Shawn BroderickSpeaking: Friday evening
Topic: Speaker and Mentor
Bio: I am Shawn Broderick, a geek, father, husband, and tech entrepreneur born, bred, and living in Boston (although I’m certain the stork meant to drop me in Del Mar and somehow got lost along the way, but c’est la vie).
I can be reached via email at shawn AT broderick DOT org. This is my second blog. I started one in 2004 but abandoned it. I hope you find these ruminations at least entertaining, if not informative. You can dig through some of my professional past via my LinkedIn profile and through some of my personal life via my Facebook profile. I also frequently rant and rave via Twitter. Outside of work, family, and community, I spend my miniscule spare time enjoying jazz and the rural countryside where we live.
Gus WeberSpeaking: Friday evening
Topic: Building Startup Ecosystems
Bio: Why Microsoft Cambridge? The reason I came was for the ability to actually build something brand new. Very rarely in your life do you ever get the opportunity to start with a clean slate and a blank palette.
And we had that opportunity here and when they called and said "Hey, we're doing this thing in Cambridge, what do you think?" I said "Yeah, sign me up." Especially in a big company like Microsoft, you know, the ability to come in and just start brand new; that's not an opportunity that comes along every day. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten? I had the great opportunity a couple of years ago to spend two weeks in South Korea. I went out with some friends that I know that are from South Korea. We went to a very authentic, local place and I had this soup and it was this very delicious looking soup. There were fish that were sort of swimming around in it and the waiter comes over and pours this black liquid in, all the fish died and floated to the top. I have never been able to replicate that dining experience anywhere else I've ever been. Favorite TV show theme song? Yeah, so my favorite TV show theme song is Law and Order, that "DUN DUN," no matter where you are in the world you know what that sound means.
Jonathan KaySpeaking: Friday evening
Topic: How to Create an Army of Brand Loyalists
Bio: Jonathan Kay is the Ambassador of Buzz at Grasshopper, a provider of virtual phone systems. He is extremely passionate about helping / meeting new entrepreneurs and always excited to learn about their unique journey.
Find Jonathan on Twitter @GrasshopperBuzz or via email at jkay(at)grasshopper.com.
Andre PorterSpeaking: Sunday evening
Topic: State Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurshi
Bio: Professional Profile: 20+ years of economic development and commercial real estate experience. Bio: Andre M. Porter has been managing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE) since May of 2008.
As Executive Director, he is responsible for planning, developing, managing, coordinating and monitoring the state's overall small and micro business development efforts. He is also responsible for developing ideas and legislation to improve small business competitiveness and for monitoring legislative and administrative policy changes for potential impact to small businesses. The primary objective of OSBE is to successfully assist businesses to create, maintain, and relocate jobs to Massachusetts. Prior to his current position, Andre Porter spent eight years as the Deputy Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development. In this position he was responsible for the Boston Main Streets Program which funds 19 commercial districts across the City; small business lending; commercial real estate and business development finance; technical assistance for entrepreneurs and small business owners; and numerous resources and services that encouraged neighborhood and business development across the City. Some of the achievements of the Office of Business Development under Andre Porter’s leadership include the financing of over 53 commercial real estate projects totaling more than $400 million in development costs; funded and provided design assistance to over 300 façade improvement projects totaling more than $25 million in construction costs; assisted over 80 restaurant projects through the Neighborhood Restaurant Initiative, resulting in more than 500 new jobs; developed and launched the Boston Hotel Loan Fund which brought in more than $6.5 million in fee income; developed and launched the Community Change Card program, a technology-based customer loyalty card for small neighborhood retail businesses across the City. Prior to working for the City of Boston, Mr. Porter spent fourteen years in the banking industry where he was a commercial real estate lender, asset manager, and workout specialist for several Boston-based banks. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Tufts University.
Roy RodensteinSpeaking: Saturday mid-day
Topic: Project Mentor
Bio: Rodenstein. Yeah it’s kinda long, I know. I’ve been called R2, R square, and my favorite, “The Roadshow” (learn why on my personal blog). I was born in Buenos Aires, ate sand on the beach in Rio as a toddler, spent almost ten years in Mexico City with a few in Germany mixed in (before the Wall fell).
I finished high school in Fort Lee and Tenafly, NJ just outside NYC. Call me a nomad, call me a citizen of the world, and whatever you do call me a startup guy- founder, advisor, mentor. I’ve been closely involved with a number of startups and have lived through the whole cycle on a couple, which leads us to… http://how2startup.com/
Laura FittonSpeaking: Friday evening
Topic: Creating businesses around social media
Bio: Laura “@Pistachio” Fitton founded oneforty.com (@oneforty) to help people understand Twitter and the exploding ecosystem of applications and services built on it.
