Startup Matchmaker for Duke MBA Students: 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Fwd: 2010 Rice Business Plan Competition APPLY TO COMPETE

A good competition to consider

-Howie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: RBPC <rbpc@rice.edu>
Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Subject: 2010 Rice Business Plan Competition APPLY TO COMPETE
To: hwr2@duke.edu

Important Deadlines

Friday, February 5, 2010

5:00 pm CST

Intent to Compete Due

Friday, February 26, 2010

5:00 pm CST

Executive Summaries Due

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Qualifying Teams Announced

Friday, March 19, 2010

5:00 pm CST

Written Business Plans Due

April 15-17, 2010

Competition Held
Rice University, Houston, TX

For more information

Contact:

Lea Aden Lueck

RBPC Director

lalueck@rice.edu

713.348.3190

www.alliance.rice.edu/rbpc

APPLY TO COMPETE
2010 Rice Business Plan Competition
April 15-17, 2010 – Houston, Texas

42 Teams will be selected to compete for more than $800,000 in cash and prizes

All 42 Teams take home cash!

Meet more than 200 Venture Capital, Angel Investors, Private Equity, and other professionals who serve as competition judges

Dynamics, the 2009 winner from Carnegie Mellon University, was awarded more than $325,000 in cash and prizes

Winner rings the bell at NASDAQ in New York City

Special Cash Prize Categories include:

Clean Technology

Sustainability

Energy
NASA Space Technologies

Information Technology/Web 2.0

Life Sciences/Biotech/Medical Devices

Social Entrepreneurship (including not-for-profit)
Consumer Goods

Since 2001, more than 85 competitors have successfully launched their businesses and raised more than $150 million in capital

Don't miss your opportunity to compete at the World's Richest and Largest Business Plan Competition!

Click here to submit your Intent to compete by February 5, and receive your free copy of Business Plan Pro from Palo Alto Software.

The Rice Business Plan Competition is hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and is open to all graduate students from any university.

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
919-617-1123 mobile

Learn more about Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
and read our Duke Entrepreneurship Manual - www.dukeven.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

FW: Microsoft Invites you to Participate in the US Imagine Cup

For those of you with IT ideas - worth considering.

-Howie

I would like to let you know that submissions for the Spring Imagine Cup Competition (www.imaginecup.us) are now open. This competition is the World's premier Technology Business Competition. The first submission, just a business plan, is due February 1^st and the software portion is due March 15. So, now is the perfect time to consider this competition for your class. We've worked hard this year to make this a strong supporting piece of any project based curriculum and have seen some great success in over 30 Universities across the US.

Thank you,

Cy Khormaee

Academic Relations Manager

mobile: 360.931.0893 |Microsoft Corporation –5404 Wisconsin Ave #600, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Entrepreneurship At Duke Highlights for Fall 2009

Enterpreneurship at Duke Highlights for Fall 2009

In chronological order

Program for Entrepreneurs - Class of 2011(two year program) - 50+ students applied and 70+ startup ideas.

Resulted in 16 startup teams and 80 students involved - 66 Fuqua, 8 non-Fuqua Graduate, 6 Undergraduate

www.dukeven.com

Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series - 11 events, 934 attendees (not including Eweek)

Sessions at Fuqua and Teer, with additional sessions at White Lecture Hall, Law School

www.dukedees.com

Entrepreneurship Week (Nov 16-22)

a) 10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition with Google Ventures - 9 events, 887 attendees, 74 teams competing

www.dukestartupchallenge.org

b) Duke Global Entrepreneurship Network, Happy Hour in 10 cities - 10 events, 225 attendees

www.dukegen.com/events

DukeGEN Update (as of Dec 16)

1500+ members (alumni and students)
www.dukegen.com

Entrepreneurship At Duke website

Updated 12/2009

www.entrepreneurshipatduke.com

Howie

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Internship for next summer

Posting from first year student Aris Baras.

-Howie

Internships at Palaran - a hot, stealth, web startup!

Palaran (http://palaran.com) is a VC-backed stealth startup, with investors that include Om Malik, Esther Dyson and Joshua Schachter. We are ex-Google and ex-Yahoo Web Search engineers and designers and have been covered by TechCrunch (http://j.mp/palaran) and paidContent - but even they don't know what we're doing... yet. The only real way to know what's going on here is to come talk with us - and even better, to join us for the ride!

