Industry guest speakers present their thoughts and the group try to reach consensus on that desirable concept of sustainable competitive advantage. WAPwednesday aims to provide an environment where these and other strategic issues can be addressed, where professionals with a shared interest in m-commerce can meet each other as well as to find resources. The first meeting was held on 24 February and the most recent one, held on 25 April, attracted 240 people and a great deal of media interest. WAPwednesdays are already taking place in other European cities. WAPwednesday forums have already been staged in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Plans are at an advanced stage for events in France, Italy and Germany.
For example, as I approach the end of the MBA now I go to meetings with investors or strategic partners during breaks and am able to be back for the next lecture, something I could never have done if I was elsewhere. The first in the UK dedicated wireless commerce accelerator fund was announced on 15 May 2000 with the formation of Atom Wireless, established to invest in m-commerce startups. It has already made its first acquisition, buying 50 per cent of WAPwednesday, Europe's leading m-commerce forum. Yesterday its founder Grant Lemke joined the board of Atom Wireless.