Venture capitalists looking into the newest
1340_ 1/21/13 - The line between the digital and physical worlds has blurred. We are talking with two of the young men who watch that line, understand and encourage development and bet their futures on what it all means. We're here at the Defrag / blur 2012 Conferences talking with Seth Levine and Ryan McIntyre from Foundry Group. The two conferences are really loaded with some high powered stuff everything from devices that enable [non-invasive] brain-computer interaction to 3D printers and gaming with helicopters that are controlled wirelessly and nearly intuitively, by wrist action. We're looking for an overview and we think Ryan and Seth can help us with that in terms of what the Foundry Group is looking at today. Ryan tells us they have a handful of investment themes they like to explore in the investing process. Here at Defrag and blur Foundry Group has had a number of their portfolio companies represented within those themes. Defrag came out of conversations around how technology was evolving in the enterprise and the inter-connection of computers, glue applications, protocol applications - these are some of the themes we talked about. And blur really came out of our interest in the evolution of human-computer interaction. So the notion that the ways we interact with computers and computer systems is undergoing a massive, seismic shift right now. So your keyboard and mouse, windows gooey - is behind us. You know, we have new touch screen interaction with our pads and our tablets, just the way we interact with and even what we recognize with computers is undergoing this seismic shift and changes. The exhibits and companies that are here really represent that. That's why we're here and deeply interested in what's going on in the world of human-computer interaction. Seth explained that last year's blur [2011] was exactly that. Ryan said, "That's the evolution of the core idea, that it's expanded the footprint. It’s the notion of how we interact with the computer in the real world. It really allows us to take the digital world and push it out into the physical world. That's a fascinating development that really expands the kind of things we can talk about in computer interaction and digital life and blur..." ...listen for more ...
RELATED LINKS: Foundry Group || Defrag 1 Site, 2 Shows 3 Days || Defrag/blur Info || Blur Conference Photos || Defrag Conference Photos || KEYWORDS: Ryan McIntyre, Seth Levine, Foundry Group, Venture Capitalist, DefragCon 2012, blur, Software, Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces, Glue Applications, Protocol Applications > bytes=3783265
LISTEN TO: Seth Levine & Ryan McIntyre, Foundry Group

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Raising money on an idea can be naughty or nice
1342_ 1/21/13 - Now we're talking about 3D printers with Brook Drumm, one of the exhibitors here at Blur. Brook's company PrintrBot, builds 3D printers and he tells us he got started in a strange way. He wanted to build 50, 3D printers, at $500. So, he wanted to raise $25,000. With Kicstarter they raised $830,000 in a month. It was a big surprise, Brook said, "I didn't know I would be in this business so soon." He thought he'd start slow. "But we've grown fast and delivered all of our Kickstarter - about 1400 PrintrBots and other rewards - and now we've transitioned and we're in business!" PrintrBot has three models and they were showing the 'PrintrBot Junior', and it's $400 in a kit. They also have 'The LC' for Laser Cut $550 with a 6x6x6" build volume. Then they've got the PrintrBot Plus which is 8x8x8" build volume - So 112 cubic inches. When we say printer, it's really a misnomer because we're not printing on paper. Brook says, "It's kind of like a fancy hot glue gun on a robot arm, basically. The printer uses thermoplastic which means when it heats, it gets soft and is squirted out of this thing called the hot end. It's very precisely controlled by computers and it draws a line of squished down plastic on the bed. Then it turns around and squishes another line - right into the next one. So you end up with one layer being a solid piece. Then it raises up and does it again. They have another called the PrintrBot Go, designed by Ben Heck Geekosystem who collaborated with Brook, and this is like a briefcase. The 'Go' fits in the overhead bins on planes - that was a requirement because Ben travels to so many shows. ...There's more...
RELATED LINKS: PrintrBot || The Ben Heck Show || Defrag 1 Site, 2 Shows 3 Days || Defrag/blur Info || Blur Conference Photos || Defrag Conference Photos || KEYWORDS: Printrbot, Brook Drumm, DefragCon 2012, blur, Software, 3-D Printers. Launching on Kickstarter, Ben Heck Show, , bytes=4045743
LISTEN TO: Brook Drumm, Founder, Printrbot.com

