SCHIPULCON 2011

October 6-7 Norris Conference Centers at CityCentre Houston, TX

Register

Schipul, The Web Marketing Company – helmed by none other the venerable startup champion Ed Schipul is putting on another design/technology/marketing event that is spanning two days at the beginning of October.

From the press release:

Focused around the central themes of Create, Profit and Reach, speakers such [...]]]>

SCHIPULCON 2011

October 6-7
Norris Conference Centers at CityCentre
Houston, TX

Register

Schipul, The Web Marketing Company – helmed by none other the venerable startup champion Ed Schipul is putting on another design/technology/marketing event that is spanning two days at the beginning of October.

From the press release:

Focused around the central themes of Create, Profit and Reach, speakers such as Dries Buytaert (founder of Drupal), Liza Kindred (founder of Lullabot), Giovanni Gallucci (photographer and marketing strategist) and Don Vaughn (Baylor College of Medicine neuroscientist) and lead marketers for brands like Tito’s Vodka and St. Arnold’s Brewery, will present perspective-shifting talks, intended to stimulate new thinking – and, more importantly, gamechanging action.  Collaborative sketching for design ideation, turning time into profit and shattering business secrets with social media are just a few of the confirmed speaker topics set to offer big-picture perspective and strategies for creating, profiting and reaching new entrepreneurial horizons. And with live robot and RC helicopter demos on the schedule, the two-day engagement is certain to be chock-full of surprises.

Entrepreneurs and MAKERS will be thrown together for two days in different sessions in the hopes that innovative and actionable ideas for business will result. Ed and the entire Schipul crew (affectionately known as ‘Schipulites’) are gearing up to make this the best conference that they have produced to date. Aside from their many community support roles – most visibly as organizers and sponsors of Houston NetSquared, the Schipulites are well known for throwing great parties like the kickoff event at St. Arnold’s Brewery (free registration).

]]> http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/09/21/schipulcon-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/07/14/rice-alliance-technology-entrepreneur-workshop-2011/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rice-alliance-technology-entrepreneur-workshop-2011 http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/07/14/rice-alliance-technology-entrepreneur-workshop-2011/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:05:17 +0000 Marc Nathan http://www.startuphouston.com/?p=1641 2011 Technology Entrepreneurship Workshop – July 20-21, 2011 How to Launch a Successful Start-up Technology Company: “Essentials for Entrepreneurs and the Early-stage Technology Company” – 2-day Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs Event Date: July 20-21, 2011 Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Location: Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University Register today – this event has sold out for nine straight years – Early Registration ends [...]]]> 2011 Technology Entrepreneurship Workshop – July 20-21, 2011
How to Launch a Successful Start-up Technology Company: “Essentials for Entrepreneurs and the Early-stage Technology Company” – 2-day Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs
Event Date: July 20-21, 2011
Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University

Register today – this event has sold out for nine straight years – Early Registration ends July 12, 2011
Click Here to Register
(Only $95 for current Rice Alliance members or $25 for full-time Rice faculty, staff, or students)
This 2-day entrepreneurship course describes, in depth, the key steps required to commercialize technology and successfully launch a new technology company.  The workshop will be taught through a series of lectures and presentations from venture capitalists, investors, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the technology entrepreneurship community.

The instructors for the course include active venture capitalists and angel investors in the Houston region.  The course provides a unique opportunity to learn first-hand what is required to get funding for your emerging company and to meet the individuals who make these investment decisions on a daily basis.

The course has sold out every year, so we recommend early registration as there is limited seating available.
Registration:  Click Here to Register

More Info: Click here

Course Fee: $95 – Current 2011-2012 Rice Alliance members
$25 – Full-Time Rice Faculty, Staff, and Students
$195 – Early registration – general public; non-members (Early registration deadline – July 12, 2011)
$250 – Registration (after July 12, 2011)

Course benefits:

•          Learn how to raise money, when to raise it, and from what sources

•          Meet individuals who can help you make your company a success

•          Understand the life cycle of a new venture and what is necessary for a successful launch

•          Develop strategies to address legal issues and protect IP

•          Discover novel approaches to raising capital and chart a unique financial course

•          Obtain resources and contacts to help shape the organization’s structure and philosophy

•          Understand what a venture capitalist does, what they expect, and how to manage them as investors

•          Be able to effectively communicate the entrepreneur’s vision to various audiences

Who should attend?

