Tag: Startups

Why is the WPI Venture Forum so Important?

Why did the WPI Venture Forum matter so much?

Without getting into too many specifics, let’s just say I know where I’m going to be on Tuesday, November 9th.

WPI Venture Forum.

Wish us luck.

Twelve Years Later, the WPI Venture Forum

It’s great to see that this venue and this concept are still around, over a decade later! However, it is under a new name.

Now, you should just call it The Venture Forum.

Much like it was back in the day, this is a way for promising local startups to connect with people who want to help them get business financing. And… just maybe get capital from others.  It does not seem to be a place to connect with venture capital firms.

But I admit that I could certainly be wrong about that.

Startups and Money

I have written about this before, but it sure as hell bears repeating.

1. The best gift that anyone can offer startups is money. Advice and expertise are great, and they are helpful, but it all pales in the face of do re mi. And while startup competitions may not want (or, truly, be able) to part with too much of it, it is money that is most needed because, to truly succeed, someone has to quit their day job. You know, the thing I just got a few weeks ago? Yeah. Someone has to take a flying leap into outer space – but that person still needs to be able to afford ramen and a futon.
2. Speaking of ramen and futons, the startup game is, often, played by the young. This is not to say that those of us who were born during the Kennedy Administration have naught to offer. Rather, it is that we have mortgages. We may have children. We have lives that often require more than minimal Connector-style health insurance. We may have aging parents, credit card debt or any number of things that make living off ramen, on a futon, nigh impossible.

Startups and Those of Us Who Are No Longer in Our Twenties

Or thirties, forties, or fifties.

Ouch.

The world of startups most definitely has two settings. Either you are a go-for-broke, you don’t know what you’re doing but you’re getting there fast company (Neuron!). Or, you have a decided plan and a purpose, and you are getting into it with some measure of gravity and patience.

Guess which kind of business is more likely to succeed?

And guess which kind of business is more likely to be founded by engineers?

Can you see the disconnect there?

Engineering + Business FTW

What do startups need? Money. And what do business majors and new graduates need? A place to tout.

So, why not introduce the folks at engineering schools like WPI, Wentworth, or MIT to the business folks at Harvard, BU, and Tufts?

And then maybe everybody could go home happy.

What’s All This About TEDxBoston?

My company is presenting there! Where? TEDxBoston!

Wanna say hi? Then swing on over to our registration page and register (it’s free).

July 27th, 6 – 9 PM, Microsoft NERD Center (1 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA). 11th floor.

Or, if you like, watch the webcast, at Neuron.

Our hashtag is #NRBR.

Be there. Aloha.

What is TEDxBoston?

Here it is, about twelve and a half years later, and I realize now that I never actually said what the event is.

So, here goes.

TED Talks has an offshoot called TEDx. After the x is always the name of a city or school. Essentially, this is the venue. For here, of course, it is TEDxBoston.

However, these events are more of a grass roots nature versus regular old TED Talks.

What’s the Difference Versus TED Talks?

Well, for one, it’s the level of fame for the person talking.

Real TED Talks (the original kind, that is) are the kinds of stuff that Bill Gates does. You invite Jane Goodall to do a TED Talk, or maybe, heh, Ted Turner. But TEDx Talks are more local.

In a way, you can think of them as the difference between a regular old Google search and Google’s local search functionality. For a recipe to make pizza, you use the former. And, it’s huge! But for a local pizza delivery place, you use the latter. And now, there are a lot fewer hits. But they are right on target.

And it’s a Meme, Too!

Seriously. And a lot of that has to do with a bit of perceived snootiness.

But it is also due to the phrase, “Thank you (or thanks) for coming to my TED Talk,” being a great way to end an announcement or a statement.

So, it’s a little bit like quod erat demonstratum. Just without the fancy-shmancy Latin.

And when it comes to talking about my blog—you guessed it!

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

So, How Did Our First Event Go? Be Honest.

Last night, I helped host our first event to promote Neuron Robotics. Our first idea from it was to provide considerably more notice. This is because we could have promoted it better. We could have had a listing on a good half dozen or so calendars.

It wasn’t a bad first event. Just not promoted too well.

But On a Personal Note

I also learned that the really high heels look good, but I pay for it the following day. I suppose I knew that already.

How Our First Event Really Went

My boss and I each brought a DyIO and we talked about not only it but also the Bowler Communications System (BCS). Our Development Lead, Kevin Harrington, did an excellent job explaining not only the system but also how the company was initially put together.

I think we impressed our guests. We were certainly impressed with our guests! Plus we had a great time — we just enjoy each others’ company.

Thank You!

A special thank you and shout out to the lovely Paula who joined and supported us. Thanks, Paula!

And thank you for reading. We’ll have another event soon!

With the Gift of Hindsight

About twelve and a half years later, I can honestly say that the first event was… okay. Considering that we had nearly no preparation or promotions, that is.

But, like with so many other aspects of Neuron Robotics’ brief existence, one thing stands out.

And that one thing is the opportunities we missed.

We had a chance for some local techie press. At least, to get a mention in some blogs. But… nothing.

We had a chance to sell some units. Yet again… nothing.

Again, as I have noted oh so many times before, Neuron desperately needed an adult in the room. But there was no one to be found.

And again, in retrospect, it should have been me. Ah, well.

And Another Thing

In a world full of neurodivergent folks, there was probably no one who was truly neurotypical! Maybe Paula, as I remember her. Certainly Bob’s girlfriend (who is now his lovely wife).

But in the core? Nope.