Modern economic growth is driven by innovation and technology. In partnership with the Colorado Business Roundtable, this issue of ICOSA Magazine explores some of these topics in an attempt to inform and inspire leaders here in Colorado and beyond.
Children in the Hot Seat
We've all heard the tragic stories of a child being left in a hot car, and the horrifying results. On average in the United States, 40 children die each year, left in hot cars. Due to the combination of hot summer temperatures, and the notorious lack of shade in most parking lots - the temperature inside a car can heat up from a safe temperature to 94.3 in just two minutes. After an hour, the inside of a car could be 123 degrees, on just an 80 degree day.
Albuquerque, New Mexico high school student Alissa Chavez (17), has invented a device to alert parents if their baby is left in the car. Heartbroken over news of children left to die in their car seats, Alissa set out to create an effective warning system. Her design includes a pad that slips into the seat of an infant or child car seat, which detects both the weight of a child and increased heat levels. If the seat starts to get hot, an alarm goes off on a key fob, on your cell phone via a related app, and in your car to alert passersby.
The project started as an eighth grade science fair project that took her to regional and state level competitions. Since then she's been working with engineers to perfect the design, and now a prototype for the product she calls the "Hot Seat".
Funds for development are being raised with crowdfunding source, Indigogo, which as of this writing, has well-exceeded the $5,000 goal with a total of nearly $14,000. Alissa hopes to launch the prototype by the end of this summer.
Watch a brief video of Alissa's presentation here.
For some, it's hard to believe that a parent or caregiver could forget about their child inside a car, but something as simple as a change in one's daily routine can throw off simple memory cues, like dropping of your child at day care. Until the Hot Seat is available nation wide, it's recommended to put something you need, like the left shoe you're wearing, or purse or cell phone in the back seat with the baby so you'll always be reminded.
Starto-The Passion Episode
-- scroll down for video of this episode -- Happy Valentine's Day Entrepreneurs!
Today we talk about a subject that every startup needs in order to be successful.
Passion.
What is it? Where does it come from? How do you get it back if you're feeling bored or tired?
Today's guest is Lori Cheek, Founder & CEO of @Cheekd & @Cheekdmate, architect, magician, hula hoop star & KY Wildcat.
We've also got tips & advice from Startup Entrepreneurs about how to build your company with lots of passion.
Here's the link to article mentioned on this show:
5 Tips to Help Reignite Your Passion http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/204336
Find a Mentor http://www.FindaMentor.org
Follow Us on Twitter @StartoTV
Like us on Facebook StartoTV
Subscribe to us on iTunes Starto-The Show for the Worldwide Entrepreneur
Send us your suggestions for upcoming episodes- [email protected]
A Very Special Starto Holiday Special... It's Special!
It's our 1st Annual StartoTV Holiday Spectacular!
Today, Joel Wishkovsky, co-founder and CEO of CardGnome.com joins Chris Franks & Sandy Grason in the Starto studios to talk about the latest news start-ups need to know this holiday season.
[youtube width="610" height="343" video_id="n07Kz_E97bY?rel=0"]
Special Thanks to:
Joel Wishkovsky- he is the co-founder and CEO of CardGnome.com, a startup in Boulder, Colo. that offers thousands of independently designed greeting cards for any occasion. Joel blogs about startups, (http://joelwish.com/), builds businesses, solves problems, and thinks creatively about the world around him. He loves mountaineering and traveling off the beaten track. Reach Joel via email [email protected] or on twitter via @JoelWish.
** Aksels.com - for Chris Franks' awesome wardrobe **
Here are the links to the stories we covered on this episode:
Are You Ready for the Digital Holiday Shopping Rush? (Infographic) http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225046#
Fast Company- 20 Tech Trends that will define 2013 http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671397/20-tech-trends-that-will-define-2013-selected-by-frog#1
Google's Top Search Terms of 2012: What's in It for Business Owners http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225278
Forbes- 7 Tech Gifts from Rising Startups http://www.forbes.com/sites/caroltice/2012/12/13/the-entrepreneurs-holiday-shopping-guide-7-tech-gifts-from-rising-startups/
3 Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping Over Mobile Devices http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225229
Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page “StartoTV” and follow us on Twitter @startotv-
Happy Holidays from the entire StartoTV Family!
When Start Up Innovations Crash Into Government Regulations
Chris Franks and Sandy Grason talk to Rachel Holt, General Manager of Uber in Washington DC and Lance Little of No. 8 Brands about how they've handled very different situations that both involved getting through the red tape of government regulations.[youtube width="560" height="315" video_id="Rbl3bU94W0"]
Here are links to the articles we discussed on this episode:
New York Times- A Feisty Start-Up Is Met With Regulatory Snarl http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/technology/app-maker-uber-hits-regulatory-snarl.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0
Feld Thoughts - Startup Visa- One Step Forward, One Step Back http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FeldThoughts/~3/weL0fC1b3fI/startup-visa-one-step-forward-one-step-back.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email
ABC News- Immigrant Creates U.S. Jobs, Gets Boot Over Visa http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/visa-problem-prevents-entrepreneur-creating-american-jobs/story?id=14857757#.UMpfG5Pjl75
Tech Crunch- Finally a Startup Visa That Works http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/14/finally-a-startup-visa-that-works
Gary V on Doing Sh*t!
Gary Vaynerchuk has quite a story. From nearly flunking out of school while making a small fortune selling baseball cards to becoming one of the best known names in the world of entrepreneurship to future owner of the New York Jets...He has quite a story and one that I got an opportunity to hear as I sat down with the man himself, moments before he took the stage for the kickoff event for Denver Startup Week. Can entrepreneurs be made or are they born? Is his son's name a secret nod to the Jets backup QB? Why do Americans spend time doing sh*t they despise?