You'd need to be off-the-charts brilliant to keep up with the team, so that's kind of a requirement. If you buy as much stuff on ThinkGeek as you do on Amazon, we're intrigued! If you made a touch sensitive robot to play games on the iPhone, that's also good. If you have a strong opinion about string theory, multiverses, or the upcoming singularity, you'd also qualify. And if you do know what I'm talking about, read on.

We are taking a science-based, engineering-driven approach to an industry that has so far been more art, more trial-and-error, than real technology. We're big believers in big data, algorithms and scalable large-scale systems (we helped build Yahoo! Web Search, after all). We do have a big vision we're chasing, but we also have our monetization model down pat - we'll be making money as we build our business. That's good stuff.

Work-wise, there's a lot of Java going on, with a lot of open source code, components and infrastructure. Databases are used, sure; cloud-hosted on Amazon, certainly; mappin' and reducin'... maybe. As an intern, you will be playing with a lot of interesting technologies, writing lots of code, and devising efficient solutions to complicated problems.

So if your veins ache for that startup adrenaline, and you really need to be working with the best, this is just the place for you. Send your resume, and links to your previous work, to jobs@palaran.com<mailto:jobs@palaran.com> - operators are standing by!

Fwd: Presenting Company Application Deadline Extended Until Monday

For any of you that would like a good showcase for your startup idea, this is a good venue.

Howie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Southeast Venture Conference <mailer@seventure.org>
Date: Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Subject: Presenting Company Application Deadline Extended Until Monday
To: howrhee@alum.mit.edu


Register to Attend Become a Sponsor Reserve your Hotel Presented by:	Deadline Extended Until Monday for Presenting Companies to Apply Companies: Apply by December 21st for consideration The 2009 Southeast Venture Conference (SEVC) has extended the deadline for presenting company applications until next Monday, December 21st. The 4th annual event is scheduled for February 24-25, 2010 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The conference is seeking high growth, innovative companies from a vast variety of technology industries including Clean-Tech, Energy, Software, Communications, Medical Devices, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Nanotech, Mobile, Internet and Defense among others. The conference will feature a wide range of presenting companies, from late stage Pre-IPO firms to younger high growth technology companies. The Southeast Venture Conference is expected to feature dozens of the region's top high growth private companies. Presenting companies will be showcased before a regional and national audience of venture capitalists, private equity investors, angel investors, investment bankers, entrepreneurs and the technology industry executives. Presenting companies will be headquartered or have a significant presence in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region. Additional details on presenting or registration information can be found at www.seventure.org. A list of presenters at the past three events can be found here. Over the three previous events, the Southeast Venture Conference has sold out each year, while showcasing dozens of the region's fastest growing companies to an audience representing over $150 billion in private equity. About Southeast Venture Conference 2010 The mission of the SEVC is to help support the innovation and entrepreneurial activity of emerging high growth technology companies and the resulting economic growth in the greater Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. As part of that goal, the SEVC understands the importance of investment capital to this equation and provides a key forum to facilitate the infusion of growth to the technology community. The SEVC not only showcases top regional technology companies, but provides unparalleled networking opportunities among the region's technology and investment leaders while providing insightful content through dozens of industry speakers. www.seventure.org

This message was sent from Southeast Venture Conference to howrhee@alum.mit.edu. It was sent from: TechJournal South, PO Box 12539, RTP, NC 27709. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Fwd: WeMedia PitchIt! Challenge $25,000 for media for a better world

For those of you with media ideas.

Howie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sarah Mintz <smintz@ashoka.org>
Date: Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Subject: WeMedia PitchIt! Challenge $25,000 for media for a better world
To: hwr2@duke.edu

Dear Howie,

Your Idea could Win You $25,000

Ashoka's Changemakers and We Media have launched our second annual We Media PitchIt! Challenge – we are looking for the best new ideas (early stage ventures) that are working to help create a better world through media.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge Announces Winners of Elevator Pitch Competition

10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge Announces Winners of Elevator Pitch Competition

Judges, led by Google's Bill Maris, select Biogenic Medical Devices and the audience selects The Produce Purity Project from 74 original contenders