•          Technology entrepreneurs who want to start a new business or have already founded a company and want to ensure its success

•          Scientists, engineers, researchers, faculty, physicians and healthcare professionals who want to obtain the tools necessary to commercialize their technology and launch a new business

•          Graduate students, post-doctorate and undergraduates in science, engineering and life sciences who are interested in entrepreneurship

Feedback from Past Attendees:

“One of the best workshops attended – have attended quite a few.”

“Complete systematic coverage of entrepreneurship needs from real practitioners at all levels.”

“Excellent instructions in all aspects. I now feel prepared to start a company.”

“I feel that I can now confidentially engage in starting down the path of creating my very own company.”

“The best aspect of this course was to learn from the VC’s what they look for in a start-up looking for capital/funding.”

“Very hands on—the speakers didn’t waste a lot of time on theory but rather focused on the “how-to”.”

Topics and Modules include:

Day 1 – Wednesday, July 20

Attributes of an Entrepreneur

Typical Timelines for Technology Startups

Creating a Compelling Value Proposition

Organizational Structure

Marketing and Branding

Intellectual Property Strategy – how to protect your IP most effectively; efficiently

De-risking your Technology Start-up

Angel Capital – when to seek angel funding; how to get it

Day 2 – Thursday, July 21

Venture Capital – when to seek venture capital; how to get it

Financial Modeling

Negotiating your Deal and Allocating Equity

Building a Successful Management Team and Establishing Corporate Governance

The Pitch and the Presentation – how to make a successful pitch to investors

Landmines to avoid on the road to success – overcoming the common obstacles to success

Speakers Include:

Jack Gill, PhD, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Vanguard Ventures, Gill Foundation of Texas

Dan Watkins, PhD, Managing Partner, DFJ Mercury (early stage venture capital)

Mary Helen O’Leary, CFO, Sternhill Partners (venture capital)

Michael D. Hansen, President, Houston Angel Network

; Managing Director and Principal, Buffalo Jump Energy Corporation

Keith Kreuer, Partner, Redhouse Associates

Marc Nathan, Bulldog Financial

Tom Kraft, PhD, Director, Technology Ventures Development, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

S. Michael Dunn, Managing Partner, Philips & Reiter, PLLC

Laura Capper, Founder and CEO, CAP Resources

William Ramey, Partner, Novak Druce + Quigg LLP

Ernie Davis, Office of Technology Transfer, Rice University

Christopher Melson, CEO, VendorSafe Technologies

Richard Scruggs, President, Salient Pharmaceuticals

Registration: Click Here to Register (Early registration deadline: July 12, 2011.)  
More Info and Full Agenda: Click here

Note: this course has limited enrollment and has sold out every year before the registration deadline
Rice Alliance members receive a 50% discount to attend this workshop.   To join as a Rice Alliance member for the 2011-2012 season or for questions, see the information below or contact the Rice Alliance at alliance@rice.edu or 713.348.3443.

More Info: alliance@rice.edu or 713.348.3443 or www.alliance.rice.edu

But [...]]]> On the web, finding people to work with  is a hot topic (here, here, and here). The barriers to starting a tech business are lower than ever, at least until the capital costs of scaling start to kick in. And with some reasonable paths to profits and scale, the upside potential can be very interesting.

But almost any startup is more than one person can handle, so where can we find people to help us?  Meebo CEO Seth Sternberg provides a good starting point for finding your co-founders.  The heart of his post is this discouraging time scale: “The hardest part of starting from scratch is finding the right co-founders.  Ideas, comparatively, are easy.  You may spend three years finding your co-founders while you’ll come up with a solid idea every 3 months or so.”  That is tough  news for the asocial hacker with an idea.

