I can say I lost my heart somewhat to LA. Tough city to get in at first, but great to realize your ambitions. When I arrived in LA, ‘something’ was happening, especially in and around the Santa Monica area. I’ve witnessed from nearby the evolution from having some startups, to a movement that wants to become a tech startup hub. LA now wants be a global capital for entertainment, but also for tech, and especially in the intersection of both. Initiatives will continue to grow in the near future, like creating a tech corridor which would create more inflow via universities, more ambitious funding, and hence more ambitious companies.

For some years, I’ve been alternating between LA and Belgium, but that has come to an end. Both on a professional and personal level, it just wasn’t combinable anymore. My little boy will become 5 years old in a couple of weeks, and we wanted 1 school for him. Professionally, most initiatives I’m involved in didn’t generate the traction needed to stay in the US at this moment. We’ve also been testing the waters in Singapore. It looks promising, but all has to be done. I’m a keynote speaker at the global crowdsourcing week in 2013, and this is immediately our target date if we want to achieve and launch something there. More about that later.

So I’m Back in Brussels now. Actually in the very heart of it. It’s a weird place that you sometimes love to hate, but mostly love. Brussels is an intriguing cloud of a city. Brussels center is underestimated as a creative and entrepreneurial center. Mainly because it is unorganized, but that can be arranged. It feels a bit like Santa Monica 5 years back. I don’t know yet if the local government will have the same ambition, so let’s draw a plan and start the talks. Berlin, London, Paris, Barcelona amongst others are all going focussing on talent, ambition and growth, and Brussels could be amongst that list. After all, Brussels is the capital of Europe, and everything is a short flight away.

But I’ll be also spending a lot of time in Limburg. For my foreign friends who are less familiar, Ford is about to close down the factory in this area, where I’m originally born and raised. This means a massive loss of jobs and welfare, so Limburg needs to be re-invented. Every individual has right to a meaningful job, and we need more willpower, work and imagination to create that. There will be initiatives in education, logistics, cleantech, healthcare and probably some other. The goal of the upcoming strategy will probably be double: solve the problems of the closing factory and all impacted people, and create a sustainable socio-economic climate for the future. With some perspective, Limburg is kind of a Silicon Triangle, perfectly placed between the French, German and Dutch speaking community. A mini-Europe as it may. In 2013, I’ll be launching, building and supporting new initiatives over here. Until now it have been mainly week-end work and contributions, but time to step it up. Although it’s not clearly defined yet, this feels like a mission, something that I ‘need to do’.
Besides Brussels and Limburg, fascinating things are happening in Gent and Liège as well. And probably in other centers that I’m just discovering.

Anyway, that’s what it looks like today. It’s a tough climate. It’s a new start. Tomorrow, today is just history. So the future will tell.
But let’s dare to be ambitious. Let’s dare to be proud. Let’s just do it.

bart

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De Tijd, the leading financial newspaper in Belgium, reports today about that this new proposal. Currently, the limit of the maximum budget to be raised is set at 100.000 EUR per project. For the music projects that we enable via SonicAngel.com – this is sufficient for most projects. But now that we’re moving into films and TV productions via FilmAngel.TV, higher budgets could quickly be required. Most importantly, we are launching www.angel.me to enable crowdfunding for startups to find their seed equity, and ofcourse there the 100k€ limit is clearly an issue to realize the potential of the startups, and hence the competitive situation of our country related to our surrounding countries that allow seed equity crowdfunding up and over 1 million EUROS.

I’m quite convinced that we can find a balanced proposal that enables the creative economy and the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the one hand, and protect fan investments and rights on the other.

The full article, quoting Senator Peter Van Rompuy, regulator FSMA CEO Jean-Paul Servais and myself here below (in Dutch, from De Tijd).

No need to say we’re in full support!

bart

From: De Tijd
Crowdfunding moet naar 1 miljoen euro

Crowdfunding is een manier om projecten gefinancierd te krijgen door bij een groot publiek kleine bedragen in te zamelen, vaak via het internet. In België financierde de muzikant Tom Dice zo zijn eerste plaatje nadat hij geweigerd was door klassieke platenfirma’s. Zijn fans konden zich inkopen in zijn project en ontvingen maar liefst 260 procent winst per aandeel.

