by: Scott Ford Looking to introduce your friends and family to the wonderful world of computing? In the honor of Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week, here are some great resources for students of all ages and skill levels: Scratch Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu) is a great environment for learning to make the computer do things. Fun things, like move a monkey around on the screen. I made a small project to celebrate Computer Science Education Week, and to think the teachers that got me started. (http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/15283467/). Scratch's drag and drop interface helps create an intimate relationship with the different operations that it provides. It reminds me a lot of playing with Lego. Logo If you'd like to try typing out commands, then I highly recommend taking a peek at Logo (http://el.media.mit.edu/logo-foundation/logo/turtle.html). To see Logo in action, visit http://www.calormen.com/jslogo/, click on an example in the sidebar and then click on the "Run" button. LittleBits If you'd like to take a stab at making the world around you light up and move, then I suggest taking a peek at littleBits (http://littleBits.cc). These little devices make creating hardware computing projects dead simple. No wiring. No soldering. Just magnets and fun! Lego Mindstorms Interesting in trying to mix software and hardware together? Then check out Lego Mindstorms (http://mindstorms.lego.com). Lego Mindstorms centers around a smart Lego brick, that you can program (with Logo!) and make your creations move. There are even some school teams that compete with each other to build little bots that perform specific tasks (http://www.firstlegoleague.org). So go forth! Have fun! And make your computer and other devices around you do things. It's fun and rewarding. Scott is a Code Whisperer at Corgibytes (http://corgibytes.com). There he works hard to breath new life into old software projects.
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V.I.N.E. : Finding a Manufacturer for your Product |
Virginia Innovators Network is a not for profit, educational organization. We exist to support innovative Virginians who are pursuing bringing their unique products and services to market. There is NO CHARGE to attend the VINE monthly meeting -- Thank you to our generous sponsors who make the pizza, water, & beer possible. |
Mailchimp: Empathy Cannot be Automated
Tuesday June 25th
6:00-8:00pm
"Working at MailChimp I've seen thousands of interactions between companies and their customers. I've seen the conflict between marketing and design when trying to automate the relationship between company and customer. Marketing automation is a powerful tool that bosses and customers are starting to demand we use, but used incorrectly automation can reduce empathy for the customer or email subscriber, make them feel spied on, or completely annoy them. Using technology to manage the relationship isn't a replacement for human to human contact, you still have to talk to people and you still have to treat them with respect and dignity. You still have to think about their experience! No person should be reduced to just a number, a twitter handle, a "targeted segment", or a blip on a chart. Automation can guide you, give you data, feed you information, but it's up to you to use it to be more relevant, more human, more real." |
Wordpress Wednesday
Wednesday June 26th
6:00-8:00pm
This group is for anyone who uses WordPress, whether you're a blogger, designer, developer, coder, themer, or anything else you can imagine. Meetup events are open to both advanced and beginner users and are free! 6:00 pm -8:00pm |
Startup Weekend Info Session & Happy Hour at A2
Thursday June 27th
7:00-9:00pm
Startup Weekend is a 54 hour hackathon whose motto is "No Talk. All Action" where people come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups. This information session is a pre party event for our July 26th-28th Startup Weekend. Come chat with alumni from last year as they share successes and pitfalls from their entrepreneurial journey and mingle with others who are actively pursuing their ideas. |
Night Owls Late Night Coworking
Thursday June 27th
6pm-midnight
Are you working on a side project, startup, or building your portfolio? Do you want to meet other like minded people and be motivated by fellow makers and creatives? You don't have to be at 804RVA every single day to get the benefits - in fact, you can start coming after hours! Every Thursday after 6pm, 804RVA Night Owls is a fun & productive member-run working session for people that have full time jobs but want to work on a side project...as well as students and people who just prefer working after dark! |
Your friends at StartRVA know exciting stuff sometimes happens outside of our fine city that you want to know about. The Ballston Innovation Initiative is throwing a technology throw down featuring the nation's top security officials! Intrigued? Check out the details and jump in at http://www.ballstoni2.com/#!about1/c1qu0
Hurry, the fun kicks off on June 15th!
