Let’s Get Started!
Received notice that the next Houston Netsquared Meetup Group will be on July 10th at the StagsHead Pub. This is a great group that allows you to meet other creative technology people while socially mixing, swapping stories and ideas, building new relationships, and reinforcing the online NetSquared community.
You can find more information about this meetup and sign up here.
The Rice Alliance is offering a 2-day Technology Entrepreneurial Workshop on July 25th and 26th that is designed to teach the Basics of Starting, Growing, and Funding a Successful Startup Technology Company. The Rice Alliance is one of the key driving forces in helping the startup community in Houston (in addition to being one of the Top 10 Grad Schools in the U.S.), and as such is able to bring together an impressive array of resources for their events. If you have a great idea, but just don’t know how to get it off of the ground, then I highly recommend that you check this out.
Here is a brief summary of the topics covered:
You can find out more information and sign up here.
I just saw this one come across the wire this morning. Here is a brief description from their press release:
Houston, TX, June 24, 2007 –(PR.com)– “YippyKya” announced the launch of a revolutionary social networking site that provides people the opportunity to make money or get discovered as artists, all while making friends across the world. Based in Houston, Texas, YippyKya has already begun to attract users from around the country that are looking for something more and believe that YippyKya is the place to do so.
The platform for emerging artists to “Get Discovered” is referred to as “YIPPYs on the Rise”; an idea akin to an online combination of the popular Reality TV Shows: American Idol, Project Runway, and On the Lot. “YIPPYs on the Rise” consists of twelve categories of artists; such as musical performers, models, actors, writers, filmmakers, fashion designers, jewelers, and graphic artists.
It’s an interesting concept and they seem to be offering several new features, such as “Upstart TV,” a video channel to get discovered on and others. I will be adding more details soon, but in the meantime you can find out more information here.
ps. They are looking for reporters/personalities for their Upstart TV channel if anyone is interested.
OK, I know this is not in Houston, but it’s close enough and I didn’t want people to miss out at a chance to speak with Google. It seems that Refresh Bryan-College Station has arranged for Google to present at their next meeting on June 27th and will discuss “their product line, services, and what may lie down the road as Google continues to amaze us.” There will also be a full meal provided by one of their sponsors. Free food and a chance to talk with Google? Sounds like a great opportunity to me.
You can find out more and RSVP here.
Sorry I couldn’t stay longer or post earlier, but had a great time just the same. Here were some of the highlights for me:
That’s all for now. It was a great group and I highly recommend attending if you are looking to improve your web design and development skills or just to network with a great group of people who are doing exciting things here in Houston.
ps. The free beer was a big plus!
pss. Did you go to the meeting also? Leave a comment about what you liked (or didn’t like).
I found out about Houston-based Cell-it in this article from Webware, talking about the state of video classified ads today. In the article they talk about how the broader use of video classifieds is overdue and whether smaller companies can get enough traction in the market before someone like Google or EBay tries to take over the space. Cell-it appears to make it very easy to get started with uploading video classifieds shot from your cellphone. Here are some excerpts from the about section of their site:
- Cell)))it makes it easy. Just take a picture or video and email the media to 4sale @ cellit.us.
- Early interest is high perhaps because the first listing is FREE for new accounts.
- The site feeds all items to Google Base for re-listing with the available thumbnails and user supplied description.
- For sellers this is a real bargain. Video that’s quick and easy. Using your cell-phone eliminates the need for pc completely. Look for Cell)))it to partner with the major cell carriers that are looking for ways to extend their data networks.
There you go, free and easy, so get out there and give it a try. I know that most of you are probably thinking about selling your old gadgets to buy an iPhone next week, so here’s your excuse.
Just received word today that Houston-based startup ThySpace has put up their announcement page, with ability to be notified when they launch. According to their VP of Creative Operations - Patrick Scott, and CEO - Bill Mosely, the site will launch in mid-July, and will provide most of the features people expect in social networking sites, but will also provide rich religious media content, including comics and video.
You can check them out here.
Business 2.0 has a good article on the six things that startups should do to get bought by Google. Of course, they aren’t speaking literally, but since a lot of Web 2.0 startups today are looking to acquisition as their exit strategy, it has some good principles that apply. Here’s the short version of the list for your reference:
You can read more of the details and thinking behind these points here.
ps. Try putting your startup company’s URL in the comments section of the article and who knows, maybe Google will come calling. 
I was catching up on RSS feeds tonight after recovering my laptop from the depths of despair (blue screened twice today…arrgh!!!) and came across a post from a friend of mine. It references a post from the Houstonist regarding Joel Kotkin’s report to the Greater Houston Partnership about Opportunity Urbanism.
Overall I do not disagree with either position regarding how to bring Houston into the new economy. My issue is whether Houston is really ready for the shift. Here is an excerpt from The Local and Regional Economic Impacts of the Port of Houston, 2006 by Martin Associates:
“The public and private marine terminals at the Port of Houston continue to be an economic engine for the Houston area, Harris County and the State of Texas. In the last six years the port activity has added 3,400 new direct jobs annually, and the salary of these job holders has increased from $41,560 to $48,730. The importance of the Port’s public and private marine terminals to the State is underscored by the fact that the total value of the economic impact of the public and private marine terminals is measured at $117.6 billion and 785,049 jobs in the State of Texas are related to the marine activity at the public and private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel.”
Maybe I am dense but wouldn’t Houston have been better served if the capital deployed to source and induce those old economy jobs were allocated to process improvement and technology deployment to streamline port activities? Just a thought.
What are yours?
Phonecasting, a local Houston company (Kingwood really) that “is an online content delivery and social media network offering easy access to your favorite podcasting and phonecasting.” Their new site is set to launch June 29 (to coincide with the iPhone launch) in which podcasters can set their channel feeds to be available through the iPhone and other cell phones across the globe.
Very neat concept and brought to you by local talent. Check it out.
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