Watch the video of the entire event at www.dukestartupchallenge.org

December 8, 2009 (Durham, NC.) - The 10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge, the premiere entrepreneurship competition at Duke University, announced today that Biogenic Medical Devices, led by Garrett Muramoto (MBA'11), took home the Judge's Choice award of $1000 and The Produce Purity Project, led by Stephanie Fruth (MBA'11), won the Audience Choice award of $250 and a special gift of $500 from lead judge Bill Maris, Co-Founder of Google Ventures. A standing room only crowd of more than 500 packed Geneen Auditorium for the Elevator Pitch Competition Final showdown on Friday November 20 where 14 teams pitched and the winners took home the prize money. The event was broadcast live on the Internet and is now available on the Duke Start-Up Challenge website at www.dukestartupchallenge.org&nbsp ;

Lead judge Bill Maris, of Google Ventures, summarized the night well when he said, "I go to a lot of these, mostly in Silicon Valley. This is probably the single best one that I've ever participated in."
The 10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition, part of Dukes celebration of Entrepreneurship Week from November 16 to 20, brought together students from many of Duke University's schools to deliver two-minute pitches to panels of judges and live audience members. The judges determined a Judge's Choice winner, while the audience, voting via SMS text messaging on their mobile phones (similar to American Idol), determined an Audience Choice winner from each of seven competition tracks.

Throughout the week, there were 7 semi-finals pitch competitions with 74 Duke start-up teams competing for one of 14 spots in the Finals Event. A total of 38 undergraduate startup teams competed in the competition. The Fuqua School of Business entered 20 student startup teams, and other teams represented the Pratt Master of Engineering Management Program, the Duke School of Law, the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, the Graduate School, and the Divinity School. Even the Duke Blue Devil made a cameo appearance at the Finals event to make his pitch – "Free Duke Start-Up Challenge T-Shirts". Two new competition tracks were added this year – Women Entrepreneurs and Energy & Environment – to address the growing diversity of interests and participation across Duke. Close to $6,000 in cash and prizes were awarded at the competition this year.

Win or lose, every student who participated learned a tremendous amount about how to start a business and attract investors, skills that will serve them well when they leave school for the real world. "The Duke Start-Up Challenge has been a great way to gain valuable feedback on our business idea, and meet contacts who will be great resources in the future. Especially for us undergraduates who don't receive as much business exposure, the Elevator Pitch Competition has provided us experience presenting to potential investors, and will prove invaluable to our entrepreneurial education" said Daniel Certner '10, an undergraduate who participated in the competition.

Duke's participation in its third Entrepreneurship Week was a tremendous success, a reflection of the rising interest in entrepreneurship within the greater Duke community. Led by the Kauffman Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Week is a world-wide initiative during which millions of young people around the world participate in activities aimed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. The week included thousands of events in over 70 countries around the world.

Duke's strong alumni network also had a role in celebrating Entrepreneurship Week. The Duke Global Entrepreneurship Network (DukeGEN) hosted entrepreneur networking happy hour events for alumni in cities around the world, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, and San Francisco. Local alumni from Research Triangle Park (RTP) combined their entrepreneur networking happy hour with the Finals event on November 20.

To see a video recording of the finals of the Duke Start-Up Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition, visit www.dukestartupchallenge.org. If you were inspired in some way during the week to explore your potential as an entrepreneur or if you're looking for ways to get involved at Duke, please explore www.dukestartupchallenge.org and www.dukegen.com
Finally, keep an eye out for the Duke Start-Up Challenge events coming up next year – the Executive Summary Competition in January and the Final Business Plan Competition in April – as teams compete for the $25,000 grand prize.

###

Contact:

Steven Pal (MBA'10)
Co-President of the Duke Start-Up Challenge and Student Co-Chair of Duke Entrepreneurship Week
steven.pal@fuqua.duke.edu

Howie Rhee
Co-Advisor
10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge
919-617-1123 or media@dukegen.com

About the 10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge

The Duke Start-Up Challenge entrepreneurship competition runs throughout the academic year, from November to April. The competition includes an Elevator Pitch Competition in November, an Executive Summary Competition in January, and a live Finals Event in April, with multiple teams winning cash and prizes throughout the competition for the best submissions. The prizes are awarded to overall best plan/presentation and best submission in each of several categories (e.g. Energy & Environment, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Products & Services, and Social Entrepreneurship). Additionally, teams are provided with feedback from knowledgeable judges along the way to help with further development of the business concept into the next part of the Duke Start-Up Challenge and beyond. Founded in 1999 by an ambitious group of Duke students, the competition is now celebrating its 10th year of operation. More information at www.dukestartupchallenge.org <http://www.dukestartupchallenge.org> and follow @dukestartupchal on Twitter.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week will encourage youth to think big, turn their ideas into reality, and make their mark. During the week of November 16 - 22, 2009, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and seek better ways of doing things. Tens of thousands of activities are being planned in dozens of countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week is founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign. For more information, visit www.unleashingideas.org <http://www.unleashingideas.org>.