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Heroes talking about the actions of other heroes
1336_ 1/14/13 - HP Chris Pelley has been on the board of ACG Denver for the past eight years and they've been kind enough to help Chris and CIMCO Private Wealth, sponsor the whole notion around Social Enterprise, this year was our sixth annual event. Bud Ahearn helped with that two day event featuring Connie Duckworth, CEO of ARZU Carpets, held Monday, at CU, CSU, and DU Women's College Tuesday morning and then the ACG 6th Annual lunch. General Joseph A 'Bud' Ahearn has worked with Chris for six years to help promote the notion around social enterprise. Bud said, "To start let me tell you about the sponsor of the program, Chris Pelley. Actually his mission in life is to transform private wealth into community wealth, to global wealth. We see that at work in his day-to-day actions and constant sponsorship of social entrepreneurship. One must have the prerequisites in place with wealth that then this notion of making it multiply is the humanity that brings us together. Connie Duckworth, the former managing partner of Goldman Sachs was here. She's taken on a powerful leadership role for women in the U.S. to deploy to the developing world, which makes up 99% of our globe, to get out and show women of the world how to create real value for their families, communities and their country. Connie is an authentic leader who grew up in a very tough, male dominated financial world. Connie is slight in stature but extremely strong in character." Bud tells us that Connie is committed to a sense of service to her family, her community and to women. This isn't a dream but an experiential hands-on the creation and fulfillment of hope for women. Today she's got 700 women in Afghanistan out of huddled masses and out weaving today and leveraging a remarkable brand of Afghani carpet making. Listen for more about this fascinating interview....
RELATED LINKS: ARZU Studio Hope || Community Reach Channel || CH2M HILL || CIMCO || Peace Cord Bracelets || Social Entrepreneurs || Photos CU Boulder || ACG DEnver/CIMCO Social Enterprise Event 2012 || KEYWORDS: Bud Ahearn, Chris Pelley, Connie Duckworth, ARZU, Studio Hope, Social Entrepreneurship, Afghanistan, Women, Philanthropy, CIMCO, Capital Investment Management Company, Two-Star General, Air Force, Community Reach, Hero, BYTES=9595823
LISTEN TO: Chris Pelley, CIMCO Private Wealth & Bud Ahearn, Local Hero

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Games on, and the helicopters are up
1335_ 1/14/13 - Games on, and the copters are up! At Blur 2012 we were dodging palm sized helicopters as well as the crowds of folks. We stopped to talk with John Condon, CTO and Jim Fairman, COO at QFO Labs to see what all the commotion was about. So what they've done is design a tilt-a-fly, nano sized, quad-rotor helicopter. Here we are witnessing QFO Labs first product in their Real-LIfe, 3-D Gaming Series. Launching on Kickstarter, the NanoQ Copter with Mimix Tilt-to-Fly Controller is an innovative system that takes the gaming experience off a flat video screen and into the physical world. NanoQ - a palm-sized, quad-rotor helicopter is flown wirelessly with the Mimix controller by simply tilting your wrist. The experience is so intuitive and engaging that users fly by feeling, allowing them to control the craft while competing with others in team-based aerial games.The Kickstarter project for the Mimix controller and NanoQ copter can be found at Kickstartmimix.com. Supporters on the crowdfunding site can be the first to obtain the products. On the second afternoon of Defrag (November 15, 2012), they kicked off Blur. Blur (which ran the 15th and 16th) is the event that focuses on next-generation human computer interaction (think robots, augmented reality, “minority report” interfaces, etc). In other words, for several hours at the end of day 2 of Defrag, the events did overlap, as Blur keynoters took the stage. Blur continued on for the rest of that evening and the following day...There's more...
RELATED LINKS: QFO Labs || Defrag 1 Site, 2 Shows 3 Days Defrag/blur Info || Blur Conference Photos || Defrag Conference Photos || KEYWORDS: QFO Labs, John Condon, Jim Fairman, DefragCon 2012, blur, Software, 3-D Gaming Series. Launching on Kickstarter, NanoQ Copter with Mimix Tilt-to-Fly Controller > BYTES= 3280460
LISTEN TO: QFO Labs, Jim Fairman, Pres & John Condon

