• Sponsors

    Gold SPONSOR

    • 1-Nebula Shift
    • 3-Idaho Technology Council
    • 3-Tsuvo Social
    • 2-Peppershock
    • 4-Red Sky Public Relations

    Contributing SPONSOR

    • 10-Coding Inertia
    • 12-Creative Soapbox
    • 13-Action Couriers
    Interested in Sponsoring? Contact us!

  • Location

    Water Cooler
    1401 W. Idaho St. Boise, ID 83702

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  • Friday Night Pitch

    Tutorial Startup Weekend Pitch
    View more presentations from START Vienna.

  • Organizers


    • Lisa McGrath Lisa McGrath

      Bio: @tweetmcg runs lisa mcgrath, llc, an exclusive flat fee law firm that focuses on solving legal problems related to social media and Web 2.0 execution, including privacy, advertising, domains, intellectual property, employment, and commercial law issues.

      She also advises law firms and companies on strategic social media use and is a frequent lecturer on Social Media & the Law. McGrath is a graduate of American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, DC. She is a former litigator in private practice, Capitol Hill Counsel, and previous law clerk for Chief Justice Daniel Eismann of the Idaho Supreme Court. If you're not asleep yet, McGrath co-founded Social Media Club Boise, is Chair of a Section of the Idaho State Bar, and helped organize Idaho Startup Weekend. And she kind of had a blast. She's here: www.iammcg.com

Idaho Startup Weekend 3 Drinks. Come talk about awesome before awesome happens.

Posted by lisa mcgrath

We’re going to be talking plans for world domination (aka, #IdahoSW3) at Bardenay, 5:30pm, 7/29 – and the soapbox is all yours.  Here’s what I’ve got rollin’ so far:

1)  Pre-Startup Weekend Orientation. Let’s give peeps a better idea what rad is before rad happens.

2)  Site/Blog revamp-ish to clarify what goes down at Startup Weekend for noobs.

3)  Logistics. Venue, structure, I know we’re solid on the PBR, but did you like our pizza?

4)  Stakeholders.  Who else can we bring in that will be of use to you as you bootstrap your way through the weekend.

We’re open like 7/11 to your feedback from Startup Weekend 2 and ideas for Startup Weekend 3, so if you’re in, holla here.

Cheers,

Lisa

Gofi.sh Wins 2nd Idaho Startup Weekend

Posted by lisa mcgrath

Our esteemed panel of judges unanimously chose Gofi.sh as the winner of the 2nd Idaho Startup Weekend. As such, the team will receive a number of in-kind donations from our more-than-generous sponsors to help them get off the ground.

In just 54 hours, this team — and five other teams — turned their idea into a viable business. That’s what Startup Weekend is all about!

Using your existing social networks, Gofi.sh is a buyer-driven game to get the best deals and advice on products and services. If Twitter is “What are you doing?” and Four Square is “Where are you?” then GoFi.sh is “What are you looking for?” You can find Gofi.sh on Twitter @gofishapp or at http://gofi.sh/.

As the winning team, here is what they will receive:

Nebula Shift, a startup at the razor’s edge of incubating successful software businesses, has offered four months of free office space and resources. N-Shift will also revisit this period at the four-month mark.

Peppershock Media, a hybrid agency in the areas of marketing and creative production, has stepped up and pledged $1,000 of their award-winning services.

Idaho Technology Council, a premier member-drive technology association dedicated to fostering the growth of tech companies in the State of Idaho, will the team with a free one-year Technology Membership.

Tsuvo, a savvy online innovations group providing web development, internet marketing, and search engine optimization, has thrown in a free Marketing Analysis, an essential step in establishing  a powerful web presence worth over $1,000.

A huge thanks to our panel of judges: James Hepworth, Co-Founder of Nebula Shift; Russell Case, local attorney and angel investor; Dave Romero, Co-Founder of Tsuvo, Inc.; Jessica Flynn, President of Red Sky Public Relations; and Mike McGrath, President of Action Couriers, Inc.

