We’ve launched a new division @ 24.com, called 20FourLabs. The word “labs” has become synonymous with innovation ever since Google established its world-famous Google Labs. So this is where we’re drawing inspiration from, because we love Google.
So far 20FourLabs consists of about 27 very talented web people with a desire to take over the world 
Blue World, another well-known local startup, have joined labs and are part of our team. It’s pretty much a start-up environment, incubated within the walls of a corporate. We’re building online applications with a strong focus on mobile (wap and applications) and social networking. We’re looking for developers and web producers (site managers/product managers) to hire. We’re also partnering with universities to attract top talent. We’re looking for entrepreneurs to partner with, and we’re looking for small, hungry dev shops to work with. We’re also open to suggestions: Send them here.
Below is a presentation I recently did to MBA students from Stellenbosch University. It’s been created using Prezi which is a flash-based presentation application. It takes a bit of patience and getting used to, but it’s fun . The pics take a while to load and you move around by using the navigation arrows at the bottom right. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
When you say web producers does that include content producers online.
Glad someone’s looking seriously at the mobile space.
Gonna take a while for the country to catch up with the world i.t.o connection speeds, regardless of Seacom, so players will have to start looking at the mobile space and develop business models and products that will make this space economically viable, i.e enable entire businesses to be built purely within this space.
Viva Digipowerment. Via 20FourLabs!!
I would say that “labs” has been seen as innovative at Bell since 1925.
Google’s managed to produce a webmail client and some odd apps.
Bell got: the transistor, lasers, UNIX, C and 6 Nobel prizes.
I’d be aiming higher if I were you…
@AT@T — yeah, I guess it’s a generic term in all industries. In ours I (personally) draw inspiration from the Google. We’re in the web apps business — while I’d love us to create lasers… it’s a little off the beaten track for us
Matt, congrats. I know you’ve been working toward this for a while. I’m sure you’ll be creating some formidable stuff.
I love Prezi — I realise that wasn’t the point of this post, but it does steal the limelight a bit.