try finding a spin for this that will make it stand out.

eg: http://www.fastimpressions.com.au

I like this idea. It pulls in ideas from linkedin.com and itsjustlunch.com to create an easy environment to make new acquaintances. One point I'd like to make: this is likely to be used by sales people to set up meetings to discuss their products - it's also likely to be used as a dating service (it gives a place to meet someone who works in the same industry you do). If you don't want either of these, you should be able to opt out. Check out linkedin.com and what it allows you to do and not do.

I think the other way that could help to minimize sales people and dating service is by being able to "rate" a person after you do lunch with them. People that constantly get rated as sales people will show in their profile that they are a sales person.

I think the LinkedIn options on top of this would be a good place to start on filtering out people spam.

I was amazed that It's Just Lunch was giving a $200 off Premium membership. How much is their Premium Membership? Seems like it's a lot.

Hi TechGuy..

The idea is very raw..why don't u just work a li'l bit more on this and bring in some extra elements that wud instantly appeal to everyone...
BTW Business networking hardly happens wid ppl of value over a paid service or anything......

Business networking happens over a paid service all the time. Why can LinkedIn survive on a premium service? Why do people pay to go to a networking lunch with your University alumni organization?

Plus, if you link it in to a corporate version where people can interact inside of a corporation then the corporation could pay for a subscription for their employees.

That was my second inspiration for this idea because I love going to lunch with people from other departments, but I don't know how to get to know them.

nice idea!!!

Hi techguy!

I like the idea, but how is it differnet than a chanber of commerce?

Just a thought.

Mongo

It really is like creating an online chamber of commerce in many respects. In fact, the chamber of commerce is a market that could be tapped to use this type of system. Sell it to the chamber of commerce cheaply to build up a list of professionals.

However, I think it does go farther than a chamber of commerce because this could be more inclusive to a variety of people. From my little experience with the chamber of commerce it seems more directed towards business owners. This would be a means of networking all categories of people. For example, putting marketers, researchers, programmers together that wouldn't think of joining the chamber of commerce.

Plus, one other difference is that this would put 2 people together for a one on one networking opportunity. Chamber of Commerce can leave those more timid people in the shadows of the group.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I want to go out to lunch, I spend enough time in front of my computer screen all day long. The idea of joining a website group during lunch to network is not my cup of tea. Now if you could somehow set up a "real" lunch using the website for local get-to-gethers, that might have some potential to go somewhere, otherwise its another hour spent in front of the screen.

How do I put a score to it?

snoopygirl,
You can give it a score by clicking the up/down arrows at the top of the screen. I personally suggest doing the UP arrow at the top of this idea.

Merman,

I think you're understanding the idea wrong. Sorry I assumed that people understood the idea of It's Just Lunch. Essentially the website is only a place to meet and coordinate meeting someone for an actual lunch at a local restaurant. You don't do lunch on your computer. Networking requires face to face interaction.

Each person creates a profile that describes who they are and what there interests, experience and hobbies are. The website would then have a built in algorithm to match people with common interests or possibly someone with opposite interests(for those who want to expand their horizons).

It's Just Lunch(the dating site) goes even farther and sets up the restaurant and time of the meeting. The end user just has to show up at the restaurant. I think in a big city with true professionals this would be a service that a lot of people would pay for.

In order to maintain some level of privacy only a first name is given. Then, at the lunch you can choose to exchange business cards or not. I would even say that after the lunch an email would be sent to each participant asking if they want to share their contact info with the person they went to lunch with. Then, the site becomes a professional's networking list.

Here's more information on the It's Just Lunch process that would be modified to apply to career networking: http://www.itsjustlu...om/whattoexpect.aspx

Social Networking Piece:
The website could also be a sort of social networking site that allows professionals to interact (much like the LinkedIn.com model). Take a look at what LinkedIn offers: http://www.linkedin....tic?key=company_info

I could see this even being used when you are traveling to a conference. You could set up lunches with people that match your interests before you even attend or even with people not at the conference who are in the area.

What if cambrian house was the first company to sign up? Then, we could go to lunch with other people participating in Cambrian House.

