Archive for the 'IT and Web 2.0' Category

Jul24th2008

CareFlash Starring Leatherman

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A little bird told me about this lighthearted view of what CareFlash does that was created by some young fans…social media is a funny thing, but not nearly as funny as Leatherman. What I find odd is that his beard disappears and then reappears in different clips. Love it!

Jul12th2008

ForeFlight on the Forefront of the iPhone AppStore

ForeFlight

Houston-based startup, ForeFlight, is now available for iPhone users at the iPhone AppStore. The company was featured on TechCrunch recently as one of their favorites. We featured ForeFlight as well some time back and keep in contact with one of their founders, Tyson Weihs, a regular at our Startup Houston events. You can talk to Tyson and the entire ForeFlight team at BarCamp Houston coming up next month.

I think the application is fantastic, but don’t take my word for it…ask TRON Guy what he thinks.

Jul2nd2008

StartupHouston interviews Tara Hunt and Alex Hillman about Caroline Collective opening

Continuing on our coverage about the Caroline Collective Opening and its impact on Houston’s technology startup and art scenes, we are posting interviews from various people who were at the opening party.

Part of the reason that we felt that this opening was different and signified that something special was happening in Houston, was the attention it drew not just from within the city, but from others outside.  Two pioneers in the CoWorking space flew in from both the west coast and the east coast to attend the opening party.  We’re talking about Tara Hunt with Citizen Space in San Francisco and Alex Hillman with Independents Hall in Philadelphia. 

Tara Hunt of Citizen Space and Alex Hillman of Independents Hall

Tara - Meeting Tara at this event was just a joy.  She carries so much genuine enthusiasm for CoWorking in general and Caroline Collective specifically that its hard not to be caught up in it.  It was Tara Hunt that infomed us that the Caroline Collective is the largest coworking space in the world based on square footage (yeah, the world) and is the first coworking space to also incorporate art space.  Overall a great interview and we look forward to hearing more great things that Tara is doing at Citizen Space.  You can also read her blog at http://www.horsepigcow.com .

Listen to the Interview with Tara Hunt

Alex - Alex Hillman also brought a lot of energy to the Caroline Collective opening.  (You can hear in my interview with him, how I mistakenly introduce him as one of the originators of the CoWorking concept ((not to be confused with Jelly)), and how he sets me straight on how Tara has pioneered the coworking space, how Independents Hall has contributed, and ultimately what he thinks Caroline Collective will mean for Houston’s Startup community).  A great interview not to be missed.  You can also read his blog at http://www.dangerouslyawesome.com/ .

Listen to the Interview with Alex Hillman

 

You can also see our whole set of shots of the opening party on Flickr here and all of the photos taken by a host of photographers at the event at the Caroline Collective Flickr group.

Jul2nd2008

GlobalPitch Secures Initial Round of Funding

GlobalPitch

GlobalPitch, Inc. announced today that the company has secured an initial round of funding through an agreement with members of the Houston Angel Network (HAN).

“We are pleased to accept this first round of outside investment with a solid team of investors that we view as both investors and partners in the continued growth of GlobalPitch,” Syd Kain, founder and Chief Executive Officer, said.

GlobalPitch provides job seekers the ability to create and distribute a comprehensive online profile of their background and experience. Going beyond the limits of a traditional resume, a GlobalPitch profile allows job-seekers to communicate more of who they are rather than simply what they have done.

Funds will be primarily used for further marketing and development of the Internet service.

Disclosure: Josh Tabin is an advisor to GlobalPitch through Mosaic CFO, Mr. Tabin’s financial advosry firm.

Jul2nd2008

HiMA Interactive Strategies ‘08

Houston Interactive Marketing Association

The Houston Interactive Marketing Association (HiMA) announced September 18, 2008 as the date for the second annual Interactive Strategies Conference 2008 titled “Secrets Exposed.” Interactive marketing veterans and newcomers alike will come together at the Angelika Film Center in Houston, TX, to learn the latest developments and strategies for successful interactive marketing.

The event will kick-off with a keynote by Tara Hunt (Twitter: @missrogue), co-founder of Citizen Agency and author of “The Whuffie Factor: The 5 Keys for Maxing Social Capital and Winning with Online Communities.” As a recognized leader in building brands, relationships and communities online, Hunt brings expertise, humor and perspective on the value of relationship marketing in the ever-changing interactive space and should make for a packed event.

