Vinny Lingham’s Blog

Ok, maybe this is a bit late, but here are my top posts of 2007, based on number of pageviews (and the list is in order of popularity, starting from the most pageviews). It’s also a good recap if you didn’t get a chance to read every single one of my posts last year :

Print Journalist call Bloggers Wackos with Guns

This post got quite around the blogosphere, and tops my list of posts due to the sheer number of readers (in the thousands!).

Why Web Apps are Superior to Desktop Apps

I give 20 (sometimes contested) reasons why I believe in the future of browser based applications.

Google Drops CPC and reverts to CPM

This was also a big hit - April Fools Joke which caused some heart attacks last year!

SynthaSite & Venture Capital

I was quite surprised at how popular this post was. I ran a poll shortly afterward and it seems that a lot of my readers are interested in startups and venture capital - which is a topic that I’ll gladly keep writing about.

Google Blunder

This was Google’s April Fools day blunder - the punchline is that their joke is actually a reality in India!

SynthaSite Beta

One of the highlights of my year, was my talented team delivering a solid Beta product on time!

Why Facebook is Worth $10bn

My technically incorrect, but prescient prediction in the rise of Facebook’s value to society.

SynthaSite Raises $5m in Series A Venture Capital

A highlight for any CEO!

FaceBook is the new Internet

Technically true, for many newbies…

Corporates Blocking FaceBook

And let’s end it of with quick word from the red tape brigade (corporates in general)!

Here’s to a great 2008!

I’m fortunate enough to have qualified into Endeavor, through my previous company, incuBeta and as a result, I’ve tapped into an amazing network of people that have really allowed SynthaSite to flourish. Amongst other great resource opportunities, we also received interns from Georgetown University (Washington D.C.), Harvard & MIT - the latter currently working in our offices. Being part of Endeavor has really opened up the doors for very high calibre interns, which small companies functioning in parts of the world like Africa, would rarely get the option of obtaining. In fact, SynthaSite is one of just 2 companies in South Africa, selected by MIT this year for it’s GLAB internship program.

The MIT folks are really helping us optimize the usability aspects within SynthaSite, along with other great insights across our business. These are skills extremely difficult to find in our local market, and as we open up offices in the USA, it’s making it a lot easier to identify what our future recruiting needs will be (please keep an eye on our website if you’re in the job market!).

Here is a great video from Endeavor at the 10 Year Gala held in New York in November that I had the pleasure of attending (Michael Buble entertained us!):

Ok, so I’m a week late! I realised that I have a long year ahead, and I basically haven’t touched my computer for over two weeks - having a very restful festive season and get refreshed for this year. I pigged out on XBox (played Call of Duty 4 - amazing game!) and spent time visiting my family and friends, realising that with my impending move to the USA later this year, I’m not going to be seeing as much of them. That said, it was a very enjoyable resting period! I also managed to win a small (30 person) texas holdem poker tournament!

SynthaSite has a team of MIT geniuses working at our offices in Cape Town and lending us their support as part of their internship over the next 3 weeks, along with the past 3 months worth of assistance remotely. This was made possible through Endeavor, which will be what my next post is about…