Connector 'Top 10 To Watch' in 2009

Posted in business, communities, connectors, designers, ladies, marketing, media, people, videos, web sites by connector on January 1st, 2009

In mid-May 2008 I started my ‘connecting’ and have met loads of people as chronicled in my Connector Blog.  I now have compiled a list of the ‘Top 10 to Watch’ in 2009 which would make interesting reading at the end of the year when I will review the list and make the 2010 predictions.

The choices are in no particular order but I am trying to highlight talented individuals or small independent startups who are doing interesting work in the digital & social media space.   Several are in the ever growing are of Web Video / Web TV content and all are leading the way for the the rest of us !

The above list tried to have a gender & age mix and also forgive me for any glaring omissions as it is only for people I met in 2008. So, who would be in your ‘Top 10 To Watch’ in 2009 ??

************** Robotnik – Chris Morrin – featuring Martin Osborne ****************

Robotnik is Chris Morrin, a boy from Baldoyle, with 27 swings on the merry-go-round. Robotnik is an adventurous Lo-fi concoction of pop, electronic beats and melodic musings on relationships, fantasies and twentysomethingdom.  Robotnik’s debut album ‘Pleasant Square’ was released to critical acclaim in 2008 and then he had huge success with the ‘Pat the Baker theme song !  His Web TV exloits on Truth TV & Muzu.tv are really entertaining & very well produced.  Watch this guy closely !

Martin Osborne is originally from Wicklow and is now making a name for himself under the business name Progressive Productions which create audio visual content in the music & corporate sectors.  He has helped Robotnik produce his debut album ‘Pleasant Square’ in 2008 & he creates all the Robotnik video content.  Multi-talented, versatile and hard-working, Martin will do well in 2009 but could do with a little more self promoting to really get his name out there.

******* Sabrina Dent *******************************

I have met Sabrina a few times during the year and she has stood out as a very talented freelance web designer, internet marketer and sometime journalist with a no-nonsense New York attitude !
Her work is now winning national awards with web awards for twitterfone.com and Spicendipity.com she looks like she could have a great 2009 and very much deserved !

****** Balcony TV – Stephen O’Regan, Tom Millett & Pauline Freeman *******

Founded in June 2006, BalconyTV is a leading daily online viral music show that features bands, musicians and other variety acts on balconies around the world. BalconyTV won the Best Music Website at the Irish Digital Media Awards 2007, and was nominated for the Best Viral Content at the prestigious International Webby Awards 2008.

BalconyTV currently operates from locations in Dublin, London and Hamburg with more locations on the way.  If they get a location in New York, this concept could really take off in the US while the site has already amassed an amazing 4 million video views.

************* iFoods.tv – Niall Harbison & Sean Fee *************

Niall & Sean are the founders iFoods.tv & came to wider public attention as iFoods.tv got to pitch to the Dragon’s Den on the BBC in early 2008. They have been winning much respect for their work building up an online foody community for iFoods.tv Niall previously he ran world class kitchens and cooked for the stars on their superyachts so he knows his way around a kitchen !  He is also no stranger to this blog so I must stop mentioning him for a while now !

*********** Crewger – Brendan Phelan & Michael Flanagan **************

Crewger was first brought to life in early 2008 by co-founders Brendan Phelan and Michael Flanagan.  Crewger is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of the Irish film community by facilitating the production, promotion and exhibition of original content by film-makers of all ages and backgrounds working in Ireland today.

***************** Mulley.ie – Damien Mulley **********************

Damien was voted Golden Spiders Blogger of the Year 2008 for mulley.net & and he also runs hugely successful events like the the Irish Web Awards & the Irish Blog Awards.  Mulley.ie was launched in 2008 as ‘Mulley Communications’ offering services like new media training & consultancy.  It does not take much cop on to predict Damien continues to innovate & be successful in 2009 & beyond !  Congratulations again to Damien.

**************  Natalia Kostrzewa ***************

Natalia is an accomplished young actress & writer who is creating several short film projects in Dublin while also spending time in Amsterdam & her native Poland.

She has written an award winning play called ‘Morelight’ (aka ‘Hunger’), featured in some TV commercials and she had me scribbling furiously trying to keep up with her exploits !  With all her hard work & talent, I think Natalia is one to watch in 2009.

************ Pix.ie – Marcus MacInnes ***********************

Marcus MacInnes is already starting to pick up awards for his Irish photo sharing web site Pix.ie and he deserves recognition as a great photographer, marketer and Web 2.0 guru.

With his business acumen and community of photographers, Pix.ie should go from strength to strenght in 2009.

**************** Synth Eastwood *******************

Established in 2006 Synth Eastwood is a Dublin based music, art & technology group. Their aim is to present creative work from around the world in an atmosphere more akin to a gig than an exhibition. This is done by inviting artists of every field and level of experience to submit work based on a theme/brief they set.   Their events have been attracting over 500 people and are growing in popularity.  My contact there is primarlily through Charlie Doran of Cool Hand Loop.

************ Tania Zorilla *************************************

Tania is a very ambitious young business student from Dublin who works for ‘Diva Next Door’ as Events Manager & is also Head of PR for the DIT fashion show 2009.   Not surprisingly, she has won several beauty awards but is totally unaffected and what most impressed me is her intelligence and drive.

Tania is already soaking up valuable work experience and works at several different jobs so knows how to work hard too !  On her Bebo profile, Tania says she is Miss Aspiring Entrepreneur International 2009.  This is definitely one to watch next year when she gets into Web TV.

************ Runners Up ***************************

Alvin Perry from Fresh Design created the new ‘Connector’ logo and did such a great job I want to include him on the list but he came narrowly into 11th place.  The logo has got such great reaction that I hope it gives him the recognition his talents deserve.

Others in the running included Darragh Doyle, Niall Larkin (Fingers Frossed for 2009 !), Grannymar, Ken McGuire, Patrick Dunne, Tommy Collison (Has time on his side as he’s only 14!) & Andy & the YourNight.ie team.

Who would be in your ‘Top 10 To Watch’ in 2009 ??  Please comment below …