Startup Monday: Slack

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!

When it comes to the workplace, collaborating in a team is the norm. Although extremely beneficial, it requires continuous back and forth dialogue which can sometimes get a little hectic and disorganized when having to communicate through multiple online platforms. We’re all about efficiency and productivity here at ABCey, so today we’re highlighting Slack, a messenger app that is sure to improve your team communication, making it more simple and more efficient.

Channels:

Team Conversations are organized into Channels. You can create different channels for specific departments, groups or conversations. Public channels are open for all members of the team, allowing them to pop in at any time and join the conversation. Private channels are for confidential projects that can be viewed by invitation only.

Direct messages:

Need to communicate to someone directly? Use the direct message function to send private and secure messages.

File Sharing:

Working on an event proposal or drafting a contract? Documents, images, pdfs, spreadsheets can be uploaded into a particular channel and team members can view the document and make comments on it.

App Integration:

Need to access your twitter feed? You can streamline the tools and systems you already use by plugging app notifications into particular channels.

Search and Archive:

Everything in Slack is archived. You can search for specific conversations or even content within a particular document that was shared on a channel.

Device Syncing:

Sync the desktop app with your mobile phone and you’ll always be connected to the conversation.

Slack is the perfect platform to organize your team communication and increase daily productivity. Planning on using this amazing app for your team? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

TechTuesday: The 9th Annual Crunchies Awards!

#TechTuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming technologies for their innovative ideas and impact on the event world!

The 9th Annual Crunchies are here and just in time for #TechTuesday! For those of you that aren’t familiar, The Tech Crunchie Awards are the tech world’s equivalent to The Oscars. This award ceremony will take place this upcoming Monday, February 8th, 2016, and it will recognize the greatest technological innovations this past year has seen! ABCey has highlighted the top 5 best new tech startups for this weeks #TechTuesday! Congratulations to all of the nominees!

1. EAZE

The Eaze app is a quick and professional medical marijuana delivery service that has partnered with legally permitted dispensaries to provide patients with lab tested medication that is delivered fast and efficiently. Medication ranges from flowers, edibles, concentrates, and more!

WHY WE LOVE IT: Eaze utilizes it’s advanced technology to automatically assign drivers once the order is complete, so that your delivery is as sufficient as 10-20 minutes after purchase! Not to mention, their dispensaries are open earlier and later than most to provide their users with the most efficient convenience!

2. HONOR

For your loved ones that need extra care, Honor is the app for you! This app is centered around family and comfort, and it supplies the best & most skilled caregivers to your family’s home, while giving you the convenience of scheduling and monitoring their care from virtually anywhere! Caregivers can assist with meal prep/groceries, transportation, check in visits, personal care/hygiene, and the list goes on!

WHY WE LOVE IT: Not looking for a commitment? With Honor Care there are no long term contracts, and care can be scheduled by the hour, and paid by the hour! As well, this app does all of the work for you! The stress of screening and interviewing will be left in the hands of Honor for your convenience.

3. JET

Jet’s free membership does not come with a price, but more so with a savings! Literally, this app has created a marketplace that enables users to watch every dollar being spent, and provides smart choices and options to get the most for your money. Home goods, automative supplies, and even groceries- this app has made shopping simple and convenient!

WHY WE LOVE IT: Who doesn’t love saving money while spending money? One of the many perks of shopping with this app is JetCash! Jet customers that want to switch it up and shop from a different store just need to skim through the Jet Anywhere Retailers list and find the brand of their choice. The money spent at these websites will go towards your next JetCash purchase, all you need to do is forward your confirmation email of purchase to anywhere@jet.com!

4. OPERATOR

We’re past the days of dialing zero to get some assistance! This free messaging app is the equivalent of a personal shopper. Operator is available 24/7 and provides quick and helpful responses to meet users needs! For all of the men that are struggling to find their loved one something special for Valentine’s Day, look no further! Their staff will be glad to assist you and match you with the perfect gift!

WHY WE LOVE IT: From your local store to an exotic country, regardless of the location delivery is made to be easy! With the in-app tracking, Operator’s systems monitor your order around the clock and provide estimated delivery times and shipping updates for your convenience!