The 2nd Idaho Startup Weekend had some fierce competition with six innovative, hard-working teams.  The panel of judges gave an honorable mention to Retroper team.

Check out the Idaho Startup Weekend blog for details on the rest of the Idaho Startup Weekend teams. We can’t wait to see what they do!

~ Melissa M.

Countdown Til the Judges…

Posted by lisa mcgrath

It’s just 3.5 hours until the Idaho Startup Weekend outstanding panel of judges will arrive, and the teams are making great progress. Websites are up, Twitter accounts are running, presentations are almost complete…
Here’s a quick review of the teams that will be presenting tonight. Remember, you’re invited to come on down and watch the presentations: 6:30 p.m. at the WaterCooler, 1401 W. Idaho Street in Boise.
Clicker Killer
Clicker Killer is an online classroom response system for colleges and universities that encourages cognitively active learning without the technical barriers of hardware clickers and teacher receivers. Most classroom response systems rely on the students to purchase a clicker to respond to professor quizzes. Our goal is to free students and professors from the burden of buying another device to lug around with their laptops and phones.  Check them out online or on Twitter @clickerkiller.
GoFi.sh
Using your existing social networks, Gofi.sh is a buyer-driven game to get the best deals and advice on products and services. If Twitter is “What are you doing?” and Four Square is “Where are you?” then GoFi.sh is “What are you looking for?” You can find Gofi.sh on Twitter @gofishapp. They’ll be live at http://gofi.sh soon.
MyWordyBird.com
So, you’re on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc… Now what? Do you struggle with what to say? MyWordyBird.com suggests intelligent posts customized for you. It is a user-based community linking content contributors to those in need.  MyWordyBird.com – I’ll say it for you.  Check them out online or @mywordybird on Twitter.
LifePing
LifePing is a web-based application that let’s you control when your pocket buzzes and when it doesn’t. Whether it’s a critical business-related email you’ve been waiting for or that specific message you need from your social network, LifePing eliminates the “all on” or “all off” scenarios of instant phone-based notifications so only the messages you truly need will alert you when you need them. LifePing is online and on Twitter @lifeping.
QRy
Easily manage information captured from personal QR (Quick Response) scans.  With the explosion of information via QR vehicles, Control It enables consumers to store and access contacts, coupons, websites, and photos in their choice of applications.
Retroper.com
It’s clear that the Internet has changed journalism. People want to participate more in crafting the news, and journalists are trying to find ways to engage the public. We’ve all seen the anonymous comments posted at the bottom of online news stories, but is that really getting the job done? What if journalists had the technology necessary to capture the knowledge and expertise of people in their community as well as those across the globe? Retroper.com is the solution. It’s a web-based platform that not only allows people to participate in the reporting process but also gives journalists the ability to capture people’s ideas and research.
The winning team of Idaho Startup Weekend will receive in-kind donations from some more-than-generous sponsors: Nebula Shift, Peppershock Media, Idaho Technology Council, and Tsuvo. They will also get free tickets to IdaVation on Wednesday, May 26.
If you can’t make it to the WaterCooler tonight, be sure to catch the presentations live online.  Peppershock Media will be livestreaming the event for Idaho Startup Weekend.
~ Melissa M.

IdaVation Donates Free Tickets to Winning Startup

Posted by lisa mcgrath

IdaVation announced today it will donate free tickets to the winning team of Idaho Startup Weekend!
IdaVation is a tremendous opportunity to learn from an ensemble of business luminaries and experienced, successful entrepreneurs. The theme of this year’s event is: Fostering a culture of innovation.
IdaVation, presented by Kickstand, will be held Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at the Boise Centre. The event includes:
  • Keynote by Mitch Ditkoff, Co-Founder & President, Idea Champions: Unleashing Creativity – How individuals and companies can foster a sustainable culture of innovation
  • Creativity and Innovation in Isolation – How Idaho companies are leveraging place to their advantage
  • Luncheon keynote by Shawn Shepherd, Ph.D., Head of School, Foothills School of Arts & Sciences: A Whole New Approach – The Future of Business Takes a Whole New Mind
  • World-Class Research Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Innovators – Idaho-based ideas ready for commercialization
  • Disruptive Technologies: Risk taking and focusing on future markets
  • Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Roundtables
  • Afternoon workshop with Mitch Ditkoff: Entering the AHA state
  • Evening reception
Tickets to IdaVation are on sale now. For more information, visit IdaVation online or follow @IdaVation on Twitter.
~ Melissa M.

