Start Up One Stop

3/5/13

Bonnie — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:08:37 +0000

Good morning, All, Two weeks ago, Marissa Mayer issued a directive that Yahoo would no longer be permitted to work from home and it caused quite a stir. “Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together,” the memo, which [...]

2/26/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:11:07 +0000

Good morning, All, They’re called angels for a reason: there you are, more or less unproven as an entrepreneur, attempting to get your company off the ground and all you seem to hit are brick walls. Suddenly, an early stage investor appears, as if from above, and your whole world changes: you’re enterprise now has a fighting chance. But how do you get to them? There’s the angel list, of course, and the New York Angels and the Arc Angels. Angels tend to show up at events, too – especially pitch events, if you know who they are and how to approach them. Another idea? Bring on an advisor or two who are subject matter experts, and if you can, find ones who have been successful entrepreneurs. Keep them involved and updated. Prove yourself and one of them might well turn into your angel. A bit of history: contrary to popular misconception, Tony Hsieh did not found Zappos. It was Nick Swinmurn, who was not having an easy time of it getting his venture going, and was introduced to Hsieh, who’d just sold his company, LinkExchange, to Microsoft. Hsieh came on as an investor and eventually, the two became co-CEOs. By the time Amazon acquired the company in 2009 for $1.2 billion, Hsieh was CEO and Swinmurn Founder, and doubt that he’s complaining. How to attract an angel: 1. Target a few who focus on your space. Drop them a note. And keep them updated on your progress (that’s how Boxee get Fred Wilson to invest: it took 18 months of hearing ‘no’, but Avner sent Wilson updates. Monthly. Without fail. It worked). 2. Be able to pitch your company in 30 seconds: sometimes you run into a potential angel investor serendipitously, they’re in a hurry, and that’s all the time you have to grab their attention. Be prepared 3. Be able to do a two-minute pitch: we all go to pitch events; that’s often all the time you’re allotted, so have your presentation down cold. Sometimes there’s time left over at those events and the organizer will invite audience members to give their pitch. There are investors in the room: go for it and again, be prepared. 4. Be able to do a 30-minute pitch. Once an angel/early stage investor has decided to meet with you, great and you won’t have all day. Be able to pitch your company in 30 minutes, making sure to hit all of your points, and be prepared to answer all of his/her questions. In fact, try to address their potential concerns in your pitch. Puts you in a stronger position. 5. KNOW YOUR COMPETITORS. We know that sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many entrepreneurs hit the big ones – and don’t do their research on their fellow startups in the space. 6. Get them hooked in the first few sentences of your pitch. Have a strong start and a strong finish – something they’ll remember. That’s what will et them hooked – and leave them with a great impression. 7. Go to open investor hours. We see them posted all the time. That angel/early stage investor might not be in your exact sweet spot, so before you do sign up willy-nilly, look them up on linkedin, see who they’re connected to/know (if possible) and make sure to check out the ‘People also viewed’ on the right side of the page: you can often find some very useful intel there. 8. Ask friends and associates for introductions. They might know someone for you whom they didn’t even realize might be a useful introduction to you – until you ask. 9. As you’re befriending someone (not ‘friending; that’s different), ask them about their backgrounds: where they’re from originally, about their families; what their parents did for a living; their own work histories. You know, you just might find a subject matter expert/advisor in that person’s past – someone whom even he/she hadn’t considered, since it might be a connection from the past - that just might help to secure your future. You’d be surprised – and few people to do this. Oh, and make this a conversation, not an interrogation. Angels are usually experience entrepreneurs themselves. They tend to know what it takes to start a business, build them, and build them successfully. And always do your due diligence: check them out before you hand over the keys to the kingdom. There are fallen angels, too, and you do want to be careful not to make the devil’s bargain. Onward and forward. Speaking of getting funding - Our next panel/networking event is March 12^th: Adults in the Room: Accelerators and How They Can Benefit Your Company. We all know that the Series A crunch has made it tougher for startups to attract financing. Securing investment in the seed and early stages is critical, and from whom you secure it matters, too. Accelerator programs are an excellent option for early stage entrepreneurs to consider: they offer a vast array of benefits that will literally propel your startup from conception to a viable business. They offer classes to help you shape your business and get it investor-ready. Notable industry experts as mentors are available to help when you get stuck. The structure and format of accelerators are among their greatest values. They also give you some funding – and come Demo Day, put you in front of the right investors to help get you to the next level. But what does it take to make it through the door? Join us to get an inside perspective on accelerators. We’ll hear from three top accelerator programs: Murat Aktihanoglu - ER Accelerator (which has an application deadline coming up) Mark Wachen- DreamIt Accelerator (their deadline application will be later that week, too) Kelly Hoey - Women Innovatate Mobile Accelerator (who will be starting their next class quite soon) and from Doug Krugman (WebThriftStore), a serial entrepreneur and former VC, who decided to launch his latest venture by going through an accelerator program (ER Accelerator). There must have been a reason for it. Come find out – and hear about accelerator programs, from both sides of the coin. Note: panelists will introduce themselves and tell us about their accelerators/background – then you’re free to ask them whatever you’d like to know. Refreshments will be served and insights will be offered, and our special thanks to Orrick for hosting. RSVP here. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Startup Bus to SXSW. Deadline: As soon as humanly possible. You and a team of strangers, on a bus, at 60 mph, have 72 hours to conceive, build and launch a startup. Go! Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU NEW StartupChile, Deadline March 11^th. $40K goes a long way in Chile. Think about it. Then apply here. Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ ER Accelerator now accepting applications for Summer 2013. Early application deadline: March 7^th. Final deadline: April 19^th. $40,000 investment 4-month program. Follow-on investment in future rounds. 200+ awesome mentors, including yours truly. Apply now. DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ WIM Behind The Pitch, deadline to apply to pitch, March 22. Getting funded is challenging - and Behind The Pitch focuses on understanding and navigating the funding market, each quarter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Pick Your Angel Investors Wisely. Traditional venture investors have created programs to invest small amounts of money in large numbers of startups. Unfortunately, as seed investing moves from a boutique practice to more mass market, its value is diminished dramatically. Choose wisely. Step-by-Step: How to get in touch with anyone for BD / Sales. Actually, good advice on figuring out how to get to anyone. Why Big Companies Can’t Innovate. What’s striking about Fast Company’s 2013 list of the world’s 50 most innovative companies is the relative absence of large, established firms. Instead the list is dominated by the big technology winners of the past 20 years that have built innovation into their DNA (Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, Microsoft), and a lot of smaller, newer start-ups. The Baby Boomers are aging. Fighting it tooth and nail, but time marches on. But now tech can change that, too: How to post to Facebook, Twitter after you die. Finish is a straightforward and effective iOS app for managing tasks with deadlines. We all have deadlines. Download is $0.99. Thought it could be helpful. Don’t Tell Me Your History In Chronological Order. As a recruiting, I’ve been telling people that for years, and thank you, Brad Feld. People want to know your skill sets and strong points. Hit the most saleant ones first. And read on. The things an entrepreneur will never tell you. It’s the things we all go through and don’t talk about. Our next SOS gathering might have to be an Entrepreneurs Anonymous meeting. Thinking about it. Yea? Nay? Last week, Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer announced that employees will no longer be allowed to work from home. If you’re curious, full memo is here. Just for the record, lest we forget, she did institute free lunches not too long ago, so let it not be said that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Oh, wait… Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us for now. Hope to see you at our event on March 12th remember: our event will be just before the DreamIt deadline, and not long before the ER Accelerator final deadline for applications. Good time to meet the principals and get some invaluable insights about what they're looking for, this time around. Also, bonniefoods (that's me) will be at startupalooza this evening, so try to stop by! And now, as always, help is on the way...

2/19/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:10:33 +0000

Good morning, All, Yes, there are three categories: Entrepreneurs build businesses Wantrepreneurs are in it for the cool factor and are the online equivalent to people who look at houses and never pull the trigger. Realtors have a term for it: ‘playing dolls.’ Nontrepreneurs - there can be so many definitions here. We think of companies like color for this category: they’re the darlings of the VC world/tech press who raise $40+ million and have absolutely nothing to show for it, with the possible exception of various upgrades to the founders lifestyles. The companies die on the vine or the investors step in and put adults in charge. We did wonder if Mark Zuckerberg was going to fall into this category, and then something like this comes along and there’s a lesson to be learned: Facebook is testing ‘Buy Tickets’ links for events, but will it get into the ticketing business? [Updated]. He did build a huge global community; he did make billions in the IPO. But could FB be a sustainable business? For a long time, Facebook has looked like six actors in search of an author. They’re experimenting with charging $1 to send a message to a stranger. Google+ is free, so why spend the money? Not so easy to turn a feature that was a freemium into a premium. But getting into the ticketing business makes sense: Facebook is a killer app for event planning – but then we go to Eventbrite or even the new Doitinperson (yes, that is the link to our next SOS event, on March 12^th) or ticketmaster to make the purchase. Good move on the company’s part, should they decide to do it (and looks like it’s a go), and it makes perfect sense: many people use FB to organize events, or to at least notify their friends/acquaintances about them: why not build in a ticket service and preserve their gated community? And monetize a feature that is already a big part of their platform. Think about it: you're building your company and can’t be all things to all people, but do you have a feature that your users tend to gravitate to more often: there’s your premium. Actually there is a #4. Gonetrepreneurs are entrepreneurs who have left the US to participate in accelerator programs elsewhere, or simply due to the US tax code and all of the regulations being imposed on businesses here. (See the first press piece below for more on this). New York City in particular is not as startup friendly as the press would have you believe. Yes, the investors are here, but the city itself is anything but startup friendly: high rents, taxes, insurance and costs of incorporation itself and numerous regulations. And this is why we’re losing some of our best and brightest, who have just had enough; who don’t feel like tithing a huge part of their earnings to the government. They're outta here! Onward - in their cases, outward - and forward. Our next SOS Networking+Panel event is Adults in the Room: Accelerators and How They Can Benefit Your Company, on March 12^th. It’s a tough year for funding, and not much easier to get into an accelerator. They offer classes to help you shape your business and get it investor-ready. There’s always a mentor available to help when you get stuck. But what does it take to make it through the door? We’ll hear from three accelerator programs (Murat Aktihanoglu - ER Accelerator; Mark Wachen- DreamIt Accelerator; Kelly Hoey - Women Innovatate Mobile Accelerator) and a first-time entrepreneur (Sharmeen Mitha-Sehgal – AppyCouple) who came from a long career in corporate America, and still managed to beat the odds by getting into ER Accelerator. So what’s the special sauce? Come find out – and hear it from both sides of the coin. Refreshments will be served and insights will be offered, and our thanks to Orrick for hosting. RSVP here. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events NEW TechLaunch NJ, deadline February 22^nd. Participants in the incubator’s 16-week program will get co-working space at Montclair State University, infusions of legal and accounting know-how and (perhaps most importantly) up to $25,000 in seed funding to get the project off the ground. But you’d better be prepared to stay in New Jersey - TechLaunch is looking for startups that will stick around for awhile and help boost the state’s economy. NEW The Startup Bus to SXSW. Deadline: As soon as humanly possible. You and a team of strangers, on a bus, at 60 mph, have 72 hours to conceive, build and launch a startup. Go! Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ ER Accelerator now accepting applications for Summer 2013. Early application deadline: March 7^th. Final deadline: April 19^th. $40,000 investment 4-month program. Follow-on investment in future rounds. 200+ awesome mentors, including yours truly. Apply now. DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ NEW WIM Behind The Pitch, deadline to apply to pitch, March 22. Getting funded is challenging - and Behind The Pitch focuses on understanding and navigating the funding market, each quarter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Speaking of gonetrepreneurs…Cisco Won't Buy Any US Companies Or Hire Any US Workers Until The Tax Code Is Changed. That's a blow, as Cisco has historically been a company that acquires like crazy. Cisco is not the only company hoarding cash overseas to avoid taxes. U.S. companies have about $1.7 trillion offshore. For instance, Microsoft keeps about 87 percent of its $66.6 billion stored outside the U.S.; Oracle, 80 percent of its $31.6 billion; and Apple about 68 percent of its $121.3 billion. And you wonder why there are so many global tech hubs. Is The Government Telling The Truth When It Says Your Data Is Secure? The government doesn’t need to break or crack the encryption. They are the government. They can compel you in many other ways to just turn over your acess codes, or just get them through social engineering. Obama, Cybersecurity, And The Return of CISPA. In his State of the Union, Obama stated, "Congress must act as well, by passing legislation to give our government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks.” On Wednesday members of the House of Representatives reintroduced CISPA (Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act), the highly controversial legislation that saw heavy opposition and online protest last year for its failure to protect the very privacy rights that the President's current executive order claims to protect. If enacted, this would give Federal agencies a blank check to search our private data. Our once "unalienable rights" as Americans are starting to look more and more alienated. And you’d be surprised which companies are backing it. Read on. Five Tools To Protect Your Privacy Online. Hardly a month goes by without some major action against Internet users… from Obama’s ‘kill switch’, to ACTA, SOPA and PIPA, to stasi tactics against people like Kim Dotcom. Online privacy is becoming more important by the day. And nobody is going to give it to you, you have to take steps yourself to secure it. 5 reasons mobile will disrupt journalism like the Internet did a decade ago. magine being able to rewind to the 1990s and help your news organization make key decisions — and create new habits — to help prevent a landslide of layoffs and enable the business to thrive on the Internet. That’s the opportunity we have today with mobile, the second tidal wave of change about to collide with the news industry.

The 4 Personality Types Every Startup Needs. Anyone can have a killer startup idea, but in order to make that idea succeed you’ll need an unbeatable team. Crafting the perfect team is an art. And one that needs constant refinement…

How To Hire Great Business Development People. They’re critical to every business. But how do you tell the good from the bad, before it potentially gets ugly? Some ideas matter, just not the ones you think. Startup wisdom holds that startup ideas don't matter too much because execution is everything. Within execution though, there are ideas that matter lurking. It is those ideas I want to unpack a little. Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us for now. Hope to see you at one SMW or other this week, or at our event on March 12th, and remember: our event will be just before the DreamIt deadline, and not long before the ER Accelerator final deadline for applications. Think about it! Until then, as always, help is on the way...

2/12/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:09:50 +0000

Good morning, All, So said Kelley Boyd, who spoke at our first SOS speaker event of the year (The Lean Movement: What You Need to Do – And Why You Probably Won’t Do It.) It really was a great presentation (sorry we didn’t record it – but we will try to have a video available for our next event, for those of you in far-off places). It was only one of the many points she covered, and although she didn’t cover this one until the end, we’re glad it was there, her point being that people talk the talk, because they can’t walk the walk. Try to be better coordinated: you learned how to walk and talk by the time you were, what, two? Apply those principles to your business and maybe, just maybe, you won't fall down. We work in an industry rife with people who fake it till they make it. In fact, it’s a mantra for many - and it detracts from us all. In any other industry they were be marked as scammers or grifters. Or people who don’t fully understand their space and the possible repercussions of what they’re building (privacy? That’s sooo 90s. NOT). Trust me: I’ve learned a lot since founding bonniefoods. A lot of our products are gluten free – a very popular buzz word these days and a category that has made many a johnny-come-lately wealthy. All well and good, but gluten-free bakers have replaced wheat flour with rice flour and potato starch and consider: would you sit down to snack on a bowl of mashed potatoes and rice topped with sugar, chocolate and nuts? We don’t use rice flour and potato starch as a wheat replacement BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT A HEALTHY COMBINATION, not to mention that they’re higher in carbohydrates than is wheat – and a type 2 epidemic waiting to happen. THIMK (sic) You can still change the world without trying to change the world. Kelley used the example of Evernote, which is simply a replacement for pencil and paper. And the person who added wheels to suitcases? A simple stroke of genius, and changed the way we travel. The Lisa nearly killed Apple Computer. Does anyone remember MSFT’s Bob? It was relegated to a pop up paperclip. Not easy to be an innovator, but sometimes you can get there by keeping it simple, keeping it real, having the courage of your convictions, being able to walk the walk, and stay the course, one foot in front of the other. We leave you with our favorite quote from Kelley's presentation: you don't want to be the smartest person in the room: you want to be the richest person in the room. Cheers to that! Onward and forward. Our next event will be March 12th, tentatively entitled: Adults in the Room: Accelerators and How They Can Benefit Your Company. More info to come next week, so stay tuned! Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events NEW Lean Launch Ventures LaunchPad Program, deadline: February 15^th. The curriculum is based on the Lean LaunchPad from from Steve Blank and Bob Dorf. Bob is also an LLV advisor. The program is run as a flipped-class room in a workshop like format combined with a deep mentoring pool. The explicit goal for the course is to develop an MVP ready for customer validation. The program will kickoff early March at the Stamford Innovation Center, CT and run for 12 weeks, ending with a Demo Day for investors. LLV offers stipends of $20K to $25K for companies that successfully complete defined milestones. Feel free send email to info@LLVentures.co with any questions, and if you need a bit more time with your application, do contact them, as they can be a bit flexible. Reinventing NYC’s public pay phones, deadline February 18^th to submit your design. More information here: http://bit.ly/YxXenH For the record, public pay phones were a crucial link for New Yorkers during Hurricane Sandy Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ ER Accelerator now accepting applications for Summer 2013. Early application deadline: March 7^th. Final deadline: April 19^th. $40,000 investment 4-month program. Follow-on investment in future rounds. 200+ awesome mentors, including yours truly. Apply now. DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Beware of Ballers on a Budget. Which Mark Suster defines as people who are at every conference. Always on stage. Back stage. At the parties. Instagramming their pictures from London. Dublin. Korea. Mexico. Panels. Talking about changing the world. But they haven’t actually done it. Fake it till you make it, by any other name. Why is venture capital, the industry that funds innovation, so very un-innovative? Doesn’t have to be, according to Josh Kopelman of First Round Capital. What is someone going to stop doing when they start using your product? When you’re building a new product, you’re often thinking about all the new things people are going to be able to do with it. Now they can do this, now they can do that. Exciting! The better question to ask: What are people going to stop doing once they start using your product? What does your product replace? What are they switching from? How did they do the job before your product came along? A-ha! That’s when you’re on to something. Zerofund: An innovative platform to kickstart Greece’s startup scene. Things are tough in Greece. Some people, especially the young generation, are doing their part to beat the crisis. And sometimes against all odds. We do have quite a few members in Greece, so heads up, guys: Zerofund is essentially a social network of mentors from Greece and abroad and a funding and participation bridge to an acceleration program in the United States called Mindthebridge. Check it out! And if you think everyone’s connected over high speed internet, reality check: AOL's Dial-Up Subscription Business Produces More Than All Of The Company's Profit. SOPA has reared its ugly head again, and lawmakers thought that we forgot about it: Help preserve Americans’ freedoms online and safeguard liberty by signing the “Hands Off the Internet” fax form and sending it to your representatives and senators today. Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Bonniefoods (that’s me) Valentine’s Day Truffle Special for SOS members in the continental US. We’ll add 50% more truffles and remember: they’re low fat, dairy free – and you’d never know by tasting these luxurious little morsels. When ordering, just mention SOS in the special instructions box - or email me And thank you for supporting a fellow entrepreneur! And check out AlleyWatch, a new online publication covering the New York tech industry – and yours truly is Editor-in-Chief. Just for fun: 20 Optical Illusions That Might Break Your Mind (not really). That's it from us for now. Have a happy Valentine's Day and until then, as always, help is on the way...

2/5/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:08:49 +0000

Good morning, All, We will not be attending SxSW this year. Unless you have a reason to be there, save your money and your energy. Last year we had lunch with Brian Cohen (New York Angels) upon his return and he asked why we hadn’t attended. “Why did I need to be there?” I asked. “Because we were all there,” he answered, meaning investors. It’s true. They are all there. So, if you do decide to go, how do you make the most of it? And this is more or less a general checklist for any conference that goes over several days, like Social Media Week, which is coming up this month in ten cities around the world, and which we will attend. Remember: neither is a sprint. Both are marathons: 1. Do your homework before you go. SxSW attendees: check the angel list and the VC funds and target the ones who invest in your vertical: they’ll be there. 2. Network, network, network. 3. Go to the parties, stay out way past your bedtime – and sleep in the next morning. You’d be surprised how much business gets done at night, and over drinks, so take advantage of it and … 4. Pace yourself – don’t get drunk. Nurse your drink. Singular. If you’re having a second, make sure it’s a nightcap, then leave. 5. Drink lots of water. Go easy on the 5-hour energy drink. Instead… 6. Power naps. Waaay underrated. You’re not running on empty: you’re recharged. Especially helpful if there’s an early session you want to attend the next day. You might actually make it! Seriously: nap for ½ an hour, before or after dinner. 7. Don’t skip meals – and never eat alone. Make plans to meet up with people, either before you go, or once you’re there. 8. Be social. Start conversations. ‘Hello,’ usually works. DO NOT LAUNCH INTO YOUR PITCH. Give it at least a little while. Have a conversation first. If you do launch into your pitch and see that it’s falling on deaf ears, give it a rest. 9. If that person you’ve been waiting to talk to looks like they're in a hurry to get somewhere, DO NOT LAUNCH INTO YOUR PITCH. Introduce yourself, tell him/her you’d like to follow up at a later date, ask for their contact information – and follow up. 10. Have a wingman; don’t move in a pack. Divide and conquer is one thing, and with two, you cover more ground. In a pack? What if everyone wants to talk to the same investor/mentor/whatever? Instead of having that conversation, you may well find yourself gasping for air. 11. Follow up. SouthBy is still a month off, and most attendees don’t even bother to buy a badge. They go to network, pure and simple. If you notice that there is a panelist you wanted to talk to/meet with, hang out around the venue and introduce yourself afterwards. If perchance someone else comes along whom you wanted to talk to, pivot. Carpe tempus. It’s true that twitter and foursquare were runaway successes thanks to SouthBy, but consider: these are apps that deliver information in real time, and were useful to attendees. We can’t tell you how many invites to new apps we’ve been sent from SouthBy attendee friends over the years, and most were never to be heard of again. The apps, not the friends. Remember highlight? That was last year, and maybe enough people have downloaded it to make it useful at a SouthBy or SMW. Still, it’s not top of mind, like a twitter or a foursquare. Some never get there, so choose your venues wisely. Whether you’re heading to either or both shows, or neither: Get your rest, work on perfecting your startup, and conserve your energy for when it’s useful and/or meaningful. As I like to say, life is short, and so am I. Onward and forward. Our next networking event is this Thursday: The Lean Movement: What You Need to Do – And Why You Probably Won’t Do It will be on February 7^th Our speaker is Kelley Boyd, who has mentored at many a startup weekends here in NYC, helping companies to figure out their business/revenue models. And Kelley will be happy to give you a pointer or two. We’re also keeping the group small – 50 attendees max – so that everyone can participate. And network, of course. Her talk will center around observations about what kinds of work people do in startups and what kind of support startups need and when! You will hear her views of the differences in coaching, advising and mentoring and what kind you should expect to give and get from those relationships. We will chat about the lean movement and what really has to be done and why you probably won't do it! Kelley is an early adopter market specialist with expertise in business and sales models, strategies, tactics. A veteran of 7 web 1.0 startups, 5 of which went public, were acquired OR in one case both! Proud carrier of a Fortune #1 Badge (you gotta come to learn what that is!). Kelley is expert in a range of technologies from inter-networking to data security. Of late she has dusted off her Sales 1001 skills and worked in the burgeoning "lean" ecosystem with a number of weekend groups and start up companies. She'll also share a few fun stories about sales - breaking into enterprise companies, gaining trusted adviser status among Fortune 10 CEO's, How I lost a global Exxon deal and designing the network for the "Smartest Guys in the Room!" Hope to see you there! To RSVP: http://bit.ly/W525WP Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Hacker School, a three-month, full-time school in New York for becoming a better programmer is still accepting applications for its Winter 2013 program that'll run from Feb 11 to May 2. Startup Grind 2013, February 5-6, Mountainview, CA – 20% sos discount Join us for Startup Grind 2013, a worldwide 2 day community event bringing together entrepreneurs and founders from every continent across the globe. Where better to host it than the heart of Silicon Valley? Not only will we have great Startup Grind networking and fireside chats, but we’ll also learn from the best and brightest entrepreneurs around the world as they educate and inspire us to push through 2013. Some things you can expect: Be inspired by people and products we use and believe in. Make the lasting friendships needed to survive our journey. No panels. No startup booths. No pitching. Just founders helping founders. Speakers will include Clayton Christensen (Innovator's Dilemma), Mark Suster (Both Sides of the Table), George Zachary (Charles River Ventures), Brad Feld (Foundry Group), Bing Gordon (KPCB), Steve Blank, Ben Huh (Cheezburger Network), Jeff Clavier (SoftTech VC), Leah Busque (TaskRabbit), and many more being announced soon. SOS member Perri Gorman will be on of the moderators – and she’s very good. That we can tell you from personal experience. For more information and to register: http://sg2013.eventbrite.com/?discount=SOS4532# NEW Social Media Week Google+ Hangout Contest Extended. Deadline: February 6^th. Grand Prize: $5k. for more information and to apply, go here. HEADS UP Last chance to register for Venture Summit | West 2013 is this Thursday, February 7th at midnight. Featuring more than 70 Top Innovators and more than 45 VC panelists. And we have an SOS discount code: code is sos and will save you $200 in addition to the current discount. PSOS: if you’re a startup that has raised less than $1 million, email hello@startuponestop.com for an additional discount! Click Here to Register Now! DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc NEW GE & StartUp Health: Deadline February 8^th. This is a 3-year Entrepreneurship to provide expertise, resources and growth opportunities for consumer health companies. NEW Pilot Health Tech NYC, deadline February 10^th. This program matches early-stage healthcare technology companies with key NYC healthcare service organizations. It will provide funding of up to $100,000 each to 10 innovative pilot projects. Reinventing NYC’s public pay phones, deadline February 18^th to submit your design. More information here: http://bit.ly/YxXenH For the record, public pay phones were a crucial link for New Yorkers during Hurricane Sandy Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ NEW ER Accelerator now accepting applications for Summer 2013. Early application deadline: March 7^th. Final deadline: April 19^th. $40,000 investment 4-month program. Follow-on investment in future rounds. 200+ awesome mentors, including yours truly. Apply now. DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Twitter And Foursquare Explain Their SXSW Explosions: Hustle, Buzz, And Maybe $11K. Since we’re on the subject… Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You. Ok, so it’s TechCrunch. If you want to get to SxSW and have something to show for your trip there, there’s still time to jump on the startup bus. It’s where you and a team of strangers, on a bus, traveling at 60 MPH, have 72 hours to conceive, build and launch a startup. Go! (Or not.) nReduce: The Free Online Startup Incubator. In case it might be of help to some of you. And thank you, Rene, for sharing. 6 Things You Need to Pivot Successfully. Pivot. We’re all familiar with the word — and many people now roll their eyes when they hear it. The word has been bastardized, overused, and taken out of context. But it doesn’t mean pivots aren’t important. Dont hate the word, hate the people that use it incorrectly and ignore its importance. Milkshake Marketing. A fast food co wanted to increase its sales of milkshakes, did some research and realized 40% of milkshakes were being sold in the morning and customers were buying them because they helped to relieve the monotony of morning commutes, not just because they’re a tasty beverage. Its true competition: bagels and donuts. Know your product’s true ‘job.’ 13 Reasons You'll Never Quit Facebook. They missed #14: linkedin is really starting to lose sight of their core competancy. We’re personally now spending more time on facebook – for work. Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Bonniefoods (that’s me) Valentine’s Day Truffle Special for SOS members in the continental US. We’ll add 50% more truffles and remember: they’re low fat, dairy free – and you’d never know by tasting these luxurious little morsels. When ordering, just mention SOS in the special instructions box, and if you’re coming to the event this Thursday, let us know and we’ll bring them along for you. And thank you for supporting a fellow entrepreneur! And check out AlleyWatch, a new online publication covering the New York tech industry – and yours truly is Editor-in-Chief. That's it from us for now. Hope to see you at our event this Thursday or at another some time soon. Until then, as always, help is on the way...