About DukeGEN

DukeGEN is a sophisticated and active network that helps create debate, dialogue, and lucky encounters between Duke entrepreneurs. We provide the energy and coordination to encourage Duke entrepreneurs, around the globe, to connect and increase their chances of success. More information at www.dukegen.com <http://www.dukegen.com> and follow @DukeGEN on Twitter.

This message was sent from Duke Start-Up Challenge to entrepreneurSponsors@duke.edu. It was sent from: Duke University, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Fuqua School of Business Duke University 1 Towerview Drive, Durham, NC 27708. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Transloc hiring web developers

Transloc is a cool transit visualization company (imagine seeing buses on a Google Map, so you know when they'll arrive). Fuqua alum Josh Cohen works there. Here's a note from Josh:

We are looking for two more developers (a software engineer and a mobile application developer). More details here. I don't know many developers myself and perhaps you don't either, but you never know! Please feel free to send anyone you think may be interested, or who may know someone who would be interested, our way.

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Room E167J
919-617-1123 mobile
www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei

Duke Entrepreneurship Links:
- Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
- A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs: www.dukeVEN.com
- Weekly Education Series - www.dukeDEES.com
- Connect with Duke Entrepreneurs - www.dukegen.com
- Find a startup - www.startupmatchmaker.blogspot.com
- Duke Start-Up Challenge - www.dukestartupchallenge.org
- Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club - www.dukeevcc.com
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/EshipAtDuke
- Entering the Duke Start-Up Challenge? See example business plans - email me for a copy of Business Plan Pro (advert)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Fwd: Intent To Compete Requested Next Week - University of San Francisco Business Plan Competition

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USF Bplan <usfbplan@usfca.edu>
Date: Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Subject: Intent To Compete Requested ** Next Week ** - University of San Francisco Business Plan Competition
To: bbonthron@usfca.edu, cannice@usfca.edu, csbaradello@usfca.edu

(Enclosed .pdf suitable for forwarding or posting)

Intent To Compete Requested ** Next Week ** - University of San Francisco Business Plan Competition

Dear Faculty and Entrepreneurship Program Directors,

Please consider submitting a highly qualified, venture capital ready team to the 2010 USF Business Plan Competition to be held March 25th-26th in San Francisco.

A brief (150 words or less) non-binding Intent to Compete is due December 1st. This submission enables the contest team and our Venture Capitalist review committee to better understand the level of interest from teams and Universities.

New this year:

- Keynote by Geoffrey Moore - Partner Mohr Davidow Ventures; Managing Director, TCG Advisors

o Geoffrey Moore is a best-selling author, and is widely recognized for his expertise in market development and business and investment strategies. He serves as an advisor to many of MDV's portfolio companies, is the founder of The Chasm Group, and a Managing Director of TCG Advisors.
Geoffrey has made the understanding and effective exploitation of disruptive technologies the core of his life's work. His books, Crossing the Chasm, Inside the Tornado, The Gorilla Game, Living on the Fault Line, and Dealing with Darwin are best sellers and required reading at leading business schools.

- Venture Capitalist & Angel Investor panel discussion moderated by Geoffrey Moore

- Morning of practical workshops given by Silicon Valley Venture Practitioners - subjects may include IP protection, raising VC funds, attracting Angel funding, pitching and developing "Silicon Valley grade" business plans

- Expanding to 24 Teams - more opportunity!

And, of course, no change to our unparalleled access to Silicon Valley and its unique culture.

Improve your student's experience and their chances of success.

Businesses Start Here

Questions: usfbplan@usfca.edu <mailto:usfbplan@usfca.edu>

Register online - Intent to Compete <http://web.usfca.edu/templates/bps_international.aspx?id=2147490313>

Information: www.businessplancompetition.org <http://www.businessplancompetition.org/>

VC Class from Bill Brown

From our friend Bill Brown in the Law School:

It occurred to me that some of the students might be interested in a class I am teaching next semester. Mergers & Acquisitions: Venture Capital, Private Equity and Entrepreneurship. http://www.law.duke.edu/curriculum/courseinfo/course?id=247 It is MW 1:30-2:50. We will use case studies that will focus on the business, finance, tax, corporate and IP matters relating to

--Start-Ups

--VC rounds

--Buy-outs of mature companies/divisions

--Roll-ups (consolidating fragmented industries)

--Financing over-leveraged/troubled companies

--Exit strategies

--Management compensation

Syllabus from last year is attached.

