Winning Software; TechStars; Sustainability; Innovation; 2/4/08 - PHOTOS and Events

431_ Raising Capital for Startups, Mentoring, and Much More
TechStars is essentially a mentorship driven investment model. We invest a small amount of money, $10 - 15,000. for a very early stage company explains David Cohen, the founder and Exective Director of TechStars. David goes on,"We bring them to Boulder; surround them with incredible mentors from Boulder, the Silicon Valley and elsewhere. It’s almost like a boot camp environment where they learn everything there is to learn about running an early stage company. At the end of summer we have an “Investor Day” and they get to pitch their ideas. We take ten teams every year and now is the time to get involved. The success rate has been extraordinary. In 2007, seven of the ten have done either venture or angel funding or a combination of both and an eighth that is quite profitable and hasn’t taken investment yet. They learn how to deal with early adopters, early customers; how to bring their product to market, figuring out what the right product is and tactically how to do that, really everything to do with startups, raising money, pitches, elevator pitches. They can also expect to build a really great network and that’s one of the key benefits of TechStars. LISTEN 2/04/08

Related Links: TechStars Home || Apply Now || Entrepreneur Channel || Colorado Startups || Keywords: TechStars, David Cohen, Startups, Mentoring, Raising Capital, Entrepreneurs > Bytes: 15438056 LISTEN

433_ Innovation, Economic Development and the University
Higher education plays an important role in economic development and retaining global competitiveness of the United States. "My focus is on innovation and how to guide a campus of our size towards a culture of innovation explains," Dr. Jeremy Haefner, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Dean, Graduate School Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Director CITTI, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. UCCS is an important part of the CU Tech Transfer Organization effort and plays heavily on its Innovation focus. Dr. Haefner is very encouraged about the UCCS 'Mind Studio' (making prototypes, their 'emerging venture micro funds' their focus on 'security' as well as the partnerships and other areas they are developing. There is a great deal more...listen now... LISTEN 2/4/08

Related Links: UCCS || CU TTO Channel || CU Tech Transfer Office || Tech Transfer Awards || Awards Banquet Photos || Keywords: Jeremy Haefner, CUTTO, UCCS, CITTI, Innovation, Tech Transfer > Bytes: 29056839 LISTEN

431_ There's Quite a Buzz About Healthcare...Here's More
Just recently a patient was dying – making 'end of life' decisions and wanted to speak with her family. One daughter lived in Seattle. Our IT department with our Nursing Staff connected her daughter in Seattle through TeleVideo. The mom and daughter had their time together, said their goodbyes and within 24 hours the mom passed away. We could not have done that even two years ago explains Margo Karsten, R.N., PhD, Chief Operating Officer, Administration and Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Joseph Hospital, Exempla. Terry Morreale, Senior Engineer, Applied Trust and producer of the Women in IT Channel, brings another fascinating account from the realm of women in information technology. Margo shared many IT advances including tapping into Children's Hospital expertise by sending heart echoes over and have them read in almost real time. At a high illness level, we can quickly get an expert in to tell us what is going on. Another point is Exempla spent $100 million dollars just to get the health records up. There are some great leaning lessons here, LISTEN 1/28/08

Related Links: Exempla || About Exempla || Women in IT Channel || Applied Trust Engineering || Keywords: Margo Karsten, Saint Joseph Hospital, Exempla, Terry Morreale, Applied Trust, Health Care > Bytes: 19713779 LISTEN

429_

Zero Landfill: Is That Even Possible?
Bill Reinert, opening keynote speaker at the CORE Sustainability Opportunities Summit (2007 SOS), surprised (even shocked) many attendees when he shared what Toyota is doing to be a leader in Clean Tech and Climate Change. Bill sites the three biggest challenges for the coming year. Bill Reinert is National Manager of Advanced Technology for Toyota Motor Sales, USA. His primary function is to coordinate Toyota’s various research, development and marketing activities related to alternative-fueled vehicles and emerging technologies. He is currently working on several advanced hybrid electric products, direct hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reformed fuel approaches for hydrogen, full-featured electric vehicles, city electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid concepts, ethanol fuels and sustainable transportation systems. Bill is coming back for the 2008 SOS as one of the presenters…listen now...