Join Startup Weekend on Sunday Night

Posted by lisa mcgrath

Got plans for Sunday night? You do now. Come on down to the WaterCooler in Boise and watch innovation in action.
Six teams from Idaho Startup Weekend will be presenting their demos to a panel of judges. The presentations are open to the public! Come support entrepreneurship right here in your community. The action starts at 6:30 p.m. at the WaterCooler, 1401 W. Idaho Street in Boise.
The winning team will receive some killer in-kind donations from our more-than-generous sponsors:
Nebula Shift, a startup at the razor’s edge of incubating successful software businesses, has offered the winning company out of Startup Weekend four months of free office space and resources. N-Shift will also revisit this period at the four-month mark.
Peppershock Media, a hybrid agency in the areas of marketing and creative production, has stepped up and pledged the winning company out of Startup Weekend $1,000 of their award-winning services.
Idaho Technology Council, a premier member-drive technology association dedicated to fostering the growth of tech companies in the State of Idaho, will also provide Startup Weekend’s winning biz (with 1-5 employees) a free one-year Technology Membership.
Tsuvo, a savvy online innovations group providing web development, internet marketing, and search engine optimization, has thrown in a free Marketing Analysis, an essential step in establishing  a powerful web presence worth over $1,000.
Additional sponsors of Idaho Startup Weekend include Red Sky Public Relations, the WaterCooler, Coding Inertia, Action Couriers, Creative Soapbox, and more.
If you can’t make it, Peppershock Media will also be streaming the presentations live online. Use this link tomorrow night.
We’ll see you Sunday night!
~ Melissa M.

Off to a Great Start…

Posted by lisa mcgrath

The 2nd annual Idaho Startup Weekend is off to a great start. On Friday, we heard a dozen pitches from local, innovative entrepreneurs.  Now, the top six ideas are on their way to becoming viable businesses.
On day 2, the Idaho Startup Weekend teams are hard at work at the Watercooler in downtown Boise, getting reading to pitch their demos to a stellar panel of judges at on Sunday. Here’s a glimpse of the six teams:
Clicker Killer
Clicker Killer is an online classroom response system for colleges and universities that encourages cognitively active learning without the technical barriers of hardware clickers and teacher receivers. Most classroom response systems rely on the students to purchase a clicker to respond to professor quizzes. Our goal is to free students and professors from the burden of buying another device to lug around with their laptops and phones. Check out Clicker Killer or on Twitter @clickerkiller.
GoFi.sh
Using your existing social networks, Gofi.sh is a buyer-driven game to get the best deals and advice on products and services. If Twitter is “What are you doing?” and Four Square is “Where are you?” then GoFi.sh is “What are you looking for?” You can find Gofi.sh on Twitter @gofishapp. The GoFi.sh website will be live soon.
MyWordyBird.com
So, you’re on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc… Now what? Do you struggle with what to say? MyWordyBird.com suggests intelligent posts customized for you. It is a user-based community linking content contributors to those in need.  MyWordyBird.com – I’ll say it for you.  Check out MyWordyBird.com or see them on Twitter @mywordybird.
LifePing
LifePing is a web-based application that let’s you control when your pocket buzzes and when it doesn’t. Whether it’s a critical business-related email you’ve been waiting for or that specific message you need from your social network, LifePing eliminates the “all on” or “all off” scenarios of instant phone-based notifications so only the messages you truly need will alert you when you need them.
Control It
Control It. Easily manage information captured from personal QR (Quick Response) scans.  With the explosion of information via QR vehicles, Control It enables consumers to store and access contacts, coupons, websites, and photos in their choice of applications.
Journalism Needs You
It’s clear that the Internet has changed journalism. People want to participate more in crafting the news, and journalists are trying to find ways to engage the public. We’ve all seen the anonymous comments posted at the bottom of online news stories, but is that really getting the job done? What if journalists had the technology necessary to capture the knowledge and expertise of people in their community as well as those across the globe? This team is creating a web-based platform that not only allows people to participate in the reporting process but also gives journalists the ability to capture people’s ideas and research. Learn more @paleomedia.
Keep track of each team’s progress via its Twitter account or @SWBoise.  Or come on down to the Watercooler, 1401 W. Idaho in Boise, at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday to listen as they present their demos to the judges.
The judges will determine a winner Sunday night.
~ Melissa M.