Tom Dice deed daarbij een beroep op SonicAngel. Dat bedrijf werd in mei 2010 opgericht door Bart Becks, ex-CEO van Skynet, en Maurice Engelen, frontman van Praga Kahn, om muzikanten via crowdfunding aan het nodige kapitaal te helpen. Het eerste bedrijf dat in ons land gebruikmaakte van het systeem was Akamusic in 2008.

Maar anders dan in andere landen is er in België geen specifieke regelgeving. Volgens de bestaande wetgeving kan in ons land zonder al te veel rompslomp 100.000 euro worden ingezameld. Als het om een hoger bedrag gaat, wordt het project beschouwd als een financiële instelling die een ‘beroep doet op het openbaar spaarwezen’. In dat geval moet de financiële waakhond FSMA een vergunning afleveren.

Het wetsvoorstel van Peter Van Rompuy moet het mogelijk maken dat zonder vergunningen tot 1 miljoen euro kan worden ingezameld, waardoor meer projecten in aanmerking zouden komen. ‘De kredietcrisis maakt het steeds moeilijker voor projecten voldoende financiering te vinden via de banken. Waarom geven we burgers niet de kans te investeren in initiatieven van hun keuze?’, zegt Peter Van Rompuy. Hij wijst er nog op dat de rente op spaarboekjes historisch laag is, en dat crowdfunding een hogere return op spaargeld kan opleveren. ‘De Belgen hebben maar liefst 225 miljard euro op de bank staan. Crowdfunding maakt het mogelijk een deel van dat kapitaal te investeren in projecten van eigen keuze – en  vaak ook van eigen bodem – die een grotere return kunnen hebben.’

Een goede zaak, vindt Bart Becks. ‘We willen ook films en ontwerpers financieren met crowdfunding. Daarnaast denken we aan zaaikapitaal voor start-ups. Dan heb je een veel hoger budget nodig.’

De financiële waakhond FSMA zal volgens beiden wel een oogje in het zeil moeten houden, zodat crowdfunding niet leidt tot oplichting. ‘Er moet een goed evenwicht worden gevonden tussen het aanmoedigen van financiering via crowdfunding en de controle van de aanbieders’, zegt Van Rompuy.

FSMA-topman Jean-Paul Servais liet onlangs zelf weten dat de waakhond zich wil buigen over het populairder wordende crowdfunding.

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Cool!
Earlier we announced that Telenet en VAF (Vlaams AudioVisueel Fonds) would support FilmAngel.TV in Flanders.
Additionally – I’m happy to announce that VRT is supporting the FilmAngel.TV initiative. And we’re starting off with a project to support documentary makers on Canvas.

In short:
FilmAngel.TV is a platform to stimulate beginning film- and documentary makers to realize their production. Via an audition platform, we measure popularity via a social media index. Next, a selection committee chooses projects that go into crowdfunding (with experts such as Michael R. Roskam / Rundskop and Peter Bouckaert /Eyeworks). Current projects are mainly shortfilm and documentary related. And more is to come
We’re live now in Flanders since February 2012, and have exceptional partnerships with Telenet, VRT and VAF.

Press release of today below (in Dutch).
Enroll your project on: www.filmangel.tv

En avant, I love this project!
bart

PRESSRELEASE 21 JUNI 2012 (NL):
12 06 21 VRT – VRT gaat samenwerken met FilmAngel.TV

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NL version: OPINIE Bart Becks – Belgium zero points, maar een hoog BNG-gehalte

FR version: Opinion Bart Becks – Belgium zero point, mais une haute ENB

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Unfortunately, only few bands ring a bell. But 2 newcomers are getting high marks. These are the ones that constantly get recognition and appreciation:

1. over the last year’s, our Dewaele Brothers hit it big with 2ManyDj’s. They’ve headlined or closed quite some amazing festivals. And they are amazing guys! (I even asked my wife to marry me during one of their gigs, but that’s another story)

2. Lords of Acid have made a huge name for themselves, being one of the first bands that combined electro and rock. After top-producer Rick Rubin produced a record, and sales topped at nearly 2,5 Mio albums (combined), their act created a lot of buzz. Last year’s tour was quite amazing, selling out most of the gigs in a 20-leg tour across the US. New album out now: “deep chills”! (ps: the frontman is Praga Khan/Maurice Engelen, my partner in SonicAngel)

3. Very under-appreciated in their home-country, but Front242 have left an incredible impression in the electro/EBM scene in the US and also in South America. They are certainly not forgotten!

