Hampton Roads Innovations - People

Norfolk Area Entrepreneurs ROUND 2: Connect w/Amazing People to Start Companies/Projects With

Keith P. — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:25:00 GMT

Wanted to share info. about a great service that seems super relevant for this crew - FounderDating (no, it's not romantic). Norfolk Area of FounderDating is kicking off Round 2 of accepting applications into this private group for people looking to find a Co-Founder of their startup business!

Call for Rail Support

Douglas S. — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:20:00 GMT

There is an enormously important event coming up on June 1st.

The Virginians for High Speed Rail (VHSR) organization will conduct its next Annual Meeting, a lunchtime event, here in Hampton Roads on Friday, the 1^st of June. I understand this is th

How do organizations know that collaborative wellness will work?

Thomas E. — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:45:00 GMT

Collaborative wellness is a fancy term. In its essence it means that people can work together to help the overall organization and individuals reach objectives on difficult challenges. But...

A "Social Contract" for the Hampton Roads Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Marty K. — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Every community has explicit and implict social norms that help the community grow and survive. Here's a proposed version for the Hampton Roads Enterpreneurial Community.

I guess we just can't grow anything here ...

Marty K. — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:45:00 GMT

Today's Hampton Roads Fable

I want to live in a Rainforest

Marty K. — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:15:00 GMT

If you read one book this month, it should be The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, by Victor Hwang and Greg Horowitt.

I met Victor over dinner one night in Yerevan, Armenia -- we didn't have nearly enough time to talk, but we covered a number of the issues he discusses in this book (and listened to a surprisingly good singer, doing renditions of American jazz standards in Russian) because they relate as much to Hampton Roads as they do to Yerevan, or Kiev, or Baku, or Minsk. In fact, if I thought they'd read it, I'd buy a copy for every member of the HRP Board, each local city council and IDA, and the leadership of all the other local organizations that would benefit from a new way of thinking. The Rainforest idea balances the role of government in supporting a "grass-roots" approach to

Why Don't People Work Well Together?

Thomas E. — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:10:00 GMT

Human support groups and experts can make a difference in the healthy lifestyle choices of others they mentor and assist

It's About Time

Thomas E. — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:55:00 GMT

Finally, there is a place to connect with other people who are trying to deploy innovative techniques and ideas to improve productivity. And helping people help each other, helping employers help their employees help each other and leveraging expertise in wellness to improve helping folks to work well together is a great way to utilize social networking in an important context-healthy lifestyles.

It's not about risk, it's about uncertainty

Marty K. — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:50:00 GMT

You have a new idea you think is going to change the world. Great. Before you panic, think about these nine parts of your business model and figure out ways to reduce the uncertainty in each area. Once you do, you'll quickly come to the conclusion that you should probably get a real job ... or not.

Chesapeake Technology Business Consortium

Dan B. — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Several high technology companies in Chesapeake have formed the Chesapeake Technology Business Consortium (CTBC) to advance specific activity involved in promoting technology company success.

Tech Nite - Save the Date! Bigger and better than ever!

Missy S. — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:25:00 GMT

Tech Nite is THR's premiere event of the year. Tech Nite is an annual recognition event for high-tech companies, individuals, entrepreneurs, and innovations of the Hampton Roads region.

Each year we gather and recognize the pioneering efforts of those in our community that utilize math and science in new and innovative ways.

Now THAT is innovative! Norfolk company awards employees for not driving

Missy S. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:40:00 GMT

Grow Interactive, a tech company in downtown Norfolk, this month began bumping up the pay of some employees to reward them for something they aren't doing.

By Philip Walzer for The Virginian-Pilot, originally posted January 29, 2012

Chesapeake Summer STEM Camp

Missy S. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:45:00 GMT

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math camp developed by the Chesapeake Public School System and the Chesapeake Technology Business Consortium (CTBC) planned for July 16-20, 2012, at TCC's Chesapeake Campus. Each of Chesapeake’s seven high schools will offer one team of four 11th and 12th grade students (28 students total).

Start Norfolk 2.0

Missy S. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 GMT

Start Norfolk is a weekend-long event bringing together individuals of different mind and skill sets— entrepreneurs, engineers, developers, designers and business people—with the goal of building a viable startup over a weekend. Last November, Start Norfolk launched at the Innovation Research Park at ODU and planning is on-going for the second edition in Spring 2012. more

Startups Create Most New Net Jobs

Missy S. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 GMT

During the State of the Union Address on January 24, 2012, the President referenced this important report from the Kauffman Foundation citing “Startups create most new net jobs in the U.S.” more

ODU gets down to business - with Innovation

Missy S. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:45:00 GMT

Inventors and entrepreneurs struggle to launch their ideas.

By Philip Newswanger for Inside Business, originally posted on January 13, 2012

They are flummoxed by a morass of red tape and nervous investors, who, in this weary economic climate, want an immediate return.

Old Dominion University may have an answer, or at least is offering solutions to the problem of transforming ideas into profits.

The idea, according to two ODU officials, is to marry the pursuit of knowledge, a mission of universities, with the management of knowledge, a private sector endeavor.

Tom Osha, president and CEO of Innovation Research Park at ODU, and Jerry Robertson, executive director of the university’s Gateway initiative, recently highlighted this connection between a university a

StartupVirginia

Marty K. — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:40:00 GMT

Entrepreneurs are at the heart of the Startup America Partnership. StartupVirginia is bringing together a coalition of mentors, advisors, funders, major corporations and service providers to deliver strategic and substantive resources to help Virginia-based entrepreneurs start and scale companies.