I currently have a couple of Fuqua students enrolled and would welcome other interested students.

Again, congratulations!

Best regards,

Bill

Bill Brown

DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

Science Drive and Towerview Road

Box 90360

Durham, NC 27708-0360

919 613-8517

Monday, November 9, 2009

Fwd: $20,000 grants from NCIIA for student technology projects

Grant money available to student startups. Thanks to Barry for forwarding

-Howie

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	$20,000 grants from NCIIA for student technology projects
Resent-Date:	Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:46:24 -0500
Resent-From:	bsm@duke.edu
Date:	Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:46:22 -0500
From:	Rachel Agoglia <ragoglia@nciia.org>
To:	<barry.myers@duke.edu>, <april.brown@duke.edu>

Dear Barry and April,

I hope this email finds you well.

As a recent recipient of NCIIA sponsorship funds, I would like to encourage you to share this opportunity for Advanced E-Team funding with your network.

NCIIA's Advanced E-Team grants deadline is just 4 weeks away, on Friday, December 4.

Advanced E-Team grants fund up to $20,000 to help student teams take their innovative ideas out of the classroom and/or lab to prototype, and eventually to market. Students can leverage NCIIA funds to launch a venture if their idea includes technological innovation, commercial potential, and positive social impact. Teams must be comprised of at least two graduate or undergraduate students, and a faculty advisor.

Here are some helpful links:

Advanced E-Team Grant Information: http://nciia.org/grants/eteam

Grant Guidelines: http://nciia.org/grants/eteam/guidelines

Please include information about this grant opportunity in any upcoming bulletins, newsletters, and forums and help us get the word out to any students you know who are developing innovative technologies! We'd welcome the opportunity to review proposal abstracts or have conversations with anyone who might be interested in applying.

All the best,

Rachel

Rachel Agoglia

Grants Coordinator

NCIIA

100 Venture Way

Hadley, MA 01035

413-587-2172 (p)

413-587-2175 (f)

ragoglia@nciia.org

www.nciia.org

--  Barry Myers MD PhD MBA  Prof. & Sr. Assoc. Dean Pratt School of Engineering Director Duke Center for Entrepreneurship, www.cerc.duke.edu Associate Director of Emerging Programs, DTRI  Rm 267 Hudson Engineering Annex Box 90281, Durham NC 27708-0281 (919) 660-5150 (o) (919) 684-4488 (fax)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fwd: US Dept of Education attracts B-School Alumni

Of interest to those of you interested in Education.

-Howie

On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM, Booker, C. <cb@broadcenter.org> wrote:

Dear Howard,

As you may know, The Broad Residency in Urban Education is focused on improving public education by placing business professionals into high-impact full-time paid management positions in the education industry. Many of the participants come from top graduate schools (Kellogg, Fuqua, Stanford, HBS).

We recently broadened our placements beyond school districts and charter organizations to include the US Department of Education. Can you help us by spreading the word to those in your network interested in management careers in the social sector?

We now also accept any graduate degree (as long as they have business work experience). Anyone interested may contact me directly or visit our website to apply (www.broadresidency.org).

Below my signature is an overview of The Broad Residency. Following is a link to a recent article about The Broad Residency in US News and World Report:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/08/21/a-new-path-to-a-career-in-education.html?PageNr=1

Thank you for helping us raise awareness.

Chaka Booker

Director, Recruitment and Selection

the

broad center

10900 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90024

cb@broadcenter.org

(Find us on Facebook)

The Broad Residency in Urban Education is a leadership development program that places participants in full-time paid managerial positions at the top levels of urban school districts, charter management organizations, and the US Dept of Education. Broad Residents assume highly visible roles reporting to superintendents, COOs or top cabinet members and earn starting salaries of $85,000 to $95,000 with full benefits.