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Women's roles and behaviors in technology commercialization
1339_ 1/21/13 - Today Lucy Sanders, CEO for the National Center for Women and Information Technology or NCWIT along with Larry Nelson, Director of w3w3® Media Network are interviewing Jean Hammond an entrepreneur and angel investor. Jean is a co-founder of the Boston forum of Golden Seeds (which invests in women-managed businesses) and a member of Launchpad Venture Group and Hub Angels. An investor with an active portfolio over 50 companies, she has served on the Board or as a Board-level advisor with over 20 of these firms. Jean's been working on a new non-profit that she recently launched called Learn Launch. Helping drive the support ecosystem by matching entrepreneurs with investors and other resources, Jean meets with hundreds of entrepreneurs a year. As a part-time entrepreneur-in-residence at the E Center and an active mentor at TCN, TechStars, and MassChallenge, she has directly or indirectly helped dozens of startups, moving them from “idea stage” to “funding-ready” to eventual launch to become vital members of the Massachusetts innovation economy. Most recently, Jean co-founded LearnLaunch, a non-profit fostering the creation and growth of learning and education technology companies and the ed tech business cluster across New England. LearnLaunch brings together innovators, K-12 and higher ed educators, investors, students, school leaders, buyers and distribution channels, and provides structured services such as classes, forums, conferences and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. On the board of Thompson Island Outward Bound and Boston Rising Jean supports the growth of science education and entrepreneurial jobs in the inner city...there's much more to listen to...
RELATED LINKS: LearnLaunch || NCWIT Home || Golden Seeds Boston || Launchpad Venture Group || TechStars Boston || Heroes Channel || KEYWORDS:Jean Hammond, Learn Launch, Lucy Sanders, National Center for Women and Information Technology, NCWIT, LaunchPad Venture Group, Hub Angels, TechStars, Boston, > BYTES=15642856
LISTEN TO: Jean Hammond, Founder, Learn Launch

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For entrepreneurs it takes passion and planning
1341_ 1/21/13 - Colorado Companies to Watch winner, Applied Trust cofounders Trent Hein and Ned McClain (a new father, Congratulations) join Larry Nelson for a check-in visit. We love to get successful entrepreneurs to weigh in on what they see as the barriers and challenges to becoming an entrepreneur today. The advice is always worth hearing. Trent directs us to a very personal and important step. "You've got the great idea - but you've got to have the plan that says here's how you're getting from point A to point B. Here's how I'm going to manage my staff. Here's how I'm going to get revenue. There was a mindset for a period of time, where if you just hoped it would happen - it would. But hope's not a method here. We've got to have a plan." Trent tells us that for the 12+ years that he and Ned have been working together they plan everything out, in some cases multiple years out." Doing that, Trent says, "It is critical to an entrepreneur's success." Ned and Larry agree, it's a hot time for entrepreneurs in Boulder and Denver right now. But Ned believes you have to find something you're really passionate about. They started Applied Trust just after the dot com boom - it was probably not advisable to start an IT infrastructure - security - performance company then. But, it was something they were passionate about and that passion is what helped them be successful. It's certainly a challenge today, there's a temptation to just find something so they can do a startup. Agreeing heartily, Larry coined the Double P words here... Passion and Planning. Listen for more great advice... COLORADO COMPANIES TO WATCH ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS Colorado Companies to Watch recognizes second- stage companies that are developing valuable products and services and creating quality jobs. They are currently accepting nominations for the 2013 Colorado Companies to Watch award. Companies may apply without being nominated. The nomination deadline is January 28, 2013. To learn more, please click here.
RELATED LINKS: .AppliedTrust || The Barking Seal Blog || Gala Event || Colorado Companies to Watch || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || PodCast Directory || Gala Event Photos || KEYWORDS: AppliedTrust, Trent Hein, Ned McClain, IT infrastructure, Cloud Services, Lowe Foundation, Colorado Companies to Watch, Gala Event, COCTW, Second Stage Companies, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, , bytes=7539882
LISTEN TO: Applied Trust, Trent Hein & Ned McClain, CoFounders