Financing Your Hampton Roads Business Venture-Who, What, When, Where, How

Missy S. — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:30:00 GMT

Technology Hampton Roads invites you to "Financing Your Business Venture" on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m at ECPI University, 5555 Greenwich Road, Room 360, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Startup Night in Hampton Roads

Missy S. — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:50:00 GMT

Interested in starting a company in #hrva? Be sure to come to Startup Night and learn how to raise capital for your new startup venture. Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Exclusive to the Hampton Roads area, the 2012 Business Management Conference

Missy S. — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:05:00 GMT

Exclusive to the Hampton Roads area, the 2012 Business Management Conference provides a forum for executives across the region in the commercial, government, military and non-profit sectors to re-energize and refine their knowledge and skills related to the latest strategy execution tools, techniques and best practices.

March 1–2nd, 2012 • Hilton Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA

In Strategic Partnership with:

U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Virginia
Hampton Roads Quality Management Community
Project Management Institute, Hampton Roads Chapter
Virginia Business Excellence Consortium

5 Government Procurement Practices That Stifle Innovation

Missy S. — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

By Justine Brown for Government Technology, originally published on November 8, 2011

Nothing is simple when it comes to government contracting, especially for large technology projects. Yes, there are good reasons for having all those checks and balances in place. After all, taxpayers foot the bill for these projects, and there must be some assurance that the funds are being spent wisely, particularly given some of the high-profile failures of public-sector IT deployments.

But the downside is these rules can be so restrictive that they choke off competition and innovation. The number of vendors who are able to respond to complex procurements is limited, and that can leave agencies with fewer choices and less creative technology options.

Still, some agencies are finding creative ways to purchase more inn

Tech companies in Hampton Roads: apps, surveillance, interactive, sensors and more

Missy S. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:15:00 GMT

The following is a series by The Virginian-Pilot on local creative technology companies We Are Titans, ArcDNA, Cetan Corp., ParasitX, Grow Interactive and ipConfigure.

Small Tech: A look at 6 Hampton Roads companies

By Philip Walzer for The Virginian-Pilot posted November 6, 2011

We’re designing everything from a mobile ad for Google’s smartphone search app to a wireless sensor that can detect the alcohol content of fermenting beer.

Hampton Roads is no Silicon Valley. Even so, “I think the area is experiencing good growth in information technology,” said Tom Osha, president and CEO of Innovation Research Park @ ODU.

Economic factors both propel and hinder expansion. Th

Entrepreneurs gather in Norfolk to spawn startups

Missy S. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:15:00 GMT

By Elisabeth Hulette for The Virginian-Pilot, posted November 14, 2011

Between Friday and Sunday, Claude Nix slept for just three hours.

He was too busy creating software, talking to investors and gathering partners. If his dream business – Web-based software for sailing regattas – was going to get off the ground, he’d have to squeeze every possible benefit out of Start Norfolk.

“It’s been stressful,” Nix said with a grin on Sunday morning. “But we’ve been making it happen.”

The event was the first of its kind to be held in Norfolk, organizer Zack Miller said. Similar events have generated businesses in San Francisco, Chicago and other cities.

This, he said, was Norfolk’s chance. Read the rest: http://smartregion.org/2011/11/launching-a-start-up/

Yes, Virginia, there is ...

Missy S. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:10:00 GMT

Yes, Virginia, there is a startup community in Hampton Roads.

If you are interested in web technology and discussing anything relating to development, design (UI), and promotion of web sites and web applications, join one of several local Meetup groups.

One such group is the Hampton Roads Web Developers’ Brigade Monthly Meetup made up of professional and hobbyist developers in the Hampton Roads area sharing knowledge and helping to grow the development scene. This group is open to all levels and all technologies.

Several other groups are hosted and/or organized by

The city of the future

Missy S. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:10:00 GMT

The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience where students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade imagine, design, and build cities of the future. Students work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity™ 4 Deluxe software; research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models with recycled materials; and present their ideas before judges at Regional Competitions in January. Regional winners represent their region at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in February.

Unleash the horde!

Marty K. — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:50:00 GMT

Helping our existing technology companies create spin-out ventures promises to be a significant growth opportunity ... But it's not about risk, it's about uncertainty ...

We Need Seed ...

Marty K. — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:10:00 GMT

People complain that we don't have many VC-sized deals in Hampton Roads but if we focused on doing more seed-stage deals we'd be laying the groundwork for those larger deals to materialize.

A quick note ...

Marty K. — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:10:00 GMT

Having a lot of people working for small companies indicates that your economy is dysfunctional ...

Not all startups are created equal ...

Marty K. — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:05:00 GMT

Our local, regional, and state-wide small business support programs need to reflect the fact that not all start-ups are created equal and each type needs a different set of services to help it grow.

New York Times article about Steve Jobs and Innovation

Douglas S. — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:30:00 GMT

Steve Jobs' stepping aside as the CEO of Apple has generated some interesting articles about his personal leadership and whether Apple will be able to maintain their same culture of innovation. My professional interest is in economic development; so, these articles are most interesting to me when they talk about the culture of innovation within our country. The New York Times ran a pretty interesting article that touches on this over the weekend at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/technology/steve-jobs-and-the-rewards-of-risk-taking.html

Reality Check being conducted by the Urban Land Institute

Douglas S. — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:15:00 GMT

The Hampton Roads Chapter of ULI has been thinking through and planning a Reality Check for quite some time. Under the leadership of Chairman John Peterson, Burrell Saunders and many others, Reality Check is now coming to Hampton Roads and I think the timing is excellent.

Regional Economic Competitiveness

Douglas S. — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:25:00 GMT

I just finished reading a new report by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission entitled Hampton Roads Regional Competitiveness. Check it out at http://www.hrpdc.org/Documents/Economics/2011/Hampton%20Roads%20Regional%20Competitveness.pdf. The report confirms for me that it is time for our region to have a thoughtful discussion about how we approach economic development.