Called “the app store for Twitter” by TechCrunch, oneforty is the place to find, rate, collect and share the best ways to use Twitter. She is also the co-author of Twitter for Dummies (@dummies). Called by some a “Cinderella story” and a “Queen” of Twitter, Fitton is credited with explaining Twitter’s value to Guy Kawasaki and dozens of other tech leaders. She has been speaking professionally about the business use of Twitter since October 2007, and by popular demand launched Pistachio Consulting, the first Twitter for Business consultancy, in September 2008. She’s lectured on Twitter for Business at Harvard Business School, for Cornell’s Entrepreneurs’ Network (she is an alum) and other universities and at numerous conferences including BlogWorldExpo, Defrag, Supernova, LeWeb, Learning 2009 and each of the major Twitter conferences. Pistachio Consulting clients include Ford, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and Anthem Healthcare. Laura been quoted in more than 50 national publications including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, and BusinessWeek. On the personal side, Laura stays busy stealing bits of time here and there for ice hockey, ashtanga yoga, surfing, snowboarding and rock-climbing. She’s also a stroke survivor dedicated to raising awareness. Laura makes her home near Boston, MA with her two daughters and a giant Leonberger dog named Hope.
Apolinaras “Apollo” SinkeviciusSpeaking: Saturday morning
Topic: Lean Startups Mentor
Bio: Apolinaras “Apollo” Sinkevicius is a business operations leader with 12-year track record of helping companies manage growth, build diverse teams, harness technology, and get a lot more profitable.
He is usually brought in to build new or improve older business processes, provide structure to a rapidly growing business, and create higher level of predictability for the executive team.To learn more about Apolinaras “Apollo” Sinkevicius please visit his site TheOperationsGuy.com
Jeffry VocellBio: Jeffrey Vocell is a New Hampshire based Business Analyst with experience in worldwide markets. He has served in numerous roles in marketing, customer service, and business development among various software companies in New England.
He received his BS in Business Management & Leadership from Daniel Webster College. He is currently working with a Los Angeles transportation startup, and on launching a startup in the mobile web space.
Jason EvanishBio: Jason is the co-founder of GreenhornConnect.com, a resource hub for Boston's Entrepreneurs. The site includes a comprehensive, searchable listing of all of the organizations and events in the region as well as other relevant content for local entrepreneurs.
Jason is a recent graduate of the School of Technological Entrepreneurship master's program at Northeastern University and an active member of the entrepreneurial community. He also has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern. You can learn more at www.GreenhornConnect.com or on Linkedin.
Aaron GerryBio: Aaron Gerry is currently a Junior at Northeastern University and is pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology. A self-described startup enthusiast, Aaron has a particular passion for developing programs and helping fellow student entrepreneurs; he is especially proud of the innovative Husky Innovation Challenge and IDEA programs at NU.
In the past, Aaron has interned at Localytics, taught Boston Public High School students, and was part of the core team that brought Ultra Light Startups to Boston. Aaron enjoys hot sauce and zombie movies and is excited for the launch of his own startup, Zazu!
TechStarsPosted by Startup Weekend Crew
Congratulations to all of the teams at SWBoston. Here are the results of the final presentations:
OVERALL: 60% based on team votes and 40% based on judge’s voting
1. Vidicul.us
2. ConvertibleHeels.com
3. NodeRabbit
OTHER CATEGORIES:
MOST FUN:
1. Vidicul.us
MOST COMPLETE:
1. Poundvs.com
SCRATCH YOUR OWN ITCH FROM SCRATCH
1. ReferralBon.us
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
Drumroll please….. We have 15 teams that have been grinding all weekend who will show off what they have learned and what progress they have made. Each team will have 5 minutes to present. Here is the order:
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
Bill Warner and Roy Rodenstein leading a clinic for the 18 team leaders at #SWBoston today.
Here is my quick re-cap of the session:
There are 3 dimensions to Innovation:
Invention – A solution to a problem that you have.
Intention – Because of your intentions and abilities, you help push Innovation.
Beliefs – The power of beliefs to actually accomplish what you set out to do.
Proposals: Most people talk about the invention. This is what it is. what it does, how we’ll make it, how we’ll market, etc. Talk more about beliefs: I intend to help people _______. I intend to make people feel _______.
Exercises we did:
1. Each leader had to finish a sentence that started with “I believe…” Bill’s believes that people should follow their hearts.
2. Next everyone started a sentence with “My people are…” Bill’s people are entrepreneurs who want to build things from the heart.
3. Everyone had to give a 15 second “Elevator Pitch” (most were less!) *Can you give a pitch in 15 seconds?
- Don’t tell people “what it is” tell people “what does it mean” (Focus on what you believe and who your people are)
- Women are better at this.
