees a taste of what your events are like. If previous attendees appear in the photos, tag them (after getting their permission) to encourage them to share the photo as well!
Which event promotion idea will you use?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
ABCey’s Startup Monday: Modsy
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that showcases some of the best and most innovative startups based in the San Francisco Bay Area! These are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past. This week, the spotlight’s on Modsy – the company who wants to revolutionize the way we decorate our homes!
What is Modsy?
Founded in 2015, Modsy was designed to tackle a common problem: how will you know if the furniture you buy looks good in your house? If you’ve ever furnished or redecorated a house, you know it is a huge feat and involves tons of guesswork. Modsy wanted to make home design fun and easy to cut down all the trips to the furniture store. How? By letting their customers “try on” furniture!
How it works
If you’ve ever played The Sims, you’re going to love this! First, you snap a couple pictures of your space and include the measurements, and Modsy will create a 3D model of your space. Then, their team will create a personalized room design based on your vision, budget, and layout needs. If you’re not the biggest fan of the furniture, not to fret! Here’s where your personal touch comes in: you are able to swap out furniture to your liking. If you are head-over-heels in love with the customized design, you can also buy the furniture directly from the layout! There goes the trips to the furniture store out the window!
Why we love Modsy
We love Modsy because decorating our homes used to be a process that entails nail-biting, stressful guesswork in the middle of a showroom! We can see how experts would design our space and also switch elements out for a personal touch! As event planners, we would love to to see if it could use it to design spaces for events! It could be a fun way to try out new designs.
Will you use Modsy? Have you worked with them before? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
If you’d like to see other San Francisco startups we’ve featured before, click here.
ABCey Presents: 10 High Tech Photobooth Trends of 2018
Besides your swag bags, photos taken at your event are the best memorabilia any guest could have. Photobooths are a great way to get your attendees involved and can be the perfect social media marketing strategy too! From artful product design to social enablement, these photobooth experiences are designed to seamlessly complement your brand and maximize visibility and engagement. ABCey has compiled a list of 10 high tech photobooth trends of 2018 that you can try at your next event!
1. 360 Degree Photobooth
With a rig set up around, your guests can take a picture where you can view it from all angles! This creates an amazing photo-op for groups or singles, and creates an interactive component with the photo. Pixperience has some great 360 photobooths for your events!
2. Projector Booths
Instead of having to single still backdrops, spruce it up a little with a projector booth! You can switch up the backdrops for every photo and can also personalize it for every person! Ask if your guests want to upload one of their videos for a background or if they want to choose one from the set! Either way, guests are able to interact with whatever background they choose to create the perfect photo!
3. GIF Booths
Animated GIFs (pronounced “JIF,” like the peanut butter brand) have completely permeated, and in some cases, taken over social media! Let your guests create record a short and fun, animated photo to let them remember what a great time they had at your event. We even had our very own from Bosco at the Sephora VIB Rouge SF Flagship Launch, and our guests had a blast using it!
4. Light Painting Photobooth
Painting with lights. It’s an unforgettable photo op! You can use these lasers to write words or draw shapes in midair and the photo captures it all! It creates an amazing effect and allows you to get a little creative too! What will your light say?
5. Hashtag Photobooth
#Hashtags #Are #Everywhere! Who can resist them too? They are a fun way to help others find pictures similar to the one you posted. With this booth, you take a photo with the event hashtag and the hashtag printer will print a copy of the photo with the hashtag to put up on the mosaic wall! It’s a great way to personalize every photo with unique hashtags from your attendees!
6. Flipbook
A picture is worth a thousand words. This flipbook is a way to tell a whole story through a stack of photos. By printing frame by frame, these photos look as if the guests are moving, allowing you tell a story or show some dance moves, too! Giggle and Riot have super cool flipbook photobooths for your stop motion stories!
7. iPad Booths
These little iPad booths are nothing new, but have really started to gain popularity lately! People are realizing how fun and convenient these photobooths are! You are able to take the photo and send it to yourself, without any hassle or wait. It also doesn’t need to be manned all night long, so you can focus on the other aspects of your event!
8. Mirror Booth
Don’t you wish that you can see yourself while you take your photos so you know you look good? Here’s the answer to all your prayers, the mirror photobooth! With this, you can see your own poses in the mirror while it takes your photo! Say goodbye to awkward poses and stray hairs you missed when you checked yourself out!
9. Video Photobooth
Video from Bosco
These photobooths are amazing because you can make a short little clip, featuring you! It’s the perfect way to show off some of your dance moves or let a little of your silly side out. And, you can send them directly to yourself!
