Thursday, September 30, 2010

Software Engineer for Duke gaming startup

Hi all,

Neat opportunity for a software engineering student at Duke.  This is to work with Peter Lamar, a Fuqua student starting a gaming company. 

Howie

Software Engineer Opportunity

Are you interested in 3D gaming development?  Want to work on a ground breaking educational project in the medical field?

 

We are seeking 1-3 undergraduate engineers to assist in the development of a second proof of concept for a situation-based learning game that trains medical professionals. This is an exciting opportunity to work for a start-up company developing a serious game that is unlike anything that currently exists!

 

We believe we have identified a great opportunity to develop a scalable solution to the current education challenges facing the US Medical system.  Come work and train with an experienced Electronic Arts video game developer who made the Madden series.  In addition, our team includes MBA students at the Fuqua School of Business with expertise in medical device engineering, software product management, physician training, management consulting, as well as an experienced serial Entrepreneur from the alumni community.

This is a great opportunity if you are interested in video game development, simulation, and entrepreneurship.

 

Requirements:

·         Self driven

·         Enterprising

·         Innovative

·         Some experience with AI or Computer Graphics

·         Familiarity with the Unity platform

·         2 years experience with C++, C# or Javascript

We are willing to train the right candidate.

Background:

As a Computer Science major, I went to work for Electronic Arts on the Madden Team. After 3 years I joined a learning game startup called 360ed, where my team took a grant from the American Burn Association and implemented "Burn Center" (http://burncenter.360ed.com/), a medical learning game targeted to Doctors and First Responders. This game was a hit and went on to win at IITSEC 2008 in the serious games competition. 360ed returned to its charter to deliver k-12 solutions, and I am interested in starting a company to continue where Burn Center left off, creating learning simulations for various audiences within Healthcare. I have recently started my MBA at Duke and recruited a team which is currently developing this business opportunity.

 

Please respond to: peter.lamar@fuqua.duke.edu


--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Fwd: Opportunity for P4E - Artificial Intelligence Patents Ltd

Please see the description below regarding a company looking to connect with a few Fuqua and other Duke students. This could make an excellent P4E project for the spring. Please contact Sharon Belenzon: sharon.belenzon@duke.edu

Jon
(sent by Howie)

Artificial Intelligence Patents Ltd 

Intellectual property is central to corporations' growth and prosperity. The number of patent applications has risen drastically in the past decade reaching close to 1 million new applications per year in the United States and Europe alone. Patent application filings have risen at an annual rate of 4.7% since 1995. To be granted, a patent application has to demonstrate novelty and non-obviousness. To determine whether a new patent application is indeed novel and non-obvious, the patent examiner searches for related prior-art in other patent documents and public sources. 

What is the problem? 

The search for prior-art spans million of patent documents. The main challenge for automated prior-art search is how to identify scientific relations, based on textual features for large scale datasets of patent documents. Related scientific ideas usually include different terminology. Determining the conceptual relatedness of words and technical phrases requires specialized professional knowledge and evaluations of hundred of thousands related technologies. 

What is the current market solution? 

Several for-fee and not for-fee patent search engines have emerged in the past few years. Leading prior-art search engines are: USPTO, EPO, Google Patent, Dialog, Delphion, and FreePatentsOnline.com. These engines are based on textual similarity indices (mostly key-words) which assume that patents are more related as their textual overlap rises. 

Why does the market solution fail? 

There are three main reasons for why existing textual search engines perform poorly. First, inventors have an incentive to phrase their inventions in a manner that would be as distant as possible from the text of the most related prior-art, hoping this would mitigate the risk the application would be rejected by the examiner. Second, the textual domain used to describe scientific concepts is typically large. Therefore, similar inventions are likely to be described in different ways. Third, in numerous cases the prior-art stated by the patent examiner is from different technology areas than the application itself, where the textual overlap between the prior-art and the application is usually low. 

What is our solution? 

We develop a novel proprietary database that includes concepts that have been proven to be scientifically related. This database is a "dictionary" of terms that indicates the relevancy of one term to the technical problem that is described by other terms. Using artificial intelligence algorithms we develop a "trained" search engine that investigates the conceptual relationship between patent documents as implied by the ideas they contain, as opposed to their textual overlap. Alpha-version tests show that our search engine substantially improves the predictive ability of competing engines in identifying patent applications that are rejected by examiners. 



--
Jon Fjeld, Ph.D.
Professor of the Practice, Strategy
Executive Director
Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
(919) 660-8052
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei/

Entrepreneurship at Duke: www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs:  http://www.dukeven.com/





--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Interns: Sandbox in Chicago

Hey all,

See attached for a VC/Incubator internship in Chicago.
It's also possible there are similar positions at LaunchBox (Durham), and Shotput (Atlanta, run by Duke alum David Cummings). 

