The internet is a wonderful medium for research. The problem is there are so many different opinions and so many qualified commentators doing so can result in more questions than answers.

It all started, when there was a documentary, The Great Global Warming Swindle, which argued that C02 was not responsible for global warming. The programme makers trotted out various Nobel prize winning experts and presented all kinds of impressive looking graphs.

However, the experience was deeply dissatisfying because rather than settle things it left a whole host of questions hanging. What’s missing, where the big, gaping, hole lies, is the ability to see how one side responds to the seemingly solid argument of the other. Debatewise is designed to fix this.

Here is the rest of the conversation with David.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve started a variety of businesses over the last thirteen years. I founded NooMedia, one of the earliest UK web design businesses, in 1995 and have always been fascinated and impressed by the desire people have to share what they know.

Recent projects have included 23, a company which analysed the comments on forums and blogs and let organisations know what their customers say about them. Clients included Her Majesty’s Government and Channel 4′s Big Brother.

How does Debatewise compare against Q & A sites like Yahoo! answers?

I think the fundamental difference between us and other debating type sites is twofold; we allow responses to be collated into points and we divide the responses into For and Against.

At the moment if you want to find out about euthanasia you either need to go to a few different sites and hold the various positions in your head. Or you find one site and try and pick the gold from often long threads. Even then, it’s very frustrating when one side raised a point which goes unanswered by the other.

At Debatewise a debate about euthanasia is split into the arguments for and against. The case for each is strengthened by anyone who wishes to contribute and by so doing, a definitive argument evolves. People uncertain of their position can read both sides and make up their mind safe in the knowledge they have the best information to hand.

What do you think is the difference between startups in UK and in the Valley – in terms of exposure, funding, adoptation rate?

I think that Valley start-ups have some major in-built advantages; essentially those of a larger immediate audience and a more developed ecosystem with greater access to skilled staff and experienced investors.

But I also believe the UK has advantages too. We are incredibly creative in Britain, it’s one benefit of rubbish weather. We’re smart and we’ve got a rich and varied culture. London is probably the greatest world capital in terms of the sheer range of things it offers and the diversity of people here. All of which comes in very handy for a global medium.

And we have a point to prove too. I happen to think that London is really coming into its own and we’ll see a lot more companies like Last.FM and Bebo start to make their mark.

Any news on funding/feature updates and some scoop on the revenue model?

Lots of new features in the pipeline such as karma scores for contributors, more editing control over the debates, a (useful) Facebook app and plug-ins for forums and blogs. Fundamentally though we’ve put the site up in an imperfect state in order to learn more about our visitors. We’ll create the things they tell us they want.

We have a few different ideas for revenue streams but our fundamental desire is to build something great. If we do that I’m sure we can find a way of repaying investors.

Recently, people have started talking about the need for a new “wikipedia for data”. Your thoughts on this? Do you think debatewise is already on track for this?

My understanding is that a Wikipedia for data is a repository for code. Of which I am sure there is a need. Debatewise is designed to be a repository for opinion. Of which I really hope there is a need.

Any advice for first time entrepreneurs?

All you need is intelligence. The intelligence to believe in yourself. And the intelligence to work hard.

Thanks David for your time. On behalf of our readers, we wish you good luck with this new venture of yours.

Readers, what do you think about debatewise? Do give it a spin and let us know.

Tell us about your failed Google interview  and the reason behind the startup

I had come up with the idea for Skimbit many years ago, years before the Web 2.0 boom began, when I imagined what  might solve the problems I encountered when I organised group holidays or researched the purchase of a TV. However, I didn’t see how it could ever be a business, so I let the idea lie dormant. I knew I wanted to start a business, and tried lots of things, with little success. I had been living in London for many years, and then decided to return to Sydney to spend time with my family. My solemn vow to myself was that I would never work as an employee again, so I did some contract work while working out what I wanted to do. Then I got an offer to apply for a Product Manager job with Google. It sounded like an amazing job, and to work for Google would have been undeniably fun. But it was counter to my vow.

What was I to do?
I decided to try out for it anyway, so thus went through the series of interviews… Five in total over many weeks. I was still doubtful as to whether I wanted the job, but persevered. In the final interview, amongst other things I was asked to come up with a product idea and explain how you would develop its functionality. I spontaneously decided to describe this idea I had had, and spoke passionately about it. However, I didn’t have the job, and a big part of me was so relieved. It hit me that what I had described during the interview was a brilliant idea, and I truly believed it, and darn it, I was going to give it a go! And that was the start of  Skimbit!

How do you categorize skimbit?

I have been calling Skimbit a ‘social decision-making tool’, by which I mean the ability to research and make decisions, with the help of others. I appreciate this is not a commonly used term yet, so sometimes I describe Skimbit as a combination of social shopping and social bookmarking.

Any news on funding/new customers?

I have been seeking funding now for about a month and a half, and its been going really well. The challenge is of course its a new concept, so I’m having to prove the concept as well as myself, which is hard, particularly as I don’t have a business partner. But the feedback has been positive, and am hoping to close this funding round shortly.

Any happy moments to share?

Despite the challenges, this experience has been the most satisfying and exciting of my life. Highlights include being selected for Mashable’s top Social Shopping sites, being selected for WebMission 08, and meeting incredible and smart people who have been so helpful and supportive.

Share a mistake that has costed a lot to Skimbit?

Goodness, so many! Being an entrepreneur is about taking risks, and being prepared and strong enough to cope with the repercussions. I think if I could turn back time, I would have definitely gotten a business partner, doing it on my own has been SO hard. I also have made emotional decisions when it comes to staffing, which perhaps I should not have made. But you know, you can’t look back and have regrets, you just have to accept these are the conditions with which you have to work and succeed.

Current team structure at Skimbit?

Currently it is me here in London, and my developers in Romania. I have also got a Finance Director here in London who advises and helps me, and an Online Marketing Director who has just joined to help bring traffic and drive revenue to the site. I have also hired an Operations Manager who will be starting in May, and will be hiring a developer, product manager, and marketing manager shortly.

How easy/difficult to run a startup and hire people here in the UK?

I think its easier than in other places (ie. Australia where I started Skimbit), as there is a real community, and an infrastructure that can support entrepreneurs, and a large pool of potential employees. However, its not a cheap place to start a business, so you have to really leverage the strengths of your environment to counter the disadvantages. I imagine it would be better in Silicon Valley, but I am passionate about building London to be as inviting and appealing a base for entrepreneurs.

Any advice for first time entrepreneurs?

Network your little heart out – there are so many people out there keen to help and give you advice, and so much to learn. You cannot assume you know it all – there is just so much to learn, and so much potential to improve. And surround yourself with loving and supportive friends/family, because you WILL have downtimes, and its so tempting to give up, and it is often your friends love and support that helps keep you motivated.

Future direction of skimbit? like upcoming features etc?

We have a very exciting roadmap of features. We want to make it easier to skim pages, give more variety of ways to add skimbits, to view your project page, and more ways to collaborate over decisions.

Thanks Alicia for this exciting interview. On behalf of our readers, we wish your startup All the very Best!

Readers if you have any questions for Alicia or about Skimbit, use the comments section below to post your queries.