“I’m really looking forward to speaking at and attending Interactive Strategies. Having spent some time getting to watch the Houston interactive community grow lately, I’ve been totally blown away,” says Tara Hunt. “The community is incredibly vibrant and supportive and projects like HIMA and Caroline Collective are making huge strides in creating the type of city that will attract all sorts of creative people and projects for years to come,” continued Hunt.

This exciting, one-day conference features three educational tracks-digital media, social media and search engine optimization-with intensive sessions conducted by some of the most sought after industry pioneers and veterans who will reveal their secrets and useful techniques for successfully harnessing the power of interactive marketing.

HiMA, practicing what it preaches, will also host a Twitter meet-up in the morning and will  conclude with an onsite casual mixer. In between sessions, attendees will enjoy an unique twist in typical conference food and refreshments that will include popcorn and other concessions from the theater while they exchange notes and ideas.

Jul1st2008

Next Houston Startup Happy Hour is this Thursday, July 3rd

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Startup Houston and the Houston Technology Center are proud to present

Start JULY off with a BANG at the Houston Startup Happy Hour!!!

Here is your chance to meet Houston’s growing network of emerging startups, entreprenuers, investors, and technology enthusiasts to share drinks, tips and beta invites. Swap business cards and war stories and learn something new about Houston’s Tech Scene!

This month we will feature a demo from one of Houston’s hottest startup companies: SnapStream Media !!

 

Join Us For:

  • ->   Free drinks for the first 25 people
  • ->   Wine-by-the-glass drink specials from 6 pm to 8 pm
  • ->   Complimentary hors d’oeuvres
  • ->   A live demo of SnapStream’s new TV search software!
  • ->   Open mic for all startups to make announcements and provide sneak peeks of their latest sites and services
  • ->  Meet Houston’s hottest innovative startups and entrepreneurs

 

The July Houston Startup Happy Hour features a live presentation of SnapStream’s latest release of their TV search software. SnapStream’s consumer product was showcased by Bill Gates in his keynote at the Windows XP Launch in 2001 and since then it’s received lots of industry awards and recognition, including PC Magazine Editor’s Choice. Snapstream’s newest product, SnapStream Enterprise, allows organizations to record and search within thousands of hours of TV recordings. It’s used by 1) presidential campaigns, 2) city/state/federal governments, 3) TV shows (like E!’s The Soup), 4) K-12 schools and universities, and many more. Come meet the founders and see a demo of their TV search software in action at Thursday’s Houston Startup Happy Hour!

Thanks again to SnapStream for also being the sponsor of the July Houston Startup Happy Hour!

 

The Tasting Room

When:
Thursday, July 3rd
6pm - 9pm

Where:
The Tasting Room @ River Oaks
2409 W. Alabama
(713) 526-2242
(Click here for map)

RSVP (here)
Continue reading ‘Next Houston Startup Happy Hour is this Thursday, July 3rd’

Jun6th2008

Don’t Miss the Caroline Collective Opening Party this Saturday (tomorrow)

Houston, TX (June 05, 2008) Houston’s first coworking venue, Caroline Collective, opens its doors with a celebration on Saturday, June 7th. The facility provides Houston’s creative and technical communities with the collaborative and networking environment of a traditional office space, in a nontraditional cafe-like community collaboration space.  The inaugural event is co-hosted by ArtStorm featuring collage artist Patrick Turk, and the tenants of Caroline.  The public party is from 7-10pm.

With support of local businesses, Caroline Collective will have a variety of eats, beats, and beverages throughout the night. Libations will be supplied by Houston’s own Saint Arnold Brewery, Texas-bred Tito’s Vodka and Green Drinks, a weekly collaboration between Monica Pope’s Beaver’s and New Living.   Tasty bites will be provided by local Chef David Grossman, Rice Village’s Kahn’s Deli and Author/Chef Clive Berkman, sponsored by Blogcatalog.   Icy treats provided by Trentino Gelato and collaborative cutting edge sounds by Boondock’s successful monthly, Don’t Fight It, featuring DJ Dave Wrangler, Piss Heavy, and Young Squaddy. Copy dot com will serve as the official printing provider of Caroline Collective.

