w3w3.com

Build an 'A' team, a vision, culture

730_ Build an 'A' team, create a vision, build a culture for the long haul
 Larry coralled Paul Jerde, CU-Boulder, Robert H. & Beverly A. Deming Center and Larry Jones the CEO of StarTek and Chairman of the Deming Board and asked them to share the three biggest strategies that they would recommend for entrepreneurs. Larry Jones said, "The first and foremost is picking your team. Picking the 'A' team, people you know well, who you think have the expertise whether it be technical, people, marketing & sales - but building the right team, and don't compromise. Second is create a vision and a passion. Yes, you have an idea, yes you have a view of whose going to buy your product, but turn that into a vision with a very big passion. And your life is going to be surrounded by this and therefore you're going to be singing this song over and over again to your employees, to your investors and to your customers. Make sure that that is a passionate message. " Listen for more great advice. Paul Jerde recommended, "I think the starting point is always for someone to do the best job they can of finding a passion, something that just personally they are very excited about, that they feel is important and worthwhile doing, and looking for opportunities based around that area of passion. Secondly, coupling that, wherever possible to emerging areas of opportunity. The great title waves of technology advancement and IT built a lot of wonderful careers. We talked in previous interviews about areas of energy, organics, healthy food, healthcare, bioscience, biomedical; as great examples, some of the world's greatest challenges. Clearly areas of great opportunity going forward." Paul also had more to offer. Listen for more and be ready to take notes...
Related Links: Deming Center || Technology Transfer Office || StarTek || Entrepreneur Channel || Mastering Change || Deming Center Event Photos 9/30/09 || Keywords: Paul Jerde, Larry Jones, CU TTO, Robert H. & Beverly Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, StarTek, Entrepreneurs, University of Colorado > Channel: Entrepreneurs > 5934083 bytes - 11/2/09 LISTEN

Entrepreneurs Unplugged: David Cohen, Techstars

731_ Entrepreneurs Unplugged: With David Cohen, Executive Director of Techstars 
Brad Feld, Managing Director & Co-founder of the Foundry Group, Brad Bernthal, Entrepreneurship Initiative Director at Silicon Flatirons and Jill van Matre got to do something many of us would like to do...ask David Cohen, Executive Director of Techstars how he got to where he is including the 'learning experiences' along the way. Brad really got into some deep and important issues. David Cohen is the founder and Exective Director of TechStars. David has a soft spot for technology startups and enjoys helping innovative early stage technology companies succeed. He also has a passion for Colorado and believes it's a fantastic community for any startup. The TechStars program combines these passions with capital, connections and real-world experience to provide a unique opportunity for early stage startups. David is a founder of several software and web technology companies including Pinpoint Technologies (now ZOLL Data Systems) of Broomfield, Colorado. While at ZOLL Data Systems, David was also the CTO. The company was acquired by ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: ZOLL) in 1999. You can read about it in No Vision, All Drive [Amazon]. David was also the founder and CEO of earFeeder.com, which was sold to SonicSwap.com in 2006. David is also an active startup advocate, advisor, board member, and technology advisor who comments on these topics on his blog at ColoradoStartups.com. If you want to learn more about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur listen to this live recording at the Silicon Flatirons Center 'Entrepreneurs Unplugged' event.
Related Links: Entrepreneurs Unplugged || TechStars || Colorado Startups || Foundry Group || Economy Builders || Photos from Entrepreneurs Unplugged 10/19/09 || Keywords: David Cohen, Brad Feld, Entrepreneurs Unplugged, TechStars, Colorado Startups, Foundry Group, Silicon Flatirons, Brad Bernthal, Jill van Matre, Pinpoint Technologies > Channel: Entrepreneurs 24509370 bytes 11/2/09 LISTEN