Houston has a number of venues for meeting likely co-founders, including numerous meetup groups where developers and/or entrepreneurs gather.  The Houston Technology Center, the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entreprenuership, and the Technology Incubator West Houston have social and educational events that are great for meeting like-minded entrepreneurs.  Regular social gatherings like the OpenCoffee Club at Coffee Groundz, recently brought back from carbon freeze by Brian Cohen, and the new GroundUP Houston events hosted by Startup Weekend Houston venue host Jerald Reichstein.  In the past, various barcamp-style unconferences have been terrific places to meet new people and learn new things.  The University of Houston has a great entrepreneurship program in the Wolff Center, and hosts Entrepreneur Camp Houston in the summer. And that is just getting started on a full list of Houston opportunities.

Osmosis and rubbing shoulders at these events can turn up a co-founder, but we can also take a more active role in getting our ideas off the ground and into other people’s heads.  The classic method is pitching in one form or another, from an elevator pitch through a formal presentation to a VC.  Two weeks ago, the Rice Alliance had a standing room only kickoff to their Business Plan Competition 2011 with 42 one-minute elevator pitches.  Experienced en masse in this way, it was striking what a range of skill and preparation were on display.  You can see all 42 pitches from last year’s competition on Youtube.

Pitching is, of course, just another word for sales, or persuasion.  What is the goal of the pitch?  For an elevator pitch (in real life, not a competition), there is only one goal: generate interest, but don’t say too much, because you want them to accept a longer pitch at another time.  The longer pitch leads to more interaction, and, one hopes, an eventual sale.  But how to hook them at the start?  The advertising folks have been working AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) forever, and Roy Williams has one wild “trick” I’d never heard, just waiting to be used to generate interest.  (I’d suggest listening to the audio version for full effect.)

For an integrated guide to the process of making ideas reality, I really enjoyed the book Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky of Behance.  Belsky notes an effect we have all seen – the vast difference between creative people in their ability to turn their ideas into finished projects, often over and over again.  What is it that allows some creative people to consistently produce finished projects, while other equally or more creative people- struggle to get one project off the ground?  Belsky analyzes the successful creative pipeline into three critical skills: organization and execution, the forces of community, and leadership capability.  Organization and execution involve skills such as the ability to shut off the idea generation process and focus on the one current idea, sort of anti-ADD.  These are intrapersonal skills.  But the last two skill sets are critically interpersonal – no one gets their ideas launched into the world alone.  The community forces involve sharing your ideas, using feedback, and pitching/self-marketing.  Leadership includes building a creative team, sharing ownership, and handling failure.  For someone like me, with a lot of ideas popping off all the time, this book has some great strategies for launching ideas into the real world.

Among the various entrepreneur friendly events, the co-founder events seem to be springing up all over the country (Silicon Valley, Austin, Seattle, Atlanta, and more), and we are holding the first Co-Founders Wanted Houston event on Tuesday, May 3.  We will have a general networking event, with a set of three minute pitches (three slides max) in the middle for those wanting to get the word out about their projects, or needing a co-founder/support/advice/whatever.

To sign up, go to Cofounders Wanted Houston Meetup – Spring 2011

What:   A great environment to meet like minded entrepreneurs, pitch your ideas in a welcoming environment, and possibly meet your new business partner.

When:   Tuesday, May 3, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Where:  Microsoft Houston office, 2000 West Sam Houston Pkwy S #1275

Cost:     Free, complimentary admission (please RSVP for planning purposes)

I hope we see you there next Tuesday!

Robert de Los Santos is an SEO expert with a solid and successful track record in perfecting the art of SEO.  He will be sharing his methods and practices for getting more folks to your website and KEEPING them there.

Plan to be there:

Date:  Tuesday, [...]]]> SEO - How to Get on Top TEN GOOGLE

Robert de Los Santos is an SEO expert with a solid and successful track record in perfecting the art of SEO.  He will be sharing his methods and practices for getting more folks to your website and KEEPING them there.

Plan to be there:

Date:  Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Time:  7:00 PM

Location:  ZEBEC Center, 2425 Fountainview, Houston, TX 77057

Parking: FREE and lots of it

CEO Members get in for free, general public pay small fee of $10.00 at the door – proceeds go towards helping our student organization www.uhceo.com. An organization at the University of Houston dedicated to nurture and help students start their own business while in school.