They lead major projects that require superb analytical skills and the ability to manage projects and teams. Working within the system, participants are well-positioned to lead the transformation required to ensure that every American child receives a world-class education. A sampling of Broad Residents' accomplishments include:

Saved $3 million per classroom by decreasing materials costs on 23 classrooms

Reduced cycle time for textbook purchasing by three months, assuring that schools now receive 98 percent of textbooks before the start-of-school

Decreased new hire process time from two weeks to four days

Simultaneous to job placement, Broad Residents receive two years of intensive professional development and join a national network of education leaders. This provides the support needed to transition into a management career that truly makes an impact.

(To be removed from our mailing list, simply reply to this email with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.)

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Room E167J
919-617-1123 mobile
hwr2@duke.edu
www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei

Watch our video: www.fuqua.duke.edu/wakeup

Duke Entrepreneurship Links:
- Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
- A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs: www.dukeVEN.com
- Weekly Education Series - www.dukeDEES.com
- Connect with Duke Entrepreneurs - www.dukegen.com
- Find a startup - www.startupmatchmaker.blogspot.com
- Duke Start-Up Challenge - www.dukestartupchallenge.org
- Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club - www.dukeevcc.com
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/EshipAtDuke
- Entering the Duke Start-Up Challenge? See example business plans - email me for a copy of Business Plan Pro (advert)

Friday, October 16, 2009

Fwd: Seeking Innovative Change-Makers: Application Now Being Accepted

From our friends in ELI over in PUblic Policy.

Howie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Della Mckinnon <dom2@duke.edu>
Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Subject: Seeking Innovative Change-Makers: Application Now Being Accepted
To: "hwr2@duke.edu" <hwr2@duke.edu>

Dear Howie,

We believe that your students may be potential candidates for the following program – given our focus on social innovation, entrepreneurship, public service, and leadership development. We would greatly appreciate it if you could forward the below message with the attachments to your student list serve. Please contact us with the names of any well qualified candidates.

***************************************************************************************************************

Are you ready for a transformative leadership development experience?

Are you ready to make a difference in the world?

Do you want to connect with a community of social innovators and fellow change-makers?

Then ELI wants to connect with you!

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative (ELI) within the Hart Leadership Program at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy is currently accepting applications. ELI challenges students to create innovative solutions to community and global problems through passion, persistence and skilled leadership. Qualified applicants will:

1) Make a significant contribution to the diversity of thinking, attitudes, and experiences of PPS 194 and other ELI opportunities;
2) Possess an action-oriented, entrepreneurial mindset;
3) Demonstrate a deep commitment to making the most of the ELI experience
4) Possess the creativity, competence and character to lead an project and see it through to completion.

ELI is a transformative learning and leadership development experience that contributes to measurable community impact to social issues. Members of ELI's 2010 class will work in teams to design and launch innovative social sector projects addressing the target areas of education, health, the environment, and economic empowerment with a community partner in Durham.

The ELI experience begins with enrollment into PPS 194. Duke Engage funding is available for students to continue innovative projects over the summer. Summer trips to meet leading social entrepreneurs in Washington DC and New Orleans are planned. Following the summer experience, students enter a fall capstone seminar. During this course, students will continue working in small teams to develop business plans in partnership with community organizations and launch high-impact social enterprises.

Additional benefits include:
1) Access to ELI's all-star network of leading social entrepreneurs
2) Project funding, technical support and coaching through the ELI accelerator program
3) Ongoing professional development and personal mentorship opportunities.

We look forward to reviewing your application. Applications received after October 25th will not be considered. We will invite top applicants for interviews starting October 27th. To learn more about the ELI experience, come to our information session Thursday, October 22 at 7-8pm, in the Gray building room 228 (next to the Divinity School). Pizza will be served.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.sanford.duke.edu/eli/ or contact Della McKinnon at dom2@duke.edu or 919-613-7347.

Kind Regards,

Della

Della O. McKinnon, MS, MTS

ELI Social Enterprise Coordinator

Duke University

Hart Leadership Program

Sanford School of Public Policy Room 110

Box 90248

Durham, NC 27708

919-613-7347

919-681-8288 (fax)

web site: www.sanford.duke.edu/eli

Monday, October 5, 2009

NC IDEA Grant Program

The deadline has just passed for the Fall, but worth checking out for the next deadline.

This is a great program run by our friends at NC IDEA.

Howie

www.ncidea.org

Grant Program Description

NC IDEA provides small grants to high-tech start-up companies to support business activities that validate potential markets, reduce risk of early failure, and advance projects to the point of self-sustainability at which time they are suitable for private equity investment.