5. ROBINHOOD

Commission fees can be aggravating especially when you’re already dabbling with the buying and selling of stocks! The Robinhood app recognized this and created a stock brokerage that offers commission free trading for all of its users! Sounds too good to be true? Robinhood has raised $66 million from several different outlets so that they can make their predominant focus on building lasting experiences for you versus the short-term profits!

WHY WE LOVE IT: Robinhood’s Card feature provides guests with updates that cover basic account information, such as pending and completed transfers, but it also highlights movements within the stock industry! Top News Cards will deliver breaking news in regards to the financial market, while Top Mover Cards will showcase the biggest gains and/or losses on your watch list and in the S&P 500.

This is definitely a tough race! Who do you think will be The Best New Startup of 2016 at this year’s Tech Crunchies? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Spotlight: Snapcastr

A growing trend that has been sweeping almost every event blog is the necessity for audience engagement and interaction! Conferences, Festivals, and Sporting events all call for larger scale audiences that must be enticed to attend, excited through out, and anticipating the event return for the coming year. So, the question is, how do we as event planners create this buzz? This Monday, we would like to highlight Snapcastr, a tech-driven company that provides all of these solutions through their social media platform!

THE BUILD UP!

Before we get to the main attraction, we must have a plan of action, and Snapcastr certainly does! Their #Hashtag Campaign supplies companies with clear marketing and event strategies from the very beginning to ensure that promotion is being maximized. In addition, their Social Event Display optimizes on audience connection. These event displays are customizable to create a unique and exclusive feel that can educate and boost audience interaction! By the way, sponsors they did not forget you! These displays have a space for your logos to market your companies and thank you for your support!

WE’VE ARRIVED!

Integrating social media interaction at an event is no longer a question, it’s a MUST. Snapcastr’s Live Social Wall enables guests to feel connected with their live tweets, posts, and shared experiences utilizing the hashtag you created with the #Hashtag Campaign! However, it doesn’t stop there.

Hosting a sporting event anytime soon? The FanPhoto feature creates guest incentive to tweet and promote your event at a chance to be featured on their team’s video board or Jumbotron!

Not sold yet? We have a few more to share! The Leaderboard feature highlights your top fans, top contributors, and/or top influencers! This is a great way to recognize your fans for their dedication or your contributors and influencers for their amazing support!

Have an opinion you want to share? Twitter Polling enables guests to participate in polls concerning your event, which will not only keep them engaged, but it will give you some great insight to their interests and what they’re looking for!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

One of the best features of this company is the data capabilities that come with it! With all of these social media platforms being utilized, moderation and control is a necessity, and Snapcastr provides it. Interested in knowing your guest’s thoughts? The reporting features enables you to measure fan impact based on conversations. As well, you can monitor the growth of your social media accounts with real time analytics. This capability is a great way to track your success and pinpoint any problematic errors to ensure growth for the upcoming year!

What’s your favorite feature of our Startup Monday featuring Snapcastr? Let us know in the comments below or message us on Facebook or Twitter!

5 Ways To Connect Event Attendees With Tech

ABCey is always on the lookout for new tech trends that can change up the way attendees experience their events. We’re highlighting some of the best and brightest apps and trends so that you can be up to date on the ever changing event planning experience.

Here are 5 of some of the best new tech trends to help your guests network and connect to create a more immersive experience!

1. iBeacon

Apple has introduced another cutting edge technology that will change the distribution of information from phone, places, and people. Using Bluetooth (LE) signals iBeacon can identify location instantaneously, sense other phones, and gains information on people around them. Using the iBeacon for events can link attendees by being alerted to exactly who is where during an event which allows for easier navigation through the event, finding recognizable colleges, and recommend networking.

See what the Eventbase app did with iBeacon here.

2. Wearable Tech

Wearable technology is vastly growing in variety and complexity. Whether it be a pair of glasses, a shirt, or accessory this kind of tech is a great way to track engagement and allow attendees to see information in a more convenient way. Guests can get into the competitive spirit and participate in more activities with freedom from their smartphone.

Find out just how effective wearable tech can be in this article by BizBash.

3. 3D printing

3D printing was once an exclusive privilege because of the high price cost of equipment but has recently become more affordable. Attendees can have a keepsake to take home with them that they created with the printers to remind them of the event. It allows guests to be interactive with the event tech which makes for a more immersive experience.

Check out the low cost 3D printing that Carbon 3D offers here.

