by Loop Lonagan
Whadaya think happens when 15,000 people get behind the entrepreneurs in their own neighborhood? Good things—that’s what happens! Energy. Enthusiasm. Stuff gets done! Lemme tell you about it: Continue reading
Category Archives: High Tech
ARISE 2.0
Filed under Characters, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Politics, Poverty, Relationships, Startup Companies, Startups
THE QUICK NO
Adapted from the Journal of the Heartland Angels
By: Douglas Yau, PhD
When asked for funding, one of the most frustrating things investors do to a startup company is give them the “Slow No.” What I mean by this is dragging on the process of evaluating, requesting more information, and setting up teleconferences for weeks or months without a clear process for making the decision to invest. Continue reading
Filed under Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
THE ANGEL EDGE
Adapted from the Journal of the Heartland Angels
Part 1 – by John Jonelis
Is an Angel a fool?
In the world of private equity investing, the order of funding is supposed to go like this:
- Seed Round—that’s friends, family, and fools.
- Angel Round—that’s funding the big initial spurt of growth.
- Venture Round—that’s big funding for massive scaling.
Compare that stack-of-three (above) to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Notice that Angels make up the good stuff in the middle. And yes—according to studies by the Kauffman Foundation—Angels make the best money. Continue reading
Filed under Characters, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
CHICAGO SPEEDS UP
Adapted from the Journal of the Heartland Angels
By Michael Gardiner
Chicago’s startup scene has grown dramatically in recent years. That includes a rapid increase in local accelerators, incubators, tech parks, and similar programs.
The term accelerator is used somewhat loosely, but the prototypical accelerator involves cohorts of between 10 and 20 startups that spend three to four months in a common physical location. Accelerators are sponsoring organizations that provide startups with a combination of small cash investments, intense mentoring, formal and informal networking opportunities, and organized investor pitch events—all designed to dramatically “accelerate” a startup’s development. Typically, graduating companies immediately seek a significant angel investment or venture “A” round funding. Continue reading
Filed under Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
FROM ZERO TO HERO
Marketing Success Secrets for Tech Startups
By John Ortbal
It is estimated that 40 percent of venture backed companies fail; 40 percent return moderate amounts of capital; and only 20 percent or less produce high returns. It is the small percentage of high return deals that are most responsible for the venture capital industry consistently performing above the public markets. So what separates the zeroes from the heroes? Continue reading
Filed under Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Influence, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
THINK LIKE A ZOMBIE
Brain Tech – Part 3
Adapted from the Journal of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Chicago
John Jonelis;
A highly experienced parachute instructor wanted to film his students. (This actually happened in the ‘90s.) “He clips the camera to his visor and carries the rest of the unit on his back. Then he does everything the same as always. But on his way down, he reaches for the ripcord and it’s not there. He forgot his parachute.” How can that happen to a seasoned instructor? What caused the fatal mistake?
In our daily lives, why do we get frustrated? Why do we get upset? The answer lies in the lesson of the parachute. Continue reading
Filed under Conflict, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
THINK FAST
Brain Tech – Part 3
Adapted from the Journal of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Chicago
John Jonelis
“I must’ve walked down that alley 100 times, but for some reason something told me I shouldn’t go down there.” But the Marine dismisses the thought and carries on with his mission. Next, he gets blown up. Continue reading
Filed under Conflict, Death, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Games, High Tech, Low Tech, Politics, Startup Companies, Startups
CHECKBOXES FOR FUNDING
Brain Tech – Part 2
Adapted from the Journal of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Chicago
John Jonelis
Daniel DiLorenzo came up with a concise list of what’s needed to succeed in fund raising. He filled in all the blanks before approaching venture capital. He was highly successful at gaining great gobs money.
Filed under Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
WHAT MAKES INNOVATION?
Brain Tech – Part 1
Adapted from the Journal of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Chicago
John Jonelis
A member of the audience asks the entrepreneur, “What made you go after private equity? Didn’t you think of partnering with a large manufacturer?”
The speaker’s answer is abrupt and final. “NEVER,” he says. “I wanted to see this through fruition.”
Dr. Daniel DiLorenzo is the founder of NeroVista, a cutting-edge medical device company in Seattle that’s out to put a lid on Epilepsy. His comments are for an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and PhDs assembled at the MIT Enterprise Forum, Chicago. This guy gives insights that I find both lucid and striking—insights on innovation that clear away the cobwebs—that make you sit up straight and say, “Yes!” Continue reading
Filed under Biography, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
HOW TO CHOOSE AN ANGEL GROUP
Three Key Questions
John Jonelis
It’s crucial for an Angel Investor to leverage the strengths of a group. Great groups are out there but how do you identify them? Here are three key questions: Continue reading
Filed under Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
GOODBYE DR ALZHEIMER
Adapted from the Journal of the Heartland Angels
By John Jonelis
ADMdx has pioneered a new science to help big pharma wipe out Alzheimer’s disease. With a mission that huge, they can pivot and adjust, yet never stray from their course. I’m talking to their CEO, Dawn Matthews and her first statement knocks my socks off. Continue reading
Filed under Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Startup Companies, Startups
TOUGH LOVE
Techbash – Part 5
John Jonelis
This is a story about raw love. Tough. Rugged. Unashamed.
I’m at i.c.stars—the premier social incubator in Chicago—and I find myself a bit overwhelmed by it all. I stop in to thank Sandee Kastrul, their President and Co-founder and she pours me some hot coffee.
“I think,” She says, “that at the end of the day, there are three things that you should know about us:
- We’re positioned as an opportunity, not a charity.
- Rather than exploit our interns, we exploit our CIOs.
- We’re funded by the technology industry—not the government.
Those seem to me rather interesting assertions for a social venture. But she goes on to explain: Continue reading
Filed under Conflict, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Low Tech, Politics, Poverty, Relationships, Startup Companies, Startups, The Economy
The Gamemaker's Father 