There is a long list of things people will tell you that you need as a startup: You need a working product. You need a business plan . You need a lawyer . You need a good coffee maker, a video game system, and beer on Fridays. Here’s one more thing for the list: you need an API . And here are the top five reasons why: Sponsor 1. It’s Good BizDev 2.0 Having an API is, as Caterina Fake calls it, BizDev 2.0. In other words, in a web-oriented world, it’s the way business development is done. APIs facilitate business-to-business relations by opening data and systems to business partners, either freely or via a commercial license. The integration with other services provided by APIs makes doing business, in Fake’s words, “much much better.” 2. It Builds a Strong Developer Ecosystem An API allows you to interact with developers outside your team, adding expertise and innovation to your product. Releasing an API also adds to the proverbial tool in a developer’s toolbox. 3. An API Facilitates Data Accessibility Having an API makes new queries easier, making information discovery easier for you and for others. 4. Investors Are Going to Want One In a talk in February at the Future of Web Apps conference, VC Fred Wilson spoke about the “10 Golden Principles of Successful Web Apps,” one of which was, indeed, a programmable API. “Not all of our companies, by the way, have launch read/write API’s, and we’re constantly hounding them to do that,” said Wilson, “but the important thing about programmability is that when people can add value to your application, they are in effect adding energy to your application, bringing more users to your application, and also bringing more data and more richness to your applications.” 5. APIs Make Mashups …And mashups are awesome. Facilitated by APIs, mashups bring together information and applications in unique ways, expanding the reach of your data and product. A mashup that combines data from Google Maps plus YouTube plus World Cup, for example . A

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No, it’s not all commenters on Digg. Or on YouTube. Or, or, or. But a whole lot of them seem to be lying in wait to sink their teeth into the nearest virtual pantleg… or exposed jugular. The culture of vehement attack and merciless ridicule is still virulent in a lot of places online. (The whole “You Suck At…” meme is only the latest example.) Sponsor I’ve heard the advice that the you deal with that kind of attack by growing a thick skin, having a sense of humour about it, and generally hardening your heart and pretending it doesn’t hurt. It’s the same advice we used to give bullying victims before we discovered it just encourages jackasses to become bigger jackasses. Anyone building or managing an online community has a responsibility to keep the oil slick of aggression out of the conversational coastal wetlands. That doesn’t mean there aren’t lively or even heated disagreements, but that users aren’t aiming to actually wound each other. And that responsibility isn’t just to users; it’s to the business or organization behind the community, because that kind of toxic behaviour rubs off on their reputation. I won’t pretend it’s easy, especially with the entrenched culture of an established community. But civil behaviour ought to be the expected norm of online community, not the welcome exception. More Noise to Signal. Discuss

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With the end of the month approaching, deadlines for several grants and incubators are just around the corner. Not sure you can make the deadline to have a proposal ready for Wednesday? Well, here are a few new funding and incubator opportunities you should know about too: Sponsor Compute.org Compute.org , a Seattle-based non-profit, announced on Friday that it would be awarding major seed grants to a variety of Internet and software startups. Grants will be range from from $10,000 to $50,000 and according to founder Andre Conru, “Compute.org is far more interested in startups that are able to provide a social and environmental impact.” The foundation has a goal for raising $5 million in financial support by the end of the year and hopes to seed between 50-100 startups. New Hampshire Innovation Commercialization Center The New Hampshire Innovation Commercialization Center ( NH-ICC ) is a new startup accelerator in the state, launched in partnership by the University of New Hampshire and a team of state tech entrepreneurs. The nonprofit center will provide some startup capital as well as business and legal expertise and is focused on software, networking, Internet, telecommunications and related areas. The NH-ICC hopes to “attract entrepreneurs from throughout New England to build their startup business in New Hampshire,” says Mark Gavin, NH-ICC managing director. And your June 30 deadlines: Creative Commons Catalyst Grants Creative Commons is accepting applications for their Catalyst Grants through the end of the month. These grants are meant to seed activities that support the Creative Commons mission. Applications due June 30. Startupbootcamp Copenhagen-based Startupbootcamp , member of TechStars global affiliate program, is accepting applications for its three-month incubator program. Companies accepted into the program receive DKK 25,000, office space in the incubator, and access to a network of over 50 mentors. Applications due June 30. Mini Seedcamp London Mini Seedcamp London is a one day event in London – July 27. This will be the last opportunity to apply for Mini Seedcamp, prior to Seedcamp Week 2010 in this fall. Applications due June 30 The ReadWriteStart Calendar tracks both startup-oriented events as well as application deadlines (for competitions, grants, and incubators, for example). If you’d like to add something to the calendar, leave a comment here or email us . Discuss

