#Innovation is  both the “credo”that pushes startups to create new things that potentially can change the world and the continuous challenge faced by  incumbents  that want to keep their market lead.

Indeed, #innovation has become the major discussion topic in the creative industry and in the industry of contents,  which are exposed today, more than ever, to new changes and different potential paths. This is the main reason that pushed the main Italian newspapers, Warnerbross, Sony Music and other big players to reconsider startups disruptive activities as one trend to follow. The ability to lower barriers with them and to establish a direct dialog will probably define who, among them, can maintain a leading market position .

For all these reasons, in order to discuss and better understand the important contribution that digital startups can bring to the industry of culture and contents, Google Italy is organizing the first “Google Big Tent Italy” event held on July 4th in Rome. As partner of the event,  MTB has invited 5 Italian startups (a very good mix!), which will be attending the event with their stands.

They represent a good sample of the disruption that new technologies can bring to the publishing, news, TV and radio industries.

One is based out of Palo Alto (WatchUp), one in Italy (iLikeTV), while the other 3 have both operations in Italy and Silicon Valley showing the growing trend to approach a global market from day one.

Companies descriptions follow.
Come and visit them @Google Big Tent, Rome 4th of July (4th of July fireworks are included)

Spreaker is a broadcasting studio that fits in your pocket. You can talk, add sound effects, add a base, and broadcast live from anywhere in the world.

iLIKE.TV is the first TV channel fully based on real time participation and on social interaction.

Watchup lets you create your daily newscast out of the world’s most trusted news channels. All on your iPad.

Timbuktu makes mobile toys for creative learning. Timbuktu Magazine is the first newsmagazine for children specifically designed for the iPad, which connects kids and grown-ups.

map2app is a web platform for creating beautiful mobile travel guides, for iPhone, Android and HTML5 enabled devices. It allows destination marketers to turn their content into an app in an easy and fast way, at a great price.