1/29/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:07:46 +0000

Good morning, All, Warning: We're on the soap box this week: Michael Arrington posted this about journalistic integrity: Truth, Money, Right, Wrong. The issue is that CBS, which own c|net, is dictating policy and according to Arrington, journalists have rules “designed to ensure their objectivity and impartiality.” As if that concept exists anymore in a world of ‘All the news that we see fit to print.” It was social media and the online press that organized to defeat (at least for now) PIPA and SOPA. And this from Yahoo! News: Press Ignores Lives Saved Because Of Firearms, Says CCRKBA “In the month following the tragic Newtown school shooting, more than 65,000 people used firearms in self-defense, yet the national news media has virtually ignored this important aspect of gun ownership.” And lest we forget: Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters. In Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, the police were busy elsewhere and the rule of law broke down. A hugely vocal proponent of the gun ban, what we find amazing is that Mayor Bloomberg always travels under a heavily armed guard, even when visiting his home in Bermuda and note: Bermuda is a gun-free zone – but Mr. Bloomberg saw to it that he received a special dispensation. Yet the Mayor blasts NRA call for armed school guards. Hey, as long as we’re all equal under the law… We are not advocating either way: we are saying that we have a Constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms, and we cannot allow a bifurcated system where our Mayor can bring armed officers to a gun free zone in the name of protection, yet he favors denying the electorate the same rights. Our heart goes out to the Newtown families who lost loved ones, and if our elected officials are so concerned with protecting the children, why are they fighting legislation to protect them: namely, by installing armed guards in the schools? TSA – how long did it take for that to be instituted? Not long at all. The larger issue is: Americans have the inalienable right to own guns based on the Second Amendment. Think the attack on your rights ends – or starts – there? You have the right to personal property, right? The government can seize your property in the name of Eminent Domain. Formerly, if the government felt they needed your property, they had the right to seize it. That's been changed. Now, if they want your property, done deal. And you have no recourse. Thomas Jefferson said, “If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” In NYC, Mayor Bloomberg has legislated the kind of oil used in the popcorn at movie theatres (vegetable oil has replaced the far healthier coconut oil), and the size of sodas that you’re allowed to buy. Nationally, foods do not need to be marked if they're Genetically Modified. But wait! There’s more! Unlocking your cell phone became a crime as of Saturday, January 26. And it will carry fines between $2,500 and $500,000, and in some cases, prison time. You need the approval of your carrier. So, who owns your phone, after all? We witnessed prosecutorial overreach in the suicide of Aaron Swartz a few weeks ago. And that was not that’s prosecutor’s first suicide, thanks to her political ambitions: Prosecutor of Aaron Swartz Linked To Another Suicide Of Defendant. Nor was that an isolated incident: do the government's right supersede the rights of the governed? This is what led to the founding of our country in the first place. We believe in the Constitution and only bring up the fire arms issue as it is center stage at the moment. But make no mistake about it: this is very much about all of our rights that are currently Constitutionally protected. No matter how you feel about fire arms, once you’ve allowed one of your rights to be legislated away, the precedence has been set for any and all of your rights to disappear. We cannot allow our lawmakers to show a blatant disregard for the very laws and tenets upon which this country was founded, and which they swore to uphold. Let us not forget the many lives that were lost to secure those rights in the first place. More frightening still: if we lose them, what’s next and what will it take for us to secure them once again? Onward and forward. Our first speaker+networking event: The Lean Movement: What You Need to Do – And Why You Probably Won’t Do It will be on February 7^thS Our first speaker is Kelley Boyd and some of you might know Kelley, who has mentored at many a startup weekends here in NYC, helping companies to figure out their business/revenue models. And Kelley will be happy to give you a pointer or two. We’re also keeping the group small – 50 attendees max – so that everyone can participate. And network, of course. Her talk will center around observations about what kinds of work people do in startups and what kind of support startups need and when! You will hear her views of the differences in coaching, advising and mentoring and what kind you should expect to give and get from those relationships. We will chat about the lean movement and what really has to be done and why you probably won't do it! Kelley is an early adopter market specialist with expertise in business and sales models, strategies, tactics. A veteran of 7 web 1.0 startups, 5 of which went public, were acquired OR in one case both! Proud carrier of a Fortune #1 Badge (you gotta come to learn what that is!). Kelley is expert in a range of technologies from inter-networking to data security. Of late she has dusted off her Sales 1001 skills and worked in the burgeoning "lean" ecosystem with a number of weekend groups and start up companies. She'll also share a few fun stories about sales - breaking into enterprise companies, gaining trusted adviser status among Fortune 10 CEO's, How I lost a global Exxon deal and designing the network for the "Smartest Guys in the Room!" Hope to see you there! To RSVP: http://bit.ly/W525WP Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Hacker School, a three-month, full-time school in New York for becoming a better programmer is still accepting applications for its Winter 2013 program that'll run from Feb 11 to May 2. LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS Startup Grind 2013, February 5-6, Mountainview, CA – 20% sos discount Join us for Startup Grind 2013, a worldwide 2 day community event bringing together entrepreneurs and founders from every continent across the globe. Where better to host it than the heart of Silicon Valley? Not only will we have great Startup Grind networking and fireside chats, but we’ll also learn from the best and brightest entrepreneurs around the world as they educate and inspire us to push through 2013. Some things you can expect: Be inspired by people and products we use and believe in. Make the lasting friendships needed to survive our journey. No panels. No startup booths. No pitching. Just founders helping founders. Speakers will include Clayton Christensen (Innovator's Dilemma), Mark Suster (Both Sides of the Table), George Zachary (Charles River Ventures), Brad Feld (Foundry Group), Bing Gordon (KPCB), Steve Blank, Ben Huh (Cheezburger Network), Jeff Clavier (SoftTech VC), Leah Busque (TaskRabbit), and many more being announced soon. SOS member Perri Gorman will be on of the moderators – and she’s very good. That we can tell you from personal experience. For more information and to register: http://sg2013.eventbrite.com/?discount=SOS4532# DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc Call for Top Innovators! The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West. 1st annual conference will showcase 50 of the hottest early stage and emerging growth technology, life sciences and clean-tech innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Summit | West 2013 provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. And it all happens in San Francisco on February 13^th. Apply to Present: To be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots, please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. So mark your calendar and click here to take advantage of the "early bird" registration savings before they expire. This is the event of the year you won't want to miss! Click Here to Register Now! SOS members also get 10% off on attending. Discount code: sos10 NEW Reinventing NYC’s public pay phones, deadline February 18^th to submit your design. More information here: http://bit.ly/YxXenH For the record, public pay phones were a crucial link for New Yorkers during Hurricane Sandy Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: The Happiest (And Saddest) Countries In The World. The list is out and the US, which weighed in at #10 last year, sunk to #12. #1 is Norway. THE GREAT CALIFORNIA EXODUS: A Closer Look. #1 reason why: economic adversity. Not that surprising. 50 VC and Angel Investors Every Young Entrepreneur Should Know. Good list, and it applies to all entrepreneurs. The revitalization of the Canadian venture capital sector. “The federal government will put $400 million to work under the leadership of private-sector fund of funds and venture capital funds,” writes SOS member Chris Arsenault, who is also a Canada-based VC. Imagine that! The government is actually supporting the private sector. Don't sell products that people need. I know. Sounds wrong. But there are people who buy a new car annually. Hint: sell them what they want. Or, build a product that they’ll want. Think iPad. 4 things to know about crowdfunding versus raising capital. A look at what equity crowdfunding looks like when compared to the traditional capital raising process. 10 lessons I learned by taking the entrepreneurial Red Pill. It can be a hard pill to swallow. This might make it a bit easier to go down. Should Startups Announce Their Funding? The short answer is yes, absolutely. There are reasons you may delay funding announcement but rarely reasons not to announce. Read on. Solve problems that piss you off. It is odd how concentrating on the things that make you angry are sometimes indicative of how you’ll choose to manage the priority of a project in your life. What is this Schmidt? Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt Wrote The Most Hilariously Self-Defeating Email You Will Ever Read Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congrats this week go to my good friend Yair Goldfinger (ICQ, Dotomi), who just raised a round for his new company and is moving back to NYC. YAY! AppCard gets $6.5 million from Eric Schmidt, Jerry Yang and Peter Thiel for its customer loyalty platform. That’s what happens when you’re a successful serial entrepreneur. Elevator pitch: Check out www.stockray.com! StockRay is a virtual stock market where you can buy or sell virtual shares of the things you care about: TV shows, celebrities, cities, tech products, politicians... Invest in the things you believe in and make a profit if your stocks go up! Our goal is to create the largest real-time interest graph and trading platform in the world. We'd love to hear your feedback! And thank you! Teymour Shahabi, StockRay Inc. Email: hello@stockray.com www.stockray.com: Finally, AlleyWatch launched this week. It’s a new online publication covering the New York tech industry – and yours truly is Editor-in-Chief. Check it out and let us know what you think! For your amusement this week: Graphic Designers Get Revenge By Illustrating Client Feedback. That's it from us for now. Hope to see you at our event on February 7th, and at our friend Aaron Sylvan's Lemonade Heroes event. Until then, as always, help is on the way...

1/22/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:07:04 +0000

Good morning, All, A brief history: Web 1.0 was the age of the information highway. Remember, there was no there there, and that’s what we were building, and bringing eyeballs online. Web 2.0 is the social web, where people connect and interact. The cost of building and hosting websites dropped, and so went barriers to entry. The Lean Movement was born and the concept of the MVP – minimum viable product. Eyeballs were still the currency of the day. Now we’re in the Age of Mobility – face it, we’re all on smartphones and/or tablets and many of us work out of co-working spaces, from home or remotely. The mindset is changing: online, in all of its iterations, is here to stay, but eyeballs will get you just so far. Welcome to the Smart Movement, and isn’t it about time? Want to build an app? Make sure it’s something people will want to pay for – or at least offer a premium version as well, and make the value add worth paying for. Building something with a recurring revenue stream? Really Smart Movement. Think Gillette razors: the body itself is affordable enough, but the replacement blades - gotcha. Brilliant. You can put up banners and ads – really? Still? If you’re getting no traction with potential investors, it’s because their model has changed, too: they want to invest in a business, so you’d better be building one. An ad revenue model will get you just so far , too – unless you’ve got some new twist on the concept that’s a slam dunk with advertisers. Look at the Mommy Vertical. Mommies are busy and will pay for things that make their lives easier – especially if it saves them time, money, effort, or d) all of the above. Affiliate programs. Recurring revenue streams. Product placement. Subscriptions. Rewards points. All fine, but who knows what else you’ll come up with, that’s particular to what you’re building. Get your mind out of the box: this is still a new industry – come up with a new model. No one has pulled that off yet, but it's time. Whatever you do, build smart. Build with a revenue model in mind from Day 1. You can build lean, but unless you’re also going to build smart, hope you like lean, because you might be facing a lot of lean times ahead. Now, get out there and invent the future. Onward and forward. Just for the record, that’s one of the reasons why we chose Kelley Boyd as the speaker for our February 7^th speaker+networking event: The Lean Movement: What You Need to Do – And Why You Probably Won’t Do It. Some of you might know Kelley, who has mentored at many a startup weekends here in NYC, helping companies to figure out their business/revenue models. And Kelley will be happy to give you a pointer or two. We’re also keeping the group small – 50 attendees max – so that everyone can participate. And network, of course. Her talk will center around observations about what kinds of work people do in startups and what kind of support startups need and when! You will hear her views of the differences in coaching, advising and mentoring and what kind you should expect to give and get from those relationships. We will chat about the lean movement and what really has to be done and why you probably won't do it! Kelley is an early adopter market specialist with expertise in business and sales models, strategies, tactics. A veteran of 7 web 1.0 startups, 5 of which went public, were acquired OR in one case both! Proud carrier of a Fortune #1 Badge (you gotta come to learn what that is!). Kelley is expert in a range of technologies from inter-networking to data security. Of late she has dusted off her Sales 1001 skills and worked in the burgeoning "lean" ecosystem with a number of weekend groups and start up companies. She'll also share a few fun stories about sales - breaking into enterprise companies, gaining trusted adviser status among Fortune 10 CEO's, How I lost a global Exxon deal and designing the network for the "Smartest Guys in the Room!" Hope to see you there! To RSVP: http://bit.ly/W525WP Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Hacker School, a three-month, full-time school in New York for becoming a better programmer is still accepting applications for its Winter 2013 program that'll run from Feb 11 to May 2. LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS Startup Grind 2013, February 5-6, Mountainview, CA – 20% sos discount Join us for Startup Grind 2013, a worldwide 2 day community event bringing together entrepreneurs and founders from every continent across the globe. Where better to host it than the heart of Silicon Valley? Not only will we have great Startup Grind networking and fireside chats, but we’ll also learn from the best and brightest entrepreneurs around the world as they educate and inspire us to push through 2013. Some things you can expect: Be inspired by people and products we use and believe in. Make the lasting friendships needed to survive our journey. No panels. No startup booths. No pitching. Just founders helping founders. Speakers will include Clayton Christensen (Innovator's Dilemma), Mark Suster (Both Sides of the Table), George Zachary (Charles River Ventures), Brad Feld (Foundry Group), Bing Gordon (KPCB), Steve Blank, Ben Huh (Cheezburger Network), Jeff Clavier (SoftTech VC), Leah Busque (TaskRabbit), and many more being announced soon. SOS member Perri Gorman will be on of the moderators – and she’s very good. That we can tell you from personal experience. For more information and to register: http://sg2013.eventbrite.com/?discount=SOS4532# DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc Call for Top Innovators! The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West. 1st annual conference will showcase 50 of the hottest early stage and emerging growth technology, life sciences and clean-tech innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Summit | West 2013 provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. And it all happens in San Francisco on February 13^th. Apply to Present: To be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots, please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. So mark your calendar and click here to take advantage of the "early bird" registration savings before they expire. This is the event of the year you won't want to miss! Click Here to Register Now! SOS members also get 10% off on attending. Discount code: sos10 Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. That's potentially a lot of computers - and a big win for the winning app! The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ NEW DreamIt Ventures Accelerator Summer class is now accepting application. Deadline: March 15. It’s their third annual New York City Accelerator program, which will begin in mid-May and run to mid-August. The program offers $25,000 in seed funding, as well as collaborative work space, mentoring, exclusive speaking engagements with industry leaders, and an opportunity to pitch to investors on Demo Day. To apply as a company or an individual: http://www.dreamitventures.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: 13 top mobile apps for entrepreneurs on the go. Do you ever leave home without a smartphone and/or tablet? You might want to take these with as well. Keep your steenking Silicon Valley. RIM's Mike Lazaridis Takes A Quantum Leap Of Faith In Waterloo. Meaning, Ontario. 25 Things I wish I knew before moving to San Francisco. I used to spend a week a month in SF. Knew these things. Never moved permanently and PS: It is NOT a superfit city. More obesity that I’ve ever seen in NYC. http://bit.ly/WaOmyQ A golden opportunity, or not… Peter Robinett makes a pretty solid case for developers won’t work on your idea. Be Focused, Not Myopic. “Get involved with one or two other startups as a board member, advisor or mentor. This will help you extend your network and build relationships with other CEOs that could come in handy in the future. Even more important, you’ll gain a much wider perspective on fundraising, staffing challenges, and business models than you could ever get from just running your own company,” suggests TechStars founder Dave Cohen. Watching your competitors release “your” features. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have someone else release the first version of an idea. You get to form a perspective on what they did right, and wrong, and how that might translate to your product. That is, once the time is right. Should Your Startup Apply To An Accelerator? Applications to the 200-plus accelerators worldwide have nearly doubled in the past two years. How to choose… And link should work now. Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us this week. Hope to see you at our event on February 7th, and at our friend Aaron Sylvan's Lemonade Heroes event next week. Until then, as always, help is on the way...

1/15/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:06:15 +0000

Good morning, All, Not the usual newsletter this week, as we were greatly disturbed to hear of the passing of Aaron Swartz (RSS feed, Reddit) by his own hand. Most of you have already heard about it. He was 26 and facing criminal charges that might have led to his being incarcerated for more than 30 years, $1 million in fines and exorbitant legal bills to fight the charges, which were deemed outrageous by industry experts. Swartz’s family issued the following statement: "Aaron’s death is not simply a personal tragedy. It is the product of a criminal justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach. Decisions made by officials in the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office and at MIT contributed to his death. The US Attorney's office pursued an exceptionally harsh array of charges, to punish an alleged crime that had no victims." No one was hurt; no damage was done; no money changed hands. In fact, JSTOR, from whom he allegedly stole the more than 4 million articles, never pressed charges against Swartz, yet he potentially faced a prison term stiffer than given to some murderers. While we do not sanction criminal behavior, lest we forget, this country was founded on civil disobedience, and one of the most famous acts took place in Massachusetts itself, the very state where Swartz was facing charges. But Aaron had two strikes against him: he was an advocate of open democracy (demandprogress) and he was facing a federal prosecutor working under a US Attorney with her eye on the governor’s mansion. There is a petition being circulated to Remove United States District Attorney Carmen Ortiz from office for overreach in the case of Aaron Swartz. Punishment should fit the crime, and citizens of the United States should not be terrorized by the very people who we’ve empowered to protect our rights and freedoms. And lest we forget: the only thing necessary for the perpetuation of evil is that good people do nothing. Sign the petition. Onward and forward. As promised, we’re starting our speaker+networking events, and Kelley Boyd will be our first speaker, on February 7th. Some of you might know Kelley, who has mentored at many a startup weekends here in NYC, helping companies to figure out their business/revenue models. Revenue models, kids – with Series A becoming more scarce and early stage hard to get to, that’s why we chose Kelley to kick off the year and give you a pointer or two. We’re also keeping the group small – 50 attendees max – so that everyone can participate. And network, of course. Her talk will center around observations about what kinds of work people do in startups and what kind of support startups need and when! You will hear her views of the differences in coaching, advising and mentoring and what kind you should expect to give and get from those relationships. We will chat about the lean movement and what really has to be done and why you probably won't do it! Kelley is an early adopter market specialist with expertise in business and sales models, strategies, tactics. A veteran of 7 web 1.0 startups, 5 of which went public, were acquired OR in one case both! Proud carrier of a Fortune #1 Badge (you gotta come to learn what that is!). Kelley is expert in a range of technologies from inter-networking to data security. Of late she has dusted off her Sales 1001 skills and worked in the burgeoning "lean" ecosystem with a number of weekend groups and start up companies. She'll also share a few fun stories about sales - breaking into enterprise companies, gaining trusted adviser status among Fortune 10 CEO's, How I lost a global Exxon deal and designing the network for the "Smartest Guys in the Room!" Hope to see you there! To RSVP: http://bit.ly/W525WP Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NEW Hacker School, a three-month, full-time school in New York for becoming a better programmer is still accepting applications for its Winter 2013 program that'll run from Feb 11 to May 2. Techstars NYC, deadline January 18^th. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. TechStars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1M in outside venture capital raised after leaving TechStars. To more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/TNP5Cz LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS Startup Grind 2013, February 5-6, Mountainview, CA – 20% sos discount Join us for Startup Grind 2013, a worldwide 2 day community event bringing together entrepreneurs and founders from every continent across the globe. Where better to host it than the heart of Silicon Valley? Not only will we have great Startup Grind networking and fireside chats, but we’ll also learn from the best and brightest entrepreneurs around the world as they educate and inspire us to push through 2013. Some things you can expect: Be inspired by people and products we use and believe in. Make the lasting friendships needed to survive our journey. No panels. No startup booths. No pitching. Just founders helping founders. Speakers will include Clayton Christensen (Innovator's Dilemma), Mark Suster (Both Sides of the Table), George Zachary (Charles River Ventures), Brad Feld (Foundry Group), Bing Gordon (KPCB), Steve Blank, Ben Huh (Cheezburger Network), Jeff Clavier (SoftTech VC), Leah Busque (TaskRabbit), and many more being announced soon. SOS member Perri Gorman will be on of the moderators – and she’s very good. That we can tell you from personal experience. For more information and to register: http://sg2013.eventbrite.com/?discount=SOS4532# DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc Call for Top Innovators! The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West. 1st annual conference will showcase 50 of the hottest early stage and emerging growth technology, life sciences and clean-tech innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Summit | West 2013 provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. And it all happens in San Francisco on February 13^th. Apply to Present: To be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots, please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. So mark your calendar and click here to take advantage of the "early bird" registration savings before they expire. This is the event of the year you won't want to miss! Click Here to Register Now! SOS members also get 10% off on attending. Discount code: sos10 NEW Call for Nominations: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, deadline March 8^th. Recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country, Ernst & Young is now calling for nominations in San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Northern California, Portland, Seattle and Utah for the 2013 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Details: http://bit.ly/UCDHeU NEW Global Apps to Empower Competition Seeks Apps to Educate and Empower Women Everywhere, deadline April 30th. Applications that best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on Datawind’s $40 Ubislate educational tablet. The UN is involved and the winning apps will be receive cash prizes, recognition (judges for the contest include Joanne Wilson, Vivek Wadhwa, Geena Davis. For more information and to apply: http://appstoempower.org/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Today we are all Aaron Swartz. The suicide of the 26-year-old hacktivist highlights how our technophobic government demonizes geeks. By the way, two days before Swartz killed himself, JSTOR made its archives available to the public, free of charge. That stolen property the government says is worth "millions"? Apparently, it's worth a good deal less. Google+ Faces Off Against Facebook Ah, we remember when Larry was laughed at for venturing into social. Should Your Startup Apply To An Accelerator? applications to the 200-plus accelerators worldwide have nearly doubled in the past two years. How to choose… Why The Next Social Media Frontier Is The Past. The social network, and its peers, have since become less dedicated to the present moment. Facebook has created Timeline, a historic presentation of daily posts. Foursquare has turned its vault of real-time check-ins into a valuable recommendation engine. Speaking of which - How to Access Your Twitter Archive. How to Access Your Twitter Archive. Twitter announced that users will soon (if not already) be able to download an archive of all their tweets from the beginning of time. Here’s how to do it: http://bit.ly/UPqlvH Customer Development in a diagram. You might want to frame it. How One Startup Grew a $100M Business Without Spending Venture Capital. Bootstrap – and find paying customers. “If you’re really onto something valuable, new, and important, you can actually get customer interest, feedback, and maybe early orders even before your prime time Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congrats this week go to SOS members Nurul Yahya and Stefanos Missailidis of fiesta.com: Fiestah Named 5th PITCH SF 2013 Startup Competition Finalist. Great site to go to if you’re an event planner or hosting a party/event and need to find food for it. And yes, bonniefoods is one of their vendors. Good luck, guys! That's it from us this week, although we will leave you with this chuckle and it is very funny: 8 Very Funny, Very Wrong Answers Kids Have Given On Tests And now, as always, help is on the way...

1/8/13

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:05:38 +0000

Good morning, All, It’s that time when everyone is making prognostications about the new year, and it’s something we tend to studiously avoid. This year, we’re making an exception, given what we’ve been seeing lately: - Fred Wilson touting the enterprise as the New Black - Fred Wilson pointing out that he’d made no investment in 2012 (his associates did) - The claims that Series A is dead – or at least a lot harder to get to (The Series A Crunch Survivor’s Guide. Just in case: http://bit.ly/WpO5WW) This will be the Year of the Entrepreneur and we’ll explain: For years, VCs have invested in companies that have gotten high market awareness/traction in a very short amount of time and were seeing huge valuations on their investments, never mind that the companies were not making a dime, or at best, barely enough to cover operating costs. Fine, but at some point, entrepreneurs must realize that a startup is a company; a company is a business, and the purpose of a business is to make money, usually by selling something, be it goods or services. Henry Ford sold cars and you could get one in any color you desired, as long as it was black. For those of us who live in New York – like that would have been a problem. Back to our story: Facebook is under pressure to turn the behemoth into a business, so what did they do? Instagram changed their terms of service and gave themselves the right to sell your pictures, whether you liked it/agreed to it/were aware of it or not. Of course, there was a great hue and cry, not to mention something of an exodus from the service, so they back peddled: it seems we just all ‘misunderstood’ and that was never their intention at all and lest we forget, facebook owns instagram and facebook has always held itself to the very highest ethics. The era of eyes-only, referring to the ‘importance’ of gaining huge traction in a short amount of time, is over. There are feet attached to those eyeballs: piss off your users, and they’ll walk. Speaking of having exclusive rights to your photos: we all know what happened when Randi Zuckerberg, sister of Mark, posted a family picture to her FB page, and someone tweeted it. She went ballistic, as it was a private photo, not meant for general distribution (Yes, Randi Zuckerberg, Please Lecture Us About 'Human Decency': http://bit.ly/RSw0W2). Then again, Facebook is a study in bad/shady behavior: Facebook Under Siege: Will It Ever Grow Up? Why Can't Mark Zuckerberg's Aging Startup Learn to Play Well with Others? http://bit.ly/XfMXru For years we’ve been marveling at the quick ascensions of the ubercompanies headed by wunderkinds who couldn’t get served at McDonald’s without being carded. But have you noticed that some of them are tanking even more quickly then they rose? Fast in/fast out, the expression goes, but VCs have long been focused on the quick payout: they don’t want to leave their money languishing for years while the entrepreneur does the slow and steady build, even though it is slow and steady that traditionally wins the race. Which is why we’re positing that this will be the Year of the Entrepreneur and that the Day of the Dilettante may well be done. Build a company with a product that people will pay for, in some form or another. You may not even need a Series A – or better, the investors will come to you. One last point as we all go forward into this new year: if you do have a successful business and paying customers, don’t change the model/features. We use linkedin as a prime example. Some time around the end of the year, they changed their look – and a number of their features. We know that technologies change and upgrades are par for the course, but this was not about that: We are personally a paying linked member, and lately we’ve been beseeched with offers to upgrade. Given its latest iteration, not something we’re likely to do any time soon or ever. Linkedin is not what it used to be, and we are much more likely to downgrade, if anything – which means it might be time for disruption in their vertical, namely, a social network targeting business. Pivots are not always necessary and change is not always good. Ford is still in business and still selling a number cars and trucks – in black. And someone still has yet to build a better mousetrap. Or a truly workable, profitable social network. The economic outlook is not rosy and bright: people are looking for ways to save money. Online is all about disintermediation. And entrepreneurs will always push forward, no matter what. Remember: Google launched in a space that Yahoo absolutely owned at the time, and did so in a bad economy, no less. It’s a new year and clean slate and no better time to go onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ Techstars NYC, deadline January 18^th. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. TechStars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1M in outside venture capital raised after leaving TechStars. To more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/TNP5Cz LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS NEW Startup Grind 2013, February 5-6, Mountainview, CA – 20% sos discount Join us for Startup Grind 2013, a worldwide 2 day community event bringing together entrepreneurs and founders from every continent across the globe. Where better to host it than the heart of Silicon Valley? Not only will we have great Startup Grind networking and fireside chats, but we’ll also learn from the best and brightest entrepreneurs around the world as they educate and inspire us to push through 2013. Some things you can expect: Be inspired by people and products we use and believe in. Make the lasting friendships needed to survive our journey. No panels. No startup booths. No pitching. Just founders helping founders. Speakers will include Clayton Christensen (Innovator's Dilemma), Mark Suster (Both Sides of the Table), George Zachary (Charles River Ventures), Brad Feld (Foundry Group), Bing Gordon (KPCB), Steve Blank, Ben Huh (Cheezburger Network), Jeff Clavier (SoftTech VC), Leah Busque (TaskRabbit), and many more being announced soon. SOS member Perri Gorman will be on of the moderators – and she’s very good. That we can tell you from personal experience. For more information and to register: http://sg2013.eventbrite.com/?discount=SOS4532# DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc Call for Top Innovators! The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West. 1st annual conference will showcase 50 of the hottest early stage and emerging growth technology, life sciences and clean-tech innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Summit | West 2013 provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. And it all happens in San Francisco on February 13^th. Apply to Present: To be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots, please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. So mark your calendar and click here to take advantage of the "early bird" registration savings before they expire. This is the event of the year you won't want to miss! Click Here to Register Now! SOS members also get 10% off on attending. Discount code: sos10 powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Managing Startups: The Best Posts of 2012. A lot of great topics and useful information. It’s a keeper: http://platformsandnetworks.blogspot.com/ The party is over: Practical startup advice for surviving an austere 2013. Fiscal cliffs. Series A crunches. Down-rounds and startup deaths.. It’s yet another “new normal” in an ever-changing startup environment. The good news is, good entrepreneurs will win in any environment. Here's some advice/steps to take: http://bit.ly/U4Hu9K I don’t care about crowded markets. Online search was crowded before Google showed up. Anyone remember Geocities or Ask Jeeves? MySpace was ruling social networking till Facebook came along. It’s how much better you are than alternatives that matter: http://bit.ly/106ehhq Business Plans Are An Historical Artifact. So says Brad Feld. “Show me, don’t tell me.” Fine print: show me the customers, too: http://bit.ly/V4aiZK Plans are nothing, but planning is indispensable. Eisenhower said it. Chris Dixon writes about why writing the plan, if nothing else, is a good exercise in thinking through issues: http://bit.ly/UtzWYZ Hiring old people: The dangerous but necessary steroids of the startup world. Yeah, ageism doesn’t exist in this industry. Notice the word choice: ‘Old?’ It should be ‘experienced,’ and they can be a life saver. Or a company saver: http://bit.ly/ViZuI2 How to Fundraise: A Generic Lesson From a Lady Who’s Had Some Success but is not at all an Expert Part One; I’m Scared. Advice from a newbie, in two parts, and PS: she got funded: http://gogetemgrl.com/how-to-fundraise-pt-one/ http://gogetemgrl.com/how-to-fundraise-a-generic-lesson-from-a-lady-whos-had-some-success-but-is-not-at-all-an-expert/ Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Application are now being accepted for 500 Startups Coworking in NYC. You don’t have to be a portfolio company. Desks are $500/month. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/UQYRIM That's it from us this week Working on scheduling our first event of the year and should have that information to you next week, so stay posted. And yes, we will tweet it as well, once all is finalized. Until then, as always, help is on the way...

12/18/12

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:04:09 +0000

Good morning, All, It’s that time again: the year end round-ups are upon us, when every media outlet puts forth its Top Ten lists of top companies, top apps, top whatever, and their year-end summaries, from the startup ‘darlings’ who hit the airwaves (Startup: Silicon Valley) to the ones who went down the tubes (Zynga, Groupon). Let’s focus on how to move forward. Since we’ve long been a big proponent of a business model over a business plan, confirmation: Burn Your Business Plan – Before It Burns You. “We need to have a more dynamic methodology for entrepreneurship than static business plans,” Alexander Osterwalder writes in the Wall Street Journal. “The good news is that we’ve now figured out how to replace business plan writing with a more reliable process that produces better results. It’s a process that supports you in your search for a scalable and profitable business model by combining three different methods in a powerful cocktail: Business model design with the Business Model Canvas tool; Business model testing with the Customer Development methodology); Rapid prototyping with the Lean Start-up methodology:” http://on.wsj.com/Tr4uN5 Osterwalder is co-author of Business Model Generation, the best-selling handbook for visionaries, game changers and challengers. There’s a 72-page preview, if you’d like to check it out first: http://bit.ly/lj0MXS Speaking of planning your next move, also check out The Karma Life Matrix is a simple tool to help you do more of the things you want to do, and less of the things you don’t: http://on.fb.me/Wgp8zx. http://on.fb.me/WgpW7x Since this is also a time of looking back, let’s take a longer look back. “The tech industry and its press have treated the rise of billion-scale social networks and ubiquitous smartphone apps as an unadulterated win for regular people, a triumph of usability and empowerment,” writes Anil Dash in The Web We Lost. “They seldom talk about what we've lost along the way in this transition, and I find that younger folks may not even know how the web used to be:” http://dashes.com/anil/ If you want to know where we’re going, look at where we’ve been. We have twitter, where we can express ourselves in just a few characters, not unlike ancient man did. Instagram? Cavemen first expressed themselves in - pictures. Yes, Virginia, new social networks will arise. Sixdegrees.com predated them, and Facebook and Linkedin were/are fine in their day, but web 2.0 is about social, and connecting anyone and everyone in a global community to the point where they’re becoming cluttered, intrusive, and rendered less meaningful. One size does not fit all and never really did. They did or are figuring out their monetization models, but following old paradigms. Now that we’ve created global communities, we’re going to start segmenting into neighborhoods and even building gated communities.Commerce will grow endemically as Big Data becomes more meaningfully targeted to needs, not assumptions. And heads up to whomever is building the new social networks: if you want to entice the world to move in, make sure there are privacy shades installed this time. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NEW Matter Accelerator, SF, deadline January 6^th . New York information session, December 18^th. Matter support media entrepreneurs building a more informed, connected, and empowered society through our 4-month start-up accelerator in San Francisco. We invest $50k to give you four months of runway to do needfinding with your customers, prototype your solutions, and build traction with your audience. For more information and to apply: http://matter.vc/ NEW Call for Top Innovators! The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, early deadline for presenting company applications is December 19th, 2012. 1st annual conference will showcase 50 of the hottest early stage and emerging growth technology, life sciences and clean-tech innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 1st Annual Venture Summit | West, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Summit | West 2013 provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. And it all happens in San Francisco on February 13^th. Apply to Present: To be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots, please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. So mark your calendar and click here to take advantage of the "early bird" registration savings before they expire. This is the event of the year you won't want to miss! Click Here to Register Now! SOS members also get 10% off on attending. Discount code: sos10 DEADLINE THIS WEEK FinTech Innovation Lab, deadline December 19^th. This is 12-week accelerator program run by the Partnership for New York City Fund and Accenture for early and growth stage companies that have developed cutting edge technology products targeted at financial services customers. For more information and to apply: http://www.fintechinnovationlab.com/ NEW DEADLINE THIS WEEK NEXT Facilitators, deadline December 21^st. NEXT is a revolutionary program with a mission to democratize entrepreneurial education with the goal of helping every local community empower itself. NEXT is in search of world class leaders in local startup communities to be selected to go through an intensive training and development program led by Startup Weekend, Steve Blank, and Bob Dorf. If selected to participate, you’ll be receiving our exclusive training in the NEXT methodology from Steve Blank and several leading voices from the startup community including Bob Dorf, serial entrepreneur and co-author of The Startup Owner’s Manual, Andy Sack, TechStars Seattle founder, Eric Koester, founder of Zaarly, and more. The one-month program includes group lessons from Steve Blank, small group training, discussions, and role playing as well as one-on-one meetings with other Facilitators enrolled in the training program. It’s an exclusive program limited to just 25 individuals per session and is offered free to you if your application is approved –– we simply ask that you help organize and facilitate the NEXT program in your community at least twice a year. For more information and to apply: http://swnext.co/facilitator-application/ We are now recruiting local leaders. Individuals accepted will participate in virtual workshops and real-world role playing simulations to make sure they are fully prepared to lead a local program. Target Cities - USA Atlanta Austin Boulder Boston Charlottesville Chicago Columbus Detroit Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Los Angeles Minneapolis Mountain View New York Omaha Philadelphia Portland San Diego San Francisco San Jose Seattle Tampa Washington, DC INTERNATIONAL Amsterdam Berlin Dublin London Mexico City Paris Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo Santiago (chile) Reykavik (Iceland) ConnectNYC Fiber Challenge, deadline: December 27^th. NYC challenges small businesses to compete for high-speed broadband at their location. Winners receive free fiber build-out to their business, an overall value of up to $7M for all winning businesses. For more information and to apply: http://nycfiberchallenge.com/ NEW Take the HELM, deadline extended to December 31. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ DEMO Mobile: The Future Is In Your Hands. Scholarship deadline: January 17^th. Standard deadline, February 15^th. Apply to launch or pitch: http://bit.ly/QjQQvE Techstars NYC, deadline January 18^th. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. TechStars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1M in outside venture capital raised after leaving TechStars. To more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/TNP5Cz LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: How to permanently delete your Facebook account. It can be done. And it was posted for a reason: http://bit.ly/V3u4ZQ Speaking of privacy shades - How Websites Know Your Email Address the First Time You Visit: http://bit.ly/UyTxpk Even the deceased can no longer rest in peace - Why Are Dead People Liking Stuff On Facebook? If nobody tells Facebook that the account-holder is dead, Facebook just keeps operating on the assumption the person is alive. And what does this say about the value of their data? http://bit.ly/Uzf0R0 Ff you need more inspiration/motivation: Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos. In its first big policy shift since Facebook bought the photo-sharing site, Instagram claims the right to sell users' photos without payment or notification. And there's no way to opt out: http://cnet.co/TX6han Do You Care About Your iPhone Privacy? This App Will Quadruple Encrypt Your Messages And Shred All Data. Wickr's mission is to provide a free and easy way for anyone to Leave No Trace. Wickr was designed to protect sources in hostile zones but has now pivoted into a consumer app, and in an age of the ability to search your messages without the need for a search warrant, good timing: http://read.bi/To8k8T Speaking of moving forward (not)… The Meteoric Ascent of the Patent Troll and the Devastating Consequences for Innovation. Last year patent trolls won a cool $29 Billion. They’re primarily non-practicing entities, and if you’re wondering where the innovation is, ask their lawyers: http://bit.ly/SxCtT0 Would the Last Blackberry User Please Turn Out the Lights? I Already Left the Building. Just gotta love Mark Suster: http://bit.ly/UCIgFJ Founders: Eyes wide open. Taking VC money is like getting married: when it’s good it’s great, productive and fulfilling. When it’s bad, however, splitting up is hard to do, emotionally and logistically. So bringing a VC into the mix is not something that should be taken lightly. If you do decide to take venture money, there are few things Roger Ehrenberg recommends founders do to get the most out of the relationship: http://bit.ly/TlhWkF Wallflowers of Silicon Valley Get Asked to Dance. That means technology sectors — including mobile security, data analytics and storage companies and mobile payment systems — are suddenly finding millions of dollars of investments coming at them: http://nyti.ms/VJXA35 As for the cool kids – lack of a business/revenue model, not so cool. And speaking of looking back/eyes wide open, even the Cold War is rearing its head again, this time on line: (Internet regulation - A digital cold war? http://econ.st/UFowSM) Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Citi and the Wall Street Journal have teamed up to name the "City of the Year," an award given to the most innovative city. Based on a combination of judging from the Urban Land Institute and popular vote, Medellín, Colombia, is one of the three finalists for the title of "City of the Year," and SOS member Conrad Egusa, co-Founder of Espacio, which is a co-working space and entrepreneurial center located in the heart of Medellín, was recently named one of the finalists: http://citi.us/UCFEHP That's it from us this week and since next week is Christmas, we will not be publishing the newsletter. We do wish you all a happy, happy, joy, joy and have a safe and wonderul holiday. And see you next year! Until then, as always, help is on the way...