10. Ball Pit Photobooth
Who doesn’t love a good ball pit? Let your guests relive their childhood memories by diving into a pit of balls to take the perfect photo! It’s the optimal time to let your inner child out and capture these moments of joy!
What’s your favorite high tech photobooth? Are there any we missed? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Top 10 Trends in Projection Mapping & Lighting
New trends in projection mapping & lighting make events immersive and interactive for any sized audience! From lasers, to 3D projection mapping, to motorized lights, these trends will blow your mind and create a memorable event that your guests will never forget!
1. Motorized Lighting Structures
No matter how big your event is, Motorized lights are a great way to involve your whole audience and make them feel closer to the center of the event! These funky and fun lights will bring your event to the next level!
2. Lasers
Lasers will enhance any event! They have the ability to sync with your music, be programmed to draw shapes, project basic images on surfaces, and extend across your entire audience! Who wouldn’t want lasers at their event?
3. LED Beam/Spots
Whether it is a corporate event or a night out with friends, LED beam/spot lights make the experience colorful and fun! LED Beams/Spots are immersive lights that are placed on a beam and then programmed with colors, positions, cues, and patterned motions. These dynamic lights bring the room to life!
4. 3D Projection Mapping
3D projection maps are a must have at every event! The projection maps light onto 3D objects to bring them to life as engaging displays. These extraordinary displays make a great fit for reveals, brand launches, all kinds of presentations, concerts, entertainment events and corporate events! Not to mention, they’re fun and cool to look at!
5. Sports Arena Projection Mapping & Lighting
Make any sports game more interactive and fun by adding projection lighting! Use these lights to entice more people to buy tickets and boost sales! Projection lighting can be used after a goal is scored, an exciting half-time show and so much more!
6. Hologram Videos
Spinifex Group created an awesome hologram videohfor Buick Shanghai Auto Show! Hologram videos are a great feature for all kinds of events!
7. Interactive Projection Mapping
Interactive projection mapping is the perfect addition to any event! This new technology is the best way to get guest’s feedback as well as engage with your audience!
8. GostMESH
TDC presents the newest updates in projection fabrics: GostMesh! This incredible new technology combined with projection allows for a one of a kind experience. GostMESH creates bright moving images that are sure to make your event venue pop!
9. Architectural Video Mapping
Make your next event an experience your guests will never forget! Architectural video mapping will make your event an out of this world experience by transforming the event venue into absolutely anything you want!
10. Neon Black Lights
Neon UV Black lights makes any event venue extraordinary! Turn your bland ordinary event space into a funky glow in the dark black light party!
How would you use this new and exciting technology to improve your event? What’re your favorite trends in projection mapping & lighting? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter?
Startup Monday: Songhop, the World’s First Active Music Discovery Software
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events!
This week, we want to introduce you to Songhop, a startup located in Palo Alto. Songhop was recently launched and offers “the world’s first active music discovery software.” Users can browse through dozens of songs and decide whether they like them or not. Songhop also helps new artists gain recognition in the midst of the mainstream.
How it works: The interface is very simple. Sign up and start listening to songs right away! If you sign up with a social network account like Facebook or Twitter, you can see what songs your friends like. Start exploring songs that are categorized by genre, or check out your friends’ favorites. As soon as you play a song, Songhop provides you with three options. Click the “X” if you don’t like the song or the heart symbol if you like it. You can also share the song via message or social network.
Why we love it: Songhop enables you to broaden your musical horizon! Discover new music you would have never heard otherwise, or help new artists to find success. Are you planning on throwing a country themed event, but your knowledge of country music barely exceeds Taylor Swift or Brad Paisley? Use Songhop to discover more! Best of all, Songhop is free, and free is good!
Would you use Songhop? Tell us what you think about the world’s first active music discovery software in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.Announcing: Brit.co RE:MAKE Event!
We are SO excited to finally announce our collaboration with Brit.co to produce the RE:MAKE Event! Put this on your calendars now because you will not want to miss this!!
This two-day event will be held at the fabulous and iconic Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. Day 1 is set up as a conference with tons of innovative speakers, like Randi Zuckerberg and 3D printing master Christ Anderson, to spark a discussion about technology’s effect on the creative world. Day 1 will cover many of the themes Brit.co’s website explores, such as DIY, fashion, tech, and lifestyle. The first day is invitation-only; to request your invite, click here.
You’ll definitely want to snag a pass for Day 2 if you’re a lover of all things creative and fun! RE:MAKE opens up for a public, free convention with over 100 artisans and makers stations ranging from jewelry design to 3D printers. You can easily spend the entire weekend feeding your creative side surrounded by one-of-a-kind crafters and industry leaders!
Are you as excited for this event as we are?? Share your good vibes with us in a comment and on Facebook & Twitter!