I like this idea, not only could it be used to help one network with other companies and other professionals, but it could be used by a company internally, to help grow and strengthen connections within their own company.

I think it would be cool if you could specificy in your profile the people with which skillsets you would like to meet. For example you could say, I wish to meet programmers or I wish to meet graphic artists, etc. It could also get more specific regarding the skillsets.

A bone in the throat to the title of this idea? :)

I like the idea but would like to see more how a business makes money of it.

Es02 - Hate to point this out, but you're wrong, the site you linked to has nothing to do with this idea, the idea isn't speed dating, it's business networking.

Aiden - You're absolutly right about an opt-out feature. Right now, all I have to do to get a sales presentation at lunch is to answer my phone. :-}

Here in the States, (sorry, but I live here, and it's my frame of reference) at least here in my State, small business networking groups are popping up all over. While Chambers of Commerce provide some networking opportunities on an extreamly local level, networking groups cross the geographical designations and bring bvusiness people together without the geographical limitations.

There was recently a business best-seller book called Never Eat Alone, that stresses the importance of building relationships rather than just making sales calls.

TechGuy - Love the idea. Revenue sources, aside from advertising could include membership fees... when business people who realize the value of a facilitated networking opportunity like this get wind of it, I could see this become a standard expense like trade association membership.

Imhotep,
Here are just a few possible revenue streams:
-Registration fees (like It's Just Lunch)
-Upgrade to a Premium Service (like LinkedIn)
-"Affiliate" relationships with restaurants
-Job Boards (like CrunchBoard.com and LinkedIn)
-Service Boards (like Guru.com)
-Advertising

I see tremendous value and revenue potential in a large group of networked professionals who have developed levels of trust amongst each other. That's on top of the value that users gain from participating in this type of service (or should I call it a community).

I also can see how this idea could be a great feeder for Cambrian House to attract qualified business professionals to the CH community.

don't think it will work people in a position of power hence someone people will want to network with will be flooded with networking requests being too busy to continually meet losers they will leave the service.....not to metion the safety aspect....meeting people off the internet can be a risk.

Might be sponsored by suitable restaurants, cafes.

If something like this could have a "don't waste my time" filter (like you mentioned about screening out sales pitches), might be good.

I can see a lot of twists and extensions to this.

One variant would be a sort of "six degrees of separation" where no one could be a member unless they could be traced to the person who recommended them for membership. This is a security / quality-of-fit screening feature to provide an option for people who really don't want a wide network of lunch partners, but do want to meet up with people they consider worth spending time with.

jill,
I think there are a number of options to build trust. I liked your idea of having some sort of 6 degrees of separation as a safety filter.

I believe the best way to start this idea is to create the corporate version and then create the interactions between corporations that have started it. I work at a University and I think that Universities are a great place for this type of product. I've been greatly helped by relationships I've made in the marriage family therapy department even though I'm a tech person.

This could hit Google-like proportions. I imagine it being an option like OnStar.

Oops Wrong Post = ) Disregard my last

I really like Techguy's ideas. I am really bummed that Spoil my Spouse didnt quite get over the line.

I know a guy that runs these kinds of forums in the real-world (as opposed to online world :)) and they have been very successful. Businesses are happy to pay some money to network with imaginative people in other fields. I would certainly pay to network with web developers and programmers to get ideas about how to build products I have in mind. I really like this idea!! although it is probably limited to a business audience.

This idea's great. It should have an option like It's Just Lunch method where the lunch is setup for you. Business people want to be able to show up and eat without the work of scheduling it and choosing the location. In some cases this could include reservations.

Business people are willing to pay a premium for this added service. Plus, it makes them feel special that they have someone scheduling a meal for them. Feed business people's egos and they spend all sorts of money.

PsychSplash,
This is almost definitely limited to a business audience. Who wouldn't want something targeted at an audience of people who generate high incomes because they are business people. I think it's the perfect target market if you're trying to get people to fork over cash.

On second thought, I guess I could see an interesting fork of this idea with Stay at home mom's that want to "network" (get to know) other mom's. Maybe that's an idea of its own.