12/11/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:10:09 +0000

Good morning, All, Some of you know that I’m a recruiter by trade and now, our recruiter hat is on. I’ve gotten quite a few calls lately from clients, and inquiries from some of you whom I’ve run into at the numerous events we attend – all wondering why they can’t find midlevel talent. First, a few points of clarifications: 1. No, they’re not in hiding; 2. No, they haven’t been shipped off to a gulag in some unknown part of the world. 3. No, not all of them have gone the entrepreneurial route and are off the job market. The truth is that for the past few years, when you’ve called with a position to fill, I’d asked you if you were open to bringing on someone who was entry level as well. Answer: no - you didn’t want to/have the time to train someone. Fast forward to present day: it’s hard to find midlevel talent in NYC – and that’s not limited to technical talent, for those of us playing the home version. It’s because you wouldn’t hire them when they were entry level a few years ago. They do exist, but there is consequently a shortage of them, and they’re in high demand. Speaking of present day, I still ask if you’re open to bringing on someone entry level as well. Answer: again, no, you don’t want to/have time to train someone, so when you call in a few years and again ask where all of the midlevel people are: do not pass go; do not collect $200. Contrary to popular misconception, there is no shortage of talent in New York and we have a sneaking suspicion that this problem is not limited to New York. There is a shortage of companies willing/able to pay people for their experience, or companies send a wish list of skills that is the equivalent of hiring three employees. Be realistic in your expectations/wants/needs/desires. And remember that midlevel people start as entry level people – unless they’re starting their own companies, and our suggestion to those of you out there who fall into that category: good for you – make sure you have a business model. You know: that boring ‘path to revenue’ thing, or you might soon have to take a job and no one’s going to hire you as a CEO or even VP of anything, despite the fact that you were CEO/VP of your own (failed) company. Back to our story. Many of you are happy to hire interns. In fact, you’re always posting for them. We understand that you’re a startup and have limited funds. Fair enough, but for the record: interns are people without hands-on experience in their chosen professions. They’re usually recent grads or people who are changing careers, and are happy to work for the experience, so don’t ask for 4 years of coding experience, or social media experience - unless having a facebook page counts - and no, they’re not also going to also have expert level front end coding skills. If you can’t afford entry level, you might try offering a paid internship, even if the payment is more or less a stipend. It fosters good will, and seeing ‘paid internship’ as opposed to ‘internship’ sends the message that someone saw value in what that person was doing. You might also want to consider: that intern that you’ve had working for you for the past year or three, unpaid? They’re their next employer’s junior/mid-level hire. And thanks for playing! We recently worked with a newly-minted computer science graduate from a top engineering school, who had won or placed second in the numerous hackathon/startup weekend in which he had participated. Passed every coding test every client had given him – and all were happy to hire him. As an unpaid intern. After an exhaustive search here, he sent his resume out to a handful of companies in Silicon Valley, and was snapped up immediately. In fact, he had his pick of offers, and there was nary an internship in the lot. So you see, New York does not lack talent: it lacks vision and foresight. Maybe Silicon Valley learned that lesson of hiring entry level people long ago. Time for us in other parts of the world to do the same. Don’t turn someone down because they lack on-the-job experience: train them. And if you’re willing to offer them an internship instead, kick in a few bucks – if only for good will. They have rents to pay, too. Those people you see on park benches? No rents to pay – but we doubt that they’d be willing to pick up HTML any time soon. Next: don’t turn someone down because they have more experience than you were looking for, either. It’s a tough market out there: that person needs a job, too, and he or she may bring experience you didn’t even suspect that you needed. And might teach you a thing or two, too, as an added bonus. Everyone, yea, even the lowly intern, potentially brings something to the table, so also make sure to teach them something, and treat them like you need them. They want the experience – give it to them and make sure it’s something beyond doing your grunt work. If they prove to be invaluable, find the money and/or the equity or both to compensate them. If you think that they’re going to stick around and continue to work for you, for free, while you’re pursuing your dream, well, in the words of Judy Holliday (Born Yesterday, 1950):" I might have been born yesterday, but I’ve been up all night thinking." So have they,so dream on. And onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NEW FinTech Innovation Lab, deadline December 19^th. This is 12-week accelerator program run by the Partnership for New York City Fund and Accenture for early and growth stage companies that have developed cutting edge technology products targeted at financial services customers. For more information and to apply: http://www.fintechinnovationlab.com/ NEW ConnectNYC Fiber Challenge, deadline: December 27^th. NYC challenges small businesses to compete for high-speed broadband at their location. Winners receive free fiber build-out to their business, an overall value of up to $7M for all winning businesses. For more information and to apply: http://nycfiberchallenge.com/ DEMO Mobile: The Future Is In Your Hands. Scholarship deadline: January 17^th. Standard deadline, February 15^th. Apply to launch or pitch: http://bit.ly/QjQQvE Techstars NYC, deadline January 18^th. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. TechStars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1M in outside venture capital raised after leaving TechStars. To more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/TNP5Cz NEW LLGA | Cities Pilot the Future: Global Cities invite urban & social innovators to pilot their solutions. Deadline: January 31^st. 21 cities are participating, each with their own pitch to companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, consortia, research centers, organizations and experts. For more information: http://bit.ly/tm2hxS NEW DreamIt Health, deadline February 8th. This is the first-ever Philadelphia-based health care accelerator. Powered by IBC and Penn Medicine, this collaboration marks the first time a leading health insurer and a leading health care provider have come together in an accelerator to deliver the resources entrepreneurs need to capitalize on emerging health care opportunities. DreamIt Health’s 4-month program provides selected companies with a stipend up to $50,000 and office space, plus in-depth mentoring (which are uniquely assigned in a one-to-one fashion to each company), coaching from industry experts, and access to other critical health care-specific resources to rapidly develop and test its product. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/RQRqTc powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: 12 Quotes That Reveal How Larry Page Built Google Into The World's Most Important Internet Company: http://read.bi/TLUj3o Sell First, Market Later. Gary Gaessler explains why he believes nothing happens until sales are made, and why founders should consider putting marketing on the back burner until revenue begins rolling in: http://fi.co/posts/856 The Best Feedback for a First Time Entrepreneur. Rajesh Setty also includes the feedback that won’t help you at all – and all good to know: http://bit.ly/XGj5rP Google stops offering Google Apps for free to focus on providing a paid-for experience. The Wall Street Journal reports that subscriptions to Google Apps and its mapping service for businesses and governments have netted the company some $1 billion over the last year, so, sure, makes sense, and pay attention: http://tnw.co/XGeN3G Facebook Privacy. Yes, we know it’s something of an oxymoron and careful of likes and comments. They’re suddenly viewable by everyone. Here’s how to change that: http://bit.ly/y4EwwT Two pieces, just for the fun it: North Korea 's Kim Jong-un Launches a Fragrance instead of a rocket. It’s one of those stories you just can’t make up and of course it’s called Number Un: http://nyr.kr/SywzRB Former Microsoft Exec Decides to Just Sell Weed Instead. After a particularly rigorous code review or boring business meeting, who among us hasn’t considered just quitting our day jobs and drifting into the drug trade? And it’s now legal in Washington State: http://bit.ly/XGg3ne Holiday prezzie - 6 Ways to Save Money Shopping on Amazon. Not everything is the bargain it appears to be. Just as in the offline world, doing a little research pays: http://bit.ly/XGi573 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations this week go to our friends at DreamIt Ventures, who graduated yet another class of startups this past week: DreamIt Ventures graduates 15 startups in its 2012 Philadelphia class: http://bit.ly/RQR92I Two things last things: starting January, we're going to resume regular networking events and will feature a speaker at them. Also, if you hear of any deadlines for accelerators, contests, whatever - please do let us know. We're always happy to spread the word. That's it from us this week. Hope to see you around town at some of the events this week. It'll just be another week or two, so get out there and make the most of it. You can do it and remember to bring lots of business cards - and don't give out your last one. Smartphone, baby. Let them take a picture. And now, as always, help is on the way...

12/4/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:07:12 +0000

Good morning, All, Consider this your annual reminder. We know it’s your year-end crunch and that you need to get your holiday shopping done. Let’s face it, you’re going to be doing the latter online anyway (and here’s a little something for you to make it easier: 5 unconventional places to shop for your holiday gifts: http://tnw.co/TuUznl). This is also the time to get out there and meet people – a mentor, a coach, a potential co-founder and maybe even a technical one: lots of open bars and techies will kick back for a free drink or two, too. Here are the rules, which don’t necessarily apply to just the holiday networking/eggnog circuit season, and we’ve expanded on one or two of them: Rule #1: Show up! Getting there is easier than you think: just put one foot in front of the other, and go. If networking doesn’t come naturally to you, bring a wingman and work the room together, or divide and conquer. But don’t talk to just each other. That’s not helpful. If having a drink will help to relax you, go for it, but don’t down it: pace yourself. You want to be relaxed, not inebriated. Again, not helpful. To anyone in the room. Rule #2: Check out who else will be there before you go. Most events list the attendees. Target those people you want to talk to and introduce yourself. If you happen to be at one of those rare events where people are not wearing name badges, find the organizer and ask if he or she can make an introduction, or at least to identify that person to you. Don’t be shy: it’s part of a good host’s – or an assistant’s - job. If the host blows you off, think twice about registering for one of his/her events in future, and make sure your host isn’t busy with someone else at the time. Rule #3: Bring business cards. Ask for business cards, when appropriate, and follow up. Download the linkedin app that let’s you capture someone’s information and send that person a linkedin invite. Ask first. Make sure they want to connect with you. If you’re low on business cards, don’t give out your last one. Everyone carries a smartphone and they all have cameras. Have them take a picture or if you encounter someone with their last card, do the same. Or make sure you have cardmunch downloaded on your phone. It works. Rule #4: Don’t just look for investors, be open. You never know who’s in the room – your next cofounder, client, coworker, coach or mentor. Yes, investors are there, too, and usually with an associate or friend. It’ll be much easier to talk to that person, who may just do an introduction for you at a later date, in a much less crowded venue. Like, the investor’s office maybe? Rule #5: Meet at least one new person at each event. Not just the speakers, but the rank and file as well. You may not get to talk to the CEO, and chances are, one of his or her associates, who is no doubt also there, will be much easier to approach – and will more likely take a follow up meeting. Rule #6: Meet other attendees as well. They’re there for the same reason you are: to network. And you don’t know whom they might know who could possibly help you. You might know someone/have talked to someone in the room who could possibly help that person, too. Play it forward. Remember: ‘tis also the season for good will. And peace on earth, so of course, no fighting or elbowing to get front and center with someone you want to talk to. Wait your turn. Rule #7: If it’s an event with a panel discussion and you want to meet one of the speakers, ask a question – the more informed, the better. Do your homework: read some of his/her most recent blog posts before you go. Introduce yourself afterwards. If you didn’t have a question to ask but have something that might interest that speaker, still introduce yourself afterwards; speak to him/her briefly; ask for a business card and offer to follow up. Oh, and follow up. Same holds true if you meet this person at a networking event/party. Speak to him/her – briefly – and offer to follow up. And follow up. Rule #8: DO NOT STALK. DO NOT ENGAGE IN A MONOLOGUE. You already know what you have to say – listen to what others have to say – and what they might have to offer. If it’s a potential investor, don’t give them your entire pitch: just give them enough to get them intrigued to the point where they’ll want to take a meeting. Rule #9: Work the room. Don’t sit/stand in one spot all evening. I call it doing a lap. Rule #10: Follow up with an email in the next day or two. Remind that person where you met – in the subject line – and if you’d like to get together ask when they might be available. If you don't receive a response immediately, don’t take it personally: that person met a lot of people the day/night before, and he or she may have been swamped with emails. Follow up again, a few days or a week later. Rule #11: We’re all exhausted, and your point is? We all put in long hours, there are a number of industry events/parties every single night this time of year, and we know you’d much rather meet up with friends. Networking is part of your job, if you’re working on launching a business. If you only meet that one person who can help to get you to the next level: job well done! Your friends will be there in January, when there is usually very little else going on. As for using the exhaustion excuse: things quiet down that last week or two in December: gather ye poinsettia while ye may and catch up on sleep over the holidays. If you do see us at one of the events, say hello and introduce yourself. We’re always happy to meet you. And while we know that being there is part of your job, it’s also a party. Do remember to smile and show some holiday cheer. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ DEADLINE THIS WEEK AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline, December 5^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny NEW The 6^th Annual Crunchie Awards, deadline for nominations: December 6^th. The 2012 Crunchies will be our sixth annual competition and award ceremony to recognize and celebrate the most compelling startups, internet and technology innovations of the year. For more information and to submit your nominations: http://techcrunch.com/events/crunchies-2012/ DEMO Mobile: The Future Is In Your Hands. Scholarship deadline: January 17^th. Standard deadline, February 15^th. Apply to launch or pitch: http://bit.ly/QjQQvE NEW Techstars NYC, deadline January 18^th. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. TechStars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1M in outside venture capital raised after leaving TechStars. To more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/TNP5Cz powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: What happens after you win a big startup competition? We asked 7 champions from major events. And not everyone had the same answers: http://tnw.co/WAzd8X Cracking the Code: How Successful Entrepreneurs Build High-Growth Companies. Ernst & Young and the Kauffman Foundation looked at the cadre of 636 E&Y Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists from 2012 to see what makes them tick: http://bit.ly/SmKdad If you hate trying to get press, read this. Now. This company’s launch ended up being covered by over 20 major tech publications, including TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and Cult of Mac: http://bit.ly/SzWrO8 Plan well, execute the plan. A new market entrant. A competitor that gets a bunch of great press. The external environment presents myriad distractions that can cause founders and their teams to “freak out” and deviate from their established game plans. In IA Ventures’ Roger Ehrenberg’s experience, when plans and behaviors are quickly adjusted in response to short-term exogenous events, bad things happen. Well-conceived strategies and plans get tossed on the trash heap. So how can founders steel themselves against the noise and focus on executing their own plans with confidence and consistency? Ehrenberg suggest a very straight-forward 10-step process: http://bit.ly/TajmMR How to lose at meetings. And how to win, too: http://bit.ly/SzXTQK Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations this week go to our friends (and ER Accelerator alums) StrayBoots.com, who just raised their Series A and way to go! Location-Based Tour Guide App Stray Boots Raises $2M As It Looks To Expand Mobile Reach: http://tcrn.ch/SzVrtB That's it from us this week. Hope to see you around town at some of the events this week and remember: pace yourself, bring lots of business cards - and make sure you get out there. And now, as always, help is on the way...

11/26/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:05:26 +0000

Good morning, All, Investors care about one thing. Wait: two. Ok, three: your market size, revenue model, and your team – not necessarily in that order. Still, at the end of the day, it still boils down to one thing: money, so we were right: investor care about one thing. And you need to look at your business the way they do. Seriously. The Wall Street Journal noted that VC funding of consumer web and mobile companies is down 42% in this first nine months of 2012 (versus the first nine months of 2011). And the big falloff was not in seed but rather in follow-on rounds (VCs Still Chasing Web Companies, But With Less Cash: http://on.wsj.com/RaBjPX). What Has Changed (http://bit.ly/Tk5YXj)? That was the title of one of Fred Wilson’s recent blog posts, and he feels that the consumer internet has run its course; and that mobile and enterprise are the new focuses. Howard Lindzen chimed in as well and concluded that “a great product and brilliant use of the tools of the new social trade are still not enough in November 2011 to guarantee success” (The Stock Market, Venture Capital and Angel Investing…All Connected: http://bit.ly/RaHpQn). Actually, it never should have. Web 1.0 was about getting eyeballs, and you’d think that investors would have learned something when the bubble burst. “I am more concerned about the angel investors and venture capitalists than I am the entrepreneurs in reading all these tea leaves, but as an entrepreneur it is your job to factor in their blindness or lack of expertise,” Lindzen also said. And therein lies the problem. By the consumer internet, Wilson means companies like facebook/instagram, amazon, ebay, yahoogle. The usual suspects. Forest through the trees: during the last few years, when investors had the internet winds at their back, the facebooks, groupons, twitters and instagrams of the world took off quickly and huge fortune were created overnight. But this was ‘internet money,’ meaning riches begotten by a company without a sustainable business model to support it – web 1.0 revisited. It was basically living on fumes with a lot of money in the bank. Again. Investors had learned nothing. We personally spend less and less time on facebook, which is free, and more on linkedin, for which we pay. And which has been profitable since way before its IPO. It offers a value proposition. Amazon? Ebay? They’re real companies, who’ve always gotten their vig on each and every transaction. We know that it isn’t cool to ask companies who present at the New York Tech Meetup what their revenue model is. In fact, anyone from the audience who asks the question gets booed. Newsflash: it’s hard for companies who’ve gotten seed rounds to get to that next stage, because at some point, you need to show revenue. Sell something. Charge something. White label something. Change something. If people don’t want to pay for it – add something that would move them put down a charge card. Show that you have a business, because that’s what business is all about: again, the bottom line is still the bottom line. What has changed? Nothing, really. Investors are still looking for their Next Big Cash Out, and companies based on Internet Money have a sell-by date.The consumer internet is far from over - it's just that a few new screens have been added to deceive the clueless. It’s time to call a spade a spade, your startup a business and to depend on something other than investor money as a revenue model. No doubt that young companies and investors still need each other. But symbiotic relationships are far preferable to parasitic ones, which face it, seem to be far more common in our industry and has been for a very long time. Build a sustainable business and when you need the cash to grow it, the investors will come to you. Eyeballs are important, but more importantly, those eyeballs need to gravitate to their wallet pockets at some point: then you have a business. Then the money will come to you, whether you’re looking for it or not. And wouldn’t that be nice – for a change. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $40k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ DEADINE THIS WEEK The Europas, deadline November 30^th. Here is a chance for you and your team to celebrate the best of European tech start ups as voted for by a panel of the most acclaimed investors, entrepreneurs and tech veterans, serving as a platform for these start-ups to access funding and recognition on a global scale. The Awards celebrate the most forward thinking, progressive and innovative tech companies across over 20 categories. This year the Europas take place in the Postbahnhof in Berlin on Tuesday 22nd January 2013. Tickets are available here. For more information and to apply, or nominate a company: http://theeuropas.com/ DEADINE THIS WEEK Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline, December 5^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NEW DEMO Mobile: The Future Is In Your Hands. Scholarship deadline: January 17^th. Standard deadline, February 15^th. Apply to launch or pitch: http://bit.ly/QjQQvE powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: What Hasn’t Changed: The Internet Keeps Getting Bigger. “There is no better time than the present to build cheap & scalable software-based businesses that make money,” says Dave McClure in his rebuttal to Fred Wilson: http://bit.ly/UVfvmZ And Now We're At The Point Where Startups Are Running Out Of Cash. As we were saying, it seems the fiscal cliff for startups funded in the recent explosion of seed-stage deals has arrived. Which, according to BI, may be good news: http://read.bi/QjQi8Y Silicon Valley, New York, Tel Aviv: Here's the World's Start-up Hubs A new report reveals that Silicon Valley outpaces all other start-up ecosystems but cities around the world are catching up: http://bit.ly/UH7D8r How Do I Get In Touch With a VC? Some advice, from the horse’s mouth: http://bit.ly/QjR0mL The Truth About How Startup Investors Keep Secrets from Their Entrepreneurs. As told by an anonymous angel: http://bit.ly/QjRl8P Some Advice for Celebrities and Startups Seeking Their Endorsements. For the most part, Mark Suster’s advice is simple, “don’t bother:” http://bit.ly/QjRCIR. Oh, and be especially careful if you decide to tap Oprah to hawk your product – Oprah’s attempt to promote Microsoft Surface backfires: iPad used to send tweet (and guess who really needs an iPad – see I NEED HELP - ed.): http://tnw.co/QjRUj3 What you should know before you launch your product. The common refrain “We don’t know anything until we launch” is completely false. Here’s why: http://bit.ly/Pll8gU The Two or Three Things You Need to Raise Capital: http://bit.ly/QjONre Entrepreneurs, investors and a choir of angels. A must read, from an entrepreneur-turned-angel: http://bit.ly/V7Uawv Real. Honest. Fear. How many times has a founder told that to a board or to his management team? Rarely, if ever. How often does a founder feel that way? Plenty. When you need help, ask for it. (And I really do need an iPad, ed.): http://bit.ly/SznYN7 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us this week. You might have notices that there are a lot of events this week, and with the Egg Nog circuit heating up, it's just going to get more insane, so pace yourself - and always bring lots of business cards. And now, as always, help is on the way...

11/13/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:04:36 +0000

Good morning, All, Yes, our next gathering is tomorrow, November 14^th. We know that most of you wait till the last minute to register anyway. RSVP here: https://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/# Stop by! We'd love to see you! Show of hands: how many of you use twitter and facebook as a marketing vehicle? (I just purchased Aluminum Tri Wallet Yellow Red from HuMn on Fab … via @Fab.) When one is selling something or promoting a business – preferably your own – it can be an effective vehicle, especially if it’s a customer who’s selling it for you. Preferably a happy one. (Mia Krautplezer suggested you like Mia Pain Management.) We might like Mia, were she not a figment of our imagination, and happy to do her the favor of liking her endeavor – but employers, insurers, credit department – a whole host of third parties also check FB for information about you, and pain management is not one of our issues, and what kind of message does that send? They’re not looking through our timeline with Mia. They’re looking at the bottom line: theirs. And they’re looking at everything, going to show you, once again, that nothing’s free: How A Simple Gmail Search Could Lead To An Invasion Of Your Privacy: http://read.bi/Zu8tKJ. (My weight: 165.3 lb. My @WiThings scale auto-tweets my weight once a week. It's the future! withings.com. I walked 12.4 miles this week. Company auto-tweets once a week. It’s the future!) How does this move the human race forward or improve life as we know it? It’s often twitterati who include such information, along with where they’re dining or hanging (@AceHotel w/23 others 4sq.com). Is this information that will help someone, with the possible exception of their doctor (whom we are sure is not following them on twitter), insurer (who’s checking), a stalker (no doubt), or is some part of them still stuck in 10^th grade AP English and passing notes around? Only the medium has changed to exposed the guilty. It can be bloody annoying, too. Unfollow. (I’m at Heartland Brewery (New York, NY) 4sq.com). One of our members only tweets when he’s out at a pub. The tweets come days apart, and presumably he wasn’t at that same pub the whole time. He doesn’t work there and well, it could easily send the wrong message, to a potential employer et al and hopefully his mom’s not following him. What’s next? No place good, at present (Clicking ‘Like’ on Facebook Is Not Protected Speech, Judge Rules. http://nyti.ms/ISQ5R8). Not to paint any 1984 scenarios, and lest we forget facebook: App Publicly Humiliates Bad Drivers: It’s called parkingdouche a mobile app created to highlight poor parking practices in Russia. Cell phone users take a picture of the car, type in the license plate number, and send it to the paper, which posts it as a pop-up advertisement on their webpage. The pop-up will only be posted for people who are reading within the immediate vicinity. The reader won’t be able to finish the article until they re-post the car on their Facebook page, effectively spreading the info to others who might know the driver. http://on.mash.to/RUNN9L Try to remember to use your powers for good, young Jedis (remember: Disney owns you now). Twitter can also be quite the disseminator of misleading information (Twitter: The future of journalism or only the bad kind? http://tnw.co/Q7Pqp9) Right now, the twitter stream is somewhat self-correcting, but still and especially when using the medium to promote yourself or your business, careful what you tweet. Morgan Freeman is dead! Sharks seen in the NYC subway system! Turns out the actor is not dead but rather alive and presumably well and still making meh movies, so that tweet might have been some wag’s reference to his career, and while many parts of the city are still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, most of the subway lines are running and as for the sharks: they’re back at the courthouse, where they belong. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to NYC! Deadline: November 14^th. 15% SOS discount code: SOS15. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. Vator, one of the largest business networks dedicated to high-tech entrepreneurs and investors, is looking to recognize 10 promising startups across technology, including digital media, social media, consumer Internet, software, SaaS, iPhone apps, and mobile. Who should apply? Entrepreneurs with seed- to early-stage startups that have raised no more than $1.5 million. What should you submit? Submissions are in the form of a Vator company profile. We encourage video as it gives us a better sense of who’s behind the company. But you don’t need one. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $40k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ NEW The Europas, deadline November 30^th. Here is a chance for you and your team to celebrate the best of European tech start ups as voted for by a panel of the most acclaimed investors, entrepreneurs and tech veterans, serving as a platform for these start-ups to access funding and recognition on a global scale. The Awards celebrate the most forward thinking, progressive and innovative tech companies across over 20 categories. This year the Europas take place in the Postbahnhof in Berlin on Tuesday 22nd January 2013. Tickets are available here. For more information and to apply, or nominate a company: http://theeuropas.com/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline, December 5^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: The VC Term Sheet Decoded. Yes, the Rosetta Stone has been discovered and put to good use: http://bit.ly/Rxb9DT Reaching the Startup Holy Grail: Product-Market Fit. All the basic rules are here, and and remember – you have to find them for them to find you: http://bit.ly/QoQuox Free Mobile Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Use. Entrepreneurs work 24/7, or so the story goes. Even if you don’t, here are a few apps that helps you manage whatever it is you need to manage. Maybe not these in particular, but you get the idea: http://onforb.es/WRmaWi 10 things entrepreneurs should do in the first 100 days of getting funding. Most CEOs and founders already know how this new capital will be used. Here are some other high-level action items that should be on every to-do list in those crucial first three months: http://bit.ly/TnFuom When Kickstarters Fail. As in all things investor-related, not everyone’s an overnight gazillionaire. Or even makes it through the kickstarter round: http://bit.ly/TAZUrJ The non-developer’s guide to hiring software developers. We posted the wrong link last week and apologies: http://tnw.co/VWft3O Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us this week. Hope to see you tomorrow night at our event and I will try to bring along some of my new bonniefoods cookie snouts. Your in for a treat! RSVP here: https://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/# Or feel free to order some at boniefoods.com. And now, as always, help is on the way...