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Submit your winning nominations now...
1335_ 1/14/13 - COLORADO COMPANIES TO WATCH ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS Colorado Companies to Watch recognizes second- stage companies that are developing valuable products and services and creating quality jobs. They are currently accepting nominations for the 2013 Colorado Companies to Watch award. Companies may apply without being nominated. The nomination deadline is January 28, 2013. To learn more, please click here. This program is a perfect example of public/private partnership We're talking to Sam Bailey the Relationship Manager for the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade. That means he primarily works in business retention and expansion, helping existing businesses grow and expand their businesses. Sam is also the new program director for Colorado Companies to Watch, which is now four years into the program with 200 companies highlighted and close to, if not over a thousand finalists. Sam said, "We have really seen a lot of companies and communities come out and support these businesses - highlight them, recognize them - so the program has grown to quite a prestigious honor. This year alone we had a wonderful geographical diversity across the state of Colorado. We had companies from rural and urban communities - communities that we haven't seen on stage before. So this has been a banner year for COCTW. We're looking to continue that through outreach to our community partners across the state. It's important to note this is not a program just for the Front Range. It's for the entire state; we have companies from Durango, Carbondale, Craig, and Holly." Listen for more...
RELATED LINKS: Colorado Companies to Watch || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || Nomination Link || w3w3.com Blog || Gala Event Photos || KEYWORDS: Sam Bailey, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, OEDIT, Colorado Companies to Watch, COCTW, Nominations, Colorado, Second Stage Companies, Lowe Foundation, > bytes=6226236
LISTEN TO: Sam Bailey, Program Director, COCTW

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Economic predictions for 2013, 2014 and beyond
1337_ 1/14/13 - This is the fourth year running here as ACG Denver starts the new year out with a look into the future featuring keynote speaker Alan Beaulieu, economist with Institute Trend Research. This is a very popular program at ACG, everyone makes it a point to be here in January. Check back in the w3w3.com Archives and you can listen to Alan's past previews into the coming year. Today Alan points out a lot has happened since we last spoke - "the fiscal cliff, we've got Europe going on... I mean there is no lack of things to ponder." Today Alan is talking about what the semi-resolution of the fiscal cliff means for the economy in 2013. Whether Europe is going to implode or not? The answer is not. Whether the Chinese economy is going to sink or expand? It's going to expand. Whether the U.S. economy is going to see more opportunities for businesses in 13? The answer is yes. And the reason for all of that is what we're going to be discussing here at ACG Denver today. But the reality is, this economy is in a real recovery. It's a sustainable recovery and, it's not going to end for another three maybe three-and-a-half quarters." LN: What are some of the other things you'd like to highlight?
Alan, "Well there's a recession coming in 2014. And, we need to start thinking now about how we're going to get ready for that. And I think more importantly, Larry, because that's pretty short cycle, we should realize that 15, 16, 17 - they're really good years coming! - And business leaders should ask themselves, What do I need to do now to get ready to be busy again? Because, we've had a hunker-down, no-spend, watch-the-cash mentality for so long that we're going to walk right into a great recovery and we're going to be ill prepared for it. Being ill prepared for a recovery is as bad as being ill prepared for a recession." Larry recaps for clarity: Fourteen is going to be a little tough and challenging. But then 15, 16 and 17 they're going to be coming back. "Right" said Alan, "You're absolutely right Larry! We're going to be happy! We're not going to be retiring but it'll be a good time in the country." ...listen for more ...
RELATED LINKS: ITR Economics || ACG Denver || RM Corporate Growth Conference || Event Photos || M&A Channel || KEYWORDS: Alan Beaulieu, ITR Economics, Institute for Trend Research, Financial Trends, ACG Denver, Association for Corporate Growth, Trends, Economic Recovery, M&A, Entrepreneurs, Europe, China, Canada, Latin America, BYTES=2926448
LISTEN TO: Alan Beaulieu, Economist, Institute Trend Research

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