September 2010 Summaries

The Twilio Meetup in NYC was a success, with over 100 attendees from the local tech community. The event featured a presentation by Ben Nadel on his project Twitio, which allows users to record and tweet messages using their phone number. Ben shared his experience building Twitio, including how he used Adobe ColdFusion to keep the code portable and how easy it was to integrate with Twilio's API. The event also highlighted recent Twilio news, including new API revisions and pricing changes. The meetups are being hosted on a monthly basis, and attendees were encouraged to RSVP for the next event.

The Twilio Fund is a $250,000 micro-fund for investments in startups powered by Twilio's APIs for phone calls and text messages. The fund will offer investments of up to $10,000 in exchange for a 1% stake, with the possibility of additional funding and an invitation to participate in an accelerator program. Applications for the fund are open from September 27th to November 16th, and Twilio's team will be supporting startups throughout the process. The company is promoting its involvement in various startup events across the country, offering advice and opportunities for startups to perfect their products and pitches before the deadline.

QONQR, a location-based social game, won the Startup Weekend Twin Cities competition and will pitch at midVenturesLAUNCH in Chicago next week; RockYourBlock, a social marketplace for teens to find work in their neighborhood, was the runner-up; Heavy Analytics, a comprehensive analytics engine for BuddyPress, also took second place; nine other teams showcased their startups during the event.

In a partnership with Union Square Ventures, Twilio is hosting a contest for developers to submit their Twilio-powered startups, with the help of Fred Wilson, Albert Wenger, and Brad Burnham in selecting the winner. The three partners will evaluate submissions based on how they leverage Twilio to create something with network effects or accumulate data assets, rather than focusing on technology specifics such as programming languages or features. This approach emphasizes innovation over technical details, allowing developers to showcase their creativity and expertise in using Twilio's platform.

You have two weeks to submit a Twilio-powered business and win a meeting with Union Square Ventures. The contest is simple, with a new theme announced every Monday for you to build and submit your project within a week. This week's theme focuses on taking advantage of cheaper prices, new functionality from the recent API revision, and all that Twilio has to offer. The partners at Union Square Ventures will serve as judges, selecting one winner to meet in New York City with all expenses paid, along with three runners-up receiving $250 in Twilio credit each.

Menuism.com is a personal dining guide that allows users to find restaurants and share their favorite dining experiences with friends. The company recently built a simple "send-to-phone" feature in just hours using Twilio, a cloud communication platform. This was made possible by the ease of use of Twilio's API and SDKs, which allowed Menuism.com to quickly develop a bot that could send text messages to diners at restaurants. By leveraging Twilio's resources and documentation, including APIs, sample code, and tutorials, Menuism.com was able to successfully integrate this feature into their platform in a short amount of time.

Congratulations Jack Danger Canty has won $200 in Twilio credit and a Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer laptop bag as part of the Twilio New API contest. The winner, Jack, praised the new Twilio API's clear Text-to-Speech (TTS) capabilities, which eliminated the need for custom recording logic. He believes his company will greatly benefit from this library, which has polished validation logic making it easy for other developers to adopt.

Winning the contest offers a chance to meet with prominent venture capitalists from Union Square Ventures, including Fred Wilson, Albert Wenger, and Brad Burnham, who have invested in successful companies like Twitter, Foursquare, and Tumblr. The prize includes air transportation, lodging, and other expenses covered by Twilio, providing a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level.

Now is the time to submit to present your Twilio-powered startup at Startup Camp in Los Angeles this October, with a few days left before the deadline. If selected, you'll receive travel assistance and be invited to join the Twilio booth on the ITEXPO conference hall floor to promote your company. The event features keynote presentations followed by 10-minute pitches from each startup, providing an opportunity for networking and Q&A sessions. To apply, simply complete the provided form and don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.

This week’s Twilio developer contest is offering a new prize, a higher credit amount of $200, and a chance to win a brand new Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer laptop bag filled with Twilio goodies. The contest has a new deadline and offers more opportunities for developers to showcase their skills and creativity. To participate, head over to the entry form or visit the developer contests page for more information. The contest aims to encourage building something great using the Twilio platform and its resources, including API reference documentation, SDKs, helper libraries, quickstarts, and tutorials.

Imaneed is a location-based app that uses Twilio for SMS and voice features, allowing users to request help with various tasks and connect with people in their area who can provide assistance. The service was built using Ruby on Rails and integrates seamlessly with Twilio's API, making it easy to develop and implement. Imaneed aims to provide a real-time alternative to traditional classifieds like Craigslist, connecting people looking for work or services with those who offer them.