11/6/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:03:54 +0000

Good morning, All, and happy to see that you weathered the storm! Last year, Hurricane Irene hit the Eastern Seaboard. New York dodged a bullet on that one, but it was a wake-up call. When Sandy plunged downtown Manhattan into darkness, Goldman Sachs, located at the epicenter of the maelstrom, was fully lit up and functional. They’d obviously heeded the lessons of Irene (actually, they were prepared even before that), while our Mayor Bloomberg, a huge advocate of global warming, turned his attention to – pressing hard for a ban on oversized softdrinks. The New York Times did a piece in September criticizing the mayor for moving too slowly in addressing potential flooding and worse: New York Is Lagging as Seas and Risks Rise, Critics Warn: http://nyti.ms/SIYNbA. “Planning to be flooded” is no replacement for investing in protection. Consequently, lives were lost: let’s not forget that NY is second only to New Orleans in the number of people living less than four feet above high tide. New York was a Tale of Two Cities: uptown, which was not affected by the storm at all, and downtown/the outer boroughs/low lying areas, which were in the dark and parts of which - and still do - looked like downtown Beirut. Moreover, it was a Tale of Two Realities: what we were told by our elected officials, and the reality of the situation/news that was streaming through social media, more specifically, via Facebook and twitter (Disconnect Between What We're Told And Aid People Are Receiving: http://youtu.be/65hk_PoWMwc, while a friend posted: PLEASE HELP AND MAKE CALLS. Island Park was devastated this week. FEMA and the Red Cross have relocated to where there is MEDIA COVERAGE). Most people were turning to social media for help and or/information. Variations on a line from ‘Alien,’ and take note, elected officials: in cyberspace, everyone can hear you scream. In the midst of all of this, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the NYC Marathon would not be cancelled. After all, we are a resilient bunch, and power was restored to much of Manhattan (note: the race goes through all five boroughs). New York was back to normal, in Mayor Mike's reality. (In New York’s Public Housing, Fear Creeps In With the Dark: http://nyti.ms/X8DXXV; Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters: Residents feel isolated and some use guns, baseball bats, booby traps — even a bow and arrow — to defend themselves. http://nydn.us/VLkpns). The reality was: the city that never sleeps had become the city that would only sleep with one eye opened. The Marathon nightmare started when Gothamist ran this: Food Trucks, Generators To The Rescue For... Sunday's Marathon? http://bit.ly/SBhFKT. In Bloomberg’s New York, there are cameras everywhere and someone is always watching. Those generators had been sitting on the unaffected Upper West Side since before Sandy hit and stayed there, while hospital emergency generators were failing and patients had to be moved to other hospitals, in the dark, under dangerous conditions. The race always starts in Staten Island - one of the worst-hit boroughs - and rest stations were being set up alongside people who were homeless and or/had been without power/heat/hot water/food for days. While Bloomberg insisted that police would not be diverted to focus on the marathon, NYPD Captains Endowment President Roy Richter said that, in a normal year, the marathon "is a tremendous tax on the resources on the Police Department” (Marathon Canceled for Sunday Despite Bloomberg’s Insistence: http://bit.ly/QZGsXB; Marathon organizers blame race cancellation on media, not killer storm: http://nydn.us/VLkpns). The cancellation of the race cost the city millions. If the mayor had simply announced that this year’s race would go on as a fundraiser for Sandy relief, he might have gotten even more sponsors to sign on, not to mention the donations that would have come from the viewing public. Take note, entrepreneurs: that’s a pivot, and pivots can often create win-win scenarios. Social has become the go-to media in extraordinary times. The power may be out at home, but there’s always somewhere to charge your smartphone. And social wrought a change: where it might once have been true that you can’t fight City Hall, with social shining a spotlight where there has never been one before, and reporting your every move and announcement, you can’t fight, City Hall. Anymore than you can ignore Mother Nature, and yes, we are expecting a Nor'eastern tomorrow, so keep those hatches battened down. Let’s not forget, Manhattan: we’re not just a city: we’re also, in the words of Spaulding Gray, an island off the coast of America. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI NYC Next Idea, deadline November 9^th. NYC Next Idea is back and better than ever for its fourth iteration! With newly expanded eligibility rules that permit a much larger cross-section of US-based teams to participate, this year's competition promises to bring the best business ideas from all around the globe to NYC for a chance to pitch to seasoned investors and win $35,000 to get their business off the ground. Registration is open now via this link. For more information: http://bit.ly/IIFg3G NYC SeedStart Enterprise-Focused Accelerator, deadline November 9^th. NYC SeedStart: Enterprise is looking for software and web-based teams with technical co-founders launching companies in the enterprise software area. The program will take place in New York City from January to March 2013. Particular areas of interest are SaaS, Real-time Analytics, Security, Cloud Services and Consumer-enabled Enterprise Products. Up to ten teams will be selected to participate, with each company receiving $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 5% equity stake in the business. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycseedstart.com/Or contact us @ info@nycseedstart.com AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny “Who Would You Fund” TechStartup Challenge 2012, deadline November 11^th. Think your startup has what it takes? Prove it! Submit your startup promotional vidle and you just might win the opportunity to make a live pitch to the ARC Angel Fund. For more information and to enter: https://vidle.me/competition/whowouldyoufund Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to NYC! Deadline: November 14^th. 15% SOS discount code: SOS15. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. Vator, one of the largest business networks dedicated to high-tech entrepreneurs and investors, is looking to recognize 10 promising startups across technology, including digital media, social media, consumer Internet, software, SaaS, iPhone apps, and mobile. Who should apply? Entrepreneurs with seed- to early-stage startups that have raised no more than $1.5 million. What should you submit? Submissions are in the form of a Vator company profile. We encourage video as it gives us a better sense of who’s behind the company. But you don’t need one. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Hurricane Sandy Relief: Volunteering & Donations Guide: http://garysguide.com/sandy And let's not forget New Jersey: http://www.healhoboken.org/ Post Hurricane Sandy Tech Volunteer Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/VBZ2F1 New York City Marathon canceled but still has generators and supplies unused in park in spite of Hurricane Sandy recovery needs. You can’t make this stuff up: http://bit.ly/U3U1DM Mayor Bloomberg's Deft Climate Politics. While some will continue to link Sandy with energy policy decisions, important questions will have to be asked about why NYC was not better prepared, and what can be done before the next storm comes barreling up the coast: http://bit.ly/U2KQUi Media Myth Alert. Social-media triumphalism and its myth-busting limits: http://bit.ly/UtK4Qw New York’s Wet Future: How the City Could Live With the Sea Rather Than Fighting It. Like most cities, New York is built to beat back the sea’s spasms of violence, not to absorb them. Might be time to roll with the tides: http://bit.ly/RAqT8Y Netherlands Highways Will Glow in the Dark Starting Mid-2013 The idea is to not only use more sustainable methods of illuminating major roads, thus making them safer and more efficient, but to rethink the design of highways at the same time as we continue to rethink vehicular design: http://bit.ly/Sc5wKa Why Startup Entrepreneurs Need to Communicate More Like George Bush Than Al Gore. Flubs aside, Bush kept it real and spoke in plain language, according to Mark Suster: http://tcrn.ch/SKQAWT Why Silicon Valley and Hollywood Don’t Get Each Other and Who Will Win the Future. Says Mark Suster, “For the past three years I have been pounding the table as loud as I can about the future opportunities in digital video. The concise guide is here.” More here: http://bit.ly/RcHYWF How to pitch your startup… Just in case you haven’t worked it out already, the brochure is you and the audience is potential investors: http://bit.ly/PQ5H1P The Intrapreneur's Playbook. Startups get all the glory when it comes to innovation, but intrapreneurship--or, creating from within an established company--is much trickier. Here's the 4-step playbook for making it work. Some of the rules hold for entrepreneurs, too, so read on: http://bit.ly/T5C09L The non-developer’s guide to hiring software developers: http://tcrn.ch/SKQAWT Why startups are hard. Everything you need to know: http://bit.ly/WnbIFL Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! From SOS member Linnette Attai: In the spirit of sharing what I've been working on, after 12 years at Nickelodeon, I've left to launch PlayWell, LLC, a multimedia compliance consulting firm. PlayWell is focused on providing compliance solutions to regulatory and self-regulatory issues for media and marketing intended for children and teens. Think: privacy, safety, advertising, marketing, content. You can find out more at http://www.playwell-llc.com/. One last thing: can we please stop changing the names of bridges, tunnels, etc? It’s very confusing, especially in an emergency and we still haven’t figured out where the Ed Koch Bridge (or is it a tunnel?) is. Just for the record: everyone still calls it 6^th Avenue and it’s been how many years since it was renamed Avenue of the Americas? Just saying…That's it from us this week, except to remind you that it is Election Day, so don't forget to vote. And now, as always, help is on the way...

10/30/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:03:01 +0000

Good morning, All, The threat of a lot of wind and water – aka Hurricane Sandy - came along starting this past weekend and most of the Eastern seaboard was on put on high alert or shut down, including New York City, which came to a grinding halt. True: Halloween Week and NYC turned into a ghost town. In the midst of all this, California had an earthquake - as did Canada and Apple Computer (Massive Shakeup at Apple: http://tnw.co/WWh3mI). We’re not used to natural disasters in New York City, especially here in Manhattan. The outer boroughs have had tornados here and there, but let’s face it: we’re not in Kansas. Not by a longshot, and with all due respect to Kansas, we mean that as a metaphor. We came across this article last week, and Sandy certainly changed our perspective on it: Why We Can’t Solve Big Problems. "We wanted flying cars—instead we got 140 characters," says paypal co-founder and mega-investor Peter Thiel: http://bit.ly/RHwUjy In fact, the foundersfund website opens with the missive, What Happened to the Future?: http://bit.ly/qmSt6l. Lest we forget, it took years to get from the telegraph to the telephone; from the horse and buggy to the automobile, and both faced much public resistance and ridicule. Home computers have only been around since the 80s, and graphics didn’t hit the internet until the 90s. (10 Inventions That Changed the World: http://bit.ly/Q34iF3). These are still the relative early days of online tech, with apps and services disrupting, updating and even improving many an industry. Including news, which is being reported and disseminated in real time, online, and often long before it hits the broadcast media, and in ways that the broadcast media cannot readily accommodate. @ElzbthMllr tweeted: “I watched Katrina unfold on CNN. I am watching #Sandy on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.” That’s how we personally followed the storm as well, and were happy for the updates, even if they were only coming in 140 characters at a time. Mr. Thiel has put his money – and made his fortune - into several internet-based companies, including facebook, to which a lot of people also turned for storm updates - and an online payment system, while helpful, is not exactly a cure for cancer, either. Consider: How A Facebook Page Prepared A Region For Hurricane Sandy, And What That Teaches About Social Media: http://onforb.es/WWSplM. The Frankenstorm brought out social media with a purpose; localized/disseminated information; flagged emergencies; and inspired real-time response - in ways few other mediums could (@L—H--: My friend has only so many hours left on his ventilator battery, at Broadway and Duane in Manhattan, anyone nearby have a generator?). Of course, you do always have to consider the source of the information as well - and verify: it’s very easy to spread panic, and there are people out there who like to do just that, so do be careful, and no, we are not referring to the aforementioned tweet. Social media helped many people to prepare for and survive Sandy’s winds and waters and demonstrated that it is very much a critical communications tool, in the present and in future. And, unlike potential investors at times, in emergencies it can be a hell of a lot more than just a lot of hot air. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI Fintech Innovation Lab London, deadline November 1^st. Program runs 7 January to 22 March. To apply, complete the online application form and upload a two-minute video that describes your technology and how it would help financial services firms. http://bit.ly/P3vm6G NYC Next Idea, deadline November 9^th. NYC Next Idea is back and better than ever for its fourth iteration! With newly expanded eligibility rules that permit a much larger cross-section of US-based teams to participate, this year's competition promises to bring the best business ideas from all around the globe to NYC for a chance to pitch to seasoned investors and win $35,000 to get their business off the ground. Registration is open now via this link. For more information: http://bit.ly/IIFg3G NYC SeedStart Enterprise-Focused Accelerator, deadline November 9^th. NYC SeedStart: Enterprise is looking for software and web-based teams with technical co-founders launching companies in the enterprise software area. The program will take place in New York City from January to March 2013. Particular areas of interest are SaaS, Real-time Analytics, Security, Cloud Services and Consumer-enabled Enterprise Products. Up to ten teams will be selected to participate, with each company receiving $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 5% equity stake in the business. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycseedstart.com/Or contact us @ info@nycseedstart.com AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny “Who Would You Fund” TechStartup Challenge 2012, deadline November 11^th. Think your startup has what it takes? Prove it! Submit your startup promotional vidle and you just might win the opportunity to make a live pitch to the ARC Angel Fund. For more information and to enter: https://vidle.me/competition/whowouldyoufund Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to NYC! Deadline: November 14^th. 15% SOS discount code: SOS15. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. Vator, one of the largest business networks dedicated to high-tech entrepreneurs and investors, is looking to recognize 10 promising startups across technology, including digital media, social media, consumer Internet, software, SaaS, iPhone apps, and mobile. Who should apply? Entrepreneurs with seed- to early-stage startups that have raised no more than $1.5 million. What should you submit? Submissions are in the form of a Vator company profile. We encourage video as it gives us a better sense of who’s behind the company. But you don’t need one. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Speaking of Frankenstorms - Survival of the fittest: failure in the startup world. How do startups move past fledgling territory and on to company status? Consider this your how-to-not-fail. Or try, and fail anyway — like Apple did before its return to power: http://tnw.co/S8zDlk What Goes Wrong. Not all startups are successful. Jessica Livingston, founding partner at Y Combinator, says that “it's like there's a tunnel full of monsters that kill them along the way. I'm going to tell you what these monsters are so you know to avoid them.” And what to do about them if/when they show up: http://bit.ly/Y0zGnw I Don't Have Time. Big things start with small steps. Just a reminder: http://bit.ly/TNWU1r Killing Your Startup on a Thursday Night. Sometimes, shutting off the lights is the best plan for moving forward: http://tcrn.ch/S5NOHL James Dyson, maverick inventor, funds a product incubator. Dyson believes that with all the obsession on code and digital, there is need for physical inventions. “Talented young minds want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page. But with the world abuzz with digital, we are losing sight of real engineering. Hardware is profitable. Don’t be fooled”: http://bit.ly/RstBNJ Hurricane Sandy: How You Can Help. The Red Cross needs blood. People need winter clothes: http://bit.ly/RtBlPB 10,000 Startups – Startup Weekend Next. From Steve Blank: Today we are announcing the biggest entrepreneurial program ever launched – Startup Weekend Next. A partnership of Startup Weekend, Startup America, TechStars and Udacity, Startup Weekend Next brings four weeks of amazing hands-on training learning to build your startup to cities around the world. Our goal– to inspire, educate and empower hundred’s of thousands of entrepreneurs and help create 10,000 startups: http://bit.ly/RtB8vE Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Don't forget that Entrepreneur Week is here in NYC next week - and we have a discount code for you: 20% off with code SOS20. Come learn, connect & have VCs pitch to you, for a change. Experience Entrepreneur Week. 50+ speakers over 5 days: For more information and to register: http://bit.ly/SYxE2o. One last thing: to all of those Frankenstorm-troopers who were tweeting that their tech was rebooting every time the power blinked: it's called a surge protector, and make sure to get a good one, with a circuit breaker in it. Technology can be so simple, given the right tool! That's it from us this week. Enjoy your Halloween and no looting and pillaging out there (plans for that were tweeted, too, by gang members)! Stick with something safe and legal, like accepting Halloween candy from strangers (and please explain that one to me). And now, as always, help is on the way...

10/23/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:02:25 +0000

Good morning, All, We debated whether to call this the ‘startup’ or ‘entrepreneur’ checklist. We opted for ‘entrepreneur’ since, when Web 1.0 began, newly-minted endeavors were not called ‘startups': they were called ‘companies.’ The idea was, and presumably still is, to build a business. To do what you set out to do, and to finish what you start up - which is to build a viable business. We’ve all seen the 10-slide investor decks. We know what investors are looking for. But what are the points entrepreneurs need to consider? Here are some things to keep in mind for your own internal slide deck/startup checklist: In the beginning there is The Idea, but that's just the beginning… 1. Is there a real problem that needs to be addressed? 2. Do you have the right experience to address this problem? 3. Can you afford to do this? Can you afford not to? 4. Is what you are creating truly unique and necessary, or are you reinventing the wheel? What have you done to validate your idea? 5. What are your immediate plans for keeping the lights on? Keeping your day job for the time being? Are you self-funding and can you afford that? Friends and family can help - and can you afford that? 6. Are you the person who can build the product, the one who can get the customers, or the one who can convince the investors? It takes a team: figure out which one you are, then find the people who are much better at the other functions than you are - and don’t forget to let them do their jobs. 7. Who are your competitors and how do you differ? Really? Can you convince an investor or a customer of that? 8. Have you checked in with your customers/beta testers lately? What are their suggestions/opinions? Know your audience. And listen to them. 9. How are you going to reach your market? What if your product is a runaway hit: how will you scale it? What if it isn’t: what’s the Plan B to get to Plan A? 10. What are your major risks/pain points/fears and how do you plan on managing them? Hint: what keeps you up at night? 11. First mover advantage is nice, but how easily can your idea be replicated by a competitor? Do you have a Next Phase/feature that they won’t see coming? 12. If you’re getting no traction with investors/customers/buyers, are you talking to the wrong investors/audience, or does your product need refinement/rethinking? 13. Who are your mentors/subject matter experts/advisors? You do have them, right? 14. Is your product something that will help people to make money/save money/improve their lives so that they will want to spend money? Love and good press will get you just so far… 15. This industry is full of nay-sayers (aren’t they all?). Bad days aside, do you have the passion/fortitude/fire in the belly to keep going, and to keep the company going? 16. Is this something you need to attend to personally, at all times, or is it sustainable, even if you’re off on a beach somewhere? If the answer to the first part is ‘yes,’ you’re self-employed. If the answer to the second part is ‘yes,’ you’re building a company. 17. Is this something you really need to do, that you’ve thoroughly researched and thought out and damn the torpedoes, or has someone close to you suggested that you might be clinically insane and professional counseling might be a good alternative? Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur and not every idea is a good one. We would personally never talk anyone out of pursuing his or her dream, but we would suggest that you consider whether or not it’s one that will withstand and hopefully be able to see the light of day. Starting a company is hard. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Many an entrepreneur is fond of quoting Henry Ford as having said that if he’d asked people what they’d wanted, they would have said a faster horse. The truth is, Henry Ford never uttered any such words, although, consummate entrepreneur that he was, he did once say that obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. As always, young Jedis, eye on the prize. And make sure you're taking the right steps to get there. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events DreamIt Ventures inaugural Austin accelerator program, deadline THIS FRIDAY, October 26^th. The details are here: http://bit.ly/OVWQ8y. Demo Day will take place during SXSW. To apply: http://dreamitventures.com/apply/apply-now/ . The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI Fintech Innovation Lab London, deadline November 1^st. Program runs 7 January to 22 March. To apply, complete the online application form and upload a two-minute video that describes your technology and how it would help financial services firms. http://bit.ly/P3vm6G NYC Next Idea, deadline November 9^th. NYC Next Idea is back and better than ever for its fourth iteration! With newly expanded eligibility rules that permit a much larger cross-section of US-based teams to participate, this year's competition promises to bring the best business ideas from all around the globe to NYC for a chance to pitch to seasoned investors and win $35,000 to get their business off the ground. Registration is open now via this link. For more information: http://bit.ly/IIFg3G NYC SeedStart Enterprise-Focused Accelerator, deadline November 9^th. NYC SeedStart: Enterprise is looking for software and web-based teams with technical co-founders launching companies in the enterprise software area. The program will take place in New York City from January to March 2013. Particular areas of interest are SaaS, Real-time Analytics, Security, Cloud Services and Consumer-enabled Enterprise Products. Up to ten teams will be selected to participate, with each company receiving $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 5% equity stake in the business. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycseedstart.com/Or contact us @ info@nycseedstart.com AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny NEW “Who Would You Fund” TechStartup Challenge 2012, deadline November 11^th. Think your startup has what it takes? Prove it! Submit your startup promotional vidle and you just might win the opportunity to make a live pitch to the ARC Angel Fund. For more information and to enter: https://vidle.me/competition/whowouldyoufund Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to NYC! Deadline: November 14^th. 15% SOS discount code: SOS15. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. Vator, one of the largest business networks dedicated to high-tech entrepreneurs and investors, is looking to recognize 10 promising startups across technology, including digital media, social media, consumer Internet, software, SaaS, iPhone apps, and mobile. Who should apply? Entrepreneurs with seed- to early-stage startups that have raised no more than $1.5 million. What should you submit? Submissions are in the form of a Vator company profile. We encourage video as it gives us a better sense of who’s behind the company. But you don’t need one. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Zuck’s Advice To Startups: Explore Before You Commit, Listen, Build Something Fundamental, Don’t Copy. If you think you have an idea, make sure it’s going to have a big impact. And if someone new enters your market with unique ideas, don’t derail your roadmap chasing them. Otherwise, Zuckerberg said you could end up like Myspace. Zuckerberg explained “they felt threatened by us and copied us, and you’re never going to win that way: http://tcrn.ch/TIy4dz 8 Signs You've Found Your Life's Work. Wondering if the job you have now is "the one"--or just another stop on the way to something more fulfilling? Check out this list to know whether it's time to settle in or keep moving: http://bit.ly/PAimW4 What accelerators do best, and where do they fall down? It’s accelerator application season, and just a few points to keep in mind, in case you may be applying to one. Or two: http://bit.ly/TAWV2D New Accelerator Is On A Mission To Turn NYC Into A Hub For Healthtech Startups. The accelerator offers a nine-month program in which chosen startups receive up to $300K in funding, access to clinical and technical feedback from provider organization, integration into a statewide network of Electronic Health Record (EHR) data and mentorship from a group of healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and executives. Only one class a year, of course: http://tcrn.ch/XHw1L8 Speaking of health: Health, Yes! Startup Health Launches An AngelList For Healthtech Investors, Startups & Innovators. http://tcrn.ch/TzGm7y Color's Epic Collapse: Why Everybody Is Loving It: $41 mill buys a lot of expectation – and brings a lot of arrogance. http://rww.to/QuXFYK On the other hand, Troubled media sharing startup Color Labs said to be acquired by Apple. Even before founder Bill Nguyen’s was ousted from the company, he was looking for a way to sell it: http://tnw.co/RCPQPH Everything Your VC Won't Tell You. Many investors approach their commitments like a marriage, and the first few encounters are critical. Here are some things s/he might be thinking on the outset (but probably won't flat-out say), and how you can prepare, says author and SOS member Eugenia Koo. Read on: http://bit.ly/XHtBfx The VC Pitch Meeting. Mark MacLeod feels that here are lots of great posts on the interwebs about how to structure your investor pitch, but not a lot out there on how to run the actual pitch meeting. So, he decided to share tips for getting the most out of a VC pitch meeting. http://bit.ly/SPt2Bj Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! From SOS member AnnMarie McIlwain (careerfuel.net): CareerFuel just published a video that explains crowdfunding for equity. It is getting picked and I thought it might be of interest to your readers: http://careerfuel.net/2012/10/how-america-works-crowdfunding-for-equity/ (http://bit.ly/QBrXcj ) Kudos this week go to our friends at AppyCouple.com, yes, another ER Accelerator company that graduated last session and doing some very cool stuff. Wedding Startup Appy Couple Raises $1.2 Million Led By John Frankel: http://tcrn.ch/Rcek4R OK, so we happen to be big fans of John Frankel, too. And don't forget that the application deadline is coming up for the next ER Accelerator session! Congrats also go to our bud Jacob Brody - MESA Raises $10 Million Seed and Series A Venture Fund Focused on New York City. The fund will be allocated towards companies in consumer Internet, digital content, advertising, marketing, and commerce and focus on investments in New York, from the Mesa+’s Union Square headquarters. http://bit.ly/RaDMI4 We have nothing against TED conferences and some of our best friends organize TEDx’s. Although, some of the TED talks are a bit, well, let’s just say that our friends at the onion nailed it on this one. Chuckle of the week: http://bit.ly/WPPOIJ Our thanks to those of you who came to visit us at the NYXPo for Business last week - hope you enjoyed bonniefoods! That's it from us this week and now, as always, help is on the way...

10/16/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:00:47 +0000

Good morning, All, First came the facebook movie, and remember, there are three sides to every story (his side, her side and the truth). Well, four, if you count Hollywood’s. We see Dennis Crowley in commercials. Techstars and Quirky with their own television shows. "Shark Tank," is a pitch panel by any other name and with higher-paying sponsors. Ashton Kutcher, Justin Timberlake, MC Hammer, Lady Gaga, Adrian Grenier, Justin Bieber, Natalie Portman and other celebrities are making their way to Silicon Valley to invest in technology startups. And now there’s Randi Zuckerberg’s soon to be aired startup show, which we like to call the Reel Houselives of Silicon Valley. It’s not shot in Silicon Valley, but rather in the much more scenic San Francisco (ever been to Sandhill Road? Next). As to the show’s stars themselves being representative of the Cali-based tech world, it seems anyone in the startup world who isn’t white, a millenial, camera-ready and who doesn’t look great in a bathing suit just didn’t get the email for the casting call. What can you do? The industry at large is up in arms about this show, which from what we’ve seen so far, is about a bunch of twenty-somethings boozing hard, taking off their tops at every opportunity, proclaiming that they’re inventing tomorrow, and doing anything but working on their startups (Sneak peek: 'Start-Ups: Silicon Valley' full of bikinis, booze and bawling http://bit.ly/Pw3vfr). According to the press release, the series supposedly will explore the "intertwining lives of a group of (six) young entrepreneurs on the path to becoming Silicon Valley's next great success stories." Sucesses they may be, but most likely not in tech. Reality check: the producer is Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, and this is television. Bravo, in fact, not the Discovery Channel, so get over it. In short, “Startup: Silicon Valley” is not representative of startup life as we know it anywhere in the known universe. If you want to know who the real tech stars are these days, as always, follow the money (Revenge of the Nerds, the Sequel: Silicon Valley Wallflowers Now Hot. As Web Darlings See Stocks Fall, Spotlight Hits Business Tech; 'Sexy Again'. Spoiler alert – most are over 30 and don’t wear hoodies: http://on.wsj.com/VyEkrv). In TV land and the media, young techies are the new rock stars. Nerd is cool. Geek is chic. And with reality television now covering everyone and everything, we all want our 15 minutes in the spotlight, and do make sure to get my good side. Since this is "Startup: Silicon Valley," can "Startup: Silicon Alley/Prairie/Roundabout/Falafel" be far behind? Boozing, brawling and looking good in a bikini - that may be how you make television. But building something that changes lives for the better, or that somehow helps to move the human race forward – that's how you make history. Stay tuned or stay focused. Either way - onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI LeWeb'12 Paris, deadline October 21^st. We are looking for the most exciting and innovative startups and of course if your company or your product is in the "Internet of Things" space (LeWeb12 theme) this will be even better (but not compulsory!). If that sounds like your startup, entry is free and to apply: http://bit.ly/SrYhl2 DreamIt Ventures inaugural Austin accelerator program, deadline October 26^th. The details are here: http://bit.ly/OVWQ8y. Demo Day will take place during SXSW. To apply: http://dreamitventures.com/apply/apply-now/ . NEW Fintech Innovation Lab London, deadline November 1^st. Program runs 7 January to 22 March. To apply, complete the online application form and upload a two-minute video that describes your technology and how it would help financial services firms. http://bit.ly/P3vm6G NEW NYC Next Idea, deadline November 9^th. NYC Next Idea is back and better than ever for its fourth iteration! With newly expanded eligibility rules that permit a much larger cross-section of US-based teams to participate, this year's competition promises to bring the best business ideas from all around the globe to NYC for a chance to pitch to seasoned investors and win $35,000 to get their business off the ground. Registration is open now via this link. For more information: http://bit.ly/IIFg3G NYC SeedStart Enterprise-Focused Accelerator, deadline November 9^th. NYC SeedStart: Enterprise is looking for software and web-based teams with technical co-founders launching companies in the enterprise software area. The program will take place in New York City from January to March 2013. Particular areas of interest are SaaS, Real-time Analytics, Security, Cloud Services and Consumer-enabled Enterprise Products. Up to ten teams will be selected to participate, with each company receiving $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 5% equity stake in the business. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycseedstart.com/Or contact us @ info@nycseedstart.com AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to NYC! Deadline: November 14^th. 15% SOS discount code: SOS15. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. Vator, one of the largest business networks dedicated to high-tech entrepreneurs and investors, is looking to recognize 10 promising startups across technology, including digital media, social media, consumer Internet, software, SaaS, iPhone apps, and mobile. Who should apply? Entrepreneurs with seed- to early-stage startups that have raised no more than $1.5 million. What should you submit? Submissions are in the form of a Vator company profile. We encourage video as it gives us a better sense of who’s behind the company. But you don’t need one. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: The Danger of Celebritizing Entrepreneurship. There's no doubt technology entrepreneurship is becoming its own kind of celebrity. The good, the bad and the don’t even think about it: http://bit.ly/SGe76K Life advice from Eric Hippeau and Paul Berry. In case you don’t make it into the cast of “Startup: Wherever,” some good reminders here: http://bit.ly/V0wIvY If you can’t explain what you do in a paragraph, you’ve got a problem. According to Brad Feld, you have 60 seconds to get an investors attention. Use them wisely, and some pointers: http://bit.ly/P3wcR8 Startups: The Elevator to Success is Out of Order. Behind every major success story, there is usually a major effort: http://bit.ly/SeeeGp A primer on sexism in the tech industry – by an actual girl: http://bit.ly/TlgnQP How To Get Advertisers To Stop Tracking You On Your iPhone. Your easy step-by-step guide for how to limit ad tracking: http://read.bi/RsRQKy Chuckle of the Week: Even SNL makes fun of techies who complain about the iPhone5: http://bit.ly/QBTcTe Special for SOS Members: JOIN US FOR THE #1 BUSINESS TRADE SHOW tomorrw, October 17th and admission is FREE! And make sure to visit bonniefoods at booth 607 10,000 Business Owners • 40+ Seminars • 200 Exhibits • Unlimited Networking * 50+ Speakers And BonnieFoods will be there, so stop by and try some! Startuponestop.com is proud to partner with the LARGEST business expo and networking event in the Northeast. We invite you to pre-register for the 8th Annual New York Business Expo and Conference for FREE ADMISSION. This is a MUST-ATTEND if YOU want to network with peers, purchase discounted products & services, identify NEW B2B resources and attend cutting-edge seminars that deliver actionable strategies. Location: Javits Center Hall 1A - 655 West, 34th Street Website: www.EventManagement.org/newyork NY Expo offers over 40 business seminars designed to SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS in social media, sales, advertising, technology, accessing capital, healthcare, mobile, global trade and MORE! Attend one of our cutting-edge HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS and walk away with fresh techniques and indispensable takeaways. This is the MUST-ATTEND event for entrepreneurs, small business owners and executives who want to gain a competitive advantage, network with peers, purchase discounted products, engage with vendors and deepen their business education. This is the ONLY conference in New York where you can access a world of fresh ideas in one place - SAVING YOU TIME & MONEY! Register now: http://bit.ly/PQPDb Promo Code: EXPO15 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Kudos this week go to ER Accelerator’s New York-based PublicStuff. You go, Lily! PublicStuff Raises $5 Million To Connect Residents With Their City Governments In Real Time: http://tcrn.ch/RdWP1r Everyone else, ER Accelerator is now accepting applications for its next class. Deadline, November 30^th! How can we not take a moment to congratulate Felix Baumgartner, the man who fell to earth, from space: 24 Miles, 4 Minutes and 834 M.P.H., All in One Jump. Wow! http://nyti.ms/OBx3qs That's it from us and heads up: our SOS gathering has been moved to next month. We're also working on having an investor or two there for you to talk to - 1 on 1. We'll keep you posted and until then, always, help is on the way...