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In the coming weeks, the Events Guide will be turning into a jet-setting tour of the international tech scene. Next week is London with the Cloud Computing World Forum . Then comes Marseilles, France ( Lift France ), Melbourne, Australia ( Digital Sport Summit ) and Singapore ( Social Media World Forum Asia ). You can import individual events in the Events Guide into Google Calendar using the link beside each entry, or download the entire thing as an iCal file (which is importable into Google Calendar, Outlook, Windows Live Calendar, etc.) or even view it as a world map . Know of something cool taking place that should appear here? Let us know in the comments below or contact us . Sponsor 29 – 30 June 2010: London Cloud Computing World Forum The 2nd annual Cloud Computing World Forum is the perfect event to learn and discuss the development, integration, adoption and future of cloud computing and SaaS. Building on the success of the 2009 show, this two day conference and free-to-attend exhibition will provide a focused platform for the global cloud and SaaS industry. Show highlights include: Co-located with CloudCamp London Co-located with Green IT conference Free-to-attend exhibition with seminar and scenario theatre Free-to-attend evening awards presentation Hear from leading case studies on how they have integrated cloud computing and SaaS into their working practices Learn from the key players offering cloud and SaaS services Evening networking party for all attendees 5 – 7 July 2010: Marseilles, France Lift France ‘10 Lift France gathers pioneers from all over the world to explore how the technologies and concepts of the Web are changing the real world. Through a combination of workshops, inspiring talks, and innovative demos, Lift offers a chance to anticipate the major shifts ahead, and meet the people who drive them. Together we will explore 4 major topics: “Web Squared”, Making Sense of the World through Shared Data “Fab Labs”, Reinventing Manufacturing People Hacks”, Distributing Control and Knowledge “Privacy Revisited”, Protect and Project Speakers include Sam Pitroda, advisor to India’s PM on innovation; Alma Whitten, Google’s privacy lead; Haakon Karlsen, Fab Labs Foundation; Michael Cross, FreeOurData.org ; Amit Zoran, MIT Smart Cities Lab; Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, French minister for the Digital Economy; Geoff Mulgan, the Young Foundation. 6 July 2010: Online The Influencer Project ThoughtLead presents The Influencer Project : 60 speakers. 60 minutes. 60 different ways to increase your influence online. We’re pretty sure it’s the shortest marketing conference ever. You’ll learn from new media luminaries like Robert Scoble, Anne Holland, Tony Hsieh, David Meeman Scott, Gary Vaynerchuk, John Jantsch, Ann Handley, Brian Solis, Read Write Web’s own Marshall Kirkpatrick, and many more. Sponsored by HubSpot and available via webcast and phone, the conference takes places July 6, at 6 p.m. Eastern (GMT – 4:00). Registration is free, and comes with the MP3 recording and PDF transcript of the event. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to become the 60th speaker with ThoughtLead’s “Influence in 140 Characters.” To learn more and register, click here . 7 July 2010: Melbourne, Australia Digital Sport Summit Digital Sport Summit is Australia’s premier sport and digital media event. Hear from social media pioneers who are changing the face of Australian sport. Learn how social media and mobile technology is taking fan engagement to a whole new level. Speakers on the day will cover a variety of topics including: iPhone application development for sport Convincing management of the case for social media How to monetize social media Fantasy sports Social media from an athlete’s perspective With speakers representing Essendon Football Club, Cricket Victoria, Herald Sun, Football Federation Australia and more. Digital Sport Summit will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 22 – 23 September 2010: Singapore Social Media World Forum Asia Social Media World Forum Asia is back for 2010. The event will be taking place at the larger venue – The Suntec Conference Centre – before the F1 Singapore night race. Two days of interactive and engaging conference featuring leading key figure keynotes, brand case studies, topical Q&A and debates, exhibition hall, workshops and networking. Speakers include: Blake Chandlee, VP & Commercial Director, EMEA, Facebook Nicki Kenyon, Vice President, Digital Marketing APMEA, MasterCard Reynold D’Silva, Global Brand Marketing Manager, Unilever Pooja Arora, Brand Manager, P&G Thomas Crampton, Asia-Pacific Director, 360 Digital Influence, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Lito S. German, Marketing Director, BMW Group Asia Ranjeet-Shandu Singh, Digital Project Manager, Ogilvy One Singapore Derek Yeo, Head of Marketing, Tiger Airways 5 October 2010: New York City FinovateFall FinovateFall will return to Manhattan on Tuesday, October 5 to showcase dozens of the biggest and most innovative new ideas in financial and banking technology from established leaders and hot young companies. The Fall event is the original and largest Finovate and features a single day packed with our special blend of short, fast-paced onstage demos (no slides are allowed) and intimate networking time with top executives from the innovative demoing companies. FinovateFall is a unique chance to see the future of finance and banking before your competition and find the edge you need in today’s market. Early bird registration rates are available. 29 – 30 March 2011: London Social Media World Forum Europe Social Media World Forum Europe : Two days of interactive & engaging conference featuring leading key figure keynotes, brand case studies, topical Q&A and debates, exhibition hall, workshops and networking. Social Media World Forum Europe is continuing to evolve and deliver an event which is second to none, ensuring our audience receive the maximum potential from attending our shows. New for 2011 we have introduced interactive panel discussions, live streamed debate sessions, collaborative learning, break-out group discussions, open Q&A portions in every session, open workshops, with group discussions and interactive zones within the exhibition hall. We have introduced the Online Marketing Toolbox Workshops, educating in all elements of the online marketing mix, such as SEO, Paid Search, Affiliate, Mobile & Apps. The perfect toolbox to complete your online marketing strategy. Download this entire events calendar in iCal format. Discuss