Have You Seen How Shiny Our Judges’ Panel for Idaho Startup Weekend Is?

Posted by lisa mcgrath

The only thing radder than Melissa McGrath writing up this blog piece on our judges’ panel at Idaho Startup Weekend is the stunning cred of this expert crew:

James Hepworth, Co-Founder, Nebula Shift

James Hepworth is the co-founder of Nebula Shift, a business concept dedicated to the acceleration in the formation, development and success of software startup businesses. Prior to Nebula Shift, Hepworth was the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of MarkMonitor. Hepworth brings not only a true passion for startups but also broad experience from all aspects of business and technology, including fundraising, sales, technical architecture, strategic planning and tactical execution.

Russell Case, Angel Investor

Russell Case is a business lawyer by education and a business strategist by luck and design. He’s worked as a corporate-securities lawyer and in-house attorney for multi-national companies. But after more than 20 years in business and law, he came to Boise in 2007 with a goal of bringing “virtual general counsel” services to local and regional growth/early revenue companies. Russell has a knack for aligning legal services with business realities in a unique and cost-effective manner. He brings his expertise as not only an attorney but also an angel investor to Startup Weekend.

Dave Romero, Co-Founder, Tsuvo, Inc.

Dave Romero is the co-founder of the rapidly growing online innovations firm Tsuvo Inc. Before founding Tsuvo just over two years ago, Dave served as a member of the MSN Live search engine team. Dave’s colleagues consider him an adrenaline enthusiast in and outside the office. He holds a B.B.A from Gonzaga University. Dave brings his unique perspective and expertise as the founder of a rad, local startup.

Jessica Flynn, President, Red Sky Public Relations

Jessica Flynn is the founder, owner and President of Red Sky Public Relations, Idaho’s largest public relations agency. A former journalist, Jessica now applies her reporting and producing instincts to highly successful public relations campaigns on behalf of clients large and small, local and global. She specializes in promotion of places and is recognized regionally as a specialist in utilizing social media opportunities. Prior to founding Red Sky, Jessica was the first Communications Manager for Idaho’s Tamarack Resort. She brings years of innovative PR experience.

Mike McGrath, President, Action Couriers

Mike McGrath is the founder and president of Action Couriers Inc., a same-day delivery service in Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Utah.  Mike started Action Couriers in 1996 with his wife, Rhonda, just one vehicle, and a lot of motivation. Now, Action Couriers has grown into a fleet of 55 vehicles and more than 80 employees. Before starting his own business, Mike spent 20 years working in sales and finance for global corporations, including several years as the Chief Financial Officer for Sandoz Corporation (now called Novartis). He brings expertise as a Certified Public Accountant and business owner.

We welcome all of our judges and thank them for taking part in Idaho Startup Weekend.  It wouldn’t be possible without them.

See you this weekend!

~ Melissa M.

Nebula Shift, Peppershock Media Productions, and Idaho Technology Council Up The Ante For The Winning Company at Idaho Startup Weekend.