We covered all this and more with Starto TV's Interview with Gary V.
WATCH ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS FROM THE KICKOFF LUNCHEON
HAPPY START UP WEEK DENVER!
How to Get Into Tech Stars
David Cohen tells Starto TV about this year's group of Tech Stars Founders and how to improve your chances of getting accepted into the accelerator that's harder to get into than Harvard.
Top Tips from David for getting into Tech Stars:
Do Stuff
It's about lines not dots
It's a relationship not an application
David Cohen on Tech Stars, Mentors & Life
The Starto TV team got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tech Stars facility and met some of this year's founders. David Cohen sat down with Sandy Grason and Chris Franks to share some wisdom, tips & advice and a few laughs. We talked about:
- the last time he was afraid
- what his average work day looks like
- how to tell if you're an entrepreneur or a wantrepreneur
- graceful failure
- how to choose a mentor
Some of my favorite quotes from David are:
You learn more from your failures than from your successes, for sure.
A lot of what Tech Stars is doing is teaching companies how to be better entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs do stuff and Wantrepreneurs talk about doing stuff.
Entrepreneurs run through walls.
Do what you love.
How Do You Start the Next Great American Company?
Starto Shorts: Great Companies are created by great entrepreneurs, this week we talk to Brad Feld & David Cohen about how you create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in your community. Brad Feld dropped by the garage to give us a sneak peek at his new book StartUp Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your Community, he explained one of his key ideas called The Boulder Thesis. Brad suggests that taking a long range, 20 year view and staying invested in your community will get you some pretty amazing results.
We also took a trip behind the scenes at Tech Stars, met some of this year's founders and sat down with David Cohen to learn more about what the last six years of working with new start ups has taught him.
Creating Climate Wealth - Press Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Rob Wyse – 212-920-1470
NEW BOOK CREATING CLIMATE WEALTH EXPLAINS HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LARGEST WEALTH CREATION OPPORTUNITY OF OUR TIME
Jigar helps entrepreneurs, investors, and climate enthusiasts discover how to unlock the $10 trillion necessary to solve climate change, through his new book Creating Climate Wealth, Unlocking the New Impact Economy.
Perplexed at the state of involvement both on the business and governmental side to initiate measures and capitalize on current investments, either through subsidies or merely providing an even platform for energy providers. Shah has never been more sure that the technology for cleantech and renewable solutions already exist and that we are not adequately exploiting these opportunities. “Everything that made SunEdison succeed was about business structure and not technology. The technology existed, we simply needed the right business model to get it adapted,” said Shah.
Sectioned out into easy-to-read chapters, Jigar answers the question why “small is beautiful” when it comes to projects of scale. How to understand the rules of mainstream capital investing and the complexities of trying to start a business through impact investing as well how are system of government is failing us through their roles in regulation and subsidy allocation.
Jigar’s thoughtful approach to business and the creation of SunEdison, are proof that there is a relationship between profits and impact. He approaches business the same way he approaches the climate, with great attention to sustainability and value. For Jigar, “it’s never been about money but rather an unshakeable belief in solutions.”
What others are saying:
“Everything Jigar has done proves that profits in energy aren’t just made in dirty fuels. Thanks to entrepreneurs like Jigar, climate change solutions are attracting investors, greener jobs are being created, and industries are saving big money on energy costs.” – Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group
“…Jigar Shah has the courage to see the crisis we face & the vision to come up with a solution. The ideas in this book, if implemented, could prevent the next mass extinction on our planet & create unprecedented wealth for those who pioneer this new phase for our civilization. “ – Deepak Chopra, Author
“With over 10,000 MWs of expensive new diesel engines installed last year in sub-Saharan Africa, this book provides essential insight to how mainstream capital can flow into climate friendlier ways to meet modern electricity needs while making compelling financial returns.” – Strive Masiyiwa, Founder of Econet Wireless & Board Member of The Rockefeller Foundation
“Shah shows that a new massive wealth opportunity is at our fingertips linking sustainability and economic development.” – Carl Pope, CEO of The Sierra Club
About Jigar Shah:
From an unassuming beginning, Jigar Shah became the person who unlocked a multi-billion dollar worldwide solar industry, not with a new technology, but with a business model innovation. This model created SunEdison, the largest solar services company worldwide.
Through SunEdison, Jigar discovered he could make positive change through business and financial model innovation in many industries. After SunEdison was sold in 2009, Jigar was appointed the first CEO of the Carbon War Room — the global organization founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite, to help entrepreneurs address climate change. The Carbon War Room, broadened and deepened Jigar’s global knowledge of the myriad of business solutions that will build the next economy.
Today, as CEO of Jigar Shah Consulting, he works with global companies in a multitude of industries to deploy existing clean energy solutions fueled by new business models.
Shah holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an MBA from The University of Maryland. He sits on the boards of the Carbon War Room, SolarNexus, KMR Infrastructure, and Empower Energies.
When Jigar is not busy exploring new business solutions for electricity, agriculture, building efficiency, clean transportation and other sectors, he can usually be found exploring new foods, new travels, or spending time with his family.
Books can be ordered currently on CreateSpace at www.createspace.com/4242808. To connect with Jigar Shah, please visit the following sites:
Website: http://www.climatewealth.co
Media Kit: http://creatingclimatewealth.co/mediakit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClimateWealth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JigarShahDC
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmnR-Ld8VQ&feature=share&list=UU9M0WC3uPj3eWebQ4DbsNeA
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