• Visit iManifest USA
• Visit iManifest Japan

It was bold of our Japanese brothers-in-arms to announce their pledge in a national business newspaper. The cost of such a public declaration sends a clear message of intent to the market and makes this initiative standout from other ‘flash-in-the-pan’ endeavours. While Europe has several pre-eminent business newspapers from which to choose, it has been decided that the Financial Times has the best pedigree and broadest reach in Europe. The rate card for a full-page advert with European distribution is £69,800 (€81,000). We need vendors from the IBM i community in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to come forward and agree to participate in funding and forming iManifest EMEA.

Aside from agreeing the objectives of the group and the mechanics of its formation and management, obtaining seed funding and nominating board members are the most important first steps. The coalition will be a toothless tiger unless we can quickly raise, in principal, the circa. £70,000 required to fund the placement of a full-page advert in the FT.

The EMEA Funding Model

Assume 50 founding members from the IBM i vendor community (ISVs, SIs, Consultants, Media Publishers, Event Organisers etc). Some major players must be willing to stump-up serious money to overcome inertia. Like the business model of an airline, the economy seats would be unaffordable [to the masses] were it not for the patronage of the few business-class passengers. So passengers on the inaugural flight of iManifest EMEA (an advert in the FT) can buy tickets in one of three classes:

• 3 seats in Business class (10% of the advert cost)
• 6 seats in Premium Economy (5% of the advert cost)
• 40 seats in Economy (1% of the advert cost)

This ‘aircraft’ has 50 seats (because we all like round numbers) so the model leaves 1 spare seat that will be offered at no-charge to a worthy individual or organisation that the founding members deem beneficial to have on-board. A nomination and voting procedure for the ‘free seat’ (1 member, 1 vote) will follow directly after the 49th seat has been sold. Once all 50 passengers are on-board we will be cleared for take-off.

The format of the advert will be similar to that used in Japan with the name of each Founding Member listed. It is proposed that the 9 largest contributors (those purchasing seats in Business and Premium Economy) form the Transition Board. The Transition Board will meet in-person within 30 days of placing the advert and within 90 days of that meeting the Bylaws will be agreed and published. The Transition Board will be dissolved and members will then put themselves up for election for a 1-year term (1 member, 1 vote from the 50 founders). After that, who knows? Let’s channel our energy and enthusiasm into getting this bird off the ground, rather than drawing-up and filing a complex flight plan.

So, who’s with us?

You may either declare your interest and financial pledge by joining and commenting directly in the LinkedIn iManifest Group (if you want to make a public declaration) or send a private email with your commitment or question to .