Kickstand Blog

Fueling the innovation engine.

Last day for IdaVation Early Bird Pricing

Monday, May 24, 2010
Have you signed up for your jolt of
innovation and inspiration this week?
If not - what are you waiting for!?
Today's your last chance to snag tickets at early bird prices for IdaVation 2010.
Register Now


When: Wednesday, May 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Boise Centre

What: Presented by Kickstand, IdaVation is a tremendous opportunity to learn from an ensemble of business luminaries and experienced, successful entrepreneurs.

This year's theme is: Fostering a culture of innovation. Why?  Because the foundation of innovation is grounded in a culture that promotes taking risks, focusing on future markets, and developing creative new ideas, products and services.  The summit is packed with speakers, breakout discussions and networking breaks to help you and your company enhance your creative and innovative capabilities – equipping you with new ideas to help transform your future.  Check out the full lineup for the day-long summit.
 
Early-bird ticket pricing is available through the end of today ($69).  Also, the special group rate of 10 tickets for only $500 ($50 per ticket!) is also available at this time.   
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Save the Date: IdaVation 2010 on May 26

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Save the date for IdaVation 2010, set for May 26 at the Boise Centre!

As Kickstand's annual conference, IdaVation is a tremendous opportunity to learn from an ensemble of business luminaries and experienced, successful entrepreneurs. This year's theme is: Fostering a culture of innovation.

Check out the lineup & save the date. Tickets on sale next week.

7:30am Registration

8:30am Welcome & Remarks: Ben Quintana, Chair, IdaVation

  • Special Guest Welcome - Dave Bieter, Mayor, City of Boise
  • Platinum Sponsor Remarks - Eric Bjorkman, Of Counsel, Perkins Coie

Keynote: Unleashing Creativity - How individuals and companies can foster a sustainable culture of innovation

by Mitch Ditkoff, Co-Founder & President, Idea Champions

The future of your business - indeed, the future of any business - is intimately tied to its ability to innovate: the relentless effort to originate and implement bold new ways of creating extraordinary results. But how does innovation really happen? What ignites it? What drives it? And more importantly, what can you do to increase the chances of it becoming a day-to-day reality on the job - no matter what your title?

Mitch Ditkoff's keynote is specifically targeted to anyone wanting to significantly increase their odds of generating, developing, and implementing the kind of ideas that lead to real innovation. His presentation is a boot camp for brilliance. Practical, hands on, and fun, it will leave a lasting impression.

Participants will learn:

  • Key insights into what it takes to be a breakthrough innovator
  • A clear model on what's required to establish a culture of innovation
  • Useful principles and best practices to apply on the job
  • Tools and techniques to think outside the box
  • The origination and development of at least one, powerful new idea
  • A painless way to give timely feedback to fellow innovators
  • The confidence and commitment to manifest their most inspired ideas
10:30 AM

Break
10:45 AM

Creativity and Innovation in Isolation - How Idaho companies are leveraging place to their advantage

  • Moderator: Mark Rivers, CEO, Brix & Company, 2009 Idaho Innovator of the Year
  • Michael Boerner, Founder & CEO, Unity Media Group and Unity Medical, Inc.
  • Bob Lokken, Founder & CEO, WhiteCloud Analytics
  • John Sosoka, Co-Founder, Pulse-Robotics
11:45 AM

Networking Break
12:00 NOON

Lunch and Networking Break
1:45 PM

World-Class Research Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Innovators - Idaho-based ideas ready for commercialization

  • Moderator: Mike Reynoldson, Government Affairs Manager, Micron Technology
  • Mary Givens, Director, Office of Technology Transfer, Boise State University
  • Gene Merrell, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development & Chief Technology Transfer Officer, University of Idaho
  • Jason Stolworthy, Technology Transfer & Commercialization and Licensing Manager, Idaho National Laboratory
2:45 PM

Break
3:00 PM

Disruptive Technologies: Risk taking and focusing on future markets

  • Moderator: Jay Larsen, Founder & CEO/President, Idaho Technology Council
  • Layne Simmons, President, Motionetics, Inc.
  • Clay Young, Co-Founder & CEO, Inovus Solar
4:00 PM