10/9/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:59:06 +0000

Good morning, All, First, our next SOS gathering is next week, October 18. Register here: http://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/ There were two events of note on Friday: First, it’s official - 1 out of every 7 people on the planet has a facebook account. (We are aware of the at least 8.7% bogus accounts - Facebook officially passes 1 billion monthly active users: http://tnw.co/StamXY). It was also a year since the death of Steve Jobs. Facebook is one of the largest countries in the world, based on population, and Apple one of the wealthiest, based on GNP. We work in an industry where a premium is placed on number of registered users. While FB literally’s got a billion of them, last time we checked, the stock was still well below its IPO price, although slightly up from previous weeks. One more thing happened on Friday: a friend pinged me to tell that his company had just been funded. Sans business plan. What he did have was a vision, a team, potential partners in place, an addressable market, a clear path to revenue. And a real pair on him. There are no hard and fast rules in this industry (see Business Insider’s Digital 100 below). True visionaries are few and far between – and seldom readily recognized. You don’t need to be one, but having a vision is helpful – and we mean a ‘vision’ rather than a willingness to fall back on/retrofitting the same old models we’ve seen before. Failing that, always good to have a plan, or at the very least, a strategy. By sheer numbers, Facebook is an extraordinary achievement which could potentially forge something transformational, and hopefully in a good way. How to do that? To paraphrase Steve Jobs, quoting Wayne Gretzky, skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. With all due respect to the puck, having balls helps, too. Don't just create - invent. That's how the future is built. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NEW NYU-Poly Incubator Accepting Fall Applications, deadline unknown. At the NYU-Poly Incubator we understand the needs of early-stage startups. We focus on providing our startups with the key resources that they need to be successful. This fall, we are excited to accept a few more startups at our DUMBO location in Brooklyn. Our incubator is looking for energetic and innovative startups that want to be apart of the bigger NYC Tech Community. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q85fbI LeWeb'12 Paris, deadline October 21^st. We are looking for the most exciting and innovative startups and of course if your company or your product is in the "Internet of Things" space (LeWeb12 theme) this will be even better (but not compulsory!). If that sounds like your startup, entry is free and to apply: http://bit.ly/SrYhl2 DreamIt Ventures inaugural Austin accelerator program, deadline October 26^th. The details are here: http://bit.ly/OVWQ8y. Demo Day will take place during SXSW. To apply: http://dreamitventures.com/apply/apply-now/ . NEW NYC SeedStart Enterprise-Focused Accelerator, deadline November 9^th. NYC SeedStart: Enterprise is looking for software and web-based teams with technical co-founders launching companies in the enterprise software area. The program will take place in New York City from January to March 2013. Particular areas of interest are SaaS, Real-time Analytics, Security, Cloud Services and Consumer-enabled Enterprise Products. Up to ten teams will be selected to participate, with each company receiving $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 5% equity stake in the business. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycseedstart.com/Or contact us @ info@nycseedstart.com AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny NEW BlueprintHealth Accelerator, deadline November 19^th. The program is geared towards healthcare companies that want an intensive three-month program to help find customers and capital. Selected companies range from two founders with an idea to businesses that have customers, investors and are generating significant revenue. The foundation of the program is a community of over 150 healthcare entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives that are committed to helping you build and grow your business. We have the largest network of mentors with healthcare expertise of any accelerator, which can provide you with warm introductions and the strategic and tactile advice you need. If you are accepted to the accelerator program, you will receive $20,000 in cash, over $50,000 in perks, office space at our SoHo office, and a community that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Q926Y5 ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: BusinessInsider’s DIGITAL 100: The World's Most Valuable Private Tech Companies. Caveat: BI states that rankings are based on several metrics, including revenue, users, market opportunities, growth rates, and the perception of investors and tech gurus. It’s that last bit that always gets us: http://read.bi/SyjOr9 For inspiration, lest we forget, Here Is Apple's Tribute To Steve Jobs, Who Died A Year Ago Today: http://read.bi/SxzWLo Keeping with the theme: Facebook, a Company without a Vision. http://bit.ly/U1RfVP Why Zynga Failed. Short answer: no strategy. http://tcrn.ch/QSKSh3 Spotify Financials Deemed Unsustainable. Again, no strategy. The idea is to make sure the numbers work so that you’re revenue positive. See iTunes. http://bit.ly/QSL9Rj Startup Funeral: Honoring The Lessons Of Failure [Video] http://rww.to/PzEF8P Too Much/Too Little Money. The challenge for the entrepreneur is to for each financing to find the Goldilocks amount to raise: http://bit.ly/ThgfHl Top 10 reasons your business plan blows chunks… http://bit.ly/Q82AyL 10 Ways Startups Can Deal With Patent Troll Demands. It’s no fun receiving a patent demand, but rest assured, you are not alone. http://tcrn.ch/TgS6Rp The Top 10 Types of Douchebags in Tech and How NOT to Be One. This one’s been around for a while, but some things never get old: http://bit.ly/f8YLT4 Goodies for you - BestVendor helps you save time finding the best software, apps & tools: http://www.bestvendor.com/ Special for SOS Members: JOIN US FOR THE #1 BUSINESS TRADE SHOW on October 17th! Admission is free! Register now: http://bit.ly/PQPDb Promo Code: EXPO15 10,000 Business Owners • 40+ Seminars • 200 Exhibits • Unlimited Networking * 50+ Speakers And BonnieFoods will be there, so stop by and try some! Startuponestop.com is proud to partner with the LARGEST business expo and networking event in the Northeast. We invite you to pre-register for the 8th Annual New York Business Expo and Conference for FREE ADMISSION. This is a MUST-ATTEND if YOU want to network with peers, purchase discounted products & services, identify NEW B2B resources and attend cutting-edge seminars that deliver actionable strategies. Date: October 17^th 2012 Location: Javits Center Hall 1A - 655 West, 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 Website: www.EventManagement.org/newyork NY Expo offers over 40 business seminars designed to SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS in social media, sales, advertising, technology, accessing capital, healthcare, mobile, global trade and MORE! Attend one of our cutting-edge HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS and walk away with fresh techniques and indispensable takeaways. This is the MUST-ATTEND event for entrepreneurs, small business owners and executives who want to gain a competitive advantage, network with peers, purchase discounted products, engage with vendors and deepen their business education. This is the ONLY conference in New York where you can access a world of fresh ideas in one place - SAVING YOU TIME & MONEY! Register now: http://bit.ly/PQPDb Promo Code: EXPO15 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! That's it from us this week and hope to see you at theNew York Business Expo and Conference and our SOS gathering October 18^th: http://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/ Until then, always, help is on the way...

10/2/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:58:24 +0000

Good morning, All, We always see lists of the steps to take to succeed in technology. What about the things and people to avoid, sometimes at all costs. Starting with advice from the piece that inspired today’s newsletter: Why I got Fired from Facebook (a $100 Million dollar lesson): http://bit.ly/RqDgp1 Worth a read, and one of my favorites, yea, even as a networker. And blogger: “The BEST way to get famous is make amazing stuff. That’s it. Not blogging, networking, etc.” Make sure to read the note from Zuck – and see if you can find Waldo. Networking is important – but not to the exclusion of all else, or to validate your overwhelming desire to procrastinate. New rule: Check to see who’s going, or who’s hosting. Give yourself an hour to go and meet the people on your list. Also make sure to meet at least one new person. Once you get the feeling that your work there is done, leave. And don’t look back. One more lap around, just to be sure, is permissible, but just one, unless it was really worthwhile. After all, networking is part of your jobs, too (and yes, the next SOS networking event is October 18^th. RSVP now for the early bird rate: http://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/ You’re not the star – your product is. What we mean by that, well, once again, there’s the lessons of Color (and just for the record, Elvis has left the room - Bye Bye, Bill: How Nguyen Doomed Color from the Start: http://bit.ly/P4tAC3). It was a startup without a product. Or a plan to capture users (yes, we know you need a product first, but when investors throw $41 million at you, guess you don’t sweat the details. Bill Nguyen: The Boy In The Bubble: http://bit.ly/UAkutF As the article says, Bill Nguyen launches startups with haste, never researches the competition, and makes the same mistakes "again and again." So why do people keep giving him so much money? Hope the investors on the list are paying attention to this one and yes, there is such a thing as Silicon Snake Oil Syndrome, which is the concept that if you’ve hit it once, whether by pluck or luck, you’re destined to be a Successful Serial Entrepreneur, which might help to explain The Venture Capital Secret: 3 Out of 4 Start-Ups Fail: http://on.wsj.com/PDkx7z Your Potential Investor: do your homework. Which is potentially, the other side of the Silicon Snake Oil Syndrome. See above on the number of investments that fail. The two are related. Investors with portfolio companies that aren’t doing well are looking for ways to help them (and their investments) to succeed and/or pivot, if necessary. Along comes you, with a product in their vertical that just might help another one of their investments. Investors don’t sign NDAs. Good to have, especially if you have the funds to defend it in court, if it comes to that. Not all investors are ethical (we hear you guys seated in the back of the room laughing), so do your due diligence and linkedin is always a good place to start. Oh, and make sure to vet your source as well, if you hadn’t done that already. Not a bad idea to have a casual meeting with your potential investor, too, before you get too far along. Make it social - lunch or drinks – and ask them about themselves, casually. People love to talk about themselves and your job is to find out exactly who they are, how they operate - and pay attention: the devil is always in the details. Don’t give away too much: the deal ain’t done till the money hits the bank. Another point to remember. and this pretty much refers to life in general: the answer is always money. Now, what’s the question? Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to the Big Apple! Deadline to enter: October 2^nd. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration LeWeb'12 Paris, deadline October 21^st. We are looking for the most exciting and innovative startups and of course if your company or your product is in the "Internet of Things" space (LeWeb12 theme) this will be even better (but not compulsory!). If that sounds like your startup, entry is free and to apply: http://bit.ly/SrYhl2 DreamIt Ventures inaugural Austin accelerator program, deadline October 26^th. The details are here: http://bit.ly/OVWQ8y. Demo Day will take place during SXSW. To apply: http://dreamitventures.com/apply/apply-now/ . AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Yes, Virginia, there are other revenue models. Imagine No Ads On Facebook. It’s Easy If You Try. In other words, they bought karma not too long ago, and have all of the statistics to become a truly useful gift recommendation engine. While taking a small piece of the transaction, and works for Amazon! http://tcrn.ch/QQrrG2 Microsoft’s cloud service SkyDrive is great, and no one has noticed. Ok, so we all know that we’re personally not enamored of Google docs, so why not? http://bit.ly/SWUeIA Understand the Critical Difference Between Ideas and Opportunities. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Opportunities are much more important. An opportunity is an idea that’s passed the test of planning. It has potential. Now what? http://bit.ly/R6YJ45 In keeping with the theme: Why Too Many Startups (er) Suck. Advice from Steve Blank on how NOT to make your startup suck: http://bit.ly/SkhofN Anti-Downloading Law Hits Japan, Up to 2 Years in Prison from Today. Japan introduced new anti-piracy legislation designed to clamp down on illegal file-sharing. The regime is one of the most draconian in the world. In most countries users are only targeted when they upload copyright-infringing material to other Internet users, but the new law’s wording means that simply downloading unauthorized material could result in a jail sentence. Scary but true: http://bit.ly/Vi1t2o Special for SOS Members: JOIN US FOR THE #1 BUSINESS TRADE SHOW on October 17th! 10,000 Business Owners • 40+ Seminars • 200 Exhibits • Unlimited Networking * 50+ Speakers And BonnieFoods will be there, so stop by and try some! Startuponestop.com is proud to partner with the LARGEST business expo and networking event in the Northeast. We invite you to pre-register for the 8th Annual New York Business Expo and Conference for FREE ADMISSION. This is a MUST-ATTEND if YOU want to network with peers, purchase discounted products & services, identify NEW B2B resources and attend cutting-edge seminars that deliver actionable strategies. Date: October 17^th 2012 Location: Javits Center Hall 1A - 655 West, 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 Website: www.EventManagement.org/newyork NY Expo offers over 40 business seminars designed to SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS in social media, sales, advertising, technology, accessing capital, healthcare, mobile, global trade and MORE! Attend one of our cutting-edge HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS and walk away with fresh techniques and indispensable takeaways. This is the MUST-ATTEND event for entrepreneurs, small business owners and executives who want to gain a competitive advantage, network with peers, purchase discounted products, engage with vendors and deepen their business education. This is the ONLY conference in New York where you can access a world of fresh ideas in one place - SAVING YOU TIME & MONEY! Register now: http://bit.ly/PQPDb Promo Code: EXPO15 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congrats to our friends at Parking Panda: Parking Panda App Finds and Guarantees Parking Spots: http://on.mash.to/SWGzB5 FYI, they were part of the second class of the ER Accelerator program, who are now accepting applications for the winter session. If it’s any help, the last class had a great startup called catercow.com, to facilitate finding a caterer.ParkingPanda…CaterCow…you see where we’re going with this. Apply here: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Congratulations also go to Aaron Price: the Hoboken-based NJ Tech Meetup, Mission50, and Stevens, Hoboken were all recognized as being part of the #1 unexpected startup hub city by Entrepreneur Magazine. We will leave you with the chuckle of the week, from 2 Broke Girls: "Twitter is stupid and Instagram is Twitter for people who can't read" That's it from us and hope to see you at our SOS gathering October 18^th: http://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/ Until then, always, help is on the way...

9/25/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:57:48 +0000

Good morning, All, We got to a lot of pitch events – where investors are always present – as well as accelerator demo days – where there are even more investors present. Of course we always query them for their feedback post-event. Most often we hear: ‘yes, interesting, but we’ve seen this before.’ Or, ‘they’re in a crowded space.’ Newsflash: libraries and bookstores - on and offline - are filled with books, and yet when you get down to it, there are only seven plots in all of literature, and actually, they can be boiled down to three: man v man; man v nature and man v himself. So any fiction writers on the list? Give it up: it’s been done and why the New York Times should even bother with a bestseller list is beyond us. To make matters worse, Mark Zuckerberg Says There Are Only '6 People In The World With Good Ideas' (http://read.bi/QmXzDU) – himself included, of course, and let’s not forget that FB was far from being the world’s first social network. (Oh, and in case you missed it, and speaking of social networks, they're back: https://new.myspace.com/play.) Remember: only seven plotlines. Given all of this, what’s an entrepreneur to do? Answer: what you’ve always done. Keep building. Never give up on building the better mousetrap. Of course, Einstein’s definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, but that’s not what we’re talking about. As Erin Griffin notes in her pandodaily piece about ER Accelerator Demo Day which took place last week, “If Facebook has taught us anything it’s that an idea doesn’t have to be original or first to succeed. It just has to be executed the best.” (Politics, Planes and Paperwork: http://bit.ly/Q2cPpD). A fine point, that may well elude many an investor. (She also notes that conversely, the best execution doesn’t always win, either. Remember betamax?). Investors like founders with great backgrounds or track records. Look, they dumped millions into Color (Color.com Raises $41 Million For Building Location Photo- and Video-Sharing Social Network: http://bit.ly/SNchkr) yet a handful of unknowns founded instagram – an industry hit which left the Color investors waaay in the red. Pun intended. You’ve never heard of Sulia – but you someday may: This Tiny New York Startup Is Showing Facebook How It's Done. http://read.bi/USQ87O. It’s the world’s first subject-based social network. They organize short-form content into channels. It’s free, and built in a way so that they can someday monetize their content. No brainer for advertisers: here’s your dedicated audience. You don’t have to go looking for them. They’re right here in this channel. May be time to take a cue from companies like Sulia and don’t just make your focus to build lean, or do more faster. Build smart and build it your way. As Oscar Wilde said, be yourself… everyone else is already taken. End of story. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ CornellNYC Tech Now Accepting Applications for ‘Highly Selective’ Beta Class, Deadline October 1^st. Classes start January 2013. The inaugural class of future tech leaders will help shape the future of the tech campus. Candidates must have the highest academic credentials, and demonstrate strong entrepreneurial interests, leadership skills and a passion for community engagement. For more information and to apply: http://tech.cornell.edu/apply/ NEW Vator is bringing its popular evening event and competition back to the Big Apple! Deadline to enter: October 2^nd. What do the top 10 finalists win? The opportunity to give a three-minute presentation onstage to some of the top investors in the industry, here in NYC on December 5^th. For more information: http://bit.ly/OVVrPl To apply for the competition: http://vator.tv/registration NEW LeWeb'12 Paris, deadline October 21^st. We are looking for the most exciting and innovative startups and of course if your company or your product is in the "Internet of Things" space (LeWeb12 theme) this will be even better (but not compulsory!). If that sounds like your startup, entry is free and to apply: http://bit.ly/SrYhl2 NEW DreamIt Ventures inaugural Austin accelerator program, deadline October 26^th. The details are here: http://bit.ly/OVWQ8y. Demo Day will take place during SXSW. To apply: http://dreamitventures.com/apply/apply-now/ . AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny NEW ER Accelerator Winter Session, deadline November 30^th. ERA one of the top accelerators in the country, if not the world. Get $25k in funding; free office space in the heart of NYC; access to 200+ amazing mentors (http://eranyc.com/mentors/ and yes, Yours Truly happens to be one of them). For more information: http://eranyc.com/ To apply: http://eranyc.com/apply/ NEW Take the HELM, deadline November 30^th. The Take the HELM (Hire & Expand in Lower Manhattan) Competition will select up to 20 finalists that best meet the goals of the competition and seek to open an office in Lower Manhattan. Finalists will each receive a $10,000 cash grant, an opportunity to interview with the distinguished Take the HELM Selection Committee, and will participate in two days of exclusive business development programs in Lower Manhattan. Up to four Take the HELM winners will receive an additional $250,000. At least one $250,000 prize will be reserved for startup applicants. For more information and to apply: http://www.takethehelmnyc.com/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, and it’s not too late to apply to present. http://bit.ly/OVZQBF. The New England Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. This exclusive venture summit will feature over 40 leading VCs on timely panel discussions; presentations by 50 cutting edge companies and high-level networking opportunities. It happens in Boston on December 5^th. If you plan on attending, register now and save 50%: http://bit.ly/LjlttK powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Speaking of never mind the bollocks… 4 Reasons Recruits Should Stop Accepting Traditional Resumes. We love this piece from mashable.com, which explains why resumes are passé. Oh, and for the record, when applying for a job at mashable, resume required: http://on.mash.to/P01KQU Is Going For Rapid Growth Always Good? Aren’t Startups So Much More? It’s also ok NOT to raise venture capital. To aim at changing a small corner of your world or industry. Or your life. Mark Suster is always worth the read: http://bit.ly/Q91ZOG How to remove all your old Facebook wall posts, public or private, from your Timeline. Good to know: http://tnw.co/SrVl85 3 Reasons Good Strategies Fail. So that great, new strategy failed miserably. But there might not be anything wrong with the strategy. Could be your execution: http://bit.ly/Vz8LOj Notes on the acquisition process. Ah, nice spot to be in, but it ain’t over till the fat lady signs. Or something like that: http://bit.ly/TNlPBg Just starting out in startups? Here's some advice: http://bit.ly/PKzLcX Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations to ER Accelerator's Class of Summer '12! The Graduates of ERA’s Demo Day Want to Solve All Your Problems, from Paperwork to Catering. This was the third class of companies to graduate from the accelerator, which launched in 2011. The previous two ERA classes now boast a collective valuation of over $100 million. Kudos to Murat and the crew: http://bit.ly/UrVkNH. And don’t forget that ER Accelerator is now accepting applications for the next class: http://eranyc.com/apply/ Congrats also go to our friends at pixable.com, early SOS members whose company was just acquired - SingTel Acquires Intelligent, Social Photo Aggregator Pixable For $26.5 Million: http://tcrn.ch/UkbIjd Here's something for you: Free pass to NEW YORK BUSINESS EXPO & CONFERENCE, October 17^th In NYC. Promo Code: EXPO15. Register here: http://eventmanagement.org/newyork/register.php Our next SOS gathering is October 18^th. Register now for the early bird rate: http://sosoctobermixer.eventbrite.com/ Yes, time for another get-together. We know that a lot of you wait till the last minute – but if you register now, you'll save a few bucks. That's it from us this week, and now, as always, help is on the way...

9/18/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:55:58 +0000

Good morning, All, The iPhone 5 was introduced last week and while it has made moves forward (Apple introduced iPhone 5, 4” screen, 7.6 mm thick, 112 grams, 4G LTE capable, A6 processor, Lightning dock connector: http://tnw.co/Raj50k) – and is the fastest-selling iPhone to date, the battery is still not removable, and we know that the FBI can listen in, even when the phone is turned off – which is true of all smartphones, just for the record. Still, supposedly forward technology moves. So quickly, in fact, that again, we don’t stop to consider the consequences. When gmail was first introduced in 2004, no less than 30 civil liberties groups were in court arguing that with their ad serving, GOOG was reading our email and targeting us – a clear invasion of privacy. Was then and still is, yet gmail has become part of the internet landscape and we have happily given up our privacy and lots of it for the sake of convenience (How Google products go from creepy to cool: http://cnet.co/LU15kA). If they can do it, so can the government. A precedent has been set. As the writer says, convenience trumps privacy – are you cool with that? Now with Google Glasses, the company literally wants to get inside your head – and that’s just not cool by any stretch of the imagination (Google’s Project Glass is cool, but it raises a number of privacy concerns: http://tnw.co/OulVHe). Technology and the internet have certainly sped things up – including the rate at which we get used to things, like the disappearance of our rights. We’re like children who’ve been distracted by the lollipop and don’t see that doctor (or worse) coming at us with the needle. Social media has only exacerbated the issue. We’ve said it before: with all of the information we readily share via facebook, twitter, foursquare and whatever other SM technologies you care to throw into the mix, there’s nothing that can’t be known, mined and discovered within a few simple keystrokes. We know that this isn't news to you. Every now and again, we like to tap you on the shoulder as a gentle reminder, since we are the early adopters and more importantly, the creators of this brave new world. The so-called information highway is being charted, and moreso every day. Let's be careful out there, and respectly of our users/customers. We live in a world where there are so many security cameras out there watching that we now have security cameras watching the security cameras (apologies: we can't find the link to the article, which appeared last week). Remember the expression, ‘off the grid?’ We have seen the grid, and it is us. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition NEW CornellNYC Tech Now Accepting Applications for ‘Highly Selective’ Beta Class, Deadline October 1^st. Classes start January 2013. The inaugural class of future tech leaders will help shape the future of the tech campus. Candidates must have the highest academic credentials, and demonstrate strong entrepreneurial interests, leadership skills and a passion for community engagement. For more information and to apply: http://tech.cornell.edu/apply/ NEW AWS Global Startup Challenge, deadline November 9^th. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Start-Up Challenge is a way for promising start-ups to get noticed and compete for an opportunity to win some great rewards. This year’s challenge offers prizes such as $100K in combined cash and credits for multiple winners, VC introductions, PR support, and more. If your start-up is built using AWS, we want you to apply! Meet Tier One Investors: Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will meet 1:1 with top VCs More Winners, More Prizes: This year we will award winners in four categories, and award each of the four winners $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits Press and Attention for Your Start-Up: Past winners have been covered by top tech news outlets, and AWS offers other free promotion to top teams as part of the contest. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/OwE8ny powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: How Netflix’s lobbying dollars could lead to improved email privacy in the United States. Currently, here in the US, for the police to get their hands on your personal email, no warrant is required. Yes, your email really isn’t very secure: http://tnw.co/OwFzCF How Your Wireless Carrier Overcharges You. And since some of you are buying the iPhone 5 and may need services changes…: http://bit.ly/RTT710 Are You Building Facebook's Empire, Or Your Own? http://bit.ly/OQthFw 10 Top Reasons Why First-Time Entrepreneurs Fail: http://bit.ly/QiuVDC 8 Surprising Startup Lessons - What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know. It takes more than a big idea and a thorough business plan to start a new business. Most entrepreneurs aren’t quite sure what else it takes until they’re well underway, and many are shocked to discover important elements of startup success that they simply hadn’t considered at all: http://rww.to/RP9KoQ The Misstep of Quora and The Importance of Trust Amongst Your Community. You know the old saying about trust … “It takes years to build and seconds to destroy.” And once destroyed it is very difficult if not impossible to repair: http://bit.ly/OwJ2B7 How Facebook turned the normal processes of dying and grieving inside out: http://tnw.co/OhSY3u Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations to Michelle Madhok (shefinds.com), whose book, WEAR THIS NOW: Your Style Solution for Every Season and Any Occasion, just came out. And just for the record, on average, women waste a total of two years of their lives staring at their closets, trying to figure out what to wear. For more information and to order your copy: http://www.shefinds.com/wearthisnow/ Congrats also go to our buds @ParkingPanda: Parking Panda¹s Parking Spot Rentals Service Launches In San Francisco And On iPhone: http://tcrn.ch/PBSvYE TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35 Just for your amusement, and speaking of drinking the Kool-Aid, Jimmy Kimmel takes a first look at the iPhone5 http://youtu.be/rdIWKytq_q4 That's it from us this week and remember: To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential.(#BumperSticker). And now, as always, help is on the way...

9/11/12

Bonnie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:55:24 +0000

Good morning, All, It’s 9/11, and maybe because it’s also a Tuesday, as it was on that 9/11 eleven years ago, it’s especially difficult for those of us who were in New York City that morning not to recall the events of that day. And to reflect on what we’ve lost since then. We had quite a few friends who escaped from the fall of the towers and we’ve heard the stories, first hand, about how they made their way uptown, on foot, since public transportation had been shut down, and did it, exhausted, emotionally drained and covered in the remains of both the buildings and of the people who lost their lives in them. We live in a different world today: a world where there are cameras on every street corner; where one must submit to a full body scan and score in the correct quadrants of the Meyers-Briggs just to board a plane. And then there’s this: Gallup Sued by DOJ after Unfavorable Obama Polls, Employment Numbers: http://bit.ly/RQDbHn Expectation of privacy? Did you know that the FBI can listen in on your conversations - even when your cell phone is off? http://bit.ly/P7TqSp The only way around it is to take the battery out. Oh, wait! You can’t remove the battery! But this is America, and eventually, we do get to the point where enough is enough: Google Defies FBI Attempts to Gain Cell Phone Passwords. Finally, the empire strikes back. Yes, we know that the phone belonged to a pimp – this time: http://bit.ly/PWerhI FAA Ban on Gadgets: Can We Right Humanity’s Greatest Injustice? Yes, we’re talking about shutting off electronic devices during take off and landing. http://bit.ly/RwYjYB Police seizure of text messages violated 4th Amendment, judge rules: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy. But legality of warrantless cell phone seizures is still unsettled nationwide, so it’s not over. But at least the battle has been joined and lest we forget the power of the people: FCC backpedals from Internet tax – all due to the public outcry: http://bit.ly/NTJAqp Edmond Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Last time we checked, this was still America, land of the free and home of the brave. It’s September 11^th, and as on that September 11^th that dawned eleven years ago, it’s a beautiful day. Unlike then, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like we might once again get to see morning in America. At least people are beginning to see the light. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events NEW The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world. We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/ THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week, and staying on theme: FBI’s Sinister New $1 Billion Project Will Track Everyone By Their Face: http://bit.ly/OlZxpa Is the FBI Tracking 12 Million Apple Users? How unhappy would you be if you discovered that the FBI is using device information to track citizens? No; we are not talking about people who are allegedly terrorists . . . unless there are 12 million potential terrorists who prefer Apple devices? http://bit.ly/RCQKhQ Why You Should Be Terrified Of A Free Trade Agreement You've Never Heard Of [Infographic]. And do note which world leader is front and center in the photo: http://rww.to/PB9k4V Obama Admin Pursuing Executive Order to Enact CISPA-Like Cybersecurity Language. This is a basically complete abdication of the principals of transparency, accountability, and public-participation in government. What stopped it in Congress was the public outcry: http://bit.ly/PXvfF9 Jeff Bezos And The End of PowerPoint As We Know It. Because a picture’s worth a thousand words: http://onforb.es/TsCKZP Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Something special for you from one of our member TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35 That's it from us this week. We are planning another SOS event and it will be sometime in October. Until then, as always, help is on the way...

8/28/12

Bonnie — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:09:51 +0000

Good morning, All, We’ve always wondered what the tipping point is, when a startup goes from ‘startup’ to ‘company.’ We often wonder the same thing about Founder/CEO. Corporate paperwork aside, does founding a company make one a CEO? Having a great idea is one thing; knowing how to implement is quite another matter. Early stage companies may not have the juice or means to bring on a CEO who is a subject matter expert/can appeal to investors, so the founders often fill the role. Does that mean that the founder should keep the job, once the company is ready to moved to the next level? Not necessarily. A founder is a person who will sacrifice everything to build something out of nothing. A CEO is someone who takes care of the business end of the business and not uncommonly, someone the investors may bring in at some point to help take it to the next level. Not all founders like the idea of giving up the reigns – it’s their baby. Newsflash: always a good idea to play to your strengths – and to be aware of your shortcomings. Founder and CEO - not everyone is good at both, especially in an industry rife with youth, and with youth comes inexperience in business. Don’t be upset if/when it’s time for you to step aside, at least for the time being. Remember: a then young Larry Page and Sergei Brin gave up the reigns to Eric Schmidt, and Steve Jobs was much better suited to be Apple’s CEO the second time around. Mark Zuckerberg has long been the online media’s apotheosis of the startup CEO: young, brash – and he built a company with one of the largest populations on the planet. And like most countries right now, well, the economy isn’t doing very well. FB is working on a business model (Facebook’s New Retargeted Ads Performing “Very Well”, Adds Partners To Run Them: http://tcrn.ch/Og00p0) But targeting users – and having them actually click - are two different things, and do you go to FB to do your shopping? Know your audience – and decide whether or not you’re really up to the job of CEO. Having the passion doesn’t mean you have the skills to run a company. That’s what distinguishes a true leader: you know when to get out of your own way. Facebook has it’s place in the world – for now – until something else comes along, and maybe that’s why something else almost always comes along in the world of technology. Is it really the short attention span of users, or the person at the top's failure to innovate? Consider Amazon and Apple - companies that create new models and markets. Amazon started as a bookseller, grew to become an online shopping center - then changed the game with the Kindle. Apple, which nearly disappeared at one point, is now one of the most successful companies in the world. And there’s the lesson for you: know your users/customers/members and give them something they don’t even know that they need – yet. The true winners are the market-makers. They’re industry leaders that inspire Macolytes rather than follow the old models and devolve into just another company seemingly destined to dot come and go. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events NEW NYSeedStart Enterprise, deadline, late August. NYC SeedStart Enterprise is an intensive, 12-week program designed to help entrepreneurs focused on the next-generation of enterprise software to launch new ventures in New York City. With access to large amounts of capital, highly experienced investors and a robust ecosystem, New York is a very attractive location for companies to launch. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/dTDk9N Women 2.0 Pitch NYC, deadline August 31^st. This is an early stage startup competition for technology startups to give the companies valuable feedback and exposure in their earliest days. Competition culminates at the November 14 conference. Any web or mobile startup with less than $1M in funding and at least one female founder should apply for the chance to win $25K cash and more! For more information: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, deadline September 7^th. Startup Execs and Developers looking to provide value in the digital communication realm should check out the Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, designed to identify and drive the development of growth businesses that can leverage three of the Company’s technology areas: Spectrum® Spatial analytics and location intelligence; the secure evidencing platform; and the Connect+® web-enabled digital envelope and mail printing system. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/LL2OHJ WIBO 1^st Annual Executive Summary Competition, deadline September 7^th. A well developed Executive Summary can open the door and a great Pitch can help you seal the deal. The purpose of this competition is to guide you through the process of getting your thoughts about your business out of your head and on to paper! http://bit.ly/OC9Oe0 THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water… Leaked: TPP: the Son of ACTA will oblige America and other countries to throw out privacy, free speech and due process for easier copyright enforcement. If this passes, America will have a trade obligation to implement all the worst stuff in SOPA, and then some: http://bit.ly/RlOo6T Steve Jobs' Biggest Contribution (That No One Is Talking About). His ability to build teams. http://amex.co/nALse8 There Are Plenty of Failures in Silicon Valley, Thanks. Being acquahired isn’t necessarily a win. And not everyone wins: http://bit.ly/RNJqC5 Apple's $1B victory over Samsung. Speaking of game-changers, yes, we’re personally an Apple fan, but as Samsung itself noted, "It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners." The ruling could potentially shake up the tablet and smart phone industries, and at the end of the day, who really wins? What the Apple-Samsung verdict means for your smartphone: http://cnnmon.ie/Ogbhrp Speaking of which...What, Me Worry? Google Finally Reacts to AppSung Verdict (And Kara Swisher Translates It): http://dthin.gs/Pm2UYB This is far from over - not by a longshot. Apple v. Samsung: The Good, The Bad and The Sad: http://bit.ly/RUr7Lv As Samsung Tries To Get Galax Tab Injunction Lifted, Apple Names Eight Samsung Products It Wants Banned: http://tcrn.ch/NZ3D23 How Much Information Should you Give VCs for Due Diligence? It’s a fine line between giving away too much, too soon – and looking like you’re hiding something: http://bit.ly/NZ4Eaj The 2012 list of Top Fifteen US Startup Accelerators. We always list deadlines, so good to know: http://bit.ly/Q3ACq0 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations to NJ Tech Meetup founder Aaron Price, and his mention in the WSJ: Hoboken Looks for a Silicon Alley Breakaway http://on.wsj.com/QTyR9S PlumAlley.co launches September 6^th. From Deborah Jackson: I have worked over the last year on something I care deeply about - the advancement of women in entrepreneurship and technology. PlumAlley.co, the premier destination site for discovering and supporting female founded businesses will go live on September 6th. Every week we will profile a female founder and a curated selection of her extraordinary products for purchase on an exclusive basis for a limited time. I have had the honor to meet many exceptional women and their amazing companies as the founder of JumpThru and a co-founder of the WIM Accelerator. PlumAlley.co was founded to provide a way for female entrepreneurs to reach a broad audience who want to support women by directing their purchasing power. The first offering for sale will be one-of-a-kind fossils that will be made into custom jewelry by award winning and eco-friendly jewelry designer, Monique Pean. Feel free to sign up for the weekly email presenting the female founder of the week at this link. Something special for you from one of our member TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35 That's it from us this week and no newsletter next week, due to the Labor Day Holiday. We hope you enjoy your, see you in September, maybe even at the Entrepreneur Week End of Summer Soiree (http://endofsummernyc.eventbrite.com/) Until then, as always, help is on the way...