Using innovation for social good - NCWIT

Using innovation for social good - NCWIT Entrepreneurial Tool Box
 732_ Lucy Sanders, the CEO for the National Center for Women and Information Technology or NCWIT and Lee Kennedy, NCWIT Director, serial entrepreneur and founder of Boldersearch, along with Larry Nelson, from w3w3.com interviewed Yoky Matsuoka for the NCWIT Entrepreneurial Tool Box series. Yoky is a Torode Family Endowed Career Development Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. She received her Ph.D. at MIT in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Neuroscience in 1998. She was also a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department at MIT and in Mechanical Engineering at Harvard University. Today Yoky is an associate professor at the University of Washington focusing on neurobotics. In 2007 Her work in Robotics gained the MacArthur’s Foundation "Genius Award". The MacArthur Foundation characterizes her work as transforming our understanding of how the central nervous system coordinates musculoskeletal action and of how robotic technology can enhance the mobility of people with manipulation disabilities. In addition, Yoky started the YokyWorks Ffoundation – a non-profit to be recognized as a premier provider of practical engineering solutions for people seeking to improve their life experience. Their mission is to enable people to experience life beyond their physical or sensory capabilities. "Also I want to help my volunteers. Many have raised families and now want to have a way to contribute to society and I feel just having them exposed to this effort is giving them pleasure, and that also is extremely rewarding." Listen for more exciting details...
Related Links: Yoky Works || NCWIT Home || NCWIT Practice || NCWIT Blog || Heroes Channel || Keywords: NCWIT, Yoky Matsuoka, Yoky Works, Lucy Sanders, NCWIT, Lee Kennedy, Boldersearch, Entrepreneurial Tool Box, Neurobotics, Channel: NCWIT > 24587183 bytes - 11/2/09 LISTEN

International multi-jurisdictional trademark filing

733_ International multi-jurisdictional and national trademark filing options
 What you don't know can cause you and your organization some unbelievable financial pain. Melody Harris and Samantha Sturgis, attorneys at Holme Roberts & Owen LLP (HRO), just conducted a program that had to do with 'Multi-Jurisdiction Filing Options' (The Madrid System), Community Trademarks (CTMs - European Union, 27 countries) and Registered Community Design (RCDs - Euro union, only for last 12 mos). While Larry has owned businesses in five countries and has a registered trademark for w3w3(R) he learned a great deal. Samantha pointed out, "In the US you gain Trademark rights by using Trademarks. You don't have to register a mark because it can be protected under the common law. However we recommend that our clients using trademarks, register the trademark, and register it at the federal level." Melody added, "The first thing we want to do in thinking about filing a United States Trademark Application is whether or not somebody else might be out there already using that brand. So we recommend doing a trademark search before spending money to file an application which they may not have the ability to prosecute through to the end because someone else might be in line ahead of you. So it's really important to do at least, what we call a 'knockout' or quick search. Once we have the actual search process done, then we want to look at the application process. There are two different ways of filing applications in the U.S. You can file it on what's called a 'use base', which means you're already using the mark. Otherwise you file on what's called 'an intent to use' basis." There's much more...
Related Links: Holme Roberts & Owen LLP || US Patent and Trademark Office || US Copyright Office || It's the Law Channel || Keywords: Melody Harris, Samantha Sturgis, Holme Roberts & Owen LLP (HRO), Trademark, Copyright, Multi-Jurisdiction, Madrid System, European Union > Channel: Law 9262467 bytes 11/2/09 LISTEN

CO Rotary Club, Gates Foundation - End Polio Now

727_ Colorado Rotary Club Challenge with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - End Polio Now
"Polio is a devastating disease, and we have Polio on the ropes! We have a 99% reduction worldwide and we just have to make this final push to get rid of the last cases as a gift of our generations to all future generations, so no child has to be paralyzed, crippled for life from this terrible disease," pointed out Walter A. Orenstein, MD, is a Deputy Director for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Integrated Health Solutions Development of the Global Health Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has been the leading foundation in the world addressing many of the most serious and deadly diseases in the world. Dr. Orenstein came to participate in our 'Colorado End Polio Now' campaign sponsored by the Rotary Clubs in Colorado. Steve Werner an active member of Colorado Rotary (Rotary Denver Southeast) added to the conversation. "This has been a 20 year long project of the Rotary International and all Rotary Clubs around the world including Colorado, have bought into this vision of a Polio Free World. So every Rotary Club in the world is participating in fundraising and awareness building activities and we are so fortunate to have a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation because they have offered a $250 million Challenge grant if Rotarians worldwide would raise $100 million. We have exceeded our goal in Colorado and are on track worldwide to achieve this goal. With this final large amount of money, thanks to the generosity of the foundation, we are hoping we can reach our ultimate goal of eradicating polio." Walt added, "Polio eradication is very important to the Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation has given more $680 million to polio eradication in the last ten years..." Larry Nelson is a polio survivor. He experienced what a terrible disease it is, and remembers... Listen for how you can be involved...
Related Links: Global Polio Eradication Initiative || End Polio Now (UN Foundation) || Gates Foundation || Rotary Club of Denver Southeast || Rotary International || Keywords: Polio, Walter A. Orenstein, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary Club, Global Health Program, Steve Werner, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases > 7085560 bytes - 10/26/09 LISTEN