- Fancy language doesn’t get you anywhere.
- Lose the jargon. Simple, to the point, sentences.
4. In the next exercise, Bill pretended to be the teacher of everyone’s first grade class.
- Result = people used real language. *Try explaining your business to a bunch of first graders so they can do it.
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
19 Kabir Riotvine – Foursquare integration
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
Where: Microsoft NERD center, Floor 11. Directions, parking, etc:
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/labs/newengland/visit.aspx
Agenda
Friday – Doors open at 5:30pm, and we’ll kick things off by 6:15. We will have pizza and drinks.
Saturday – Kick off at 9am, and we can stay until 11pm. Coffee in the am. Sandwiches & Chips for Lunch, Lasagna & Spagetti for dinner.
Sunday – Kick off at 9am. Final presentations start at 5:15pm. We’ll be out of there by 8pm. Coffee, Lunch, and Dinner provided.
Remember
Pitch Format for Friday night is – 60 Seconds. We’ll hear about 35 ideas for new startup ventures.
Bring: Laptop, charger, notepad, pen, business cards.
First-Timers: Be sure to check out our FAQ here.
Prizes: For the top 2 teams: 2 hours of mentoring with TechStars‘ Shawn Broaderick and “Priority Consideration” for the next application. Free “Incorporation Packages” from Cooley Godward Kronish, and an assortment of amazing prizes for MassChallange including free entry and endorsements plus additional judging points.
Also: Be ready to share ideas, learn, meet new people, and have a great weekend!
“One of the key tents of entrepreneurship is that you start your business with insufficient resources and knowledge” – Steve Blank
A special thank you for helping make this event what it is goes to Gus Weber and Leah Brunson from Microsoft New England R&D Center, Michael Choen with VC Ready Law Group, Jason Evanish with Greenhornconnect, Aaron Gerry from iZaazu (a starutp from the last SWBoston), and the long list of everyone else who has helped out. Boston is truly an amazing community!
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
The Funded Founder Institute (http://www.founderinstute.com/r/suwkend), a four month program to help founders build the next generation of world-class technology companies, is launching a new semester in Boston from July, 2010, until October, 2010. The program is run by founders for founders, providing a structure for successful entrepreneurs to share their experiences and to provide guidance. Everyone that graduates from the program is invited to join a pool to share in the equity upside generated from the success of their peers. This adds a unique camaraderie to the program and creates a long-term peer support group with a vested interest in your success. If you have a new company or if you are thinking to start a company, take a moment and apply to the program. The program has an acceptance deadline of June 23rd. (http://www.founderinstitute.com/apply/23/suwkend )
We’ve already lined up great Mentors for Boston, including;
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
In addition to the incredibly valuable prize from Shawn Broderick and TechStars (mentoring for the top teams, and priority consideration for the next TS application), MassChallenge has put up a great offer for attendees of Startup Weekend:
What is the Prize?
A Diamond Endorsement for the winner (Free entry, plus 5 points toward their judging score), Platinum Endorsements for all finalists ($100 discount, plus 1 point toward judging score), and Gold Endorsements for all entrants (1 point toward judging score).
What is MassChallenge?
MassChallenge is running a global startup competition and accelerator to catalyze the launch and success of high-growth, high-impact new businesses. The first contest launched on April 14, 2010 with a total prize pool of $1 Million. The submission deadline is June 11, and winners will be announced in early October 2010. The competition is open to anyone in the world, with any idea, in any industry. Physical activities will be based in Massachusetts where innovation resources are most concentrated. Every entrant will receive training, feedback, PR and networking support via expert volunteers from partner organizations. Around 100 of the highest-potential entrants will receive intensive mentorship and other free resources, including office space and targeted introductions to customers and funding sources. The very best startups will be identified by expert judges to receive cash awards toward launching their businesses along with enhanced PR and privileged access to top investors seeking to place seed capital to work in high-growth firms. MassChallenge is a 501(c)(3) (non-profit) leveraging both public and private funding. Learn more and enter online: www.masschallenge.org
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
Brought to you by the guys behind BetaHouse, Angle Boot Camp will be a great opportunity to get inside the heads of Angle Investors and prepare you to ask the right questions and put together a perfect pitch. Startup Weekend is glad to support this, so check it out!
Angel Boot Camp + Demo Night
June 1, 2010
Cambridge, MA
http://seedboston.com/angelbootcamp/
Learn Angel Investing from the Experts
=============================
Have you thought about angel investing but weren’t sure whether it was
right for you or how to get started? Are you an entrepreneur who wants
to learn more about working with angels and how angel investment
differs from venture capital? Here’s a chance to learn from the
experts. We’ll have more than a dozen of the best angels and seed
investors on hand — some local, some from around the country — to
share their experiences. Why do angel investing? How do you find and
evaluate potential investments? What’s the right amount of money to
invest? How do you set terms? How do you work with other angels,
entrepreneurs and VCs? What are the legal issues?