4. Engagement and Interaction with Speakers

Head speakers are largely the main focus of any corporate event but can lose guest attention if unable to connect with them in a personal way. Hand raising questionnaires are a thing of the past with new mobile apps that allow the guests inquires and participation to be apart of the speakers presentation experience. The Livecube app allows guests to gain “points” for checking into conferences on their mobile phone and getting prizes at the events for the tweets they post through out the event.

5. Projection Art

We like how guests can add input and post during an event via a social media app but when we can take that interaction and make it into tangible art that is something we love! Projecting attendee tweets on the wall in a creatively is a unique way for guests to see their comments being a part of the over all experience.

See more amazing projection mapping here.

All the new tech trends facilitate guest networking and connection in the event atmosphere. Which tech will you incorporate to add a little more to your events? Let us know with a comment or find us on Twitter and Facebook!

Startup Monday: Luxe

Luxe Valet is the answer to all of your parking woes. With service in major cities around the US, it’s sure to solve the biggest struggle of all — dare we say it — parking! This could be a great service to use for event parking as well, since we don’t want our guests wasting their time looking for parking spots!

The service can even be used in the morning to go to work, or in the evening to meet friends for drinks or dinner. What’s so great about Luxe is that they fit your lifestyle, so if you think you’re going to be drinking that night and don’t want to get behind the wheel (and you definitely shouldn’t) in select neighborhoods, you can have them drop your car off at your house if you have a garage or dedicated parking spot!

How it works: First you download their app, available on iOS or Android. Select where you want to drop off your car and it will show which driver will pick it up. Not only will they park it, but if you wish, they will even wash and/or fill up your tank!

They charge around $5.00 an hour, which for the convenience and price of parking in major cities, is definitely a steal. When you’re all set, simply tell the driver to come to get you. They will drop your car off wherever you’d like as long as it’s within their service boundaries. We know we’ll be trying this app soon & we hope you will too!

Tell us what you think about Luxe! Would you use this app? Let us know with a comment or message us on Twitter & Facebook!

Introducing the VAULT! Fostering a Startup Ecosystem

With our growing love of affordability and convenience, as well as sharing, using apps like Lyft and Airbnb, it’s no surprise this concept of sharing has come to our work spaces as well! ABCey Events, is proud to introduce the VAULT, not only being a startup in itself but fostering and supporting a startup ecosystem!

What is is? The VAULT is a coworking collective space, or “startup ecosystem” providing early stage startups the tools to thrive. What the VAULT offers isn’t just an amazing work space but a community of theses businesses’ peers offering great connections as well as support!

How it works: Early stage startups apply for membership into this community. Once you are a member you are provided with work tools like desks and an office space. From there. the VAULT offers it’s members a myriad of different amenities from phone rooms and conferences, to snacks, a kitchen, and events opportunities to grow and network.

Why we love it: Of course, since we are an event planning company, our favorite part of the Vault is their events! The Vault provides their members the opportunity for several events, whether they are educational like workshops and panels, or fun like pitch off’s and happy hours!

Would you check out the VAULT? Share with us your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Bed|n|Build, Affordable Startup Housing

This week, we have our eye on Bed|n|Build, a startup that provides a great service that benefits the startup world. Bed|n|Build differs from most other tech related and software startups in the Bay Area because it offers something fundamental – housing!

Most entrepreneurs, tech geeks, nerds, designers, hackers etc. have better things to do than look for affordable housing, furniture, and housing services. For many people without a credit history, it can be a challenging task. Not to mention, people that travel to the Bay Area from different countries often struggle to find a place to stay.

Bed|n|Build is the perfect landing pad for startup people! It doesn’t just offer affordable startup housing, but also a whole network of like-minded housemates, as well as activities and events on a regular basis that help establish new friendships or business connections.

Currently, Bed|n|Build offers housing in San Francisco and Redwood City, but plans to expand the business globally. Busy entrepreneurs could travel around the globe and always have a place to stay with Bed|n|Build. The houses are big, clean, and completely furnished and the tenants can chose between private or shared rooms.

Best of all, Bed|n|Build knows that life is not just all about work. Aside from providing the perfect environment to get work done, the tenants of Bed|n|Build receive plenty of entertainment and networking opportunities! Weekly pub crawls, group cooking, weekend trips, meet and greets with successful entrepreneurs, and happy hours are just a few things on the list.