CID4: Colorado Institute for Drug, Device & Diagnostic Development

728_ CID4: Colorado Institute for Drug, Device & Diagnostic Development
 "CID4 is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that's been formed to create jobs in the State of Colorado specifically in the life science industry. The institute was created to meet a need, the so called 'valley of death' between discovery of a promising technology and its actual application with people. That is a funding gap that has occurred over the last few years that makes it difficult to get companies started on technologies that are going to lead to new cures and/or medical devices," said Richard Duke, President and CEO of CID4. Larry interviewed Richard along with Kevin Smith, Exec VP and COO along with Rick Silva, Director of Technology Transfer, Anschutz Medical Campuses (Fitzsimons) about this exciting new venture. Larry asked what can we expect to see in the future? "Some of the activities we envision ourselves being involved in are essentially looking at technology across the state both from the research institutions as well as from individual entrepreneurs that have the greatest potential to lead to cures in a reasonable amount of time. The real critical part to understand is that the average drug takes 12 years and $200 million to develop. Everyone wants to know how we can be more successful in terms of bringing those products along. So the major goal of the Institute is to identify the most promising technologies in Colorado that are available for further development and then to guide that development process in a more cost efficient and time efficient manner.' Listen for more details...
Related Links: CID4 Home || CU Tech Transfer Office || CU Tech Transfer Channel || Mastering Change || Keywords: CID4, Colorado Institute for Drug Device & Diagnostic Development, Richard Duke, Kevin Smith, Rick Silva, CU TTO, Change > Channel: CU TTO > 11442720 bytes - 10/26/09 LISTEN

Computing Awards - High School Girls, Grades 9-12

726_ Computing Awards - Designed for High School Girls, Grades 9-12
ATTENTION: Employers, parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts & uncles; It's time for the 2009 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards - Designed for girls in High School, grades 9 -12. Girls all around the country are submitting their applications - Due: November 15th, 2009! Larry talked with Ruthe Farmer, Director of Strategic Initiatives, NCWIT about this fascinating program. Ruthe said, "The awards program was designed to recognize and encourage girls who are interested and active in technology at the high school level (grades 9 through 12) and keep them in the pipeline so they can work for you one day. The program is open to any girl in the United States (so any girl with a U.S. Zip Code) is eligible." Larry asked what are the awards? "At the national level, the girls win $500 cash; a laptop which is a gift from Bank of America our National Sponsor; a trip with a parent to the gala "Technology of the Future Showcase" at Bank of America's Headquarters in Charlotte, NC; So it's a pretty big prize package. At the event they'll receive a 'Goodie bag' with a beautiful Crystal/glass Trophy for both them and their school because we really want them displayed in the trophy case right along with the football trophies, creating a tradition that girls at that school apply and win this award. Essentially the girls apply on line and they provide a name and address for their teacher and parent, who also get to view and endorse the application. The application asks questions about the kind of computing they've done..." Listen for more...
Related Links: Applications for Aspirations in Computing & Info for Parents || NCWIT Home || NCWIT Practice || NCWIT Blog || Heroes Channel || Keywords: NCWIT, Aspirations in Computing Award, Ruthe Farmer, High School Girls, Bank of America, Technology Channel: NCWIT > 6477012 bytes - 10/26/09 LISTEN