Networking Break
4:15 PM

Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Roundtables
Facilitated roundtables where attendees can pick the minds of CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders.

or

Innovation Workshop with Mitch Ditkoff, Co-Founder & President, Idea Champions
5:45 PM - 7:30 PM

Networking Reception

 

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May Meeting - Idaho's Winery Startups

Tuesday, May 04, 2010
What:  Idaho's Winery Startups
When: Thursday, May 13, 2010 @ 5:30-7pm
Where: The WaterCooler
RSVP
Innovation doesn't just come from labs, and startups don't only exist in the software industry. Idaho entrepreneurs span the spectrum of industries and aren't constrained by four walls. For many, inspiration comes from the terrain of our unique state and the agricultural offerings that abound.

From the vineyards of Southwest Idaho to coops and incubators, Idaho's wine industry has exploded over the past few years since the advent of the Snake River Valley Appellation. Join Kickstand as we hear from three startup wineries who are making their mark in the wine industry - putting Southwest Idaho on the map as the newest wine region. All three wineries are products of coops and incubators which are helping startups gain traction, collaborate and grow.
The panel includes:
Cinder Wines - Joe Schnerr
Davis Creek Cellars - Gina Davis
Syringa Winery
The panel will discuss product development cycles, in-house or outsourced production, sales and marketing and financing hurdles and successes. And, they'll showcase their wines.

RSVP Now
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Save the Date to Seize Opportunity

Thursday, April 15, 2010
In the next month there are a slew (the official word!) of events, workshops, seminars and speakers set to inspire, motivate and support the growth and success of our entrepreneurial community.

Some of the events to Save the Date and plan to attend:

TechStars in Boise
When: Wednesday, April 21@ 6pm
Where: The Watercooler
What:  David Cohen, Founder and Executive Director of TechStars - a mentorship-driven, seed-stage fund based in Boulder, Colorado - comes to Boise along with Andy Sack, Executive Director of the newly formed TechStars Seattle. Each year, TechStars Boulder funds and mentors ten new companies over an intense three months, resulting in some finely tuned, ready to roll start-ups.  David and Andy will share their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, the benefits of the TechStars program, its successes, the application process and tell you why you should apply for TechStars Seattle (FALL 2010). This event is presented by Highway 12 and sponsored by TechBoise and the Idaho Technology Council.
Cost: FREE
More information on Highway 12's blog & TechBoise's blog

Ignite Boise
When: Thursday, April 22 (Doors open @ 6:30pm, starts @ 7)
Where: Egyptian Theater
What: Ignite Boise 4 brings together an inspiring and unexpected blend of thinkers from business, art, technology, government and academia. All with ideas. And all willing to share them. 5 minutes, 20 slides, what would you say? Find out.
Cost: FREE
Early admission tickets are gone, but show up & get in line for open admission which starts @ 6:30pm
More Information

Startup Lessons Learned
When:  Friday April 23 9:30am - 7pm
Where: 8th Street Marketplace @ BoDo
What: In San Francisco, the first Startup Lessons Learned all-day conference is being held - dedicated to helping with your new idea or making your current business kick more butt. But it will cost you a hefty $750. However, local tech heroes Balihoo and 8th Street Marketplace @ BoDo are bringing you a live simulcast of Startup Lessons Learned right here in Boise. Seize this great opportunity to be part of a truly world-wide start-up event, and hear some cutting edge thinking on how to get started with your business idea or make better traction with one you are already working on. If you are a start-up founder, an employee engaged in customer or product development role at a company of any stage, or someone at a large company looking to bring the lean startup methodology to your company, this is your event. Here's the stellar lineup.
Cost: FREE - but please register!
More information via  Kevin Donaldson's blog post (kdonaldson@balihoo.com)

TechLaunch
When:  May 19-20
Where: Boise Red Lion Downtowner
What: TechLaunch is an annual event that provides training and education to companies seeking financing.  Companies have the chance to practice and hone their pitch in front of potential investors. The event is organized by Idaho TechConnect, the Idaho National Lab, the Idaho Economic Development Association, as well as private and public organizations throughout the state. 
Apply to present
Cost: Early registration $40 until May 12
More information  