ABCey loves Bed|n|Build’s vision of a global landing pad for startup people. Its service has become more and more popular and rooms fill up fast! Would you stay with Bed|n|Build? Comment below or on Facebook and Twitter.

Startup Monday: Kickstarter

As many of you know, Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Every week, tens of thousands of people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, art, design, technology, film, publishing, games, fashion, food, and other creative fields. Since its launch in 2009, 5.8 million people have pledged $1 billion, funding 57,000 creative projects! They also recently won the most coveted award at the 7th Annual Tech Crunch Crunchies for Best Overall Startup of 2013!

What’s so great about Kickstarter is that each project is independently created. The unique creators have complete control over and responsibility for their projects. Creators are able to keep 100% ownership of their work, and backers support projects to help them come to life. Together, creators and backers make projects happen.

Kickstarter believes that creative projects make for a better world, and are thrilled to help support new ones. Anyone can launch a project on Kickstarter as long as it meets their deadlines. The startup is based in Brooklyn, New York and will support any creative minds! The Bay Area is filled with innovation and creativity, so if you have a project or idea you want to see come to life, Kickstarter is the right platform! Take a look at the thousands of projects launched from the San Francisco Bay Area or highlights from 2013, or the best projected Kickstarter projects of 2014.

What do you think of the Best Overall Startup of 2013?! Would you use it to launch a project? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: 5 Event Startups to Engage your Audience

The world of technology is constantly changing and is adding value to the event industry! Here at ABCey, we love to keep up on current startups and trends that can enhance the event experience for attendees. We did some digging to find 5 event startups that will engage your audience and make them active participants throughout your event.

1. Postano: Put your attendees in the spotlight and make them feel like social media rockstars through this unique platform! Bring your conversation to life at your next event by showcasing your attendees’ social content, tweets and Instagrams on social media displays. Attendees can actively participate rather than simply listen and this will enrich their experience and create visibility for your event.

2. Catchbox: The world’s first throwable microphone was created for audience engagement. It is a great way to get participants talking! Catchbox lowers the barrier for people to comment and present questions. The box comes in different bright colors and is easy to throw or pass from one audience member to the next, making participation easy and fun!

3. PowerVote: Maximize the value of your event by engaging your audience, encouraging your participants, and encouraging their feedback. If you want your to gather information about your audience’s opinion, PowerVote can instantly display voting results in an graphical format. Presentations can be directly streamed to the audience’s mobile devices and people can vote or provide feedback in the moment.

4. Sopreso: Through this unique platform, your audience can ask, comment, and like your presentation live. Once you develop a presentation and run Sopreso on your laptop, the audience can connect to the presentation with their smart devices. Additionally, this platform extends the lifetime of your presentation! You can easily follow up on your leads, answer all questions, and keep the community alive.

5. TweetWall Pro: A TweetWall offers a great opportunity to interact with audiences. Rather than asking a few audience members questions, inspire all attendees to share their thoughts. People can ask questions on Twitter and get live responses. Interesting topics can quietly be discussed, and interaction is highly encouraged. Onlookers of TweetWalls find it difficult not to participate, inspiring engagement from all viewers. Post event reports allow you to follow up with attendees directly!

With so many advances in technology, passive audience participation is coming to an end. We love each of these startups, and Postano really stands out to us because you can see what people are saying about your event and what popular topics of interest are, as well as create visibility for your event! Which of these unique event startups would you use to engage your audience members? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Postcard

At ABCey, we are often juggling multiple social media accounts of our own as well as our clients for event marketing efforts. As many of you may know, managing multiple social media accounts can be absolutely insane. These days, social media is the way many people market themselves, products, or services. So, how do you manage posting to so many different sites?

This is where the app by WordPress blogger Kyle Newsome comes in handy. Postcard was designed to be the platform linking all social media accounts. You can set any one social media site, even your personal website, as your content host and post from there. Your multiple twitter accounts will re-tweet, etc. It is a pro-tool for those looking for an easy, all inclusive way to manage their many personal and business based social media accounts.

Postcard gives you that post-by-post control of where and how your message should be shared. This even includes WordPress, which gives Postcard the upper hand many other similar apps don’t have. We love the ease of use it offers as well as the ability to manage our personal website running on WordPress!

The app comes with support for 3 networks, with additional network support available via in app purchase. Do you manage multiple social media accounts? Would Postcard be useful to you? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook & Twitter!