Also, there are plenty of others, but for those of you interested in Chicago, see below.

Howie


From:        "Danny Levi" <Danny@sandboxindustries.com>
To:      
Date:        09/22/2010 04:59 PM
Subject:        Fuqua






 
Attached please find the job posting that we are going to use to get a few MBA interns for the summer. If you wouldn't mind passing this along to your friend at Fuqua and putting us in touch, that would be great. I will probably also post this to the standard Fuqua internship forum, but we are definitely looking for the students most interested in entrepreneurship. We are targeting the top business schools and ideally taking a total of 4-6 students, so there could be a decent amount of competition for the spot – I'm not sure how competitive it has been in the past, but hopefully we can attract top talent. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks a ton and talk to you soon.
 
Best Regards,
 
Danny
 

Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01CB0D81.8A055A60  Danny levi
Project Manager

Sandbox Industries

312-228-4652 (w)
773-791-3953 (m)

danny@sandboxindustries.com
http://www.sandboxindustries.com

 
 
The information contained in this communication is confidential and intended only for the use of the recipient named above, and may be legally privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please resend it to the sender and delete the original message and copy of it from your computer system. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to our official business should be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the company.




--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Match with startup ideas in the Program for Entrepreneurs

Hi everyone,

The Program for Entrepreneurs (P4E) lets Duke students receive course credit towards starting a company.
The following teams are in the Program for Entrepreneurs, assuming they can register with at least two students.

Most teams are full, but if you see an idea that interests you, reach out to the team lead and see if you can possibly join their team.  This is at the team lead's discretion.

The first course starts in mid-October and is called New Ventures 1: Opportunity Evaluation.
Students from all of the schools at Duke (undergrad, grad, professional) are encouraged to join teams.  Most students can receive course credit, if they are on a team.

The list of active projects is below.
Incoming Projects (Class of 2012)

These projects are in so far, assuming they can register two students:
  • K Kane
    • K Kane is a fine jewelry line whose pieces are as unique as the individuals who wear them. 
    • Contact kate.kane@fuqua.duke.edu
  • Watu Research
    • Watu Research conducts mobile phone surveys in developing countries, helping organizations identify demand, monitor and evaluate programs, reduce the overhead costs of data collection, and drastically increase response times.  
    • Contact steve.moses@fuqua.duke.edu 
  • Golf&Fly
  • Nonprofit Grants Finder
  • Academia
  • Autoextract
  • LifeDash
    • LifeDash is an online dashboard that enables users to manage online accounts in a single place, focusing on only the important account-related data. In addition to account management, we provide users with targeted high-value daily deals based on their interests and transactions. 
    • Contact ted.getten@duke.edu
  • Medical Learning Games
    • Scenario based medical simulations with gaming elements to enhance engagement and learning. 
    • Contact peter.lamar@duke.edu
  • Salsa Timoteo
  • Good Groceries
    • Allow grocery shoppers to optimize their shopping by linking grocery store databases to a database of health information about all products. 
    • Contact Kevin.Howson@fuqua.duke.edu
  • Neolitics, Inc
    • Neolitics leverages a MOEMS-based chip, adapted for optical spectroscopy application, to provide process analytics for various sectors, particularly pharmaceuticals.  Given the chip-based design of the spectroscopy array, prototype device is 1/10th the size of standard systems, and is capable of dynamically referencing against a control sample, between readings. 
    • Contact ali.radfar@duke.edu
  • MoxMe! 
    • MoxMe! is an infrastructure for supporting group dynamics across a range of popular social networking and collaboration sites. 
    • Contact aju.joseph.john@fuqua.duke.edu

There were two events leading up to these selections, the Kickoff Event and the Idea Pitch Event.

Howie

--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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


Monday, September 20, 2010

Innovation Challenge

This may be of interest to some of you.

Howie

 

My name is Asher Spittler and I am the Director of The Innovation Challenge, the world's largest and most established MBA innovation competition.  I am writing to you today to let you know that our challenge is back and our eighth competition is now open for team and judge registration at: www.innovationchallenge.com.


The Innovation Challenge is a unique opportunity for graduate students to showcase their creative talents in front of their peers, school, sponsoring organizations and prospective employers.  Some of this year's highlights include:

  • Awarding $25,000 in cash and the title of "America's Most Innovative MBA Team!"

  • The Innovation Challenge will be held entirely online

  • Students from all US graduate programs are eligible to participate

  • Our new format provides a heightened experience for teams packed with valuable feedback, better interaction, and opportunities to network directly with sponsoring organizations that include Samsung Electronics, Shell Oil and their Jiffy Lube brand, and an anonymous sponsor whose interest lies in Social Innovation

Attached is the official invitation.  I hope you find our program beneficial and share the information with faculty and students.  Should you have any questions/concerns I am available at your convenience and would love to speak.  I can be reached at the contact information below and thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

All the best,

Asher Spittler


Asher Spittler

Director, Innovation Challenge

Idea Crossing, Inc.