Related Links: 2008 Sustainable Opportunities Summit || Conscious Economy Channel || Toyota Environment || CORE Home || 2007 SOS Photos || Keywords: CORE, Sustainability, Opportunities Summit, Bill Reinert, Toyota, Clean Tech, Climate Change, SOS - 3/5/07> Bytes: 4069149 LISTEN

436_ Sr. Software Engineers, Still in College & Winning

Here's a winning two semester sequence in which teams of students complete a substantial "real world" project provided by sponsors drawn from both industry and research organizations. These projects are developed under the direction of the course instructor (Bruce Sanders, Director of Software Engineering Projects) and members of the sponsoring organization (Applied Trust Engineering with founders, Trent Hein and Ned McClain). Here are the stages they go through: Initial Requirements, The student team interacts with the sponsor to gather requirements for the software that they are to develop. This first step involves a rather quick, but thorough, job of gathering Initial Requirements...and then System Architecture; Overview Presentation; Prototyping; Requirements Spec; Design Spec; Design Presentation; Development; Documentation; Final Presentation; Release...Listen to the 5-person student team. Applied Trust is excited about the deliverable. 2/04/08  LISTEN

Related Links: Senior Project Details || Applied Trust Engineering || Bruce W. Sanders || Best Book || Green IT Infrastructure   Keywords: Software Engineers, CU, Bruce Sanders, Trent Hein, Ned McClain, Applied Trust > Bytes: 27359924 LISTEN

434_ Will Sustainability and Cleantech Work Together in the Real World?
It’s all about the sea of change for the acceptance of the principals, practices and opportunities that intersect under the overarching umbrella of sustainability according to Paul Jerde, Executive Director of the Deming Center of Entrepreneurship, Leeds School of Business. What’s changed in the past couple of years with regard to Sustainability – trends, business acceptance and understanding of it? Will and how does Sustainability and Cleantech come together and if they do, will it last? How does Sustainability and Entrepreneurship intersect? These are questions that will be addressed head-on at the third annual Sustainability Opportunities Summit. Listen to Paul and you will gain further understanding of and some context pertaining to the ideas of sustainability, sustainable venturing, and business opportunity. He goes on to suggest," Perhaps some understanding of the myriad drivers...and hopefully some understanding of why this vague term has been so firmly adopted within business lexicon." 2/04/08 > LISTEN

Related Links: Conscious Economy Channel || CORE Home || 2008 Sustainable opportunities Summit || Cleantech Venture Challenge Keywords: Paul Jerde, Deming Center, Leeds School of Business, Sustainability, Cleantech, Green Tech > Bytes: 19275758 LISTEN

432_ Global Ambition, Global Sales for Ambitious Mountain Entrepreneurs
Effective Sales and Sales Management is Mission Critical explains Ken Morse, Managing Director, MIT Entrepreneurship Center. Improving the effectiveness of the sales force in globally ambitious companies, large and small, is consistently cited by business experts as one of the highest priorities, year after year. In the current tough climate, every purchase by any prospective customer must be triple-justified at all levels of management. Ken has delivered hands-on workshops around the globe to CEOs and their top sales executives. He has developed a tailored program for Ambitious Mountain Entrepreneurs. In this interview Ken addresses the question, "Can mountain startups survive global competition?" and explains the 'Key Imperatives'. There is a hard-hitting message for CEOs that you need to hear. BTW, Brad Feld, Larry and Pat will be there. LISTEN 1/28/08

Related Links: Workshop Information || MIT Entrepreneurship Center || Entrepreneur Channel || Podcast Directory || Keywords: Ken Morse, MIT, Entrepreneurship Center, Mountain Entrepreneurs, CEO, Sales, Management, Brad Feld, Startups > Bytes: 16033418 LISTEN

430_ Keys to Growth: Balance of Being Honest, Hungry, Humble, Happy
Learn the lessons that Jim Franklin has learned the hard way about growing technology businesses in Colorado. As the former CEO of Decisioneering and now a VP with Oracle, with Jim it is always about People First. Learn the ‘secret sauce’ of his 4H formula that makes his teams effective. Also, learn how Focus is the key to growth and learn about the Paradox of Focus. He stresses we should always be learning. Jim expands on his 4H Formula and also shares some interviewing tips around the 4Hs. For example how do you interview for Honesty? Watch the behavior. Ask Questions like: Tell me of a time where you’ve bent the rules… if the reply is, ‘I never bend the rules’, I think they’re not being very honest here. You know the key is to trust first and we like to see people who trust first, even in that interview process. When the interview is focused on Hunger, we look for what you do with your free time, we like to see them...listen now... LISTEN