Posted by lisa mcgrath

Idaho Startup Weekend 2: Serious Stakes for Startups
@WaterCoolerBOI, May 21, 5:30p.m – May 23, 8:00p.m.

Startup Weekend recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, attorneys, startup enthusiasts, marketing pros, graphic artists, and more to a 54-hour event that builds companies, communities, and projects.

And local startups themselves have upped the ante at this year’s Startup Weekend.

Nebula Shift, a startup at the razor’s edge of incubating successful software businesses, has offered the winning company out of Startup Weekend four months of free office space and resources. N-Shift will also revisit this period at the four-month mark.

Peppershock, a hybrid agency specializing in the areas of marketing and creative production, has stepped up and pledged the winning company out of Startup Weekend $1000 of their award-winning services.
Idaho Technology Council, a premier member-drive technology association dedicated to fostering the growth of tech companies in the State of Idaho, will also provide Startup Weekend’s winning biz (with 1-5 employees) a free one-year Technology Membership.  And better, Jay Larsen, the President & CEO of Idaho Technology Council, will kick-off this year’s Startup Weekend with a keynote you don’t want to miss.

And where would we be without the additional sponsorship of Red Sky Public Relations, the WaterCooler, and Coding Inertia, Creative Soapbox, and more.

How does a startup win?  That’s up to a panel of esteemed judges from the startup, venture capital, marketing, legal, and public relations community who will evaluate Sunday night demos.

Do you have what it takes? The code “tech” will get you 10 bucks off of a ticket in the door.  The rest is up to you.

Sponsorship or other questions, hit up Lisa McGrath by email or twitter. See you there.

Jay Larsen, President & Founder of Idaho Technology Council, Set To Kick Off Idaho Startup Weekend 2 on May 21st.

Posted by lisa mcgrath

The only thing better than kicking off Startup Weekend is having Jay Larsen do it for us.  And when Larsen keynotes, it’s not to be missed.

President & Founder of Idaho Technology Council

Larsen is the President & Founder of Idaho Technology Council, which is a premier member-drive association dedicated to fostering the growth of tech companies in the State of Idaho and providing a forum for industry, research, educators, investors, and government throughout the state.

Use the code “tech” for $10 off your ticket to Startup Weekend, and be there, 5:30p.m., May 21st, at the WaterCooler, for this rad event.

Questions? Contact Lisa McGrath by email or Twitter.

Startup Weekend Noobs, SW Is All About People.

Posted by lisa mcgrath

BY:  GREG HARLEY

Marketing is not my thing so I won’t try to give you a slick answer as to why you should attend Startup Weekend. I’ll tell you what motivated me to attend and why I’ll do it again…beer and food. Okay, I didn’t know there would be beer there when I signed up, but I did it partly out of curiosity and partly out of a desire to meet smart and creative people.

I’ve been a freelance software developer in Boise for a long time, but because most of my projects are small enough to do solo, the opportunities to meet and interact with other developers are limited. When I heard about Startup Weekend, I thought I might meet some interesting people, and if it was lame, I’d leave. I did meet interesting people. I was drawn into great conversations with a lot of intelligent people from the start – developers, designers, marketers, even lawyers.

After the initial networking was done, ideas were chosen, teams were formed, and the fun began.  For the next two days, the WaterCooler  buzzed with designing, whiteboarding, and coding. For me, it was intense, challenging, and educational. And I loved every minute of it. (Did I mention beer?)

A few recommendations if you attend Startup Weekend. First, and most importantly, network with as many people as you can when you first arrive. You’re speed-dating your potential teammates. Next, if you have an idea to pitch, organize your thoughts and practice beforehand. The group will be voting on which projects to pursue and you want to hook everyone in the short time you have to sell. Finally, let go of all expectations you may have for an outcome. Your team may build a killer product with the potential for huge success but, even if you walk away on Sunday evening with nothing but new friends and the experience, it’s a huge #win.

See you there!

Greg Harley

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