Any questions contact mohamedshogar@gmail.com or 281-235-7298

Over lunch recently, a colleague confessed that her design team didn’t believe in user-centered design or usability testing for [...]]]> Angela Schmeidel Randall is the Founder & CEO of NormalModes, a company that helps businesses increase revenues and reduce costs by simplifying their interactions with customers over the Internet. Angela is a guest contributor to Startup Houston.

Over lunch recently, a colleague confessed that her design team didn’t believe in user-centered design or usability testing for the websites they created. She elaborated that the team felt like they produced a superior product and that there was just something wrong with customers who couldn’t use it – they were computer illiterate, non-linear thinkers, or weren’t sophisticated enough to appreciate good design.

This team, it seemed, knew from all their years of training what good design was, and this knowledge was all any company really needed.  The team’s leaders had been designing for the web since 1996 and were skilled in Photoshop, Flash, CSS, XHTML, and all the other necessary tools. Figuring out what the customer wants and needs, in the customer’s own words, is simply a waste of time that could be spent on design and code.  After all, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

I was aghast.  Really? They said that…..out loud?

There is, of course, a certain measure of humility required for designers to open themselves to incorporating the user experience into the design process and to engage in usability testing.  For so many years the predominant culture in these groups was that web design was a “creative” art, and as in the manner of all true artistes, judgment of art best resided with the “experts.”

No more.  The old model is hubris gone amuck.  The new model is user-centered design that creates solid customer experiences.  Good experiences increase revenues, reduce operating costs, decrease development timelines, and create happy, loyal customers.  Everyone wins.  Who wouldn’t want to do this?

In the world of user-centered design, the experts are the customers – those people who use the product, or website, or process every day, becoming intimately familiar with the foibles and limitations of each design.  These people know your website, and what’s more they’re thrilled to tell you what’s wrong with it and how to make it better.  Embrace them.

Here’s how to start:

1. Categorize your customers into target audience groups. Are they computer literate?  How old are they?  How much money do they make? What education level have they attained? In most cases, you’ll wind up with a handful of target audiences. Identify why each audience is coming to your website, and prioritize them according to their value to your business. Then, figure out what you can do to meet the needs of each of the audiences according to their priority.
2. Ask your customers what works for them, watch them work through the process, and then ask follow up questions. It’s important that you not just talk to your users. Give them a common task, like purchasing something in your catalog, and watch the steps they take to complete it. My favorite part of usability studies is watching users contradict themselves by saying one thing, then doing another. That’s when we glean the most valuable information about our websites.  When you ask, watch, then follow up with some clarifying questions, you’re really getting to the underlying behavior of your users, and how they choose to adapt to suboptimal situations.
3. Test. Test again. Test some more. The most important thing about testing is that it allows you to quantify your results. Testing is often the only objective way to resolve internal debates over what enhancements will be most valuable to your customers and your bottom line. You need to learn to use a variety of tools like eye tracking, A-B testing, and heuristic evaluations, bearing in mind that each tool is used for different situations.  There is no one “right” tool, but a variety of tools some of which may be more or less appropriate for each situation. Cultivate a repertoire of reliable tools and use them on an ongoing basis.

It seems obvious now, but you can’t create a good user experience without involving the user. Consult these real experts about your website, and you’ll find they’re happy to share their experience.  You’ll both be thrilled with the results.

Ok. You’ve secured funding; created a solid leadership team; [...]]]> Suzanne Tormollen of Atingo Public Relations is a 13 year PR veteran of the tech scene who has worked with many venture-backed companies in the Austin and Houston areas.  You can view her work history at www.atingo.com.  Suzanne is a new contributor to Startup Houston.

Ok. You’ve secured funding; created a solid leadership team; and have a product in the market.  Now you want to increase exposure and awareness for your company.  But how?

I’ve been involved in several new business meetings over the past few months in which this has been the prevailing question.  And, I’m glad to report, people are turning to PR to help them raise market awareness.  With that said, there is a lot confusion, or lack of education, on how to make the right PR choice.  I thought I’d provide some suggestions on what to look for when shopping around for your PR consultant or agency.

Accessibility: Be wary of PR firms that send only their senior executives to the new business meetings.  This may be the only time you see them.  Ask who will be doing the day-to-day work for your company, how many other clients they are supporting ,and how many years of experience they have in the industry and at the firm.  Ensure you meet the individual team members who will be doing the work.