Bill Conference: Show & Tell
Wednesday May 1st
6pm-8pm
Share the stuff you make or the stuff you love. A couple of people will get us started by sharing something they're working on or something they've discovered that inspired them. We'll spend the rest of the time chatting or drinking beer or looking at cool things on the internet. |
Night Owls Late Night Coworking
Thursday May 2nd
6pm- midnight
Are you working on a side project, startup, or building your portfolio? Do you want to meet other like minded people and be motivated by fellow makers and creatives? You don't have to be at 804RVA every single day to get the benefits - in fact, you can start coming after hours! Night Owls memberships are available for as little as $25 per month. |
by: Larkin Garbee
Snow Day Special!! |
Virginia Innovators Network (VINE) |
Pre-Bill Conference |
Lighthouse Labs Accelerator |
Wordpress Wednesdays |
Night Owls Late Night Coworking |
Stay Connected Want to know what is going on at 804RVA? If you give us your email address, we'll make sure you are on top of all of the cool classes, events, and new stuff happening at 804RVA. (Don't worry-- we hate spam too, so we won't spam you) | |
As always, we are grateful to our sponsor, Blanchard's Coffee for providing all of our coworkers, night owls, and meetup groups with awesome coffee so that creativity and innovation can continue to flow through the minds of RVA.
by: Larkin Garbee
Are you working on a side project, startup, or building your portfolio? Do you want to meet other like minded people and be motivated by fellow makers, creatives, and innovators?
You don't have to be at 804RVA every single day to get the benefits - in fact, you can start coming after hours!
Every Thursday after 6pm, 804RVA Night Owls is a fun & productive member-run working session for people that have full time jobs but want to work on a side project...as well as students and people who just prefer working after dark!
Night Owls is included with any 804RVA membership, every Thursday, (including our $25/month basic membership). Yep, you can work at 804RVA 4 evenings a month for as little as $25 - plus you're plugged into the entire 804RVA community for discussions & events outside of Night Owls.
If you're already an 804RVA member, just drop by. If you're not a member yet, sign up for a free pass and tour so we can help you get started! We'll be coworking from 6pm until midnight! Read to become a member?-- click HERE. To view our meetup page and see who is coming, click on the night owl pictured below:
You don't have to be at 804RVA every single day to get the benefits - in fact, you can start coming after hours!
Every Thursday after 6pm, 804RVA Night Owls is a fun & productive member-run working session for people that have full time jobs but want to work on a side project...as well as students and people who just prefer working after dark!
Night Owls is included with any 804RVA membership, every Thursday, (including our $25/month basic membership). Yep, you can work at 804RVA 4 evenings a month for as little as $25 - plus you're plugged into the entire 804RVA community for discussions & events outside of Night Owls.
If you're already an 804RVA member, just drop by. If you're not a member yet, sign up for a free pass and tour so we can help you get started! We'll be coworking from 6pm until midnight! Read to become a member?-- click HERE. To view our meetup page and see who is coming, click on the night owl pictured below:
by Brian Bassett
Steve Case addressing audience at Executive Office Building
It's not every day that an 804RVAer gets to go head up to Washington to hang out in the White House! Well, not White House precisely, but the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is pretty darn close ...
So why were Larkin and Todd Nuckols in our nation's capital on February 5th? After nailing Larkin down for 20 minutes, I'll try and explain ...
In the aftershocks of the financial crisis of 2008, the US government realized just how vital innovation can be to our nation and how much it matters to our economy. No longer could government just expect massive businesses to yield the same results year over year. No longer could the increase in property values be considered a given. No longer could government afford to spend more if they were going to have less in their coffers. So as the nation worked to rebuild from a recession, where was growth strongest? In entrepreneurship.
Since then, government realizes that whether innovation needs to start at home inside government operations, or through the very frameworks they set up for the private sector, government is trying to create an economic culture that fosters runaway growth of new businesses who are delivering new products and services to the economy.
With the help of non-profits like The Case Foundation, The Kauffman Foundation and Startup America, government is seeking to appreciate how innovation, entrepreneurship and a new paradigms for business creation and generation are what will be fuels our economy moving forward.