Two new ones have just appeared:
4. from the classic genre, but Dirk Brossé made quite an impression on the folks across the US. Not only because of his position in Philadelphia, but selling out huge arena’s with the star wars concert. I had quite some goosebumps, watching him direct an orchestra in a 7.000 people hall in LA, while favorite Star Wars’ scenes were projected

5. new kid on the block, but this might become the biggest one ever: 987FM is playing him all night long, and all of the US is embracing Gotye. Although considered Australian, he is actually born in Belgium. He’s been in Australia since a long time – but we’re keeping him Belgian though. If you have any doubts, watch the scenes of last nights ‘Somebody that I used to know’, live at the Coachella fest 2012. Goosebumps for us Belgians, I tell you!

Enjoy – bart.

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BRUSSEL - Hij is amper 23jaar oud en haalde in San Francisco zomaar even 1,1 miljoen dollar op. De Limburgse internet-ondernemer Davy Kestens krijgt de steun van enkele grote jongens voor zijn bedrijfje Twitspark. En dat voor een zittenblijver en een drop-out.

more

bravo davy. read also: http://goo.gl/Grqyi (more relevant than ever)

bart

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In NL:

Should I stay or Should I go (NL): http://datanews.knack.be/ict/knowledge-center/start-ups/opinie-bart-becks-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/article-4000041792537.htm

Er leeft iets in ons land: http://datanews.knack.be/ict/knowledge-center/start-ups/opinie-bart-becks-er-leeft-iets-in-ons-land/article-4000029393231.htm

In FR:

Cela bouge dans notre pays: http://datanews.levif.be/ict/centre-de-connaissance/jeunes-entreprises/opinion-bart-becks-cela-bouge-dans-notre-pays/article-4000029492640.htm

Should I stay or Should I go: http://datanews.levif.be/ict/actualite/opinion/opinion-bart-becks-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/article-4000041835389.htm

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Happy for the nomination, proud of our team! Team means: the team working day to day, but certainly all the fans, all the artists and everyone involved. It will allow us to tell our story to the international music scene. Additionally, Tom Dice is also selected for the NRJ music awards that is held during the MIDEM conference – so we’re present twice, with our platform AND our music!

Crowdfunding is becoming a gamechanger in empowering talent across the world, even if I see crowdfunding as a start (and not the end) of creating a new creative ecosystem. More about that later.

For now: thanks. Very grateful. Short video below (don’t mind the quality – but it does tell our story).

bart

Paris: Official Press Release related to MIDEM – the global music conference (28-31 January 2012, Cannes/France)

Midemlab, the international pitching competition for ground-breaking start-ups and app developers across all sectors, today unveils the 30 finalists poised to be the innovators of tomorrow’s music industry. The finalists – chosen by UK digital consulting company Music Ally and French specialist open innovation consultancy, bluenove – will present their projects to a jury of leading international digital experts including potential business partners and leading investment firms.

The finalists will each outline their cutting-edge technical solutions that could offer new opportunities to industry executives, artists and brands to reach and engage with new audiences and generate revenues.

Previous editions have provided a launch pad for some of today’s major technological innovations, such as SoundCloud, The Echo Nest, Songkick and Root Music. The list of finalists for 2012 will herald the next generation of innovation.

Cannes, here we come!

bb

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.A CFO for SonicAngel  (incl. our new initiatives FilmAngel & Angel.me)

SonicAngel was created with the vision to create an innovative platforms to find, finance & release a new generation of artists powered by the fans. Central in our approach is a crowdfunding model, which allows fans to invest in the bands. However, we have a relentless focus to create success stories, so we’re also further building platforms based on social media te detect but also to optimize the release of creative work.