8/20/12

Bonnie — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:08:41 +0000

Good morning, All, Our next SOS gathering is tonight, August 20^th, so don't forget to register and looking forward to seeing you there. To RSVP: http://sosaugust2012-zvents.eventbrite.com/ discount code: sos. It was another bad week for three Web 2.0 darlings: Facebook is at ½ its IPO value; Zynga is down 69% and Groupon is off by 82%. We're not saying it's a bubble: it was more a wakeup call. And it seems to have roused the sleeping giants, so in case you missed it: A massive partnership was just announced between some of the largest retailers and merchants in the US, including 7-Eleven, Best Buy, Sears, Walmart and Target, to name a few. The plan: to create a mobile wallet that would be honored at its members' retail locations (Tired of Being Cut Out of Mobile Payments, Major Retailers Strike Back: http://rww.to/SEg5oq). This comes on the heels of the NY Times' announcement that it is unloading about.com, which it bought from Primedia (who paid over $600 million for it) for $410 million in 2005, to answers.com, for $270 million (The New York Times Is About to Say Goodbye to About.com: http://dthin.gs/RAxCSy). So don't bank on starting a company called YouNeedToBuyUsBeforeGOOGDoes.com: You prove your worth, or you're off the island. We see this as a harbinger and our takeaway: we’re on the eve of Web 3.0 and it won’t be about the Rise of Mobile (which is part of it) or the Demise of Social (which needs to come to the realization that there’s no free lunch: eventually the waiter does comes around with the check). Amazon never concerned itself with its stock price: the online retailer was busy building a business, and customer service was always front and center: after all, it was the customers who were paying the bills. Does Walmart care how many likes they get on FB? Haven’t seen them post too many – or any – Groupon offers, either, for that matter. You might be a media darling for 5 hot minutes, but careful: the adults are now stepping into the room. It seems they weren’t asleep after all: they’ve quietly been watching from the sidelines and they’re getting ready to stake their own claims in our brave new world. That’s Web 3.0, in our humble opinion and you’d be better be prepared to play in the big leagues now, and maybe even do business with the big guys. They mean business – and always have. If you don’t realize that playtime’s over and that the game is changing, you may well find yourself in way over your hoodie. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events VictorySpark, Milwaukee, WI, deadline August 22^nd. This is an exclusive program designed for innovative, high-growth, Veteran-initiated startups. $20K given for 6% equity: http://www.victoryspark.com/ NEW NYSeedStart Enterprise, deadline, late August. NYC SeedStart Enterprise is an intensive, 12-week program designed to help entrepreneurs focused on the next-generation of enterprise software to launch new ventures in New York City. With access to large amounts of capital, highly experienced investors and a robust ecosystem, New York is a very attractive location for companies to launch. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/dTDk9N Women 2.0 Pitch NYC, deadline August 31^st. This is an early stage startup competition for technology startups to give the companies valuable feedback and exposure in their earliest days. Competition culminates at the November 14 conference. Any web or mobile startup with less than $1M in funding and at least one female founder should apply for the chance to win $25K cash and more! For more information: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, deadline September 7^th. Startup Execs and Developers looking to provide value in the digital communication realm should check out the Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, designed to identify and drive the development of growth businesses that can leverage three of the Company’s technology areas: Spectrum® Spatial analytics and location intelligence; the secure evidencing platform; and the Connect+® web-enabled digital envelope and mail printing system. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/LL2OHJ WIBO 1^st Annual Executive Summary Competition, deadline September 7^th. A well developed Executive Summary can open the door and a great Pitch can help you seal the deal. The purpose of this competition is to guide you through the process of getting your thoughts about your business out of your head and on to paper! http://bit.ly/OC9Oe0 THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: DEAR FACEBOOK EMPLOYEES: Here's The Truth About Your Stock Price; http://read.bi/Pr0cU2 How To Structure A Marketplace. Good insight, and especially fitting this week: http://tcrn.ch/ON2AGl And speaking of media darlings: Foursquare’s big overhaul falls flat with users or a sign of the times? http://nyp.st/RrYzc2 Crunching the numbers on a Techcrunching: A mention on TC on launch day. Every founder’s dream, right? One shares the numbers to cut through the hype. http://bit.ly/S8GBsR The Ultimate Guide to Startup Marketing. It really is, down to the best days/time to tweet: http://bit.ly/RUmg7z Push, push, push. Expanding your comfort zone. What scares you most? That’s your next move… http://sivers.org/comfort The Facebook – Amazon comparison, and quite insightful: http://bit.ly/S8vS1u Move over, millennials. They may not wear hoodies or pull all-nighters, but these later-in-life entrepreneurs haven't ruled out creating the next Facebook. And they may have something you don’t: experience – and deep contacts: http://bit.ly/SF0sx3 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Mediocre Entrepreneurs. The thing is: persistence is not the self-help cliche “Keep going until you hit the finish line!” It’s: “Keep failing until you accidentally no longer fail.” http://tcrn.ch/SEmwIe Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Something special for you from one of our member TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35 That's it from us this week and hope to see you tonight at the SOS networking event! And for now, as always, help is on the way...

8/14/12

Bonnie — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:07:27 +0000

Good morning, All, Don't forget that our next SOS gathering is Monday, August 20^th and just under a week away, so don't forget to register and looking forward to seeing you there. To RSVP: http://sosaugust2012-zvents.eventbrite.com/ It’s August. Big vacation month – especially for investors. Since rust - and an entrepreneur - never sleeps, good time to work on your game face – and your pitch. Let’s face it: there’s nothing new under the sun. Facebook? Back in the day, there was sixdegrees.com. Amazon is an online store, albeit a successful one and expanding globally. We go to pitch events all the time. Nine times out of ten, we’ve heard it before. So, how do you get an investor’s attention? Here are some basic helpful hints/rules of thumb: 1. If you want investors’ attention, have a story that gets their attention. 2. If you plan on disrupting an industry, you’d damned well better have a pitch that wakes up the room. 3. Something compelled you to start this company. Share. Don’t keep it a secret. It may just be that pain point with which your potential investor can identify. 4. Speak from the heart. Keep it real. 5. Don’t be yet another concept on steroids. Heard it before – ad nauseam – and besides, steroids should only be administered under a doctor’s care and are illegal, if you happen to be participating in competitive sports. 6. Keep your message simple. And memorable. That way, it’s more likely to be remembered and hopefully, so will you. 7. An investor deck is also a business plan. Just remember that you’re building a business and make sure you have a pathway to profitability. 8. If you’re depending on an ad revenue model, ask yourself: when was the last time I clicked on an ad or a banner*? 9. *The SOS Donate button at the top of this page should be a notable exception, and do feel free to click. 10. Be able to describe your business in one sentence – sometimes, that’s all the time you have. Talking fast doesn’t count. 11. If you have a stellar background – or have unique personal experience having to do with your startup - spell it out. Front and center. It may be the thing that makes you uniquely qualified to do what you’re doing, and potential investors need to know that. 12. Don’t end your deck or presentation with contact information. It needs to be in there, but this is an advertisement for you and your company: leave them with a sound bite that they’ll remember. ‘Lean’ and ‘MVP’ have certainly both lowered the barriers to entry, but they no more validate an idea than does posting a facebook page and/or launching a twitter account qualify as having a marketing plan. So plan well, and use this time wisely. Investors may be off in Europe, but they'll be back; you'll want to be ready and your job right now is to focus on how your plan will play in Duluth. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events AARP Health Innovation@50+ LivePitch, deadline August 17^th. Health Innovation@50+ takes place at the annual 2012 Life@50+ AARP National Event & Expo in New Orleans, which is attended by 20,000+ members and guests from across the U.S. and the globe. This is the best opportunity of the year for entrepreneurs and investors to capitalize on the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer market. Qualified companies will LivePitch their products and/or services to a live audience, including representatives from the venture capitalist and angel investment community, industry experts and panel of expert judges. Additionally, pitching companies will present to AARP members, receiving instant valuable consumer feedback. Two grand prize winners (Judges winners and AARP Member winners) will be selected at the end of the day. For more information and to apply: http://health50.org/ VictorySpark, Milwaukee, WI, deadline August 22^nd. This is an exclusive program designed for innovative, high-growth, Veteran-initiated startups. $20K given for 6% equity: http://www.victoryspark.com/ Women 2.0 Pitch NYC, deadline August 31^st. This is an early stage startup competition for technology startups to give the companies valuable feedback and exposure in their earliest days. Competition culminates at the November 14 conference. Any web or mobile startup with less than $1M in funding and at least one female founder should apply for the chance to win $25K cash and more! For more information: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, deadline September 7^th. Startup Execs and Developers looking to provide value in the digital communication realm should check out the Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, designed to identify and drive the development of growth businesses that can leverage three of the Company’s technology areas: Spectrum® Spatial analytics and location intelligence; the secure evidencing platform; and the Connect+® web-enabled digital envelope and mail printing system. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/LL2OHJ WIBO 1^st Annual Executive Summary Competition, deadline September 7^th. A well developed Executive Summary can open the door and a great Pitch can help you seal the deal. The purpose of this competition is to guide you through the process of getting your thoughts about your business out of your head and on to paper! http://bit.ly/OC9Oe0 THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NEW NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Hey Startups, M-RGE Is Offering $1 Million of Free Coworking Space and Classes at AlleyNYC. For the next couple months or so, AlleyNYC is offering $1 million in free coworking space and Lean Startup classes through a partnership called M-RGE. Available August & September Only: http://bit.ly/NseWhU AlleyNYC was formerly associated with the Hatchery, which has since moved out due to a difference in ethos. In other words, the doctor is OUT. Explaining Your Product. “Don't think about how to explain your app to a user”, Chris Sacca tweeted. “Instead, think about how a user will explain it to another user.” Ok, so that fortune cookie advice was a little to facile for Mark Birch, who believes that your key questions should be can your customers succinctly describe your product and is your message confusing. Here are four things you can put into action immediately to tackle those very questions. http://bit.ly/NrZVQw Inside FI: Users Define a #Startups’s Product. As Ron Palmeri explains, “focus on building a great product that is aligned with the right market and the rest will follow.” http://fi.co/posts/656 Visual Marketing Is Here – 5 Ways You Can Use It To Sell Your Ideas. Less text please, more graphics – we’d rather see it than read it. http://tcrn.ch/PcI2Xp Your leading characteristic. When people describe you or your company what is the first thing they say? What do they lead with? That's your leading characteristic. Make sure you frame it well: http://bit.ly/RLCEeM Ten million users is the new one million users. From Chris Dixon, and just so you know what you’re up against: http://bit.ly/Rihsgt Founders as idea assassins, and other marketing tips from Simon Rothman. Simon was one of the very early guys at eBay and was responsible for starting eBay Motors, which ended up becoming a $14B a year global business and generating about one-third of all of eBay’s merchandise sales. He is now executive-in-residence at Greylock Venture Partners. Here are Simon’s four rules on marketing: http://bit.ly/RLDbgX Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Something special for you from one of our member TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35 10 How-to Workshops in 2 Days! 1) How to create a tech plan 2) How to wireframe & prototype your idea or project 3) How to refine your ideas through user testing 4) How to price & budget your project 5) How to determine the best technology solutions for executing your project 6) How to build your technology infrastructure for scale 7) How to manage your project using agile project management techniques 8) How to hire a development team 9) How to protect yourself and your intellectual property 10) How to track what your users are doing on your site For detailed workshop descriptions and to register, go to http://bit.ly/SOS35 That's it from us this week and hope to see you this coming Monday evening at the SOS networking event! We know you work hard, so come join us and relax, and whatever you do, don't forget that it is summer - take some time to enjoy it! And now, as always, help is on the way...

8/7/12

Bonnie — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:05:44 +0000

Good morning, All, The next SOS gathering is coming up on August 20^th and if your're in town, we'd love to see you. Details and RSVP are here: http://sosaugust2012-zvents.eventbrite.com/ and you know, you don't have to register at the last minute. How well we know you all! It wasn’t a good week for FB, but then, the company hasn’t had a good week since it went public. Turns out the 6^th largest country in the world, by population, admitted that millions of accounts are fake (http://bit.ly/N1xqsQ); the company lost more than three-quarters of a billion dollars of market cap EACH DAY since it went public (Who To Blame For Failed IPOs: http://tcrn.ch/QC4SJQ); Randy Zuckerberg went to work for Google; and her brother is no longer a Top 10 Tech Billionaire (http://on.mash.to/NeAwGz). He’s fine, but with the stock plummeting, he is at risk of losing valuable employees (Facebook loses 2 more executives, after stock price hits low: http://bit.ly/Mecr6G). Zuckerberg never wanted FB to go public – ever – and with the company under constant scrutiny for some privacy issue or another (Facebook’s facial recognition gets probe from Norwegian officials: http://bit.ly/MecBuI), it’s no wonder. One of the valuable lessons we can learn from FB, from way the company/investors handled the IPO to its policies, to its seemingly ever changing look, is that actions have consequences, even when the service is free. Yes, new users subscribe daily, but FB is not monetizing the base in any meaningful way. We personally think twice when the ‘I’ll allow it’ button pops up and given the choice between FB and allowing it through another service, we opt for the alternative: after all, Zuckerberg and ethics are rarely ever used in the same sentence – in a good way. The trust is long gone. He was always a press darling and still gets a great deal of ink – again, these days, not in a good way. We menton this because it’s August, and investors have mostly checked out for the time being. A good time to work on your business and, if necessary, to retool your business plan, and to think long and hard about what you’re creating, how you’re monetizing and if you’re not, what or whom you’re selling. We work in technology and we’ve all come to learn that there’s no such thing as the free internet: someone always pays. Let’s take some responsibility for what we’re doing because what we’re building is the future – and we all have to live there. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Thrillist/Samsung Speed Dating for Startups, deadline August 10^th. Think you’ve got the perfect start-up idea on your hands? All entrepreneur’d up with nowhere to…entrepreneur? Then upload a 30-second video describing your brilliant start-up idea. Grand prize: the ultimate business launch package that'll get your start-up all started up, including the chance to be showcased on Thrillist. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/NZkx2F NEW AARP Health Innovation@50+ LivePitch, deadline August 17^th. Health Innovation@50+ takes place at the annual 2012 Life@50+ AARP National Event & Expo in New Orleans, which is attended by 20,000+ members and guests from across the U.S. and the globe. This is the best opportunity of the year for entrepreneurs and investors to capitalize on the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer market. Qualified companies will LivePitch their products and/or services to a live audience, including representatives from the venture capitalist and angel investment community, industry experts and panel of expert judges. Additionally, pitching companies will present to AARP members, receiving instant valuable consumer feedback. Two grand prize winners (Judges winners and AARP Member winners) will be selected at the end of the day. For more information and to apply: http://health50.org/ VictorySpark, Milwaukee, WI, deadline August 22^nd. This is an exclusive program designed for innovative, high-growth, Veteran-initiated startups. $20K given for 6% equity: http://www.victoryspark.com/ Women 2.0 Pitch NYC, deadline August 31^st. This is an early stage startup competition for technology startups to give the companies valuable feedback and exposure in their earliest days. Competition culminates at the November 14 conference. Any web or mobile startup with less than $1M in funding and at least one female founder should apply for the chance to win $25K cash and more! For more information: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, deadline September 7^th. Startup Execs and Developers looking to provide value in the digital communication realm should check out the Pitney Bowes Entrepreneurial Competition, designed to identify and drive the development of growth businesses that can leverage three of the Company’s technology areas: Spectrum® Spatial analytics and location intelligence; the secure evidencing platform; and the Connect+® web-enabled digital envelope and mail printing system. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/LL2OHJ WIBO 1^st Annual Executive Summary Competition, deadline September 7^th. A well developed Executive Summary can open the door and a great Pitch can help you seal the deal. The purpose of this competition is to guide you through the process of getting your thoughts about your business out of your head and on to paper! http://bit.ly/OC9Oe0 THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK NEW NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21^st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition For you edification this week: Speaking of FB - Dear Mark Zuckerberg. Dalton Caldwell (app.net) didn’t want to be acqua-hired, then described the coercive tactics he says Facebook used to pressure a would-be rival. The letter that stirred up the tech world last week: http://bit.ly/N2vXR5 Facebook's Stock Crash Has Created A Bunch Of New Problems For The Company... http://read.bi/MJ4ovg Got Investors? Now, How to Handle Your Salary. Always a thorny issue. Here are salary guidelines to consider for the different stages of your business: http://bit.ly/KBgvhn 6 Tips to Rapidly Raise Funding on Angel List: http://bit.ly/PtPKY8 12 things to consider when deciding where to start up. Thanks to the Internet, you can choose to start up anywhere in the world that you want to. But there are a few important factors to consider when picking a place to start a business: Rent-a-desk scene heats up. With about 62 locations, up from 28 a year ago, you’ll never have to work alone in this town again: http://bit.ly/Pzh5YG Speaking of which, don't forget: free work space for SOS members worldwide, from our friends at loosecubes: Loosecubes is a private workspace sharing community where you can find and book a free place to work for the day in over 40 countries around the world. Loosecubes has transitioned to an invite-only model, whereby all 'cubes (1,000+ worldwide & over 150 in NYC) are completely free to book by members on a daily basis. And any SOS member can get immediate access as a subscriber to Startup One Stop with this link: https://www.loosecubes.com/startuponestop. Signs A VC Is Just Not That Into You. Many venture firms will take a long time to get to a "no.” Don’t let them waste yours: http://bit.ly/OTTkhG Why social media is endangering our future and what we can do about it. Some consider it a time waster. Is it more than that? http://tnw.co/PWMO6D iPhone & Android App Stores Lifting the Developer Middle Class. Apple paid developers nearly $1.5 billion in the first two quarters of 2012. In fact, middle-class developers - those who publish the bulk of the 600,000 apps available in the Google's and Apple's app stores - are making a comeback. http://rww.to/QllgvS Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congratulations to our friends (and ER Accelerator graduates) LocalBonus (LocalBonus Raises $900,000 To Provide A Universal Loyalty Program For Anyone With A Credit Card: http://tcrn.ch/OutvoQ But we always knew that Derek knows his stuff. Something special for you from one of our member TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, early bird deadline August 8^th. 15% SOS code: SOS. We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount on registration, use code SOS when registering: http://bit.ly/SOS35 Are you a non-techy entrepreneur? Do you ask yourself the following questions? * How can I find the right tech person? * What in the world is my tech person saying? * Why is my tech person choosing that software? * Why is my tech project costing so much? 10 How-to Workshops in 2 Days! 1) How to create a tech plan 2) How to wireframe & prototype your idea or project 3) How to refine your ideas through user testing 4) How to price & budget your project 5) How to determine the best technology solutions for executing your project 6) How to build your technology infrastructure for scale 7) How to manage your project using agile project management techniques 8) How to hire a development team 9) How to protect yourself and your intellectual property 10) How to track what your users are doing on your site For detailed workshop descriptions and to register, go to http://bit.ly/SOS35 Stranger than truth: A man walks into a bank. Hands over a junk-mail check for $95k… http://on.ft.com/TaUVRc What more can we say except that now, as always, help is on the way...

7/31/12

Bonnie — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:22:50 +0000

Good morning, All, First, our next SOS gathering is coming up on August 20^th. Yes, it’s still three weeks away, but early bird rate is available now, and we always look forward to seeing you: http://sosaugust2012-zvents.eventbrite.com/

There’s a movement afoot that if you’re a NY-based company, you should put a ‘Made in New York’ imprimatur on your website. We do have our own CTO of the city; plans are in the work for a new $2 billion tech campus. And there is a lot of the technology coming from New York-based startups – many of whom incorporate their companies in Delaware. Or Nevada. We realize that incorportion is a state matter, but while our mayor doesn’t hesitate to opine on national matters, the city might be better served if he focused his energies on coordinating with the Governor to make New York incorporation more attractive to companies. Both the mayor and the governor seem to be interested in bringing business to New York. Kudos to Startup Chile, a program of the Chilean Government to attract world-class early stage entrepreneurs from any where in the world to start their businesses in Chile (http://startupchile.org/). We’ve already cited Five Reasons Britain May Be The Best Place To Start A Company In 2012, and yes, government initiatives are part of it: http://onforb.es/LEgmui (This newsletter is global: if you know of programs anywhere in the world, please do share and we’re happy to spread the word.) Yet in New York City, where we have a mayor who is a businessman, many businesses have left the city since he took office, although Bloomberg LLP has certainly fared well under his reign (Citizen Bloomberg - How Our New York Mayor has Given Us the Business: http://bit.ly/NDYUmY). Aside from the aforementioned tax payer-funded initiatives, he has done little to foster entrepreneurial growth in New York. Tax incentives might be a good start. Affordable housing for entrepreneurs who bring their businesses – and potentially, jobs – to the city is another. We belong to many New York-based listservs and it’s not infrequent that the question comes up: where to incorporate. New York is neither at the top of the list nor ringingly endorsed. Yet we see ‘Made in New York’ banners popping up more and more. We’re all entrepreneurs: we know the importance of seizing any opportunity that may present itself and all of you NY-based Delaware corporations out there – don’t pass this one up. It may well be time to send a message, and to tell the whole story. After all, many of us live in New York, New York – named twice, in case you didn’t hear us the first time. Onward and forward.

Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Oxygen Accelerator, Birmingham, England, deadline July 31^st. A 13-week intensive mentor led bootcamp, followed by 13-weeks of incubation that culminates with a series of investor days where we will help you pitch to a large, carefully selected group of Angel investors, VCs and Private Equity groups for next stage funding. Up to €40,000 per team in exchange for 8%-10% equity, and much more, including relocation allowance: http://www.oxygenaccelerator.com/ The Guardian Small Business Awards, 1^st deadline (Winning New Business) August 3^rd. All entries that meet the criteria will appear on the Small Business Network's best practice exchange and the winning entries will be written up as a feature in the Guardian. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/QaTcw4 NEW Design for Education with Udemy, deadline August 5^th. For its next social media project, Udemy is inviting YOU to submit your most DARING artwork on the themes of “Education” and “Lifelong Learning”. Grand prize: $1000, a framed copy of the design, 100 T-shirts featuring their design, feature in all of Udemy’s social media channels, $100 worth of Udemy courses, and more. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/Oy3CDY NEW Launchpad LA, deadline August 6^th. This startup accelerator and mentorship program combines the best VCs in Southern California, many experienced CEOs and a very select group of service providers who are committed to working with early-stage companies. It’s a 4-month Santa Monica-based program, giving $50k to companies in exchange for 6% equity. http://launchpad.la/apply NEW Thrillist/Samsung Speed Dating for Startups, deadline August 6^th. Think you’ve got the perfect start-up idea on your hands? All entrepreneur’d up with nowhere to…entrepreneur? Then upload a 30-second video describing your brilliant start-up idea. Grand prize: the ultimate business launch package that'll get your start-up all started up, including the chance to be showcased on Thrillist. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/NZkx2F NEW VictorySpark, Milwaukee, WI, deadline August 22^nd. This is an exclusive program designed for innovative, high-growth, Veteran-initiated startups. $20K given for 6% equity: http://www.victoryspark.com/ Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS NEW WIBO 1^st Annual Executive Summary Competition, deadline September 7^th. A well developed Executive Summary can open the door and a great Pitch can help you seal the deal. The purpose of this competition is to guide you through the process of getting your thoughts about your business out of your head and on to paper! http://bit.ly/OC9Oe0 THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. Early bird registration is now available. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: 12 Business Incubators Changing the World. Yes, article in Forbes – research from SOS members Chubby Brain: http://onforb.es/OaaGXQ Divorcing Your Cofounder: Sooner or later you are going to face the truth; the team you start with is not the team you end up with for the long haul. Most founders tend to accept this fact when it comes to employees, but what if it happens to be the very person(s) you launched your startup with? http://bit.ly/MKiu0f Tech Reporter Contact List. From Brad Feld, and it includes the top tech blogs, tech blog reporter, top 100 newspapers (and reporters at those papers), and more: http://bit.ly/OBZuTw Growth Capitalism: How Accelerators Are Transforming the Start-Up Environment in Latin America. And if any of you have questions about the value of accelerators, read on: http://bit.ly/O0EFAI The perils of aiming too big too early. Niche to win, baby: http://bit.ly/N7K5ag Pitch the future, build for now. You know how it works – one step at a time: http://bit.ly/NJNC2L Building All Star Teams. Putting together an A+ great team is worth 100x more than any “rockstar” individual, or as Kayak founder Paul English put it, The difference between an A team and an A+ team is the difference between a million in revenue and a billion in revenue: http://bit.ly/M2S0bR You for Sale: Mapping, and Sharing, the Consumer Genome. It knows who you are. It knows where you live. It knows what you do. It peers deeper into American life than does the F.B.I. or the I.R.S., or those prying digital eyes at Facebook and Google. And it’s a database marketing company: http://nyti.ms/L0DQ60 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Free work space for SOS members worldwide, from our friends at loosecubes: Loosecubes is a private workspace sharing community where you can find and book a free place to work for the day in over 40 countries around the world. This week we transitioned to an invite-only model, whereby all 'cubes (1,000+ worldwide & over 150 in NYC) are completely free to book by our members on a daily basis. And any SOS member can get immediate access as a subscriber to Startup One Stop with this link: https://www.loosecubes.com/startuponestop. When they join via our link, you’ll be able to sign up immediately and find a place to work. SOS member Ilana Eberson was Nominated for the 2012 Small Business Influencer Awards in Experts. Make sure to vote for her, she’s awesome: http://bit.ly/M4Y9k1 That's it from us this week. Your turn and now, as always, help is on the way...

7/24/12

Bonnie — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:21:47 +0000

Good morning, All, The long-overdue and highly underreported Kayak IPO finally happened last week (http://bloom.bg/M54bqK). The stock jumped from its initial offering – and rose steadily throughout the day, adding $91 million to the company’s coffers. The founders are not twenty-somethings or media darlings; the company is profitable – and has been for some time. They do face their challenges. Still, the initial investors did not cash out at the IPO. They’re in it for the long haul, as are the founders. With tech stocks essentially dead after the Facebook IPO debacle, the Kayak IPO should have been bigger news, or should have gotten more ink than did the demise of Digg, whose founder walked away with millions, despite the fact that the $164 million company was sold off for $16M. Is that success? Nick Bilton wrote an excellent piece describing his move to Silicon Valley and its bifurcated culture (Disruptions: Looking Beyond Silicon Valley’s Bubble: http://nyti.ms/QobVUU) “This belief that everyone is an entrepreneur has a stultifying effect. It can drive founders to seek an easy acquisition instead of a quest for true innovation and a sustainable, profitable business — a truly entrepreneurial challenge.” Kevin Rose (named a "Top 25 Angel Investors (#14)" by Bloomberg, "Top 25 Web Celebrities" by Forbes, "Top 25 Most Influential People on the Web" by Time and BusinessWeek magazines, and one of MITs "Top 35 Innovators under 35") is at Google Ventures, since Google bought his next company, Milk (now defunct. Too. Why Google or Facebook Buying Your Favorite Startup Means It’s Probably Toast: http://ti.me/LEijWz). He has made some good investments (http://about.me/kevinrose) – from the money he made off investors who didn’t fare as well by investing in him. Video killed the radio star - and the adoration of youth over substance is certainly not doing much for online. If you’re going to start a company, do it because of that fire in the belly; that passion to somehow move the needle, even if it’s just in some small way. And have a path to monetization. Media attention is fine, but don't forget your investors. Be a Kayak and in it for the long haul, because unless you’re suddenly made one of the anointed, you might otherwise just some day find yourself up the creek without a paddle. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Amplify.la – deadline unknown. Our accelerator program is four months of intense collaboration designed to help entrepreneurs amplify their business far beyond where it is today. We provide up to $50,000 in seed funding, free workspace at our Venice campus and hands‐on mentorship. Our companies also benefit from a variety of free or highly discounted services including hosting, legal, banking and more. For more information and to apply: http://amplify.la/ Oxygen Accelerator, Birmingham, England, deadline July 31^st. A 13-week intensive mentor led bootcamp, followed by 13-weeks of incubation that culminates with a series of investor days where we will help you pitch to a large, carefully selected group of Angel investors, VCs and Private Equity groups for next stage funding. Up to €40,000 per team in exchange for 8%-10% equity, and much more, including relocation allowance: http://www.oxygenaccelerator.com/ NEW The Guardian Small Business Awards, 1^st deadline (Winning New Business) August 3^rd. All entries that meet the criteria will appear on the Small Business Network's best practice exchange and the winning entries will be written up as a feature in the Guardian. For more information and to enter: http://bit.ly/QaTcw4 Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. Early bird registration is now available. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: How To Score A Meeting With An Angel Investor. David Rose told people on Quora exactly how to score a meeting with him: http://read.bi/NDXpFx Why Every Social Media Manager Should Be Under 25. Of course, the piece should be entitled, If You’ve Never Encountered Millenial Entitlement Before, Read On: http://bit.ly/Q9fO1a 15 Dumb Mistakes to Avoid When Pitching Investors. Pitching venture capitalists or angel investors is nerve-racking. Young entrepreneurs explain trip-ups you should avoid at all costs. http://bit.ly/N6o6oO What we should have said to Paul Graham. Remember: if you don’t take the lead, the scenery never changes: http://bit.ly/PNGnHZ What Founders Wish They Knew Before Starting Companies. 1 in 12 startups do succeed, but that’s not to say there weren’t bumps in the road. http://on.mash.to/NPcp1N Everything Americans Hate About the Internet in One Chart. File this under 'know your audience': http://bit.ly/PdzQkY How the BlackBerry Died: The Five Mistakes That Killed a Once-Great Device. http://bit.ly/M55DJM Moving the needle. As you get bigger, what moves the needle changes dramatically: http://bit.ly/LTb6MX Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! In honor of the Summer Olympics, Entrepreneur Week is throwing an Olympic-Size networking event, including a free drink and an opportunity to win four Yankees tix! It happens August 9^th, but early bird ticket sales end July 27^th. To RSVP: http://bit.ly/M5dCqi We'll also be hosting another SOS gathering later in August. Details to come - soon - and until then, as always, help is on the way…