3710 S. Robertson Blvd. Suite 212 | Culver City, CA 90232

Direct: 310.948.0356 | Fax: 323.924.9080 | Email: asher@innovationchallenge.com | www.innovationchallenge.com

Follow us at: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message by error, please delete it from your records.





Invitation to CE10

There is an open invitation for Duke students that might want to attend this event in Western North Carolina.  I think the strongest appeal will be for students that are considering living in Western North Carolina (and therefore developing a network out there).


-Howie


-------

 

CE10 is coming together well, and we have a very strong line-up of speakers and participants.

 

Our retreat website,  www.carolina-entrepreneur.com  is now fully up and running. On the website you will find:

 

1) Updated Schedule and Participation Information

2) Event Logistics

3) On-line registration and payment

 

Retreat Registration and Payment using our Website 

 

We encourage you to use the website to register and pay for attending the retreat. If you have confirmed either by email or verbally that you will be attending, we need you to complete the registration and payment process online. 

 

As part of the online registration process, you will be asked to provide some biographical information about yourself.  This information is confidential and will only be accessible to other CE10 participants.  By providing your information the participants will be able to have a more meaningful experience.   Going forward you will also find suggested reading materials that have been posted by other CE10 participants.  

 

 

Retreat Registration and Payment by Mail

 

If you prefer to pay by check and mail it in, you can do so as well.  The details are as follows:

 

  • Make out your check to – Carolina Financial Group – in the amount that coincides with your choice on the Retreat Fee Schedule found on the CE 10 invitation.
  • Please include also your contact information and name of spouse or guest who may be joining you.
  • If your check is a company check, please include your name with it.
  • Mail it to:
    • Carolina Financial Group
    • P.O. Box 1076
    • Brevard, NC 28712
    • Attn. Carolina Entrepreneur 2010

 

 

 

Lodging 

 

Contact the Highland Lake Inn separately regarding your room reservation. 

 

Highland Lake Inn Front Desk - 1-800-635-5101.

 

If you have specific questions, do not hesitate to contact either:

Pierce Johnson or Marilyn Garren at CFG:

828.393.0088

 

 

We look forward to seeing you in October.




--
Jon Fjeld, Ph.D.
Professor of the Practice, Strategy
Executive Director
Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
(919) 660-8052
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei/

Entrepreneurship at Duke: www.EntrepreneurshipAtDuke.com
A Duke Resource for Entrepreneurs:  http://www.dukeven.com/



--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Consumer Internet startup team seeking students

Hey everybody,


This comes from Jonathan Lee, a second year at Fuqua, who interned at GetSatisfaction this past summer and also worked with angel investors Freestyle Capital last year.  I heard his idea and like it.


Check it out.


-Howie


 

Who we are:

 

Team member # 1 is a Duke MBA student w/ a VC & strategy consulting background, and biz dev experience in Internet start-ups.

Team member # 2 is a Duke CS student w/ all-star programming talent and is responsible for back-end development.

Team member #3 is a Duke MBA alum currently doing biz dev at Yahoo.

We're all extremely motivated entrepreneurs with a great network of advisors and investors.

 

Idea:

 

We have a solid concept that will connect customers with local businesses by providing customers discounts while driving sales volume for businesses (We're NOT a Groupon clone, not even remotely close.). There's currently a strong momentum in the online-to-offline commerce and we want to take advantage of it by approaching it from a different angle than what we've seen. We've started developing the site and we need your help to take it to the next level.

 

You:

 

- Proven competency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript- and understanding of their benefits and shortcomings.

- A strong knowledge of other programming languages, tools, and platforms, such as HTML5, Flash, and Rails is a big plus.

- Work diligently with minimum supervision while prioritizing effectively and responding quickly to business needs.

- Have or are working toward a CS degree (BS or MS) or possess equivalent technical experience.

- At least 1 year of experience in web development (have examples)

- Live near Duke or San Francisco. If not, open to the idea of eventually relocating. We'd like to be able to see you in person.

- A good eye for design and user experience is a huge plus.

- Insanely entrepreneurial and ridiculously hungry to get this company off the ground as one of the founding members

 

We strongly prefer to pay you in equity as we are still very early and want to motivate you with a "team" mentality. However, we can be flexible, within reason, to other pay structures.

 

Please contact Jonathan (jyl13 [at] duke [dot] edu) if you are interested in learning more about the opportunity.

 

Thanks,

Jonathan

 




--
Howie Rhee, MBA
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Office A236
919-617-1123 Google Voice / Mobile
919-660-1929 Office

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