Special guests include author and social media expert, Tara Hunt, co-founder of San Francisco’s coworking venue, Citizen Space, and Alex Hillman, founder of Philadelphia’s Independents Hall.  Caroline Collective is honored that these two coworking mavens will be present for the ceremonial opening of Houston’s first coworking space.

As the global marketplace continues to free the worker from a physical location, more and more independent professionals work as either “digital nomads” or based out of home office. Successful coworking operations already exist in worldwide cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, Paris, Vancouver, Milan, and Buenos Aires.

Co-founders of Caroline Collective, and Rice University graduate students, Ned Dodington and Matthew Wettergreen conceived the coworking space in Houston after experiencing coworking environments in San Francisco’s Citizen Space and Philadelphia’s Independents Hall.

“The coworking movement strives to combine the relaxed working environment of the home office with a dynamic social atmosphere,” explains Doddington. “The model encourages the free flow of projects and ideas and is founded on the belief that working together is working smarter.”

Continue reading ‘Don’t Miss the Caroline Collective Opening Party this Saturday (tomorrow)’

Jun3rd2008

Next Houston Startup Happy Hour is this Thursday, June 5th

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Startup Houston and the Houston Technology Center are proud to present
The June Houston Startup Happy Hour.

Open Call for Demos! Show up and Show Off!

The June Houston Startup Happy Hour features an open call for any startups who want to demo their sites to just show up and demo. We will have an area in the back to set up for laptops with power and wireless access. We will be putting together a video of all demos and promoting them on our site. Come one, come all and show Houston what you’ve got!  There will also be an open mic opportunity for all startups to share recent announcements with the rest of Houston’s startup community.

Email us if interested: events “@” startuphouston.com  

New Location! New Format!

Here is your chance to meet Houston’s growing network of emerging startups, entreprenuers, investors, and technology enthusiasts to share drinks, tips and beta invites. Swap business cards and war stories and learn something new about Houston’s Tech Scene!

Join Us For:

  • Free drinks for the first 25 people
  • Wine-by-the-glass drink specials from 6 pm to 8 pm
  • Complimentary hors d’oeuvres
  • An open call for startups to demo
  • Open mic for all startups to make announcements and provide sneak peeks of their latest sites and services
  • Meet Houston’s hottest innovative startups and entrepreneurs

The Tasting Room

When:
Thursday, June 5th
6pm - 9pm

Where:
The Tasting Room @ River Oaks
2409 W. Alabama
(713) 526-2242
(Click here for map)

RSVP (here)
Continue reading ‘Next Houston Startup Happy Hour is this Thursday, June 5th’

May8th2008

If You Need a Nanny, CitiNannies

CitiNannies

I am really bummed I missed the last Houston Startup Happy Hour. I was all set to go and an hour before my departure, our nanny called in sick and left me running around the block trying to beg any able teenager to watch our kids, unsuccessfully. Childcare is a pivotal part of my life and can be aggravating.

So earlier this week, my wife received a mailer from a new startup, CitiNannies, an online matchmaking service connecting caregivers and families in need of help. Having gone through the process of interviewing and hiring a few nannies, I know that this is a great traditional business prime for innovation. From what I can tell, the core value proposition are the lower cost to families, the disintermediation of nanny “brokers” to make the process more efficient as well as the dual screening process conducted on both caregivers and families.

“I have been a nanny, nanny broker and nanny seeker myself and was very dissatisfied with the process,” stated Jennifer Nguyen, founder of CitiNannies. “It was a very ‘hit or miss’ process. Brokers would charge from 10%-20% of a nanny’s salary as a fee which is cost prohibitive to many familes in need of assitance with caregiving. Soon after I started my own agency, I came up with the idea to move the process online which allowed me to lower the service cost and pass those savings onto families.”

What I like about this site is how it exemplifies what the web was intended to do for traditional business models. Nguyen launched the site in January 2008. She is a serial entrepreneur as this is her 4th startup. CitiNannies competes with other online services like Nannies for Hire, eNanniesSource and 4Nannies.com.

May7th2008

JamsBio and Natuba Launch Facebook App

JamsBioNatuba

Local Houston tech startups JamsBio and Natuba have recently launched Facebook applications. JamsBio was created by and for music lovers to exchange memories about life experiences and the music associated with them. Natuba is an iPhone photo sharing site.

Check them both out.