To that end, a whole day was planned in Washington where ten states like Texas, Arizona, Maryland and Virginia were invited to participate in discussions on innovation and present their regional work and their findings to Todd Park, the Chief Technology Officer of the United States, amongst others.
Startup
The day started with a breakfast that the Case Foundation hosted where the states represented had breakfast with Steve Case (former CEO of AOL) along with his wife Jean (champion of the Case Foundation's "Be Fearless" campaign) and Startup America's Scott Case in an informal setting. The best part of that event according to Larkin? "It's good to know people around the country now with whom we can share our ideas and roadblocks," Larkin said. "Arizona has some similar challenges that we do in Virginia. Most notably creating density with the resources we do have to spur innovation. So, being able to share what's worked for us and hear what's working for them is a big help."
The State of Secret Sauce
After spending the morning at the Case Foundation, the Kauffman Foundation held their fourth annual State of Entrepreneurship at the National Press Club. The focus of the event was to openly address the challenges and opportunities in financing young companies.
In opening the event, the junior Senator from the State of Kansas, Senator Jerry Moran told the audience that entrepreneurship is vital to the sustainability and growth of the American economy. "When entrepreneurs succeed our communities and our nation succeeds," Moran said. "For the last three decades, entrepreneurs and their young companies have been responsible for almost all the net job creation in our nation ... an average of three million jobs per year."
Even so, Moran warned that unless the nation acted soon, entrepreneurship would become an endangered ideal in the United States. "The state of entrepreneurship is not as strong it once was -- I had someone in my office recently who told me ... [that] .. they know what the American Dream is, but that it's being lived someplace else. We need make sure the American Dream is being lived in America."
So why were Larkin and Todd Nuckols in our nation's capital on February 5th? After nailing Larkin down for 20 minutes, I'll try and explain ...
In the aftershocks of the financial crisis of 2008, the US government realized just how vital innovation can be to our nation and how much it matters to our economy. No longer could government just expect massive businesses to yield the same results year over year. No longer could the increase in property values be considered a given. No longer could government afford to spend more if they were going to have less in their coffers. So as the nation worked to rebuild from a recession, where was growth strongest? In entrepreneurship.
Since then, government realizes that whether innovation needs to start at home inside government operations, or through the very frameworks they set up for the private sector, government is trying to create an economic culture that fosters runaway growth of new businesses who are delivering new products and services to the economy.
With the help of non-profits like The Case Foundation, The Kauffman Foundation and Startup America, government is seeking to appreciate how innovation, entrepreneurship and a new paradigms for business creation and generation are what will be fuels our economy moving forward.
To that end, a whole day was planned in Washington where ten states like Texas, Arizona, Maryland and Virginia were invited to participate in discussions on innovation and present their regional work and their findings to Todd Park, the Chief Technology Officer of the United States, amongst others.
Startup
The day started with a breakfast that the Case Foundation hosted where the states represented had breakfast with Steve Case (former CEO of AOL) along with his wife Jean (champion of the Case Foundation's "Be Fearless" campaign) and Startup America's Scott Case in an informal setting. The best part of that event according to Larkin? "It's good to know people around the country now with whom we can share our ideas and roadblocks," Larkin said. "Arizona has some similar challenges that we do in Virginia. Most notably creating density with the resources we do have to spur innovation. So, being able to share what's worked for us and hear what's working for them is a big help."
The State of Secret Sauce
After spending the morning at the Case Foundation, the Kauffman Foundation held their fourth annual State of Entrepreneurship at the National Press Club. The focus of the event was to openly address the challenges and opportunities in financing young companies.
In opening the event, the junior Senator from the State of Kansas, Senator Jerry Moran told the audience that entrepreneurship is vital to the sustainability and growth of the American economy. "When entrepreneurs succeed our communities and our nation succeeds," Moran said. "For the last three decades, entrepreneurs and their young companies have been responsible for almost all the net job creation in our nation ... an average of three million jobs per year."
Even so, Moran warned that unless the nation acted soon, entrepreneurship would become an endangered ideal in the United States. "The state of entrepreneurship is not as strong it once was -- I had someone in my office recently who told me ... [that] .. they know what the American Dream is, but that it's being lived someplace else. We need make sure the American Dream is being lived in America."