Chemistry: It’s important to view your PR team as an extension of your own team.   You’ll need to work closely with your PR contact and provide them with access to vital company information in order to achieve a successful PR campaign.   Do the people who would be working on your account have your same work values, desire, drive for excellence?

Creativity: Since you live and breathe your company every day, having eyes and ears on the outside can bring new and fresh ideas to the table.  While the tried-and-true PR tactics are important to every PR program, it’s good to try something different. Don’t be afraid to ask for examples of how a PR group has increased exposure for a company in a not-so-conventional way.

Consistency: The PR team is the face of your company.  They are the first point-of-contact for a reporter.  There’s no room for errors such as typos in a news release or misspelled words in an email pitch.  You don’t want any surprises when it comes to your PR program.  You want a team that provides high-levels of work, consistently.  Ask for references of other clients so you can ensure the team is solid.

In addition to these general attributes, you want to ensure the PR support you choose has in-depth knowledge and experience with the core PR elements inherent to every PR program – media relations, analyst relations, and trade show support.   Some other key questions to ask:

• Can they write a compelling news release? Media pitch? Bylined article?
• Do they have experience working with reporters at publications that cover your market?
• What’s their technical knowledge?

Whether you choose an individual PR consultant or a PR firm, implementing a PR program for your company can be a beneficial and rewarding experience for everyone involved.  Remember accessibility, chemistry, creativity and consistency.

Time: April 1, 2009 from 11:15am to 1:15pm Location: Maggiano’s Restaurant – Galleria Location Street: 2019 Post Oak Blvd City/Town: Houston, TX 77056 Website or Map: http://www.mapquest.com/map… Contact Info: (713) 961-2700 Event Type: monthly, luncheon

Green Talk Getting Skeptics to Buy Using Interactive Marketing Tactics

A growing population of environmentally conscious consumers is emerging from the convergence of environmental concern, energy prices and limitless [...]]]>

Time: April 1, 2009 from 11:15am to 1:15pm
Location: Maggiano’s Restaurant – Galleria Location
Street: 2019 Post Oak Blvd
City/Town: Houston, TX 77056
Website or Map: http://www.mapquest.com/map…
Contact Info: (713) 961-2700
Event Type: monthly, luncheon

Green Talk
Getting Skeptics to Buy Using Interactive Marketing Tactics

A growing population of environmentally conscious consumers is emerging from the convergence of environmental concern, energy prices and limitless information. These customers are demanding “real green” products from “real green” companies and are skeptical about most companies’ claim on green. The outcome is a longer selling cycle and a reduction in customer loyalty. Join guest panel speakers from Houston’s leading green businesses: New Living, Green Lily Events and forGreen Marketing & Design. They will address key issues at the forefront of the challenging green marketplace and share how they overcome obstacles using interactive marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the language and communication style that appeals to niche consumers;
• Learn how to use the interactive & social media tools that connect with the green audience;
• Polish your marketing voice to attract and retain a specific targeted audience;
• Engage with a cautious and even smarter consumer;
• Customize your online marketing efforts to create a community of buyers; and
• Outpace your competition through a unique brand message.

About the Panel Speakers
MARY FRANCES Blatchley is founder and president for both forBri, Inc. and forGreen Marketing and Design. Her experience encompasses everything from innovative marketing strategy to interactive technology to green initiatives. Mary Frances has been helping her clients build strong brands with beautifully executed, award winning campaigns for nearly 20 years.

JEFF Kaplan founded New Living in 2007 and began selling eco-friendly products on one aisle of Wagner Hardware in January 2008. Jeff later leased the entire store and recycled the historic building into New Living, Houston’s Green Building + Home Store. He is completely passionate about making the green building movement accessible for everyone and hopes that New Living can be a paradigm shift for how business is done.

JESSICA Zapatero is Founder and Director at Green Lily Events has over 11 years experience in social and corporate event planning. Her passion for sustainability was the inspiration to create a new, progressive event planning company. She considers the effects of the environment at every level of planning resulting in a lighter footprint event.