We’ll address these questions and more. Join us for an afternoon of
learning and networking.
Demo Night
=========
Do you have a startup that you’d like to pitch to the angels, VCs and
entrepreneurs at Angel Boot Camp? Request an invite (see below). We’ll
invite a select group to demo. Note that we’ll also have a pitch
session on the evening of the 26th to help make the final selections.
It’s not mandatory, but it might help your chances. So save the date
if you can.
Request an Invite
=============
Request an invite at http://seedboston.com/angelbootcamp/ if you’d
like to attend Angel Boot Camp or pitch your startup at Demo Night.
For more info, follow @angelbootcamp or @jonpierce on Twitter or email
us at angelbootcamp@seedboston.com. Also feel free to reach out by
email if you’d like to sponsor the event. Space will be limited and
invitations will be extended as quickly as possible. Patience is
appreciated.
Speakers
=======
Alexis Ohanian, Founder, Reddit
Andy Payne, Angel Investor, Open Market
Angus Davis, Founder, Swipely
Bill Warner, Angel Investor, Avid and Wildfire
David Cancel, Founder, Performable
David Cohen, Founder, TechStars
Dharmesh Shah, Founder, HubSpot
Don Dodge, Developer Advocate, Google
Eric Paley, Managing Partner, Founder Collective
John Landry, Angel Investor, Lead Dog Ventures
Lee Hower, Angel Investor, PayPal and LinkedIn
Mike Hirshland, General Partner, Polaris Ventures
Phin Barnes, Principal, First Round Capital
Rich Miner, Partner, Google Ventures
More to come…
Who Should Attend?
===============
The primary goal of Angel Boot Camp is to educate, inspire and grow
the angel investor community. As such, active and aspiring angels are
the primary audience. But we also welcome entrepreneurs, VCs and other
people interested in learning more about angel investing, provided
they agree not to pitch at the event.
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
Great article by Jason Evanish with GreenhornConnect.com – This is a PARTIAL version. Check out the full version here.
As Mike Kowalchik pointed out yesterday on the Greenhorn blog, the structure of standard entrepreneurial networking events where you’re quickly pitching your idea may not be the best way to find a co-founder; when you’re trying to find a business partner, there are many elements that have to come together for it work and many question you need to try to answer. The amazing part about Startup Weekend is that many of those pieces can come together in just one weekend thanks to the event’s unique structure.
Why Startup Weekend is the Best Kind of Founder’s Dating
Preface: Startup Weekend is a 54 hour startup event that provides networking, resources and incentives for individuals and teams to go from idea to launch. They connect you with local developers, innovators and entrepreneurs to build community and start real companies. People pitch ideas and form teams on Friday night and then try to build prototypes/demos and organize basic business planning in one weekend, culminating in a judging on Sunday night. Winning teams receive prizes including cash, in kind services and mentoring. You can learn more about the event here.
1) This is the right group of people
The first step in finding a great cofounder at an event is having the room filled with the right types of people. Fortunately, anyone who signs up for an event built around trying to start a company in 54 hours is clearly a bit of an “entreprenerd” (credit @JoshSamBob). Anyone who isn’t serious about startups will quickly stand out like a Star Trek geek at a Star Wars convention. Find the Han Solo to your Chewbacca.
2) You see how people work……..
Ok… a teaser – go get the rest of the post here now!
Posted by Startup Weekend Crew
More and more you can hear speaking about lean startup. Being lean might look as common sense (and it is) how do you think Microsoft Apple or Oracle were created? Larry Ellison (CEO of Oracle) recently talked about the fact that the computer industry is the only industry more fashion driven than women fashion (speak here) So why business is important? why should you care if you are a developer? and why lean start-up is something new?
Well my point of view is that nothing has changed, but the fact you can now have for a $100 a working and powerful computer some cheap internet plan etc.. Makes any startup already lean. The only reason some of them cost a lot is because they are VC driven. So don’t bother your startup is going to be lean anyway! Now the real question is how can you learn and succeed. Well this is where conferences like startup lesson learned are useful. The more startups there is, the more data you’ll have have to understand how things works. But understanding is not experiencing, facing some customers request having to care about IP and discovering the beauty of accounting is something that you need to learn by yourself. There are rules there is a grammar there is a vocabulary (like in any language) but listening can’t help you if you don’t try!
This is what startup weekend is about. Learning in a real world
No Talk, All Action
hope to see u there 