"Entrepreneurship is America's secret sauce" - @sbagov's Karen Mills #StartupAmerica @kauffmanfdn #FinanceGrowth twitter.com/SteveCase/stat…
— Steve Case (@SteveCase) February 5, 2013
Karen's sentiment is one that obviously struck a chord. America has always been about letting the best ideas and the hardest workers rise to the top. Entrepreneurship is the thing that ties everything together and makes it all work. So what goes into the recipe to make secret sauce?
Pitch the Plan
A lot has changed in how entrepreneurship works in the last fifteen years. While harnessing new ideas is what has always powered our economy, the way those ideas come to fruition is changing. Bank debt, regulation, venture capital, IPOs and crowdsourcing are all changing and changing the ways new businesses get off the ground. Startup America as well as the Case and Kauffman foundations are pushing for quick action by regulators to address the hurdles that exist right now, specifically in crowdfunding.
While venture capital is a more traditional model at this point, VCs are looking for more than just a buttoned up business plan according to Jeff Fagnan, a partner at Atlas Ventures. "The business plan is outdated ... I've never funded a startup with a business plan," Fagnan told the audience at the State of Entrepreneurship financing panel. To Fagnan the sum of the parts is more important to successful entrepreneurship team than an airtight five-year plan. "I fund projects on idea, talent and network."
For most venture capitalists, it comes down to ideas, the ability to iterate, and their flexibility to respond to market validation. Even so, funding entrepreneurship via venture capital can't be the only way to start a business. Donna Harris of Startup America told the panel, entrepreneurs should not underestimate the role of large corporations in the startup ecosystem. Corporate procurement of the products and services that the startups can quickly deliver to them can be key to a young business's long-term viability.
Three Minutes
After the State of Entrepreneurship, the ten states were all allotted a three minute pitch at the Executive Office Building in front of the new CTO of the United States Todd Park, the head of the SBA, delegations from the Kauffman and Case Foundations as well as many other luminaries.
During Virginia's three minutes, Larkin spoke to the group and told them that the state is working on a number of projects whether in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Newport News, Northern Virginia or in Richmond in different industries and that as a whole, the group agrees that for entrepreneurship to be more effective in Virginia, everyone "must join forces to treat the entire state like a startup in order to succeed. We are breaking down barriers to connect the commonwealth to collectively improve manufacturing, healthcare, government, cyber security and public education."
On the whole, Larkin said that the day was an exciting and life-changing experience. That it was a chance for her to be encouraged in knowing that other states are dealing with some of the same issues, but also that there are champions working in the halls of power in Washington to effect the same change that she's working on every day here in Richmond.
Learn more about the day:
Kauffman: State of Entrepreneurship Address
Kauffman: State of Entrepreneurship & Financing Press Release
Pitch the Plan
A lot has changed in how entrepreneurship works in the last fifteen years. While harnessing new ideas is what has always powered our economy, the way those ideas come to fruition is changing. Bank debt, regulation, venture capital, IPOs and crowdsourcing are all changing and changing the ways new businesses get off the ground. Startup America as well as the Case and Kauffman foundations are pushing for quick action by regulators to address the hurdles that exist right now, specifically in crowdfunding.
While venture capital is a more traditional model at this point, VCs are looking for more than just a buttoned up business plan according to Jeff Fagnan, a partner at Atlas Ventures. "The business plan is outdated ... I've never funded a startup with a business plan," Fagnan told the audience at the State of Entrepreneurship financing panel. To Fagnan the sum of the parts is more important to successful entrepreneurship team than an airtight five-year plan. "I fund projects on idea, talent and network."
For most venture capitalists, it comes down to ideas, the ability to iterate, and their flexibility to respond to market validation. Even so, funding entrepreneurship via venture capital can't be the only way to start a business. Donna Harris of Startup America told the panel, entrepreneurs should not underestimate the role of large corporations in the startup ecosystem. Corporate procurement of the products and services that the startups can quickly deliver to them can be key to a young business's long-term viability.
Three Minutes
After the State of Entrepreneurship, the ten states were all allotted a three minute pitch at the Executive Office Building in front of the new CTO of the United States Todd Park, the head of the SBA, delegations from the Kauffman and Case Foundations as well as many other luminaries.
