Kickstand Blog

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. For more information, contact Board Member Jason Prince at jprince@kickstand.org

April 2010 Monthly Meeting

Date: 08-Apr-2010

Details

What: Beyond Borders: Exporting Idaho Products & Ideas to the World
When: Thursday, April 8, 2010 @ 5:30-7pm
Where: The WaterCooler

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:

• Amy Benson (Executive Director of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Boise Export Assistance Center)
• Damien Bard (Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce’s International Business Division)
• Gerd Uitdewilligen (PakSense International Sales Manager)
• Ed Meyer (Meyer Industries President) 

RSVP NOW

UP NEXT: What I Learned my First Year as a VC
When: Thursday, March 11th @ 5:30 – 7pm
Where: The WaterCooler

Glenn Michael and George Mulhern at Highway 12 share stories and insights from their first year as VCs. Highway 12's founding investment thesis is that the  Intermountain West  (the fastest growing region in the country) will produce a disproportionate amount of highly successful companies over the next couple of decades. The firm's singular focus is providing the early rounds of investment in the most promising high-growth companies in the region.

RSVP Now

INNOVATION IN THE NEWS
Fast Company's Innovation All-Stars - "These companies, featured on our 2008 and 2009 honor rolls, fought a dour economy with renewed creativity and bold initiatives. (Alas, not all fared well.)

BSU Students Partner with Entrepreneurs in the WaterCooler "Entrepreneurs and Boise State University students look to each other for success in the companies at the WaterCooler, Boise’s entrepreneurial incubator. “Interns here are real colleagues. They lead projects, make decisions, learn by actually doing,” said Tony DuPont, founder of WaterCooler company Io DuPont and maker of Power Cordz™ synthetic bike cables. “There are some very talented students here that are making a real difference in these companies.”

Idaho Business Review's Knowledge/Technology Transfer Key to Growth - "Speaking as one, representatives from universities in Idaho agreed there is a bottleneck in getting knowledge and technology out of the universities and into the hands of the private sector where it can be further researched, developed and commercialized."

SEEK OPPORTUNITY
Entrepreneur of the Year Award - The nomination period is open for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 Awards in Utah and Idaho. The deadline for applications is March 31. A panel of independent judges selects the winners. Past award winners include Ryan DeLuca, founder of Bodybuilding.com in Meridian. Nominate someone (or yourself!)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Special thanks to our loyal sponsors whose participation enables up to keep growing Kickstand and providing you with opportunities to network, learn and grow.

HP is a technology company that operates in more than 170 countries around the world. We explore how technology and services can help people and companies address their problems and challenges, and realize their possibilities, aspirations and dreams. We apply new thinking and ideas to create more simple, valuable and trusted experiences with technology, continuously improving the way our customers live and work.

And extra thanks to sponsor Valitics for the new look, feel and layout of the Kickstand site. Take a look around and let us know what you think!

Up Next: What I Learned my First Year as a VC
When: Thursday, March 11th @ 5:30 – 7pm
Where: The WaterCooler

RSVP Now

Glenn Michael and George Mulhern at Highway 12 share stories and insights from their first year as VCs.

Glenn Michael brings extensive senior financial management and executive operating leadership experience to Highway 12 Ventures following on his successful track record as CFO and COO of several leading technology companies. Since 1993, Glenn has led finance, human resources and legal for both start-ups and corporations alike, including spearheading a significant number of M & A transactions. At Highway 12 Ventures, Glenn has the unique role of leveraging this transactional experience to assist all of our portfolio companies in preparing for upcoming financings and managing their M & A process.

George Mulhern joined Highway 12 Ventures after retiring from Hewlett Packard in 2007. Over the course of his twenty year career at HP he had P&L responsibility for hardware, software and services businesses that ranged in revenue from start-up to $10B+, annually. He successfully led businesses located in the U.S., Europe and Asia and developed and implemented growth strategies both organically and through acquisition. His last position with HP was as Senior Vice President, leading the LaserJet Global Business Unit. In 2006, this $10B+ business delivered more of HP’s total revenue and profit growth than any other business in the company. Prior to joining HP, George spent five years in sales for the General Electric Company’s, Lighting Business Group.