Startup Weekend
When: May 21-23
Where: The Watercooler
What: What can you accomplish in 54 hours? Startup Weekend brings together a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more at a 54 hour event that builds projects, communities and companies.
Cost: $75
More Information

IdaVation
When: Thursday, May 26 7:30am - 7pm
Where: Boise Centre
What: Kickstand's annual conference to inspire innovation in Idaho. Keynote by corporate innovation specialist Mitch Ditkoff of Idea Champions. Additional details, schedules and panelists from Idaho's entrepreneurial community still being finalized. Keep an eye on Kickstand's blog for the latest information.
Cost: $69 for Kickstand members / $89 regular price
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April Newsletter

Monday, April 05, 2010
Up Next
What: Beyond Borders: Exporting Idaho Products & Ideas to the World
When: Thursday, April 8, 2010 @ 5:30-7pm
Where: The WaterCooler
RSVP Now!
Join Kickstand as we explore the opportunities available globally for companies looking to export products and ideas beyond U.S. borders. Attendees will gain:
  • An understanding of the federal and state resources available to companies with an interest in exporting
  • Insight into the opportunities that President Obama’s recently announced National Export Initiative offers to Idaho companies
  • Real world stories from innovative Idaho companies that are already exporting their products and ideas
The panel includes:
Innovation In The News
CNN Money - Call of the Wild: Why entrepreneurs are flocking to Boise, Missoula & other mountain towns
Boise and other Rocky Mountain cities scored higher than the rest of the U.S. for entrepreneurial activity, according to the Kauffman Index, an annual survey conducted by the Kauffman Foundation, a nonprofit based in Kansas City, Mo., that promotes entrepreneurship...The Mountain States offer cheap real estate, educated workers, uncrowded airports, cultural amenities, and, in many areas, good public schools The beginnings of this bonanza date to the 1970s and 1980s, when firms such as IBM (IBM, Fortune 500), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Fortune 500), and Micron (MU, Fortune 500) set up shop in Idaho and Colorado. These firms chose the Rockies in part to avoid employee poaching by coastal competitors.

Seize Opportunity
Building Organizational Capacity Through Agility, Meeting Management & Process Improvement
When: April 12-16
Where: Perkins Coie
More Information
The ITC is proud to introduce David Spann & Tammy Adams.  David lead the facilitation of the ITC's strategic focus groups last November and has performed similar work in Utah and Iowa.  David and Tammy recently moved to Idaho and bring tremendous talent regarding organizational collaboration and facilitative leaders as well as process improvement and project facilitation.

Business Opportunities in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos
When: April 22, 2010 @ 1-2:30 pm Mountain
Where: Boise Chamber of Commerce
More Information
Thai consumers are creating opportunities for new sales of U.S. medical products, toiletries, security equipment, food supplements and educational services.  Thailand also continues to look for U.S. suppliers for automotive accessories, IT equipment, defense equipment, pet products and laboratory and scientific instruments among others. Cynthia Griffin, Senior Commercial Officer based in Bangkok, Thailand will be in Boise to highlight business opportunities available to Idaho companies in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

World Trade Day
When: May 4-5, 2010
Where: Boise State University
More Information
World Trade Day is the largest trade event held in the state of Idaho each year.  This is your opportunity to network and learn directly from other Idaho companies who have had success exporting as well as other leaders in the international business field.  Seminars target both the experienced exporter and those new to international sales.  This event offers seminars for senior management and employees involved in both operations and sales.  Come learn how you can contribute to maximizing your companies' global sales and profits.

Startup Weekend
When: May 21-23
Where: The Watercooler
More Information
We know you’re not the average person, but did you know that in 54 hours, the average person sleeps about 17.5 hours, daydreams as many as 350 times, and spends almost 2.5 hours waiting in line?  At Startup Weekend, in 54 hours, you can launch your own startup.  And we’re working behind the scenes, assembling an impressive crew of sponsors, speakers, and advisors, to help you start it in 54.

Our Sponsors
Kickstand is a community that supports entrepreneurship in Idaho. Our members are innovators working in all kinds of organizations. Now, you can reach this engaged and active market segment through sponsorship opportunities that are as unique and powerful as the members of Kickstand. 
 
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