After a start in Belgium, we are now extending in various genres, but we’re also rapidly expanding to the US, Germany & France. As a start.
On top of it, we’ve just released FilmAngel.TV. Same concept, different domain.

And there’s much more to come.

In order to achieve our ambitions, we are looking for a CFO.

We believe it’s essential that a CFO can drive the following statements:

1.     “It’s all in the details” - A professional accounting designation is the foundation. A few years ago it was all the rage to have MBAs in the top finance role. These days, an MBA does not begin to cover the accounting, process, and tax knowledge needed to steer a company’s finances.

2.     “Let’s make a deal” - The dream team CFO not only runs the deal process for fundraising, but should also bring deal flow into the company. They should have a track record of originating and closing equity deals, and should have a long list of potential financing sources that are willing to take their call. Also you want someone who can stretch your funding by knowing which expenses to cut without harming your business.

3.     “Time to get organized” - Your CFO should take a leading role in bringing operational excellence into your company. It means installing just the right amount of process, reporting and structure. Not so much that it slows you down, but enough so that you smoothly run and grow the engine.

4.     “What happens in the company stays in the company” – Your CFO should be a trusted advisor to the CEO and other executives. Running a company can be lonely. Your CFO will a key, objective source of advice and counsel as you make the big and the small decisions.

5.     “Jack of all trades” – Able to perform other duties (e.g., human resources, technology, legal, and information technology) as needed. It will be a long time before you have in-house counsel, and you can’t afford an outside law firm for every NDA or contract to sign. So, choose a CFO who is very comfortable with legal documents, as well as finance.

6.     “Been there, done that” - Building a software based company is much different than a manufacturing one, or services. The differences are just as apparent in the financials as they are in technology. You need someone who knows the ropes in your industry. And who wans to excel in it

7.      “I have a dream” - The startup road is guaranteed to be long and hard. Investors look for someone who loves the challenge, looks and sounds like he can weather the storm, will always see the bright side despite adversity, and never gives up.

The job of a startup CFO is very different from one at a “big” company. The latter is much more of a hands-off role focused on investor relations, deal making (financing, M & A), governance, reporting and other back office matters. In stark contrast, the startup CFO is much more hands-on and integrated into the day-to-day of the business.

If you feel ‘Yeah’ while reading above statements, and you’d like to work in Brussels, call me on +32 477 62 65 74 or mail me at bart.becks@sonicangel.com

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This is the 5th time in a relatively short time that one of our band is selected to do a major opening.
1. Tom Dice for Taylor Swift @ Vorst (Brussels) & Ahoy (Rotterdam)
2. Barefoot & the Shoes for El Fish @ AB (Brussels)
3. Vienna for Avril Lavigne @ Forrest (Brussels)
4. Jerusalem Syndrome for While Lies @ Lotto Arena (Antwerp)
5. Newton for INXS @ Vooruit (Gent)

We’re incredibly grateful for our bands, and I think that our approach has something to do with it.
1. our selection method to detect talent works pretty good. We developed an internal social media driven platform to analyse fan experience based on twitter, facebook, youtube and some voting principles. And we combine it with traditional A&R, with a clear focus on talent, attitude, hunger to go for it.
2. the principle of SonicAngel is to involve fans as of the beginning, and try to involve them in every step along the way. It allows bands to create followers and fans before they actually start, and a fan feels so much more involved. And I think they’ll vote and support their band much more because they are so involved
3. our current selection of artists and bands is just amazing.

Ofcourse there is always a bit of luck needed.

I said recently at the World Creativity Awards that one of my ambitions in life is to contribute to a culture where you can dare, dream, fail but also win. Same counts for our bands, and hopefully soon our young filmmakers!

On a side-note: I’ve been to every concert mentioned here above, so I’m feeling like a “lucky mascot” – so I’ll be in gent as well!

Bravo to Newton, and thanks a lot to the fans, the teams around them and everyone who helps.

bart

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