During Virginia's three minutes, Larkin spoke to the group and told them that the state is working on a number of projects whether in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Newport News, Northern Virginia or in Richmond in different industries and that as a whole, the group agrees that for entrepreneurship to be more effective in Virginia, everyone "must join forces to treat the entire state like a startup in order to succeed. We are breaking down barriers to connect the commonwealth to collectively improve manufacturing, healthcare, government, cyber security and public education."
On the whole, Larkin said that the day was an exciting and life-changing experience. That it was a chance for her to be encouraged in knowing that other states are dealing with some of the same issues, but also that there are champions working in the halls of power in Washington to effect the same change that she's working on every day here in Richmond.
Learn more about the day:
Kauffman: State of Entrepreneurship Address
Kauffman: State of Entrepreneurship & Financing Press Release
Calling all students and recent graduates from nearby or not so nearby colleges and universities.
Do you have a startup idea, business plan, or a project you are working on? Bring it to jelly day! Join us for a free day of coworking day (AKA-- "Jelly Day"). Come cowork alongside designers, developers, entrepreneurs and consultants. Work alone or with others to brainstorm on your project.
Wednesday February 20th 9am-7pm
Wednesday February 20th 9am-7pm
by: Larkin Garbee
Monday February 4th: Richmond Adobe User Group (RAUG): 6 pm- 8pm
Featuring "The Sean Cook", RAUG is great If you are a beginner or advanced user of the adobe creative suite, Ask questions, watch demos, and improve your Adobe skills in this free monthly meetup. |
Wednesday February 6th: Bill Conference Show & Tell: 6 pm- 8pm
Share the stuff you make or the stuff you love. A couple of people will get us started by sharing something they're working on or something they've discovered that inspired them. We'll spend the rest of the time chatting or drinking beer or looking at cool things on the internet. |
Friday February 8th: Campus Founders- Taking the Plunge: 8pm- 11pm
Campus Founders is a state wide group of student entrepreneurs in Virginia. They're breaking down boundaries between VA entrepreneur clubs and promoting cross-institutional collaboration to help, build, and grow startups. Friday's event will feature pizza, networking & an innovation challenge. |
Who are Campus Founders?
Campus Founders is a state wide group of student entrepreneurs in Virginia. They're breaking down boundaries between VA entrepreneur clubs and promoting cross-institutional collaboration to help, build, and grow startups.
Established in 2012, Campus Founders is comprised of 16 VA schools and they're here to empower the entrepreneur and give students the tools they need to succeed! They're hosting a 2-day statewide event here in RVA.
Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM - Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 2:00 PM Richmond, VA
Agenda for Taking the Plunge:
Friday 2/8 8:00pm ~ 11:00pm @ 804RVA Coworking
Saturday 2/9 10:00am ~ 1:30pm @ VCU School of Business (Snead Hall)
Want to learn more and sign up for the event? (Space is limited, so sign up early!)
Campus Founders is a state wide group of student entrepreneurs in Virginia. They're breaking down boundaries between VA entrepreneur clubs and promoting cross-institutional collaboration to help, build, and grow startups.
Established in 2012, Campus Founders is comprised of 16 VA schools and they're here to empower the entrepreneur and give students the tools they need to succeed! They're hosting a 2-day statewide event here in RVA.
Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM - Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 2:00 PM Richmond, VA
Agenda for Taking the Plunge:
Friday 2/8 8:00pm ~ 11:00pm @ 804RVA Coworking
- Pizza & Networking Mixer
- Brief Speaker - Larkin Garbee on 804RVA and Coworking
- Innovation Challenge
Saturday 2/9 10:00am ~ 1:30pm @ VCU School of Business (Snead Hall)
- Light Breakfast/Brunch (10:15 - 10:45)
- Keynote Speaker (11:00-11:15)
- Panel Discussion w/ Moderator (11:15 – 11:45)
- Student Breakout Session w/ Individual Panelists (11:45 ~ 1:00)
- Door Prizes, chill, network, finish the rest of the food, help tidy up (1:00 1:30)
Want to learn more and sign up for the event? (Space is limited, so sign up early!)