Start Up Camp is almost finished.  We know this because Bart is wearing a tie.  He is the only one-the bleary-eye participants are far too busy to care about dressing up for the party tonight.

Each of the five teams have become experts in their 'micro-niche' and are working to build the features and functionality that will appeal to their target audience.

Today is all about putting on the finishing touches on their sites and telling the world on the internet that forums for new relationships now exist.  The marketing and communications folks are furiously twittering, creating Facebook sites, sending press releases and blogging.  Designs are being optimised and the usability/testing freaks are trying to break things. . .

Web 2.0 is all about communities-building them and, eventually, (hopefully!) monetising them based on the aspirations, needs, and desire they share.  It is a marvellously simple concept-the ultimate exercise in democracy and free-market economics. 

Ultimately, the point of Start Up Camp is journey itself.  Each participant is challenging themselves technically in their chosen area.  However, I can actually see myself as part of all of the communities that are building built, which, I think is an excellent outcome.  It remains to be seen which (if any) of these sites will continue after Start Up Camp Canberra.  But, here is how I would use them:

Rate The Loo:    This sounds like a bunch of silliness, but managing one's continence is pretty fundamental.  As the mother of an 18 month old daughter, I fret about her comfort during long car trips and the availability of clean and convenient facilities.  I'm usually not the one doing the driving, so I'd have the luxury of using my mobile phone to find and subsequently rate a loo for my fellow travelling families.  Once I've sorted my daughter, like any traveller, I'm inclined to stop for a feed or a rest.  So, being able get deals from local businesses would appeal to me as a user.

JobsDoneNetwork:  This community is designed a clearinghouse for individuals to get help with small and large jobs.  I'm quite partial to this concept because it is a Web 2.0 spin on what used to exist in the 'olden days' in most communities.  For instance, if a neighbour was hoping to clear a bit of his property, it would not be uncommon to have a number of neighbours come along and lend a hand.   Today, even in the nicest suburbs, individuals and families have highly individualised experiences.  This site would go a long way to knocking down some of the barriers that we have as a community-asking for and receiving offers help, with no expectation of a return.  I definitely like this concept. 

HereNThen:  Imagine that you are in a new location and have a bit of a wait-a bus stop, taxi rank, doctor's office.  Or you could even be on holiday in a new city and you find an interesting location.  HereNThen allows you to instantly find out what people have said or are saying near this location.   The initial version of this site aggregates Twitter feeds based on locations.  However, with a bit more work, you could extend the functionality to make it more contextual based on actual location.  So, I could be standing at a bus stop and read a story that one wrote their about having their first kiss on that very spot!

8What:  This project has been a great experience for the participants.  It has a good level of technical difficulty.   There are literally hundreds of millions of recipe sites on the internet, so the unique value proposition required to attract, build, and maintain a community is yet to be seen.  However, as a avid foodie, the next time I have a mandarin, some flour and avocado, I'll give 8what a try and see what happens.

Family Wrap:  This one is a personal favourite.  My family lives in the US and they are always asking after the likes and sizes of my little girl.  They do like to send gifts, unfortunately, by the time they actually go out and buy it and ship it to Australia, it is usually the wrong size and the wrong season.  Also, because they aren't part of our everyday lives, they tend to buy things and brands that don't really suit are tastes or lifestyle.   Family wrap is a social networking place for families to share information about their likes and dislikes.  I will build a profile of each of my family members (e.g. sizes, favourite colours, brands, dislikes) and then my family members can subscribe.  Additionally, Grandma and Pops can get an email in their in-box a few weeks before my daughter's birthday with information about what she needs and some targeted advertising to match.  I think this concept is a solid one.  It will be very interesting to see whether the group decides to pursuit themselves after Start Up Camp Canberra.

Tonight, the wrap up presentations begin at 5.  Come along and celebrate the achievements of the participants!