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More on Michael Tchong

Michael was born on the Caribbean island of Aruba, is half-Chinese and speaks Dutch natively ― factors that have contributed to his global vision. Prior to Ubercool, Michael founded five successful companies including:

• Trendscape, 2003-2004 ― In January 2003, Michael launched Trendscape, which published a weekly newsletter, Trendsetters.com, aimed at trend- watchers and trendsetters. In November of that year, Trendscape published its first trend report, Trendscape 2004, which documented the most important trends shaping this decade. In October 2004, Michael sold Trendsetters.com to Iconoculture, a Minneapolis-based trend consulting firm.

At Future Trends 2003 in Miami’s South Beach, Michael sold the first copies of Trendscape 2004, a 104-page trend report packed with more than 140 photographs that graphically portrayed the world’s most significant trends.

• ICONOCAST, 1997-2002 ― Michael’s previous start-up, ICONOCAST, a weekly online newsletter aimed at the emerging wave of Internet marketing, was sold in 1998 to Imagine Media, now part of The Future Network.

In 1997, Michael founded ICONOCAST, a popular 50,000-circulation weekly newsletter, which quickly became the preferred read of Internet marketers worldwide, recognized by a May 1998 Tenagra Internet Marketing Excellence award.

ICONOCAST hosted the world’s largest online marketing conference by revenue, Web Attack!, featuring Dennis Rodman, RuPaul and Cindy Margolis, the “most downloaded woman on the Internet.”

• CyberAtlas, 1994-1996 ― Realizing the potential of the Web in 1994, Michael founded Interstellar, a consulting and media company, which published CyberAtlas, the preeminent online market research site. After just four months online, CyberAtlas was acquired by I/PRO (Internet Profiles Corp.), which later on sold the brand to Mecklermedia (JupiterMedia).

CyberAtlas, the Internet’s first broadly recognized research brand, was sold to Mecklermedia in August 1998.

• Atelier Systems, 1992-1993 ― In 1992, Michael founded Atelier Systems Inc., which targeted the nascent category of “personal communication systems.” After raising US$1.2 million in venture capital, Atelier developed Hello, an innovative personal communication manager for the Macintosh, which featured an easy-to-use graphics user interface (GUI) plus an extensible toolbar, both still trendsetting features to this day.

Atelier Systems’ Hello used a slick interface to simplify maintaining contacts and correspondence, while offering an optional ability to seamlessly fax and e-mail address-book entries via a modular architecture. Apple’s Newton, Palm’s Pilot PDA and Microsoft Outlook all use concepts pioneered in Hello.

• MacWEEK, 1987-1991 ― His intuitive sense that the Macintosh would become the tool of choice for the graphic arts industry lifted this weekly’s annual revenues from less than US$500,000 to US$18 million in just four years. Ziff-Davis acquired the 85,000-circulation MacWEEK in 1988, a little over a year after its launch. In 1990, Advertising Age named MacWEEK one of the 10 fastest-growing publications in America. As founder and publisher, Michael gained operational experience managing a 68-person staff.

Michael solidified MacWEEK’s market position by inviting leading artists, such as Peter Max and Keith Haring, to create their first-ever artworks on the Macintosh. Applying early peer pressure helped the Mac become the overwhelming choice of designers it is today.

Whether personal computing, home computing, desktop publishing, personal communication, Internet publishing or online marketing, Michael has always been at the leading edge. Now you too can enjoy a unique opportunity to ride Michael’s coattails as he helps you and your audiences uncover the hidden opportunities in emerging trends.

Programs

Ubertrend Introduction
Analysis of lifestyle Ubertrends: Casual, Complexity Nervosa, Generation X-tasy, Fountain of Youth, Multitasking, Retro Technology, Time Compression, Voyeurgasm, WAF, Wireless.
Duration: 45 minutes to one hour

Tailored Presentation
Designed for specific industries, requiring research and delivery of a custom
presentation, including preliminary teleconference and/or on-site meeting.
Duration: one to two hours

Workshops
Working with Ubertrends or industry-specific trend analysis, and customized
workshop tools.
Duration: half, full, two or three day sessions

Michael's programs are all tailored to your group's needs and goals. He can speak on a wide array of topics in the internet space including Web 2.0 and social marketing. Please contact us for more information on booking Michael Tchong.