7/17/12

Bonnie — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:20:55 +0000

Good morning, All, The big news this week was yesterday's announcement that The Marissa Mayer Era at Yahoo starts today. Google's employee #20 certainly knows her stuff, and guess we’ll see if she can make a difference to the company: http://tnw.co/MtXKNY A while back, a friend’s parents went to the racetrack for the first time in their lives. They knew nothing about the sport, and since my friend is a dancer, her mother suggested that they bet on a horse called She Can Dance. “She Can Dance," her dad said, "but can she run?” They won: he chose a horse with better odds. Hashable shut down this week. Admittedly, we personally never found it compelling – the gamefication of introductions/death of the business card. But gamefication was the catchphrase du jour, you needed that element to get the attention of investors and the company’s founder was a successful entrepreneur. Hate to state the (maybe not-so-) obvious, but if we want traction, the question always should be: how will this play in the vowel states (you don’t flyover in an online world). And: who is your audience (yes, Yahoo's is primarily female, just for the record). Or try: how will this improve life as we know it out there? We in tech do live in a bubble: we live in tech hubs rife with early adopters, and we seem to forget that out there, there is a much lower percentage of people who: - Feel a burning need to have a web-enabled phone - Feel incomplete if they go to dinner – sans their mobile - Feel that everyone will think they haven’t left the house in months if they fail to compulsively check in on foursquare. If you build it, eventually they will come. But we can’t abandon the ‘fixed’ (as opposed to mobile) web just yet, and above all, again we remind you, don’t piss off your user base. And wasn’t Digg a lesson in that this week: The Lessons For Facebook, Twitter And Reddit In Digg's Demise (http://onforb.es/PW3mSs). From 30M down to 8M users in a year, by simply releasing a new version of the site – and not listening to feedback from their most active members. So the former darling of the online world, once worth $164 million, had its parts sold off for $16 million, and it was all self-inflicted. Founders tend to live in bubbles. It’s our product; we know what’s best. And we’re not always responsive to user feedback – or the vagaries of our site/application/product features that keep our users coming back. Visionaries are few and far between. They see a future we cannot imagine, not a feature we feel compelled to implement. The better part of entrepreneurship may well be stewardship, and that may be the thing that distinguishes a dot com from a dot bomb. Choose wisely because in our world, fortunes can fall even more quickly than they rise. That’s horseracing! Onward and forward. Deadlines: The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events NEW Amplify.la – deadline unknown. Our accelerator program is four months of intense collaboration designed to help entrepreneurs amplify their business far beyond where it is today. We provide up to $50,000 in seed funding, free workspace at our Venice campus and hands‐on mentorship. Our companies also benefit from a variety of free or highly discounted services including hosting, legal, banking and more. For more information and to apply: http://amplify.la/ NEW Angelpad, deadline July 21^st. Angelpad is a mentorship program founded by Thomas Korte and other ex-Googlers to help web-technology startups build better products, attract additional funding and ultimately grow more successful businesses Twice a year, we provide an extensive mentorship program to carefully selected startups, during the course of 10 weeks, in our San Francisco office. For more information and to apply: http://angelpad.org/about/ NEW The Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure, deadline July 21^st. This program will host ten companies for a three month, on site, focused on building businesses that take advantage of the cloud. The program runs from September through mid-December in Seattle and is being powered by TechStars, using the same mentor driven methodology pioneered and proven by them in New York, Boulder, Seattle and Boston. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/LW1Tdi NEW Springboard, deadline July 22^nd. Springboard is a unique opportunity to turbocharge your startup by working with accomplished mentors and experts in a dedicated business environment. We are only one of two "startup competitions" that have been endorsed by UK Trade and Investment ("UKTI") for applications for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa. Subject to your team being made an offer by Springboard, you can apply for a Prospective Entrepreneur Visa that enables you to enter the UK for up to 6 months, and allow you to participate in Springboard and seek to secure funding. Business plan not necessary. For more information and to apply: http://springboard.com/view/faq/ Oxygen Accelerator, Birmingham, England, deadline July 31^st. A 13-week intensive mentor led bootcamp, followed by 13-weeks of incubation that culminates with a series of investor days where we will help you pitch to a large, carefully selected group of Angel investors, VCs and Private Equity groups for next stage funding. Up to €40,000 per team in exchange for 8%-10% equity, and much more, including relocation allowance: http://www.oxygenaccelerator.com/ Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS NEW THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12^th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. Early bird registration is now available. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. Dell Launches $100M Innovators Credit Fund. Qualified start-ups can get extra funding and technological resources from the computer giant. The catch is, you must have already received some angel funding or venture capital before you can apply. Start-ups can get up to 10% of its current funding or up to $150,000 with limited credit terms. Article is here: http://bit.ly/NsJpQK For more information: http://eir.dell.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Roger McNamee of Elevation Partners calls NASDAQ & Morgan Stanley Criminals in Facebook IPO Debacle. Show of hands: who’s surprised? http://bit.ly/NbbLzF The complete guide to Israeli startup accelerators. And a lesson is what to look for and why accelerators work for some and not for others: http://tnw.co/LiRYs7 Five Reasons Britain May Be The Best Place To Start A Company In 2012. Over the last five years, the British Government has announced changes in every annual budget to help nurture the growing ecosystem that had already started to establish itself organically in the UK. Other governments can take a lesson: http://onforb.es/LEgmui Vinod Khosla: Maintain the Silicon Valley Vision. Ok, he’s a SV-based investor. Better (more inclusive) title would have been: How to Build the Future. Still, a lesson in pursuing the mission, not the exit: http://nyti.ms/N8h3fj Your LinkedIn Intervention: 5 Changes You Must Make. If you want to get results though linkedin, there is an etiquette. Learn it may well lead to more successful networking: http://onforb.es/Nemp6m The Secret Lives Of Teenagers Online: A Full Report From Business Insider. And remember: they're the future: http://read.bi/NU39vb What Agencies (and startups) Can Learn From a Superstar Startup. It’s dollarshaveclub.com. Speed is important, and bold means memorable: http://on.mash.to/LiK6vp How To Prepare Your Startup To Raise An Angel Round. Approaching a well known angel investor cold with the expectation that they’ll fund you, is like walking up to a beautiful stranger and expecting you’ll be planning a wedding by the end of the conversation. Be prepared: http://tcrn.ch/NAiD3S 7 Do’s and Don’ts for Founders: http://bit.ly/LmbtE2 The Formula. Television is formulaic – and startups can be as well. Brad Feld suggests following the formula, when it works – but don’t be afraid to deviate from it, when necessary: http://bit.ly/N3qbeU Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! From SOS member Conrad Egusa: When I was writing for VentureBeat.com I learned pretty quickly that most entrepreneurs do not know how to approach the media, and when they do look for PR, they need to spend hours collecting the contact information of tech reporters. My company spent 100 hours creating a free comprehensive tech reporter contact list. The list is here: http://www.brownsteinegusa.com/find-tech-reporters I’m also releasing a free Beginner’s Guide To PR: http://brownsteinegusa.com/beginners-guide-to-pr/. I hope they are of help. How Hoboken, New York’s Baby Brother, Built An Innovation Scene Of Its Own: http://bit.ly/Lwvvxz And congrats to Aaron Price, NJ Tech Meetup founder, Entrepreneur at Large for DFJ Gotham, founder of CrafterMania.com and SOS member, who certainly played his part in making it happen. We keep telling you: it’s worth the trip across the river! Yes, the NJ Tech Meetup is tonight - waitlist only, as usual. Our thanks to everyone who came out to help me celebrate my birthday - and yes, we are planning another event for August. Stay tuned and until then, as always, help is on the way…

7/9/12

Bonnie — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:19:53 +0000

Good morning, All, The next SOS event is tonight and we have a 25% discount for SOS members. Code: sos. It also happens to be New York State Day and my birthday! We are hosting in conjunction with DoItInPerson, so hope you can join us for an evening of drinks and networking with business owners and entrepreneurs. Thank you, DoItInPerson, for making it happen. To RSVP http://bit.ly/LnJuAT and hope to see you this evening! Two interesting graphs circulated last week: Google Graveyard and Microsoft Morgue. We’re still waiting for the Facebook Follies and Ya-hoo Thought that would work? Behemoth’s don’t always get it right and yes, while money is made, jobs are also lost. Companies seem to get to a size/place/hubris where they want to own all eyeballs everywhere, seemingly losing sight of the cardinal rule of business: does it add to our value proposition? There’s no doubt that FB has a lot more members than Linkedin, but here’s How LinkedIn Gets TWENTY Times More Money Per User Than Facebook (http://read.bi/KYFeeM). LinkedIn users spend an average of 18 minutes a month on the site to FB users', 6.4 hours. But LinkedIn gets $1.30 in revenue for every one of those hours to FB’s 6.2 cents. Since its IPO, Facebook stock has skidded 17% so far, while LinkedIn shares have leapt 64%. Facebook is still banking on the ad revenue model; LinkedIn – monetizes data. The full Forbes article is worth a read: How LinkedIn Has Turned Your Resume Into A Cash Machine: http://onforb.es/LClNKa. We remember when the internet was referred to as the information superhighway and, social or not, that basically hasn’t changed. Many of us simply forgot, or didn’t know that in the first place. “@NickLukan: "A million guys walk in to a Silicon Valley bar. None of them buys anything. The bar is declared a rousing success." via @Quora. Eyeballs are great, but the real value of a business always shows up on the bottom line. At the end of the day, it’s all about building a sustainable business, and currency is still the currency of the day. Spend it wisely. And don’t piss off your end users by arbitrarily changing (timeline; fb email) or diluting your brand. Onward and forward. Deadlines: It’s that time again - Startup Chile, deadline July 10^th. For more information and to apply: http://startupchile.org/about/apply/ NEW Heads up, Israel: Up West Lab, deadline July 10^th. This is a Silicon Valley accelerator supporting Israel’s best entrepreneurs and offers a 10-week program and takes a small equity and give up to $20k per company. They also help you sort out living arrangements, and offer post-program support after Demo Day. For more information and to apply: http://upwestlabs.com/ NEW GameFounders, deadline July 10^th. GameFounders the first gaming startup accelerator in Europe (Estonia). It’s the usual 3-month mentor-filled program, but the startups will get several opportunities to practice and present to international VCs, corporate and angel investors at Demo Days held in Tallinn, Helsinki, London and San Francisco. Investment taken: 9% for 5k per founder (up to €15k).For more information and to apply: http://www.gamefounders.com/ NEW Digital Catalyst Fund, Romania, deadline July 15^th. This fund is dedicated to helping highly promising entrepreneurial teams to develop businesses centered on the future of digital media, digital marketing and digital communication and provides them with the funding, support and connections they need to flourish. The DCF initial commitment is to provide US$500,000 financing to ten carefully selected projects. This 3-month bootcamp is based in Bucharest. For more information and to apply: http://digitalcatalystfund.com/ NEW The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events Oxygen Accelerator, Birmingham, England, deadline July 31^st. A 13-week intensive mentor led bootcamp, followed by 13-weeks of incubation that culminates with a series of investor days where we will help you pitch to a large, carefully selected group of Angel investors, VCs and Private Equity groups for next stage funding. Up to €40,000 per team in exchange for 8%-10% equity, and much more, including relocation allowance: http://www.oxygenaccelerator.com/ Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. Dell Launches $100M Innovators Credit Fund. Qualified start-ups can get extra funding and technological resources from the computer giant. The catch is, you must have already received some angel funding or venture capital before you can apply. Start-ups can get up to 10% of its current funding or up to $150,000 with limited credit terms. Article is here: http://bit.ly/NsJpQK For more information: http://eir.dell.com/ powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: A must read from Vanity Fair: Microsoft’s Downfall: Inside the Executive E-mails and Cannibalistic Culture That Felled a Tech Giant. From the article: Microsoft had a prototype e-reader ready to go in 1998, but when the technology group presented it to Bill Gates he promptly gave it a thumbs-down. “He didn’t like the user interface, because it didn’t look like Windows,” a programmer involved in the project recalls: http://vnty.fr/LjkvUq. 5 Great Tools That Help You Create Apps For Your Business. In the end, you must pick a tool according to how complex your app will be. The more tailoring you have to do in the development stage, the more shades of gray start to appear on what you should choose from this list: http://bit.ly/MTDBid 5 Trick Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Answer Before Asking For Money. It's all about minimizes the chances of a future misalignment: http://onforb.es/IRbuOR 7 things I wish we knew before our seed round. Once you’ve raised the money, it’s just the beginning: http://tnw.co/N2wHpP Thanks, but No Thanks: Passing on an 8 Figure Venture Round. Why did they say no to this huge opportunity? They had their reasons – and they know the risks. And we sincerely hope it works out for them: http://bit.ly/MVtBk5 Nice Try, Twitter: Here’s A Quick Workaround To Get Your Tweets Published in your Linkedin Feed Again. Twitter cut ties with LinkedIn; tweets will no longer appear on LinkedIn via status updates. It's part of Twitter's effort to control tweet consumption: http://read.bi/N9Jnf2 12 Rules For Building Your First Profitable Startup. Sell, sell, sell – and make sure it’s a product people will buy into. Literally: http://bit.ly/L8H129 Higgs bosom in plain English, and why it’s so important. Often referred to as the ‘God particle,’ there’s your first clue as to its importance: http://tnw.co/N90Sf9 Time to Vacate Wall Street. Despite all of the bluster about NYC becoming a tech capital and creating opportunity and jobs, one need only look at the industries that are here - and quickly evacuating - to see how it won't be long before our industry, too, is strangled and forced out by regulation and taxes. The blue social model devours its own: http://bit.ly/N8u7z3 Scientist Creates Pizza Healthy Enough to Eat 3 Times a Day, Every Day. 100 taste testers said it was as good or better than other frozen pizzas available on the market. They go on sale in UK supermarkets later this year.http://bit.ly/N867w0 Elevator Pitch/Member News Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you're working on, or if you've been featured in the press...Share, and we will, too! Congrats this week go to Alden Levy (http://mybillregistry.com/ ), who heard about the iEvening pitch event through SOS – and won the evening! Congrats also go to ER Accelerator company Bizodo, who were just featured in PandoDaily and will also be featured in this month’s edition of Inc Magazine And from Julianna Davies: I’m part of the design team at MBAOnline.com, and we created a graphic that illustrates the 30 years of innovation at Microsoft and their failures along the way. Title: Microsoft MBA: Over 30 Years of Innovation Graphic: http://www.mbaonline.com/microsoft-mba/ That's it from us this week and hope to see you this evening at my bday celebration. The newsletter will go back to its Tuesday schedule next week. It being my bday, decided to err on the side of caution this week. Until then, as always, help is on the way…

6/26/12

Bonnie — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:34:05 +0000

Good morning, All, The next SOS event is July 9^th, and it also happens to be my birthday! We are hosting in conjunction with DoItInPerson, so hope you can join us for an evening of drinks and networking with business owners and entrepreneurs. Thank you, DoItInPerson, for making it happen. To RSVP: http://bit.ly/LnJuAT And hope to see you there to help us celebrate! Microsoft is back in the news. Never count out a sleeping giant - and Microsoft is a company that always sleeps with one eye open. Remember a few years back when they invested in FB? (Microsoft invests $240 million in Facebook: http://on.msnbc.com/KVcRiW. From BI: Microsoft's Investment In Facebook At A "Ridiculous" Valuation Was BRILLIANT: http://bit.ly/Mtbsvi). Now, with MS/FB – aka, the new Bing search, it might just have gotten even more brilliant, while G+ slowly fades. We remember when Microsoft was the Evil Empire: the tech bully who would buy or destroy competitors because they could (look up Stacker – Microsoft made overtures to Stacker to license their code, and when Stacker wouldn’t play, MSFT apparently wrote their own version using the knowledge they had obtained. You’ve never heard of Stacker. You’re no doubt familiar with defrag). This week, MSFT announced the release of Surface, its iPad wannabe/gonnabe (Video: Microsoft Surface And Apple iPad Announcements Compared Side By Side: http://bit.ly/OeTD8U) – and it’s not completely a clone (5 ways Microsoft's Surface may be better than an iPad: http://bit.ly/PVErL4). Tomato, tomahto: let’s not forget that it was MSFT who bailed out – and may well have saved – Apple a few years back (Microsoft to invest $150 million in Apple: http://cnet.co/QIk19). That was ’97, when an older and wiser Bill Gates was still at the helm, and MSFT was on the eve of being usurped as the Evil Empire by a company that would go magnitudes beyond whatever evil MSFT had contrived in its day. Yes, Google. Now with Apple about to eliminate GOOG maps from its devices (Google Is Now Recognizing The Threat To Its Mapping Dominance: http://read.bi/PVM7wX), Android sales still not as strong as the iPhone, and Google dropping prices on both its mapping API and its cloud storage, well, no one stays on top forever, and cautionary tale ahead: Google lost sight of a key ingredient to success, whether your service is free or not: the end user. We personally studiously avoid Google products, whenever possible. We mentioned a while back that while researching Type 2 diabetes – a disease we do not have, but were doing research for personal reasons - and found ourselves slammed with subject related spam. Which we began keeping in a separate folder on weekend, to see how out of control GOOG was. Roughly, spam count about 2200 pieces between Friday evening and Sunday evening. When the number his 2700, we abandoned GOOG search completely. That was December, and we’ve been keeping track ever since. Spam count this past weekend: 37 pieces. And thanks for all the fish. Google has been secretly tracking users on mobile, on the web – and no doubt everywhere it has embedded itself, and behavioral targeted searches are not always helpful. Au contraire. Google is still the top search engine, but considering the ground its losing in other areas, it’s neither all-powerful nor bullet-proof. MSFT was smart to sleep with one eye open. Google would be wise to lose the ego and do the same – if only to watch its own back. Onward and forward. Deadlines: The 2012 New York Venture Summit is June 28th, and it's the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture capitalists, Angel investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, The 2012 New York Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. If you're thinking of attending, we have an additional SOS discount for you: Your SOS discount code is sos150 – which is $150 off the current registration rate. Is it worth it? This just in: They’ve added a Fireside Chat with Ram Shriram, Managing Partner of Sherpalo Ventures and Founding Board member of Google (and their first investor) moderated by Steve Davis of Goodwin Procter LLP. Long answer: absolutely. Ram is a seminal SV investor and doesn’t often do speaking engagements on the East Coast, as far as we’ve noticed. For more information and to register: http://bit.ly/JTGiuI NEW Dell Launches $100M Innovators Credit Fund. Qualified start-ups can get extra funding and technological resources from the computer giant. The catch is, you must have already received some angel funding or venture capital before you can apply. Start-ups can get up to 10% of its current funding or up to $150,000 with limited credit terms. Article is here: http://bit.ly/NsJpQK For more information: http://eir.dell.com/ NEW Chinaccelerator, deadline June 30^th. This is the first mentorship-driven seed funding program in China, providing extensive support for startups including seed funding, mentorship, and free office space. 4-8% equity taken for 10,000 CNY per founder (for 3 founders at max).For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/Ltj1qk NEW StartupBootcamp Berlin, deadline June 30^th. This accelerator program focuses on exposing and connecting startups to our expanding community of mentors and advisors that provide expertise from a multitude of industries. Startups in the programs get seed funding, free co-working space with other startups, services from sponsors and get a dedicated mentorship plan that will excel you from wherever you are in the development cycle to the next. 8% equity stake taken for 15,000 Euros and over $75K Euro in benefits.For more information and to apply:http://bit.ly/GCAVPh Chase and LivingSocial want to help fuel that drive by awarding up to 12 individual grants of $250,000 to 12 small businesses. Submit your Mission: Small Business℠ application today! Program ends June 30, 2012. For more information and to apply: https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/ Call to international entrepreneurs: LaunchHouse Accelerator Program Takes Off, deadline July 1^st. Over the past three years, LaunchHouse has succeeded in seeding, mentoring, and helping 30 companies to obtain follow-on funding. It plans to enhance those efforts with a new group of software and web-based tech entrepreneurs participating in the progra The LH Accelerator kicks off September 3. The application deadline is July 1. LaunchHouse will invest a total of $25,000 in each of 10 entrepreneurial teams (consisting of two or more co-founders) in software and web-based technology. Based in NE Ohio, but you can enter from anywhere in the world: http://bit.ly/Jy3D5o DreamIt Ventures Fall 2012 Philly program, deadline July 6th, 2012, and heads up, minority-led startups: We will select up to fifteen companies, including five minority-led startups, to participate in the three-month accelerator program. The deadline for applications is July 6th and the program will kickoff on September 7th. More information on the program can be found on our website at www.dreamitventures.com/apply. If you have questions, please contact Noelle McHugh at info@dreamitventures.com DEMO Fall now accepting applications, scholarship consideration deadline July 6^th. Standard deadline: August 17^th. We just wrapped up one of the biggest DEMO events in our 22+ year history! Over 70 companies launched new products to a packed room of press, VC's, angel investors and IT executives. If you didn't make it to DEMO, check out some of the cool products that launched from the DEMO stage. Now, we're gearing up for DEMO Fall 2012, Oct. 1-3 in Santa Clara. We are accepting applications for companies to launch or pitch their product. If you have a new product or now of a company right for a DEMO launch, visit, http://www.demo.com/launch. .Or, if you already have a product in the market, or know of a company who does, a Showcase sponsorship opportunity in the DEMO pavilion may be something to consider. For more information, visit, http://www.demo.com/showcase It’s that time again - Startup Chile, deadline July 10^th. For more information and to apply: http://startupchile.org/about/apply/ NEW Global Entrepreneurship Summer School, Berlin. Earlybird deadline June 30^th. Final deadline: July 15^th. This year we will accept 35 outstanding students from around the world. All applications will go through a very strict, but fair selection process. For more information and to apply: http://www.globalsummerschool.org/ NEW Oxygen Accelerator, Birmingham, England, deadline July 31^st. A 13-week intensive mentor led bootcamp, followed by 13-weeks of incubation that culminates with a series of investor days where we will help you pitch to a large, carefully selected group of Angel investors, VCs and Private Equity groups for next stage funding. Up to €40,000 per team in exchange for 8%-10% equity, and much more, including relocation allowance: http://www.oxygenaccelerator.com/ Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Facebook's Lame Attempt To Force Its Email Service On You. Yes, like it or not, if you’re on FB, you now have a FB email address. In fact, FB has taken the liberty of making your Facebook email your default contact address, like it or not: http://onforb.es/ML0oMs Happily, there’s an easy way to reverse it: Lifehacker: Facebook Changed Everyone’s Email to @Facebook.com: Here’s How to Fix Yours: http://bit.ly/NDEuvh And yes, we know that Microsoft Agrees to Acquire Yammer for $1.2 Billion in Cash. “They’ve been behind in terms of social, and this puts them in a really strong position, perhaps even the lead,” said Rob Koplowitz, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc: http://buswk.co/LZFACH A 5-point checklist to create lucrative opportunities with disruptive technologies. Disruption is part of the business game. Entire empires can be crippled in the blink of an eye. Just look at the postal service. Once an untouchable giant it was brought to its knees by email: http://bit.ly/KFa6AO The 11 risks VCs evaluate. Here are the major risks that I typically review when a startup pitches: http://bit.ly/MvQWdR Always Swim Downstream. Some of us have this weird need to ignore the things we’re already good at and focus too much time and energy on being better at things we’re not good at. Yeah, that’ll work: http://bit.ly/KUpqq3 New York: Techie Magnet. We’re not about to let this devolve into a pissing match with SV, but New York certainly has its upside – like, not everyone here works in technology. Whew! http://on.wsj.com/NKj4hc Tweet anonymously: There are times, we suppose, when it’s just gotta be done. Haven’t tried it, but for the curious – or gossipmongers: http://anontwttr.fox21.at/ Apple Wants to Protect Your Identity – by Cloning You. One of the properties Apple won in a February acquisition of patents from Novell, the technology allows the company to fight would-be Little Brothers by cloning users’ digital identities. It’s digital pollution, with a purpose and, as the patent text notes, its purpose is to “make any data collection about a principal less valuable and less reliable.” So much for behavioral targeting: http://on.mash.to/LmXoIj If You Think The Soda Ban Is Bad, Check Out All The Things That Are Illegal In Singapore. All true, BusinessInsider, but let's not forget that you’re now comparing us to a fascist regime. http://read.bi/MJiR8m And according to the Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, Singapore ranks 2^nd. The US is now #10 – and falling: http://bit.ly/A9o2Gi That's it from us this week and hope to see you on my birthday! Given that next week is the big US Independence Day weekend, chances are we won't send a newsletter next week, but we will be back soon enough! And now, as always, help is on the way…

6/19/12

Bonnie — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 04:17:30 +0000

Good morning, All, The next SOS event is July 9^th, and it also happens to be my birthday! We are hosting in conjunction with DoItInPerson, so hope you can join us for an evening of drinks and networking with business owners and entrepreneurs. Thank you, DoItInPerson, for making it happen. To RSVP for the early bird rate: http://bit.ly/LnJuAT And we thank you for the birthday wishes you've been sending - and still hope to see you there to help celebrate! Indulge us this week: we're including a bit of a personal story/life lesson. Fedex came about when someone saw the need that some packages needed to be delivered absolutely, positively overnight.But they were absolutely, positively not an overnight success. Google built a better search engine – although it took years for anyone to notice. It took Amazon six years to become profitable, and Jeff Bezos was the laughingstock of the industry when he started out (and note: Ebook Sales Surpass Hardcover for First Time in US.: http://on.mash.to/L7fSfN). We personally have been involved in tech since 1994, but when a potentially life-threatening illness (type 2 diabetes) struck someone near and dear, we shifted gears and made restoring his health top priority. It’s hard to change someone’s eating habits overnight, so I changed the ingredients in his favorite foods – which resulted in his being taken off medication in 2 months (the doctor said it would take at least a year) – and bonniefoods (http://bit.ly/M3cXD5) was born. When I wasn’t looking. This past weekend, we were invited to exhibit at The Seed – the vegan festival – and it was our public launch of bonniefoods. It was an eye opener. We were extremely well received – we have unique products that address health and dietary issues - and a number of food allergies – yet which taste like their traditional counterparts. And we know it’s still a long road to success – if/when we get there. Lessons learned: it’s interesting having a retail product, where success comes one dollar at a time. Literally. We walked the room: we talked to other vendors – all of whom happily answered our questions: we are on terra incognita in the food space, but we’re also on a mission: to share what we learned about this disease, and to get our products out there. Kids were my beta tasters (sic). Tough room - but they know cookies and candy! And they're honest. Everyone wants to be a tech star overnight and make the BI 100 or the list of 25 People You Have to Meet (really?). What struck us at The Seed was that not everyone there was vegan – many had health problems or food allergies or loved ones with health problems. And Type 2 diabetes is a big one – and it’s difficult to find real information that can help. So noted. He’s fine and still off the meds today – nearly 4 years later. Still, our work with bonniefoods is just beginning, but I’m on a mission and that’s what separates the entrepreneurs from the wantrepreneurs: the fire in the belly. Here is an absolute must-read for any entrepreneur: The Start-Up Gap (http://bit.ly/MIgbZl) - what you really have to go through to succeed, and you still may not get there. You can’t just talk the talk – you also have to walk the room. Have your story - and tell your story, from the heart. That's what people want to know - what drives you. You absolutely, positively will not get there overnight. It’s more like one dollar/one subscriber at a time. But slow and steady often wins the race, and if anyone out there knows any food investors or has contacts in the food industry, you know how to find me. Onward and forward. Deadlines: New York Venture Summit Call for Top Innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 2012 New York Venture Summit, June 28th, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture capitalists, Angel investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, The 2012 New York Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. To apply to present please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. If you're thinking of attending, we have an additional SOS discount for you: Your SOS discount code is sos150 – which is $150 off the current registration rate. Is it worth it? This just in: They’ve added a Fireside Chat with Ram Shriram, Managing Partner of Sherpalo Ventures and Founding Board member of Google (and their first investor) moderated by Steve Davis of Goodwin Procter LLP. Long answer: absolutely. Ram is a seminal SV investor and doesn’t often do speaking engagements on the East Coast, as far as we’ve noticed. HackLolla: create cool festival apps for music fans, deadline June 25^th.Lollapalooza is offering over $6,000 worth of prizes and tons of promotional exposure for the best festival apps created using the Lolla API. Plus 2 Sold Out VIP Passes to Lollapalooza.The Grand Prize winner will be designated The Official Fan App for Lollapalooza 2012! With the Lolla API, developers can access data on artists, events, stages/venues and updates for Lollapalooza 2012. Prizes will be awarded for apps that help fans get the most from their Lollapalooza experience before, during and after the Festival. Winners will be promoted on the official Lollapalooza website and to fans via the Official E-list (~400K), Facebook (~300K), Twitter (100K), and the jumbotron screens at the Festival (80K per day)._ Lollapalooza’s official line-up for 2012 includes more than 100 of the most notable and buzzworthy bands from across the globe, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Jack White, and many others. The Festival is August 3-5 in Grant Park, Chicago._ To enter, Get a Lollapalooza API key from DoStuff Media by clicking here. Chase and LivingSocial want to help fuel that drive by awarding up to 12 individual grants of $250,000 to 12 small businesses. Submit your Mission: Small Business℠ application today! Program ends June 30, 2012. For more information and to apply: https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/ Call to international entrepreneurs: LaunchHouse Accelerator Program Takes Off, deadline July 1^st. Over the past three years, LaunchHouse has succeeded in seeding, mentoring, and helping 30 companies to obtain follow-on funding. It plans to enhance those efforts with a new group of software and web-based tech entrepreneurs participating in the progra The LH Accelerator kicks off September 3. The application deadline is July 1. LaunchHouse will invest a total of $25,000 in each of 10 entrepreneurial teams (consisting of two or more co-founders) in software and web-based technology. Based in NE Ohio, but you can enter from anywhere in the world: http://bit.ly/Jy3D5o NEW DreamIt Ventures Fall 2012 Philly program, deadline July 6th, 2012, and heads up, minority-led startups: We will select up to fifteen companies, including five minority-led startups, to participate in the three-month accelerator program. The deadline for applications is July 6th and the program will kickoff on September 7th. More information on the program can be found on our website at www.dreamitventures.com/apply. If you have questions, please contact Noelle McHugh at info@dreamitventures.com DEMO Fall now accepting applications, scholarship consideration deadline July 6^th. Standard deadline: August 17^th. We just wrapped up one of the biggest DEMO events in our 22+ year history! Over 70 companies launched new products to a packed room of press, VC's, angel investors and IT executives. If you didn't make it to DEMO, check out some of the cool products that launched from the DEMO stage. Now, we're gearing up for DEMO Fall 2012, Oct. 1-3 in Santa Clara. We are accepting applications for companies to launch or pitch their product. If you have a new product or now of a company right for a DEMO launch, visit, http://www.demo.com/launch. .Or, if you already have a product in the market, or know of a company who does, a Showcase sponsorship opportunity in the DEMO pavilion may be something to consider. For more information, visit, http://www.demo.com/showcase NEW It’s that time again - Startup Chile, deadline July 10^th. For more information and to apply: http://startupchile.org/about/apply/ Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Who’s In Charge? Every entrepreneur who has ever raised money has been on the receiving end of lots of wisdom, advice and guidance from their investors. Most of the time this is a great thing. But what do you do when an investor starts taking charge? You can ask Mark Zuckerberg, who never wanted to take FB public but the investors insisted. Or you can read on: http://bit.ly/M0Es1a How Much Money Can You Make Working in Digital (Chart). Interesting, and remember, these salaries do not necessarily apply in early stage startups – who will often offer an upside to compensate: http://on.mash.to/Mm1Lgf How we Found Customers to Start Developing. Very important to know your audience – and to find them. They’re ultimately the ones who will define your company: http://bit.ly/M0G3UA On following directions. It’s important to know how to color inside of the lines. The ones who don’t stand out – and sometimes in a good way: http://bit.ly/M0J0o2 How Microsoft and Yahoo Are Selling Politicians Access to You. It's that kind of year and Microsoft and Yahoo are selling political campaigns the ability to target voters online with tailored ads using names, Zip codes and other registration information that users provide when they sign up for free email and other services. The Web giants provide users no notification that their information is being used for political targeting. Microsoft's privacy policy makes no mention of matching people's names and Zip codes against voter lists. In space, no one hears you scream. On line, no one tells you you’re been sold: http://bit.ly/Khv7kS That's it from us this week and hope to see you on my birthday! And now, as always, help is on the way…