Business people are the focus and for good reason. They are the market that has money.

Sorry, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

Left kick to the head for this idea (see my last fight against Silva if you don't know what I mean).

The bottom line is that the winner of this tournament gets a market test and I can't see an idea like this get market tested very easily - because the only way it works is to have alot of people in the database to match up - and you can't get that kind of exposure without spending alot of time and money. And it also requires that users be in the same city to meet for a 'date'.

In any event, as I mentioned above - THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. See Linkedin.com. They have 8 million users in a relationship/networking manager and IT IS FREE!!!

i think its a great idea...its networking and "who" you know and the exposure to brainstorming with others that gives birth to new and exciting ventures...i see a few bugs...but am sure they can be worked out...overall the concept is refreshingly non-virtual!!

I should address some of CroCop's comments. I think a market test could be done pretty easily. CH is pretty creative and will find a way to market test this.

LinkedIn.com is similar in some ways to this idea, but LinkedIn doesn't take care of matching people up like this over lunch. Even going head to head with LinkedIn, it seems like there is room in the networking space for 2 good networking websites.

This is an interesting idea, but my question is what happens after the lunch? Is 1 hour enough to establish a networking relationship that you can trust? If it were me, I wouldn't mind networking with someone with whom I had a mutual friend. More degrees of separation would be too removed from any sort of meaningful linkage. In addition to matching interests and skills, you could match favorite activities to encourage people to continue their networking after meeting at lunch.

What happens after lunch is up to them. At lunch the individuals can exchange business cards if they are interested in meeting for lunch again or they can just leave it as is. The website could possibly even connect people again that both had an interest in networking with the other person.

The key to networking is getting to know a wide variety of people so that at some later time the person's skills or connections match your needs.

I like the idea of matching on common activities like those interested in golf or tennis. Instead of lunch it could match partners up for golf, tennis or some other sport also. Why not watch some football together also?

Great idea! How open is the LinkedIn API if at all? That way you could include their infrastructure, get recommendations, that kind of thing. For a while I saw this as a handy "extra service" that LinkedIn could offer, the more I'm thinking about it the more it really works for me. Good luck!

Sorry to say both the two finalist didn't come up with an original idea.

I though this was what this site is all about NEW Ideals...

I think someone should go back and rethink, it shouldn't be how many people you know to vote for your idea, but about a great NEW suggestion.

Seems too easy for LinkedIn to easily implement given they already have such a huge network. It is a cool idea though. A nice feature would be for the person proposing lunch to be able to say if they are paying or not. :)

If a service like this was developed to a successful state on a limited membership, I could easily see an organization like LinkedIn wanting to acquire it as a value-added service for its members. The fact that there is an easy way to see how it can generate revenue is a real draw to someone like LinkedIn.

This is awesome great.
When i was learning more about the business end of the music industry so I could self-produce, I took people to lunch who knew more than me and asked questions.

Sometimes i would ask someone from the studio I used most for an introduction to a person they knew - I'd ask them all out to luch - with the understanding I would ask about business - so, I bought - they understood that I was asking - often it worked out for all of us - way beyond a meal.

It's a great business practise. The Universtiy approach is terrific.
Finding mentors in any field willing to share information over a meal . . Brilliant!

I know this idea will work.

All Best to You

One of my employees did the "its just lunch thing" and its not really an online play. It involves a (good looking) consultant interviewing you and potential matches - then setting up dates. My employee ended up spending a few thousand $ for about 8 guaranteed "dates" and she didnt even use them all. Performance aside, its really an in-person, high $ approach to dating. I'm not sure how that translates to an online business.

Is this business up and running now? I though I saw a billboard advert for it in a train station in Melbourne? If it wasn't this, it was something the same or very simillar

In Spain some people is doing some similar. Myabe also richdadclubs are the same, adn I think they are grat.

would this be like paying to talk to your target market in person?

Generally I like it. And really all you would need to get this up and running is to work with a events coordinator. This is starting to pop up though in a lot of different places so what exactly do we need to do to really get it going?