NC IDEA considers awarding grants to technology based businesses with the potential to become high-growth companies. NC IDEA defines a high growth company as a fast growing startup with a significant market size that will consider equity financing as part of their growth strategy.

NC IDEA has awarded over $1.3M in grants to help thirty-seven start-up companies in NC since the program's inception. NC IDEA targets high-tech companies that need help crossing the chasm between initial product development and venture capital funding.

$ Amount of Grants

NC IDEA awards grants up to $50,000.

Grant Cycle Frequency

NC IDEA makes grant solications twice per year. The Spring cycle typically opens in early January with Pre-Proposal applications due in late January. The Fall cycle typically opens in late August with Pre-Proposal applications due in mid September. Please check theGrant Timeline for the current cycle schedule.

# of Grants Awarded

NC IDEA awards grants to 4-6 companies each cycle.

Marketing Strategist position for SureMilk

Marketing Strategist

Company Profile

SureMilk was founded in 2007 with the mission to empower mothers to be more comfortable, confident, and knowledgeable about nursing and to improve the care given to infants -- especially that given to under-weight infants, premature babies, and those with "failure to thrive" diagnoses -- and to ensure that mothers are given the most up-to-date information about the health of their child and themselves. We have a portfolio of home diagnostic devices for the infant care market, and still more in development. SureMilk plans to begin selling the first of these products within the next six months and believe we can become a dominant player within a few years by providing products that answers common questions that new parents have. Our dynamic working environment allows employees to participate in a young startup with all the excitement that entails.

Position Description

SureMilk is looking for someone to develop and execute a marketing plan. As a startup with a portfolio of products and IP you will have the opportunity to take control of all aspects of the marketing functions. The responsibilities of this position include:

Design and conduct market analysis and produce a marketing plan.
Develop a distribution strategy for SureMilk's innovative products and put your plan into action by contracting with distributors.
Assist and provide recommendations in the development of new ideas and products.

Start date and weekly time requirements are flexible and you will have ample time to ease into the position. Salary and equity are commensurate with experience and position within the company. Much of the work could be done from home but occasional trips to our office in Research Triangle Park would be required. While we initially seek an intern, the position could grow into full-time in the future if both parties are amenable to such a transition.

Position Qualifications

Candidate should be comfortable working in a newly established company, and most importantly, have interest in the infant care market and a commitment to helping solve the problems that new mothers face every day. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with excellent organizational and planning abilities. The candidate must be comfortable framing problems and determining what must be done to solve them. Being a people-person with communication skills is a must.

Please send your resume to hr@suremilk.com

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Clean Energy Technology Research Opportunity

Position: Research Analyst

Start Date: Now

Time Commitment: Part time

Compensation: To be determined based upon expertise and experience

About Us: Palmer Labs and 8 Rivers Capital were founded by Duke's own Professor Bill Brown and Dr. Miles Palmer of MIT to create, develop, and commercialize technologies that will change the world. Palmer Labs currently has patent pending technologies in the SmartGrid, bio-fuel, and power generation fields. Our first major project and where your expertise is needed is in the development and commercialization of a revolutionary clean power generation system.

Job Description: We are looking for intelligent individuals with proven backgrounds in chemistry, engineering, and clean energy. Palmer Labs' patent pending technologies utilize high temperatures and pressures to combust cleanly and enable capture of reaction byproducts. We need scientifically oriented individuals who can work directly with the inventor to analyze, model, and optimize this high temperature combustion process.

Required Qualifications: Individuals interested in working with Palmer Labs and 8 Rivers Capital should be highly motivated innovative thinkers with technical backgrounds in science and engineering. Preferred candidates would have completed either graduate studies or have work experience in combustion engineering, energy technology, power plant design and operation, industrial chemistry, thermochemistry, or materials science. Experience with modeling software such as ASPEN, SolidWorks, CAD, MatLab, Thermoflow, LaTex, or an equivalent is a plus but not a prerequisite.

If you think you are interested in joining our team please send and email briefly explaining your interest in Palmer Labs and 8 Rivers Capital, any relevant publications you have authored, a list of references, and your resume to jobs@8riverscapital.com.

For more information on Palmer Labs and 8 Rivers Capital please visit www.palmerlabs.com and www.8riverscapital.com.