6/12/12

Bonnie — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:42:11 +0000

Good morning, All, First, on the lighter side, the next SOS event is July 9^th, and it also happens to be my birthday! We are hosting in conjunction with DoItInPerson, so hope you can join us for an evening of drinks and networking with business owners and entrepreneurs. Thank you, DoItInPerson, for making it happen. To RSVP for the early bird rate: http://bit.ly/LnJuAT Gifts not necessary. Donations always happily accepted (see donation button above). Last week was a bad one for online security: LinkedIn, eHarmony, last.fm and Amazon all reported password breaches. Forest through the trees: we also learned that linkedin’s smartphone app sucks up all of your calendar information – and sends it back in the clear, without the benefit of encryption, although the company denies that. Yes, the service is opt-in (buried in fine print), and while we all readily surrender a lot of information in our linkedin profiles, how much more do they need and what business does the company really have in our calendar app? Marc Andreesen wrote a piece not too long ago about why software is eating the world (http://on.wsj.com/rqCmOn). It may be time for a follow up about how software is also eating our privacy. In case you missed it this past weekend, Apple and Google use spy planes with military grade cameras that are so powerful they could potentially see into homes right through skylights and windows (Beware the spy in the sky: After those Street View snoopers, Google and Apple use planes that can film you sunbathing in your back garden: http://bit.ly/MnaJO4). You know, the kind of tech intelligence agencies used to identify terrorist targets in Aghanistan. The U.S. technology giants are racing to produce aerial maps so detailed they can show objects just four inches wide. With video cameras on every street corner, we already live in a surveillance society. This takes us another leap forwards toward that and do we really need that much of a street view? We’ve heard it before: information just wants to be free. But at what cost to personal freedom, privacy and security? Onward and forward. Deadlines: New York Venture Summit Call for Top Innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 2012 New York Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture capitalists, Angel investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, The 2012 New York Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. To apply to present please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. TechStars Seattle, deadline June 16; TechStars Boston, deadline June 20. You know the drill: a 3-month program; $18k + $100k convertible debt note, with 6% equity taken. TS provides seed funding from over 75 top venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in the success of your startup, as well as intense mentorship from hundreds of the best entrepreneurs in the world. To apply: http://apply.techstars.com/ NEW Seedcamp New York 10 July 2012 – deadline June 17^th. Seedcamp New York taking place on 10 July, is a one day event aiming to connect the 20 best web-tech, mobile and software talent with some of the leading entrepreneurs, developers, and experts from all across Europe and all over the world. If you are not familiar with the Seedcamp events or would like to know more about the process, please check reports from previous events, about & investment terms, and our FAQs pages. We will be bringing together 20 of Europe’s best seed stage tech start-ups with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and developers from across Europe and all over the world to participate in a day of intense mentoring, panel discussions and presentations. To apply: http://apply.seedcamp.com/ NEW HackLolla: create cool festival apps for music fans, deadline June 25^th. Lollapalooza is offering over $6,000 worth of prizes and tons of promotional exposure for the best festival apps created using the Lolla API. Plus 2 Sold Out VIP Passes to Lollapalooza.The Grand Prize winner will be designated The Official Fan App for Lollapalooza 2012! With the Lolla API, developers can access data on artists, events, stages/venues and updates for Lollapalooza 2012. Prizes will be awarded for apps that help fans get the most from their Lollapalooza experience before, during and after the Festival. Winners will be promoted on the official Lollapalooza website and to fans via the Official E-list (~400K), Facebook (~300K), Twitter (100K), and the jumbotron screens at the Festival (80K per day)._ Lollapalooza’s official line-up for 2012 includes more than 100 of the most notable and buzzworthy bands from across the globe, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Jack White, and many others. The Festival is August 3-5 in Grant Park, Chicago._ To enter, Get a Lollapalooza API key from DoStuff Media by clicking here. StartupBootcamp, Berlin. Deadline: June 17^th. Get seed funding, join a co-working space with other startups in the program and get a dedicated mentorship plan that will excel you from wherever you are in the development cycle to the next. Then at the end of the program, get a chance to pitch to top angel investors and venture capitalists for funding. Fact: Over 50% of our program graduates have gone on to receive funding for their projects. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/GCAVPh NEW Chase and LivingSocial want to help fuel that drive by awarding up to 12 individual grants of $250,000 to 12 small businesses. Submit your Mission: Small Business℠ application today! Program ends June 30, 2012. For more information and to apply: https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/ Call to international entrepreneurs: LaunchHouse Accelerator Program Takes Off, deadline July 1^st. Over the past three years, LaunchHouse has succeeded in seeding, mentoring, and helping 30 companies to obtain follow-on funding. It plans to enhance those efforts with a new group of software and web-based tech entrepreneurs participating in the progra The LH Accelerator kicks off September 3. The application deadline is July 1. LaunchHouse will invest a total of $25,000 in each of 10 entrepreneurial teams (consisting of two or more co-founders) in software and web-based technology. Based in NE Ohio, but you can enter from anywhere in the world: http://bit.ly/Jy3D5o NEW DEMO Fall now accepting applications, scholarship consideration deadline July 6^th. Standard deadline: August 17^th. We just wrapped up one of the biggest DEMO events in our 22+ year history! Over 70 companies launched new products to a packed room of press, VC's, angel investors and IT executives. If you didn't make it to DEMO, check out some of the cool products that launched from the DEMO stage. Now, we're gearing up for DEMO Fall 2012, Oct. 1-3 in Santa Clara. We are accepting applications for companies to launch or pitch their product. If you have a new product or now of a company right for a DEMO launch, visit, http://www.demo.com/launch. .Or, if you already have a product in the market, or know of a company who does, a Showcase sponsorship opportunity in the DEMO pavilion may be something to consider. For more information, visit, http://www.demo.com/showcase Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS NEW Battle of the Apps: become the Kick Apps Champion by creating software that helps small businesses. Contest now opened, deadline: December 31^st. Infusionsoft is offering$20,000 in cash and prizes for the best apps to help small business customers. Use the Infusionsoft API to create an app, integration, or plug-in that helps Infusionsoft customers grow their business! 1st through 4th place winners will receive ongoing marketing, plus stage time at InfusionCon 2013. 10 runners-up will receive InfusionCon boothspace and 2 tickets to the conference. Register to enter. powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: For more on the Amazon hack: Amazon becomes the third victim of hackers this week: http://bit.ly/KkgEWL For more on the eHarmony breach: Dating site eHarmony Confirms Password Breach: http://bit.ly/K0hJBt For more on the last.fm breach: Last.fm is the latest site to suffer a password breach: http://bit.ly/JRmtoh Ah, and there’s linkedin: LinkedIn iOS App Grabs Names, Emails And Notes From Your Calendar. While access to the calendar is on an opt-in/opt-out basis, the app doesn’t inform the user that all this data will be harvested and sent to LinkedIn. What’s more, this information is sent to LinkedIn in plain-text form. This could allow the information to be intercepted when transmitted over an unsecured or a public WiFi connections such as those found at coffee shops. This is shockingly poor security.: http://onforb.es/KOt5Il Last word: These are technology companies, actively collecting data on its users/members. All are profitable and it’s time they realized that with running a business comes responsibility. With running on online business comes the need for security, and we don’t mean the junior systems admin who’s been charged with the job. Once you’ve grown to a certain size, time to take it seriously and bring in the pros. It’s worth the price of not alienating your members, keeping their data safe – and We share this whitepaper we received from a security firm - Clear Skies - that we ourselves have worked with – and will certainly work with again. It’s a good explanation of how/why these breaches happen: When the Cloud Breaks - How the breach at LinkedIn may impact your enterprise http://www.clearskies.net/documents/LinkedIn_Breach.pdf In case you missed the Apple developers conference yesterday: All Of Today's Apple News In Less Than Two Minutes (video) http://read.bi/KOqfoH Everything that Apple Announced today at WWDC http://tnw.co/N73s8p TMZ, MZ – now GMZ? Gizmodo is paying people $20 a piece for submitting photos of Mark Zuckerberg. Yes, they’re making a point and here’s what they have to say about the Summer of Mark project: Two years ago, Mark Zuckerberg told startup publicist Mike Arrington that “people have really gotten comfortable not only sharing more information and different kinds, but more openly and with more people. That social norm is just something that has evolved over time.” Facebook has evolved over time too. No longer privately held, it is itself a public company, with a public CEO. We think it’s time he evolves along with his company. In short, it’s time for Mark to go public too. Contest runs through Labor Day: http://tnw.co/L9gb7w Sorry, Young Man, You're Not the Most Important Demographic in Tech. Despite companies' hamfisted, male-focused marketing efforts, women are the dominant users of a wide variety of new technologies. http://bit.ly/Lbr8E8 Brainstorming for New Startup Ideas: A Framework to Spur Creative Thinking. If you are a serial entrepreneur starting to look for an idea for your next startup, you are likely to want a way to stimulate your brain to come up with as many good ideas as possible. This blog post outlines a framework that is designed to fire up your best creative thinking modes, triggering the creation of new ideas. http://bit.ly/i4Pma7 Better Revenue Through UX. Or, how to remove banner ads and keep the revenue, the Hotwire way: http://bit.ly/JL4eCf The public workers you support Look at pay rates. In 2009, according to USA Today, compensation for the average federal civilian worker totaled $123,049 including benefits valued at $41,791. That's more than twice what the average private-sector employee earned -- only $61,051, including benefits. Even state and local government workers fared better than private-sector employees, averaging nearly $70,000 in 2009, including benefits. How long before the average federal worker's benefits alone surpass the average private worker's combined wages and perks? Something is clearly wrong with this picture -- particularly when you remember who is paying their salaries. http://nyp.st/d9CUpM How the Tech Industry’s Anti-SOPA Tactic Changed Politics. The tactics used in the massive online protests that helped convince Congress to axe the controversial SOPA and PIPA bills earlier this year brought new weight to Internet-based activism. Observers say the changes are already reshaping the political process in significant ways.http://rww.to/LenkAB But wait! There’s more:U.N. could tax U.S.-based Web sites, leaked docs show. The European proposal, offered for debate at a December meeting of a U.N. agency called the International Telecommunication Union, would amend an existing telecommunications treaty by imposing heavy costs on popular Web sites and their network providers for the privilege of serving non-U.S. users, according to newly leaked documents. http://cnet.co/Nmu0kI And, from SOS member Emily Lutzker: Want More Women in Tech Startups? Put Tampons in the Bathroom. Whether it’s NY or the Bay area, we hear stories of ping pong tables, swimming pools, kegs, foosball tables, game setups and pinball machines in common areas. Not one tech startup space I have been in has a full length mirror in the bathroom. No hand lotion, no hair spray, and certainly no tampons. Not even a fem-product vending machine: http://bit.ly/Ltn6pu From the 'gotta share this one' department: Teacher Tells High Schoolers "You Are Not Special" In Commencement Speech. If you haven’t seen this – it’s totally worth it. http://bit.ly/LE1GbJ That's it from us this week and hope to see you this weekend at The Seed: A Vegan Experience – June 16^th and 17^th, (for tickets: http://bit.ly/JJzLnZ) and yes, bonniefoods will be there and hope to see you there as well! And now, as always, help is on the way…

6/5/12

Bonnie — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:40:12 +0000

Good morning, All, First, yes we are planning another SOS event – July 9^th, to be exact, and it’s special because it also happens to be my birthday! So hope you can join us for a night of drinks and networking with business owners and entrepreneurs. Details are here and thank you, DoItInPerson, for making it happen. To RSVP for the early bird rate: http://bit.ly/LnJuAT Gifts not necessary. Donations always happily accepted. Every now and again, that question rears its head in some industry publication or other: are we in a bubble? We’re not going to comment yea or nay on the techonomy, but there is a definite bubble out there, and not to cast aspersions at millenials at large – there are many Gen Ms with their feet planted firmly on the ground - and maybe it’s because we reside in a tech hub – NYC – that we encounter so many of what we call the bubble boys. Not sure that there are hard and fast rules on how to spot them, but you’ll know them when you see them: 1. They may or may not have a stable place to live. Reasoning: the industry and the world at large, should support an entrepreneur because, well, they’re entrepreneurs and that’s the rule. End of discussion. 2. They don’t need jobs – many have never had or at least held one for very long, because they’re Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurs have to keep their eyes on their visions and not be distracted with such mundane considerations as how to support themselves, or how a business runs. Eye on the prize and as soon as they get to their MVP stage, they will be millionaires in quick shrift. 3. It may seem oxymoronic that they don’t care about money but intend to be millionaires, if not billionaires. It’s not: their eyes are on the forest, not the trees. 4. They don’t need a resume, an investor deck - that's sooo '90s, and they are, after all, the ones who move the industry forward.* 5. *Yes, we know this needs further explanation: from their point of view, their crew are the early adopters and once you have them - and of course they will - game over. Think FB v MySpace. Monetization model? More investors. The industry will support them. It's the Too Big to Fail paradigm. 6. They believe that having a dot com qualifies them as being a CEO of a company. Seriously. 7. They don’t listen. They seem to be listening, but they're not: what they're doing is devising arguments against anything you're saying. They are of singular mind, and nothing penetrates the bubble. 8. The rules of economics have been revised to suit them, and they will reinvent history – tech history – to fit their arguments. Never mind that it’s a glaring separate reality that bears no resemblance to the world as we know it. And if you try to argue with them and try to teach them something about actual history, well, won’t work. See #6. 9. They Zuck themselves, meaning, they subscribe chapter and verse to the Mark Zuckerberg playbook: Start a dot com, go viral, drop out of school, become a billionaire. No experience or adult supervision necessary. 10. They are connectors. They are supremely confident and will go out and meet everyone - and anyone who is anyone. And they’re always happy to make an introduction. We admire their confidence and there’s a lesson for you: their confidence opens doors – many of them - and moves them forever forward. And they're happy to help you, too. Yes, there's always an upside We all know them. We’ve all encountered them, or if you go to enough networking events, you will. They’re actually throwbacks to the days of web 1.0, where the rule was: the industry should support a startup, whether they had a roadmap to profitability/what they were doing made any sense at all or not. Then, as now, there were many an investor listening to them, somehow believing that the web 1.0 bubble boys knew something about tech and the New Economy that the rest of us just weren’t/aren’t seeing. Which is what led to the first tech bubble. These bubble boys weren’t in the industry then so whatever happened then does not apply to them (See #6, and the ancillary Any History that Predates them Doesn’t Count). Which doesn’t change the fact that what man cannot remember he is doomed to repeat, so let’s be careful out there. One final note: they do come on like a house on fire, and that can be seductive. But remember: a slow burn trumps a flame out. Always. Onward and forward. Deadlines: Blueprint Health: Transform health & wellnesswith your startup, deadline June 8^th. Blueprint Health is a startup accelerator based in New York City that helps entrepreneurs improve the health and wellness industry. We offer an intensive three-month program and provide $20,000 of seed capital, extensive mentorship and a shared work environment to help entrepreneurs go from idea to prototype and provide access to angel and venture capital investors. For more information and to apply: http://www.blueprinthealth.org/ Who are the top New York City tech influencers? VentureBeat wants to know. Get your nominations in now! Deadline to submit nominations: June 7^th, 5 pm. For more information/ to submit your nomination: http://bit.ly/LC9B8V New York Venture Summit Call for Top Innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 2012 New York Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture capitalists, Angel investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, The 2012 New York Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. To apply to present please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. TechStars Seattle, deadline June 16; TechStars Boston, deadline June 20. You know the drill: a 3-month program; $18k + $100k convertible debt note, with 6% equity taken. TS provides seed funding from over 75 top venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in the success of your startup, as well as intense mentorship from hundreds of the best entrepreneurs in the world. To apply: http://apply.techstars.com/ NEW StartupBootcamp, Berlin. Deadline: June 17^th. Get seed funding, join a co-working space with other startups in the program and get a dedicated mentorship plan that will excel you from wherever you are in the development cycle to the next. Then at the end of the program, get a chance to pitch to top angel investors and venture capitalists for funding. Fact: Over 50% of our program graduates have gone on to receive funding for their projects. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/GCAVPh NEW Call to international entrepreneurs: LaunchHouse Accelerator Program Takes Off, deadline July 1^st. Over the past three years, LaunchHouse has succeeded in seeding, mentoring, and helping 30 companies to obtain follow-on funding. It plans to enhance those efforts with a new group of software and web-based tech entrepreneurs participating in the progra The LH Accelerator kicks off September 3. The application deadline is July 1. LaunchHouse will invest a total of $25,000 in each of 10 entrepreneurial teams (consisting of two or more co-founders) in software and web-based technology. Based in NE Ohio, but you can enter from anywhere in the world: http://bit.ly/Jy3D5o Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: Have your say on Facebook privacy policy. You only have until this Friday! You get a vote on whether to accept Facebook's revised policies, thanks to the efforts of a European activist. So you've got until Friday to register your vote. To vote, you click here. There's a bit of a catch, though. As stated above, the vote is binding only if more than 30% of all active registered users vote. If there's less than that, the vote will only be "advisory." So, if my math is correct, that means about 270,000,000 users need to vote for it to stick. This is the second time users have gotten to vote on Facebook policy. Of course, this could be the last time, if you read between the lines. Make it count. And spread the word: http://lat.ms/KH3n8t Why You Want Your Competition To Succeed. According to Mark Peter Davis, you should try to beat your competition at the same time that you cheer them on. (Who said life isn’t complicated?) Here’s why: http://bit.ly/McT5LT From Headhunter to Startup Founder: One Woman’s Journey. In order to change the ratio, you have to start by changing the attitude. Yours, people with double X chromosomes. You go, Perri! :http://tnw.co/LWcApy The 5 most common mistakes startups make with VCs. You’re always at a disadvantage when dealing with the venture capital community, since their experience almost certainly outweighs yours. But there are ways to can go into the negotiations prepared. Here are five quick things that startup owners often get wrong: http://bit.ly/KKQFWq Shockingly honest thoughts from a filthy rich bastard. Whatever qualities the rich may have, they can be acquired by anyone with the tenacity to become rich. The key is confidence. Confidence and an unshakable belief it can be done and that you are the one to do it. Does being a bit of a somma bitch help? You betchum! http://bit.ly/LaEQtp Ok, Mary Meeker is back with her Internet Trends, as delivered at the AllThingsD Conference: http://scr.bi/KxfdlL San Francisco vs Silicon Valley as a tech destination. Tech certainly revitalized the valley. It may do the same for the city as well, but not everyone’s happy about it: http://bit.ly/M1jbmG The Monty Python Guide to Running a Business Because a little humor never hurts: 10 Monty Python quotes every business owner should know... and use! http://bit.ly/KY0pew Cops Nab Brooklyn Burglars After Friending Them on Facebook. Or, Why friending is a verb and a friend is something totally different. Officer Michael Rodrigues, who works the Crown Heights beat, needed evidence on a gang that was burglarizing homes with seeming impunity. So he simply friended them on Facebook, and watched as they confessed to crimes on their walls: http://on.mash.to/Le782K That's it from us this week and hope to see you next weekend at The Seed: A Vegan Experience – June 16^th and 17^th, (for tickets: http://bit.ly/JJzLnZ) and yes, bonniefoods will be there! But that's then and now, as always, help is on the way…

5/29/12

Bonnie — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:38:32 +0000

Good morning, All, What exactly happened on Black Eye Friday? At the end of the day – literally – and contrary to popular misconception, the FB IPO was not a flop. FB did well, with $16+ billion now in their coffers, without having had to surrender much of the company at all. With all of the controversy surrounding the NASDAQ glitch, et al, there certainly was a lot of CYA and passing of the buck (not literally: they kept the big bucks for themselves) going on (Zuck was poorly served by his 'adults' http://bit.ly/LsNGkE) and what concerns us, above all, is the shameful lack of ethics that were evidenced. On all levels. Yes, only large investors were informed about the company’s poor performance in its last quarter. But is an ethics problem pandemic? We attended TechCrunch Disrupt last week – and ran into an SOS member who was an early (small) FB investor when trading opened. And who gave us information about exactly how the little guys got screwed, beyond what had been reported in the press. We turned the information over to the WSJ, who have far more resources at their disposal than do we. We also informed a friend of ours, who writes for an online publication (and who has no formal training in journalism) of the shenanigans. This person took us to task for having called the Journal, contending that it could hurt the tech industry/IPO market and that we had a responsibility to protect the industry. Really? What about the small investor? More importantly, what about ethics and moral responsibility? The blowback from the FB IPO? A definite loss of public confidence in the market. (And, yes, we did notice that Zuck, who is the largest shareholder and CEO, didn’t waste any time in grabbing his vig:Is Mark Zuckerberg Up to the Job? http://bit.ly/JROgUU) So what happened? We defer to SkyNet Wars: Presenting The Rogue Algo Responsible For FaceBook's Downfall. The writer contends that the question is how come in a market as controlled and manipulated as the central bank-dominated venue we have now, was FB stock allowed to plunge? For what may be the actual definitive answer, as opposed to now trite philosophical ruminations on valuation, ethics, underwriter and shareholder greed, we once again go to Nanex, which has caught the perpetrator red handed once again: http://bit.ly/KaCMAo. And note to self and caveat to you all: If you have no ethics, you have nothing. Sidebar: Penalty for stealing: you can never trust anyone. Penalty for lying: you can never believe anyone. As to the company that helped to bring about Arab Spring? If it does come to pass, we certainly have them to blame if this all helps to contribute to an IPO winter. Onward and forward. Deadlines: New York Venture Summit Call for Top Innovators. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 2012 New York Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture capitalists, Angel investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. Presented by youngStartup Ventures, The 2012 New York Venture Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups to meet, network and showcase their innovative investment opportunities to a leading group of investors. To Apply to Present.please e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application. NEW Fordham Business Challenge, deadline May 31^st. Heads up, students: the challenge consists of four competitions connected to four Master of Science programs. Your challenge: Choose your program and solve the case. Winners in all four challenges receive a full tuition scholarship. One of the program winners will be awarded with an elite internship as well. For more information and to apply: http://www.fordhambusinesschallenge.com/ NEW Gdgt Startup Contest, deadline June 1: We’re giving away one Silver Sponsorship for gdgt live worth $3,500 to a local startup. Just send an email to events@gdgt.com and tell us why your startup should win. The winner will be notified on Monday, June 4th. Entering is as easy as sending an email to events@gdgt.com and telling us in a couple paragraphs why we should choose you. NEW TechStars Seattle, deadline June 16; TechStars Boston, deadline June 20. You know the drill: a 3-month program; $18k + $100k convertible debt note, with 6% equity taken. TS provides seed funding from over 75 top venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in the success of your startup, as well as intense mentorship from hundreds of the best entrepreneurs in the world. To apply: http://apply.techstars.com/ New York Digital Health Accelerator, deadline June 1^st. The program will provide up to $300,000 of funding per company from a syndicate of leading venture capital and strategic investors. In addition, winners will have the opportunity to meet other leading digital and tech entrepreneurs in the New York community. For more information and to apply: http://digitalhealthaccelerator.com/ NEW Who are the top New York City tech influencers? VentureBeat wants to know. Get your nominations in now! Deadline to submit nominations: June 7^th, 5 pm. For more information/ to submit your nomination: http://bit.ly/LC9B8V Blueprint Health: Transform health & wellnesswith your startup, deadline June 8^th. Blueprint Health is a startup accelerator based in New York City that helps entrepreneurs improve the health and wellness industry. We offer an intensive three-month program and provide $20,000 of seed capital, extensive mentorship and a shared work environment to help entrepreneurs go from idea to prototype and provide access to angel and venture capital investors. For more information and to apply: http://www.blueprinthealth.org/ NEW Women 2.0 PITCH comes to NYC, deadline August 31^st. We are now accepting applications for PITCH NYC from early-stage ventures around the world with at least one female founder to apply to the startup competition. PITCH NYC 2012 will provide entrepreneurs with a chance for fame and fortune: finalists present onstage at the conference, and prizes include $25k cash from L’Oreal, $24k worth of free hosting from Rackspace and a finalist interview with TechStars! Stay tuned for more awesome prizes to be announced. Early-stage ventures with under a million in funding and a product in the market (prototype OK) are invited to apply. We are looking to identify, recognize and reward the most disruptive women-led ventures globally – and invite them to pitch onstage for the PITCH NYC conference in November for top prize. Got a startup idea but no team, or got an idea but don’t know how to build it? You have at least THREE MONTHS starting today to emblazen the deadline of August 31 into your head and make it happen. For more information and to apply: http://bit.ly/K56mbS powered by Movable Ink For you edification this week: All of this said about the FB stock, we give you these: Wozniak, Circa 2004: Google’s Value Is “Not Likely to Appreciate”: http://rww.to/MZ2K9r And then there’s the famous Bessemer anti-portfolio:t he list of is companies in which they (spectacularly) failed to invest, including HP, Apple, Google and Paypal: http://www.bvp.com/portfolio/antiportfolio Internet Guru Robert Scoble Says Twitter Feels A Lot Like A Ghost Town While a lot of the tech press has said Google+ is a "ghost town," Scoble says Twitter has started to feel more like a ghost town. Since July of last year, he's gone from 0 to 1.5 million followers on Google Plus, and 13,000 to 261,000 followers on Facebook. But he's only gone from 240,000 followers to 260,000 followers on Twitter. http://read.bi/JIkubZ Start-Ups Crowd 'Accelerators' Interesting piece on accelerators but note: many have sprung up in the last two years, and don’t have the longevity/track record of a Y Combinator or TechStars - yet: http://on.wsj.com/Jhp1vN 3 reasons VCs can get IPOs very wrong. There are times when VC investments don’t quite work out. Why not? http://bit.ly/Leq03k A framework to think about pricing seed, angel and venture capital rounds. How do you price a round? It seems to Charlie O’Donnell that the most important factor in pricing your round isn't your progress or your idea. It seems to come down to two things: 1) How much do you want to raise? 2) Supply and demand of capital willing to invest in your company. http://bit.ly/J3rcUL Three Ways Women Undermine Themselves At Work. There may be reasons why those around you aren’t taking you as seriously as you want them to: http://onforb.es/JO7ZLE In case you’ve been under a rock – or away for the weekend – and somehow missed Isaac's Live Lip-Dub Proposal, well, all we can say is that the bar has been raised, and it’s absolutely charming and worth a view: http://vimeo.com/42828824. And now, as always, help is on the way…

5/22/12

Bonnie — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:22:31 +0000

Good morning, All, Once in a generation, a true visionary comes along and it is our privilege to witness genius. These people are brash, stubborn and because they march to the beat of their own drum with their eyes ever on the prize – a future or a product that we ourselves cannot envision – [...]

5/15/12

Bonnie — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:21:32 +0000

Good morning, All, You know the drill: Bottom feeders all, and hate ‘em till you need ‘em, but remember: a good realtor can make your day. A good lawyer can save your company. A good recruiter can make your company – or your career. And a good VC can change your life – and potentially [...]

5/8/12

Bonnie — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:11:01 +0000

Good morning, All, Our next SOS 1-on-1 with an investor is coming up and we have a direct pipeline to a group of serious angels whose representative will be at the event. Caveat: you must send us your deck in advance, and you can submit from anywhere in the world. The focus is on startups [...]

5/1/12

Bonnie — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:10:18 +0000

Good morning, All, Our first SOS bbq of the season will be on May 3rd (rain date: May 10th), sponsored once again by our friends at 1099partners.com (http://www.1099partners.com/). Come and have some BBQ, talk to the 1099 people and enjoy the great outdoors in a lovely garden! Rumor has it there may be investors there [...]

4/24/12

Bonnie — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 05:21:29 +0000

Good morning, All, First, yes, it’s finally happened: we’ve built out the StartupOneStop website, and all of the past newsletters are there – sans posts, as we respect your privacy and wouldn’t want to be responsible for you being spammed by the world at large. Happy to hear your feedback/suggestions and our thanks to our [...]

4/17/12

Bonnie — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:17:46 +0000

Good morning, All, Our first SOS bbq of the season will be on May 3rd (rain date: May 10th), sponsored once again by our friends at 1099partners.com. Come and have some BBQ, talk to the 1099 people and enjoy the great outdoors in a lovely garden! $15 in advance; $20 at the door. To RSVP: [...]

4/10/12

Bonnie — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:31:36 +0000

ood morning, All, Our next ERA + SOS Startup Breakfast is April 12th, and for those of you who missed the ER Accelerator Happy Hour last week, Murat will be there and happy to answer any questions you might have about applying and the upcoming session. Breakfast will include famous Fairway bagels, our own fat-free [...]

4/3/12

Bonnie — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:31:09 +0000

Good morning, All, Our next ERA + SOS Startup Breakfast is April 12th at SOS Headquarters, in a lovely backyard on the UWS. Breakfast will include famous Fairway bagels, our own fat-free muffins, coffee, tea, juice – and good conversation and hopefully some help, if that’s what you need. $15 in advance and $20 at [...]

3/27/12

Bonnie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:30:43 +0000

Good morning, All, First, come join us for our next ERA + SOS Startup Breakfast on April 12th, This one will take place at SOS Headquarters, in a lovely backyard on the UWS. Breakfast will include famous Fairway bagels, our own healthy, fat-free muffins, coffee, tea, juice – and lively conversation. Date: April 12th, 8.30 [...]

3/20/12

Bonnie — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:30:11 +0000

Good morning, All, Happy Springtime and looking forward to seeing some of you at our SOS 1-1 tomorrow! As we all know by now, Denveen is no more. Yes, foursquare’s junior cofounder and tech lead Naveen Selvadurai has decided to move on to new projects and who wouldn’t want to strike while the iron’s hot [...]

3/13/12

Bonnie — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:29:39 +0000

Good morning, All, First, our next SOS+ER+Hubitat breakfast March 15 at Hubitat on 26th Street. Come meet some new people and get first-hand help or advice for your startup – or just come tell us what you’re working on. It’s 8.30 am – 10. $20 with an RSVP or $25 at the door, and hope [...]

3/6/12

Bonnie — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:29:11 +0000

Good morning, All, First, just a couple of weeks until our next SOS+ER+Hubitat breakfast March 15 at Hubitat on 26th Street. It’s March 15th, 8.30 am – 10. $20 with an RSVP or $25 at the door, and hope to see you there! To RSVP: http://erasosbreakfast2.eventbrite.com/ Next, we are hosting our next SOS 1-on-1 with [...]

2/28/12

Bonnie — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:28:32 +0000

Good morning, All, First, happy Leap Year Day (tomorrow), which is also Sadie Hawkins Day, and it’s just a couple of weeks until our next SOS+ER+Hubitat breakfast March 15 at Hubitat on 26th Street. It’s March 15th, 8.30 am – 10. $20 with an RSVP or $25 at the door, and hope to see you [...]

2/21/12

Bonnie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:28:02 +0000

Good morning, All, and for today, a Missive to Social Media Week: First, yes, we are planning our next SOS+ER+Hubitat breakfast March 15 at Hubitat on 26th Street – we love the breakfasts: they give you a chance to really get to know each other, and offer help/advice one-on-one. The larger networking events have their [...]