TechCrunch50 has just concluded in San Francisco. This event had over 50 new IT startups present their unique products and services for the first time to a huge audience of VC's and other influential people in the tech entrepreneur world. Coincidentally, we were holding our own smaller version of this as we held our TechGenesis presentation event here at TechColumbus. Companies presenting at TechCrunch50 are very, very similar to what we are seeing here in Central Ohio and many are not nearly as beneficial, unique, or cool. Eventually, we will have competitors from here in this event and we will continue to get mentioned and respect from folks like this, as long as we keep doing what we are doing in Central Ohio and at TechColumbus.
Take a moment and check out the list of winners from this event at http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/10/yammer-takes-techcrunch50s-top-prize/.
This page will show you the full list of competing companies as well as the list of partners who were at the event: http://www.techcrunch50.com/2008/conference/.
This is one of the premier examples of this type of event and gathering of tech entrepreneurs in the country.
Enjoy and let's keep doing what we are doing! There are other people in other places that are trying to do great things, too. We can show them that Central Ohio is truly the best place to start a technology company and TechColumbus is leading that charge!
Thanks, Kevin...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday IT Startup Report
It has been a big Monday here at TechColumbus. First, we held our 7th round of competition for a grant we manage called TechGenesis. Also, we found out that one of our recent graduates, Call Copy, was quoted in an InfoWorld article on tech startups.
TechGenesis is a grant that we manage as part of the TechColumbus TechStart program. Tech-based companies that win this competition are awarded a grant of up to $50,000 to begin the commercialization process of a new idea. This has to be a very early stage idea and many of the presenters are still working at other companies. Almost all are pre-revenue.
The process occurs 4 times per year and usually we have 6 companies that enter into each round. Typically, 3 companies are funded in this process. The companies are sponsored into the competition by someone here on the commercialization staff. My role is to find and help the IT companies and I usually work with another sponsor on our team, such as Chris Anderson who is a real up and coming "Rock Star" for finding and helping tech startups.
Companies submit a 3 page executive summary to the Deal Flow Assessment Committee and each gives a 10 minute presentation to the DFAC.
The companies that we saw today were Spotwurk, Accelerated Data Concepts, EXCMR, Epiglare, and Thermo Buffer. One company fell out at the last minute, leaving us only 5 to review. All of the presentations were very good and the ideas are unique. We will know tomorrow who was selected.
Also, check out this link: http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/09/08/37FE-startup-tech-how-to_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/09/08/37FE-startup-tech-how-to_1.html. A recent graduate of the TechColumbus Incubator, Call Copy, is featured in this article. It is a great article related to technology startups!
That's all for today!
Thanks, Kevin...
TechGenesis is a grant that we manage as part of the TechColumbus TechStart program. Tech-based companies that win this competition are awarded a grant of up to $50,000 to begin the commercialization process of a new idea. This has to be a very early stage idea and many of the presenters are still working at other companies. Almost all are pre-revenue.
The process occurs 4 times per year and usually we have 6 companies that enter into each round. Typically, 3 companies are funded in this process. The companies are sponsored into the competition by someone here on the commercialization staff. My role is to find and help the IT companies and I usually work with another sponsor on our team, such as Chris Anderson who is a real up and coming "Rock Star" for finding and helping tech startups.
Companies submit a 3 page executive summary to the Deal Flow Assessment Committee and each gives a 10 minute presentation to the DFAC.
The companies that we saw today were Spotwurk, Accelerated Data Concepts, EXCMR, Epiglare, and Thermo Buffer. One company fell out at the last minute, leaving us only 5 to review. All of the presentations were very good and the ideas are unique. We will know tomorrow who was selected.
Also, check out this link: http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/09/08/37FE-startup-tech-how-to_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/09/08/37FE-startup-tech-how-to_1.html. A recent graduate of the TechColumbus Incubator, Call Copy, is featured in this article. It is a great article related to technology startups!
That's all for today!
Thanks, Kevin...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to yet another blog about the Columbus tech community! My focus is on the IT startups in the area because that is my passion, and my job. I have been involved personally in starting several IT businesses in central Ohio, and I am sure I will be back out there in the trenches at some point in the future. Also, as the Director of IT Commercialization for TechColumbus, my job is to find, fund, coach, and help the IT startups in central Ohio. I get the pleasure and honor of using my experience, skills, network, and the resources of TechColumbus to grow great IT companies right here in central Ohio!
So, I will bring some perspective to things we are doing at TechColumbus. I will work to encourage budding tech entrepreneurs. I will do what I can to provide useful information and useful connections to keep central Ohio's IT startups going and growing.
To do my job with excellence, I need help. We need to keep blogging, and meeting, and connecting, and thinking, and trying, and failing, and getting back up, and celebrating our local successes.
So, I join my voice, my energy, and my blog, to the other passionate people in this community that want to see us known as a successful high tech town where ideas flow and businesses grow.
Thanks, Kevin...
So, I will bring some perspective to things we are doing at TechColumbus. I will work to encourage budding tech entrepreneurs. I will do what I can to provide useful information and useful connections to keep central Ohio's IT startups going and growing.
To do my job with excellence, I need help. We need to keep blogging, and meeting, and connecting, and thinking, and trying, and failing, and getting back up, and celebrating our local successes.
So, I join my voice, my energy, and my blog, to the other passionate people in this community that want to see us known as a successful high tech town where ideas flow and businesses grow.
Thanks, Kevin...
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