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Room E167J
919-617-1123 mobile
hwr2@duke.edu
www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei

Watch our video: www.fuqua.duke.edu/wakeup

Duke Entrepreneurship Links:
- Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
- A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs: www.dukeVEN.com
- Weekly Education Series - www.dukeDEES.com
- Connect with Duke Entrepreneurs - www.dukegen.com
- Find a startup - www.startupmatchmaker.blogspot.com
- Duke Start-Up Challenge - www.dukestartupchallenge.org
- Entrepreneurship Week - www.eweekatduke.com
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/EshipAtDuke
- Blog - www.howierhee.blogspot.com
- Photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/EshipAtDuke
- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/howierhee
- Entering the Duke Start-Up Challenge? See example business plans - email me for a copy of Business Plan Pro (advert)
- Resources from Intuit at http://smallbusinessunited.com (advert)
- Learn VC - www.learnvc.com (advertisement)

Fwd: Coming Soon! 2010 Dell Social Innovation Competition + Updates

We had two Duke teams compete last year - so something to consider. (Other competitions to consider are Columbia and Ideablob).

Howie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Heather Alden <heather.alden@mail.utexas.edu>
Date: Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Subject: Coming Soon! 2010 Dell Social Innovation Competition + Updates
To: "howrhee@gmail.com" <howrhee@gmail.com>

2010 Competition Opens Soon

The 2010 Dell Social Innovation Competition launches October 5. Undergraduate and graduate level students from any university or college in the world are eligible to enter. Students who entered the competition last year, but did not make the final round, can re-enter this year with your improved project.

The deadline for entry is March 1, 2010.

Past Winners Update

Jason Shah, finalist in the 2009 Dell Social Innovation Competition, continues to gain support and acclaim for his innovation named I Need A Pencil.com. Jason is a finalist in the Forbes Boost Your Business Competition and voting ends today.

Check out his project and vote for him now.

http://www.forbes.com/byb/2009/semi/boost-your-business-contest-09-i-need-a-pencil.html

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Room E167J
919-617-1123 mobile
hwr2@duke.edu
www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei

Watch our video: www.fuqua.duke.edu/wakeup

Duke Entrepreneurship Links:
- Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
- A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs: www.dukeVEN.com
- Weekly Education Series - www.dukeDEES.com
- Connect with Duke Entrepreneurs - www.dukegen.com
- Find a startup - www.startupmatchmaker.blogspot.com
- Duke Start-Up Challenge - www.dukestartupchallenge.org
- Entrepreneurship Week - www.eweekatduke.com
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/EshipAtDuke
- Blog - www.howierhee.blogspot.com
- Photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/EshipAtDuke
- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/howierhee
- Entering the Duke Start-Up Challenge? See example business plans - email me for a copy of Business Plan Pro (advert)
- Resources from Intuit at http://smallbusinessunited.com (advert)
- Learn VC - www.learnvc.com (advertisement)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

KBRT Solutions - Duke Start-up looking for MBA students

Healthcare technology start-up venture looking for interested student to help with business planning exercises. A Duke PhD student and Fuqua alum are in the process of building a business plan, including finalizing their business model strategy and financing approach for a Duke generated technology. Student involvement will include leveraging strategy, finance and marketing concepts to help grow the company. Preference for web skills, and prior experience in healthcare. Opportunity duration is 3-6 months, with follow-on work a strong possibility. Please contact them at kbrtsolutions@gmail.com

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Room E167J
919-617-1123 mobile
hwr2@duke.edu
www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei

Watch our video: www.fuqua.duke.edu/wakeup

Duke Entrepreneurship Links:
- Entrepreneurship at Duke - www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
- A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs: www.dukeVEN.com
- Weekly Education Series - www.dukeDEES.com
- Connect with Duke Entrepreneurs - www.dukegen.com
- Find a startup - www.startupmatchmaker.blogspot.com
- Duke Start-Up Challenge - www.dukestartupchallenge.org
- Entrepreneurship Week - www.eweekatduke.com
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/EshipAtDuke
- Blog - www.howierhee.blogspot.com
- Photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/EshipAtDuke
- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/howierhee
- Entering the Duke Start-Up Challenge? See example business plans - email me for a copy of Business Plan Pro (advert)
- Resources from Intuit at http://smallbusinessunited.com (advert)
- Learn VC - www.learnvc.com (advertisement)
- Let us know how we are doing! Provide some feedback here: http://tr.im/ylHE