Introduction to i.JAM Platform, Singapore

Do you have a killer web 2.0 or digital media idea but you cannot find people who can do the coding or facilitate the business development (or vice versa)? Where can I seek funding from the incubators assigned by MDA using the micro-financing scheme? Here is the exact solution for you: iJAM.SG. The “IDM Jump-start And Mentor” (i.JAM) initiative supports individuals and start-ups with breakthrough ideas that can be developed into innovative products and services. i.JAM is one of the initiatives from the IDM Programme. In this post, we will talk about the i.JAM platform in detail and offer some tips to how you can participate in the process.

Other than the i.JAM platform which you can access, the i.JAM team also have an interest group in Facebook. Here is the FAQ (from their site) which can help you to navigate around the site:

• 1. What is i.JAM? i.JAM aims to create an environment that best captures innovative ideas and helps turn them into viable projects. We believe that innovative ideas and R&D need not be the domain of Institutes of Higher Learning or large industry players. We have witnessed the success of individuals who have taken their ideas and created truly breakthrough products and services, giving birth to new industry sectors in the process. The i.JAM platform seeks to help refine your ideas, and match them with the knowledge of technical experts, incubators and industry mentors to help them become realised.
• 2. Why should I participate? Participate because you can make a difference in Singapore’s Interactive Digital Media (IDM) landscape. Your ideas and comments could help shape new IDM products and services. These can be further researched and developed to help Singapore’s IDM sector grow. i.JAM aims to engage each individual in a nation-wide effort to collectively conceive and create useful and practical services that impacts the world of IDM. Key industry players will act as “incubators” on the lookout for ideas with potential, and will mould these ideas into projects with commercial value.
• 3. What is an Idea and what is the number beside it? An idea can be created by anyone. It could be a brilliant concept expressed in a simple one liner or a complete business plan that took you the last 3 years to develop. We are looking for all ideas, good or bad. The number beside the idea (-”X Jam”) represents the number of votes the idea got. The number of votes reflectes the popularity of an idea. If your idea has a lot of “Jam”, you might be on to something.
• 4. How do I vote for an Idea? First, you have to be registered to vote, so that we get genuine votes and not duplicated ones. You can only vote for the same idea once, but there is no limit to the number of ideas you can vote for. Please remember to login before you vote.
• 5. How do I create an Idea? Here are 5 steps for you to do it: (a) Click on “Add New Idea”, (b) Fill in a title and summary of your idea, (c) Select either “Public” or “Private” ideas. Note that a public idea would reveal all the information you submitted to everyone and a private idea would only reveal the title and summary while the rest of the information is kept private, (d) Optional: Fill in your name and email, tag your idea (eg. “Web2.0″) and provide more details on your ideas, (e) Click “Create Idea”. (See example below)
  

• 6. How will my idea be protected from being stolen and developed by someone else? i.JAM is meant to promote the free exchange of ideas. In the process we hope that the collective wisdom of individuals will make the ideas more robust. If your idea receives a considerable amount of feedback, it is validation that your idea is a good idea and should be further developed. Ideas posted onto i.JAM must be ideas which you are willing to share freely and welcome others to build upon them. If you are afraid of your idea being stolen, it is not recommended that you post your idea on this platform. If you feel that you have the capability to develop your idea into a real product or service, please email your proposal to us directly at idm_office@mda.gov.sg.
• 7. How do I turn my idea into reality? Who will be helping me? An expert committee will evaluate the technical and business viability of the ideas posted. Mentors, incubators or technology suppliers may be assigned to support the transformation of your innovative ideas into useful applications and breakthroughs. Alternatively, your ideas may get picked up by incubators or investors who may contact you further. Also, please be patient for this evaluation of ideas to take place. Should you have any proposal which you would like to share with us urgently, please forward it to idm_office@mda.gov.sg.
• 8. There are some very nasty comments about my idea. Can you remove it? We encourage the community to discuss and debate ideas in a constructive and friendly way. Differences in opinion are expected, and could potentially provide a new perspective on how to improve upon an idea. However, rude and provocative comments will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove such comments from our site.

Recently, a few web 2.0 and student entrepreneurial groups have formed the i.JAM council and there will be a series of activities which will jumpstart the platform. So, if you are seriously looking for funding, here is the route for you to go forward: http://ijam.sg.

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