We're in the middle of a digital tsunami impacting media business

729_ We're in the middle of a digital tsunami that is impacting the media business 
Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media Corp was a keynote speaker for the Silicon Flatirons, CTP & the Cable Center event, 'Rise of Broadband Video and Future of Digital Media'. Greg said, "We're in the middle of a digital tsunami that is impacting the media business enormously. FaceBook has 300 million users, up three times in a year; YouTube has 400 million users, by almost any measure it's the largest TV station in the world. About 24 hours of video is uploaded every ten minutes. Ninety-six percent of Gen Y have joined a social network. You can't get 96% of people to do anything. This one is stunning to me; One out of eight couples that married last year, met online. What a transformation that is. And it only accelerates, FaceBook would be the 4th largest country in the world, and the fastest growing segment on FaceBook is 55 to 65 year old women. Google is about twice the size of Time Warner which is the largest traditional media company in advertising. Most of the things that are happening are creating unstable competitive environments and business models with very low barriers to entry and pricing power is destroyed for all entrants. Some examples of that destruction of legacy business models; music, a well known story. Are we going to see this in video? Perhaps. Hulu is hugely destructive and I don't think the people behind it NBC and the like, Fox, are going to stay with it long - I think they're going to change the model because it is not sustainable. Newspapers is probably the best example that is current right now." There's much more...
Related Links: Liberty Media || Silicon Flatirons || CTP Channel || CTP Home || Channel: CTP 30379584 bytes - 10/26/09 LISTEN

Rise of Broadband Video Future of Digital Media

725_ The Rise of Broadband Video and the Future of Digital Media
  Dale Hatfield, the Executive Director of Silicon Flatirons introduced the opening keynote speaker, Meredith Attwell Baker, who was nominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission on June 25, 2009. She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on July 24, 2009, and sworn in as Commissioner on July 31, 2009. She addressed many issues that are are challenging to this ever-changing sector. In the spring of 2009, Netflix announced it was ready to provide customers the option of signing up for a standalone streaming offering, highlighting the changing nature of the video landscape. As Business Week recently put it, "operators like Comcast and DirecTV are facing accelerating competition from a host of upstarts eager to deliver movies and TV programming on demand." While the method of distribution is undoubtedly cheaper and quicker, there are still questions about whether the licensing terms for Internet-based distribution will facilitate this business model. Moreover, with respect to the major TV networks, they are asking themselves "whether free is a sustainable model" and whether they can avoid the fate of the newspapers. Finally, from the perspective of network providers, the rising popularity of video over the Internet is creating a huge upsurge in the demand for bandwidth, creating both new opportunities and challenges. There's so much more...
Related Links: Meredith Attwell Baker || Silicon Flatirons || CTP Channel || CTP Home || Keywords: Meredith Attwell Baker, Federal Communications Commission, Dale Hatfield, Silicon Flatirons, Spectrum, Jana Henthorn, Netflix, Comcast, Video, DirecTV, Change > Channel: CTP > 19800714 bytes 10/20/09 LISTEN

Emerging video marketplace - opportunities disruptive innovation

724_ The emerging video marketplace and the opportunities for disruptive innovation 
Then Mitchell Berman, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of ZillionTV addressed the issues impacting rise of broadband video and the future of digital media. The new emerging broadband-based video model calls into question a number of technological, economic, and policy premises of the current multi-channel video programming environment. A critical question for established players--both the content developers and the distributors--is whether they embrace this emerging business model or fight it. Recognizing how the Internet undermined the market position of the recording industry and the newspaper industry, many established firms are looking to embrace these changes, in some cases funding or buying upstarts like ZillionTV, and in other cases, developing their own on-demand libraries (as Comcast is in the process of doing). In so doing, they are pushing technological development in this area to provide, as ZillionTV CEO put it, "unlimited video-on-demand, perfectly personalized to the consumer taste, and with advertisers able to push ads precisely to align with that taste." This conference examined the emerging video marketplace, discussing the opportunities for disruptive innovation, the nature of the changing business models, and the public policy responses. In so doing, they brought together a range of academics, policymakers, and business persons. Mitchell went on to explain why he feels TV is here to stay. In the face of such a changing environment, some critics...there's more...
Related Links: ZillionTV || Silicon Flatirons || CTP Channel || CTP Home || Mastering Change || Keywords: Mitchell Berman, ZillionTV, Dale Hatfield, Silicon Flatirons, Cable TV, ESPN, HBO, Change > Channel: CTP > 14372679 bytes 10/20/09 LISTEN