RSVP Now

Up Next: February 2010 Monthly Meeting - Contracts As Risk Management
When: Thursday, February 11 @ 5:30 - 7pm
Where: The WaterCooler

Often key to the launch of a new business and the pitch of a new idea is the less inspiring work involved in vetting and signing contracts. What should you be aware of? What risks lie within the basic contractual agreements that await entrepreneurs? Join Kickstand this month as attorney Mark Peters shares the top areas to focus your attention on when looking at a contract.
RSVP NOW 

Coming Up: March 2010 Monthly Meeting - What I Learned My First Year as a VC
Glenn Michael and George Mulhern at Highway 12 share stories and insights from their first year as VCs.
When: Thursday, March 11 @ 5:30 - 7pm
RSVP NOW

Innovation In The News: Idaho Technology Council
The start of 2010 saw the launch of the Idaho Technology Council - a private sector group focused on growing the state’s high-tech economy. The ITC, funded by memberships and sponsorships, is dedicated to fostering the growth of technology companies in the state, primarily in the areas of information technology, agriscience, and energy. The Council advocates for creating a strong, innovative technology ecosystem and a high quality, high paid workforce. "Invention and innovation are at the heart of what Idaho is, but unless we collaborate with the entire technology ecosystem, from research and education, to business-friendly incentives to talent recruitment, we won't realize the growth we need to create a sustainable industry here," said Bob Lokken, CEO of WhiteCloud Analytics and member of the ITC Board of Directors.
Idaho Statesman coverage
Blog post from ITC Board Member Mark Solon
Home of the Idaho Technology Council

Innovation in the News: Site Selection Magazine
The Greenhouse Effect - A climate for outdoor enthusiasts breeds business expansion in Idaho
In February's Site Selection Magazine - a feature story includes Idaho businesses ATK, JayCo, Hoku, Inovus Solar, Ridgeline Energy, RFinity, 5D Robotics, U.S. Trademark and Technology Ventures Corp. "As entrepreneurs and outdoor enthusiasts alike have flocked to Idaho seeking a fresh start or a better way of life — or both — they have found a business climate that fosters creativity, a strong work ethic and an appreciation for clean communities."


Seize Opportunity: Harness the Talent
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of talent on the streets.  Idaho TechConnect is currently organizing an effort to harness the local talent and put it to work in the start-up and early stage businesses in the Boise Valley.  The basic idea is simple: to match the talent with a business.  For five hours a week, the talent volunteers/interns with a company.  The cash-strapped business can tap into tremendous expertise and skills that they would not be able to afford.  The talent gets acquainted with the new and up and coming businesses. The business grows and succeeds and hopefully, we create jobs for the talented workforce and keep them in the Valley.
 
TechConnect has had an initial discussion with the Professional Networking Group of Meridian and had a lot of interest and are seeking placements for these individuals. Three companies in the WaterCooler are interested in participating and TechConnect's extended an invitation to the Small Business Development Center, TechHelp and SCORE to see if their clients are interested.
 
If you are interested in participating, as talent or a company that could use a volunteer, contact Krissa Wrigley at krissa.wrigley@idahotechconnect.com.

Seize Opportunity: Tapping Your Entrepreneurial IQ
Are entrepreneurs born with a unique gift? What is it that enables them to transform an idea into a successful new venture? What can we learn from their experience? Do I have what it takes to succeed? “Mindset: Tapping your entrepreneurial IQ” provides an inside look at the underlying beliefs that drive behavior that enables entrepreneurs to succeed, and attempts to answer these questions and more, for the benefit of someone considering an entrepreneurial venture. This self-paced learning program enables aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from the firsthand knowledge and experience of successful real-world entrepreneurs. The two-hour, 38-minute "Mindset" program currently is being offered free to the first 250 qualified applicants through a scholarship funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Applications are available at entrepreneurship.org.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Special thanks to our loyal sponsors whose participation enables up to keep growing Kickstand and providing you with opportunities to network, learn and grow.

TechConnect accelerates Idaho's innovation-based economy by connecting people, ideas and resources through activities in 4 areas: Building an entrepreneurial culture Promoting industry-university collaboration Facilitating commercialization Encouraging investment in infrastructure to support an innovation-based economy.