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This week’s news was all about the new iPhone, but our top story was about something completely different: Java, and whether or not you need it. We also continued our exploration of the significant Internet trends of 2010: The Internet of Things really is a series of tubes; augmented reality may save the planet; and we mapped the oil spill using the real-time Web . Read on for more. Sponsor Top Stories of the Week Who Needs Java? Probably Not You How to Jailbreak iOS 4.0 for iPhone 3G Jailbreaking iOS 4.0? How To Keep a Jailbreak For iPhone 3G or 3GS OpenDNS Launches FamilyShield, Free Parental Controls Service for Web New iPhone Software Arrives Today – Can You Run it? More coverage and analysis from ReadWriteWeb Real-Time Web How Twitter Annotations Could Bring the Real-Time and Semantic Web Together Online Language Learning Company Babbel Adds Voice Recognition Tool Mapping the Oil Spill in Real Time More Real-Time Web coverage . Don’t miss the next wave of opportunity on the Web supported by real-time technology! Get ReadWriteWeb’s report, The Real-Time Web and its Future . Augmented Reality Can Augmented Reality Help Save the Planet? More Augmented Reality coverage Augmented Reality for Marketers and Developers: Our Newest Research Report We’re pleased to announce ReadWriteWeb’s latest premium report, Augmented Reality for Marketers and Developers: Analysis of the Leaders, the Challenges and the Future . This report will help you develop a sophisticated understanding of Augmented Reality (AR), the mobile and Web technology that places data on top of a user’s view of the physical world. The research included will help you decrease your AR development time to market by learning from the first wave of early adopters. AR offers a new marketing and product paradigm for a high impact, high value customer experience. More than 1,000 AR campaigns were kicked-off last year and we expect to see many more in 2010. In this report, we profile key AR development companies, their campaigns as well as development lessons learned. For more information or to buy the report, visit here . Mobile Web iPhone 4: Your Burning Questions Answered Google Activates Android “Kill Switch,” Zaps Useless Apps Developers Betting on Android for Long-Term Success, Says Surveyy More Mobile Web coverage Internet of Things Google, GE & Others Prototype Wireless Mote to Connect Any Device to Smart Grid The Internet IS a Series of Tubes: Real-Time Mapping of the London Underground More Internet of Things coverage Check Out The ReadWriteWeb iPhone App We recently launched the official ReadWriteWeb iPhone app . As well as enabling you to read ReadWriteWeb while on the go or lying on the couch, we’ve made it easy to share ReadWriteWeb posts directly from your iPhone, on Twitter and Facebook. You can also follow the RWW team on Twitter, directly from the app. We invite you to download it now from iTunes . ReadWriteStart Our channel ReadWriteStart , sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark , is dedicated to profiling startups and entrepreneurs. Is Venture Capital Broken? Posterous and Ambition: A Lesson for Startups? Delicious Founder, AOL Exec Launch Hacker Angels ReadWriteCloud Our channel ReadWriteCloud , sponsored by VMware and Intel, is dedicated to Virtualization and Cloud Computing. Oxygen: A Desktop Network Connected to the Cloud Architects of Amazon Web Services Launch Nimbula, Promise an OS for the Cloud Weekly Poll: Is Salesforce.com Chatter Really That Unique? Does it Matter? ReadWriteEnterprise Our channel ReadWriteEnterprise is devoted to ‘enterprise 2.0′ and using social software inside organizations. Antivirus Product Testing is Changing, Whether Vendors Like it or Not 3 Up-and-Coming Collaboration Suites Google Apps Now Supports Multiple Domains Enjoy your weekend everyone. Subscribe to Weekly Wrap-up You can subscribe to the Weekly Wrap-up by RSS or by email below. RWW Weekly Wrap-up Email Subscription form: Discuss

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