How J2Mac.com helps individuals, small businesses and enterprises leverage the power of the Mac platform… and shift to Google Apps
October 29, 2009
Jonathan Marcus runs a very interesting Mac-centric consulting firm, J2Mac.com. He and his team work with individuals, small business and enterprises and non-profits. Jonathan is also expanding his range of services to help companies embrace Google Apps. Here’s the interview…
San Antonio Tech Mixer - Tonight; Let me shoot a quick video of your startup in 140 Seconds
September 3, 2009
The San Antonio Technology Center’s Tech Mixer is evolving and it’s party scene is under some new, kick-ass management.
In conjunction with SanAntonioStartups.com, I’m going to shoot a video about your startup in 140 Seconds. For this event, 3 companies will be selected. Practice your pitch and see Dean McCall who can help you.
See ya’all tonight.
San Antonio’s Torchlight Technologies Provides IT Services and Thought Leadership in the Open Source Movement
August 25, 2009
I guess you’re never too young to start a startup.
Here’s Torchlight Technologies’ Jason Smith who started his business in high school, continued to run it while at UTSA and now getting ready to graduate from college. I guess he’s not going to have to worry about job hunting, since he is the company’s CEO. Aside from being an IT Service provider, Jason is a local though leader in the open source movement in town.
Here’s what Jason had to say…
SATAI Announces $8.65 Million in ETF Investment in Five San Antonio Area Companies
July 16, 2009
We seem to be on a bit of a funding role around here in these parts…..
SATAI and the South Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (STRCIC) announced investments totaling $8.65 million in five area companies through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF).
Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, City of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, City of San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley, and other San Antonio City representatives participated in a press conference and ceremonial disbursements yesterday at the Plaza Club in San Antonio.
“Texas is the best state in the nation to live, work and do business, and the ETF is helping supercharge our technology environment by bringing Texans’ good ideas and hard work to the marketplace,” Gov. Perry said. “These five investments demonstrate the broad range of our state’s diverse industries, and will help develop, market and commercialize these innovative technologies.”
“Nurturing innovation and creating businesses locally is a critical component of our economic development strategy. SATAI’s focus on technology commercialization and funding is a big driver of this growth. The ETF’s investment in these companies located in Bexar County is evidence of the steep technology economic development trajectory we are on,” Judge Wolff said. “Bexar County stands out in the nation as an attractive area for businesses to startup, expand or relocate.”
“You may remember that the first successful sale of an ETF funded company in the state occurred right here in San Antonio. Today the money generated by that liquidity event is being reinvested again, right here in San Antonio,” said Jim Poage, President and CEO of the SATAI and the STRCIC. “The latest investments by the ETF demonstrate Bexar County and the larger South Texas region have a burgeoning startup community that outside investors take note of. This is particularly true of the Life Sciences and Hi Tech sectors which are seeing the largest growth.”
Since 2006, the ETF has invested more than $28 million in companies and institutions in San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas. “The current pipeline of new companies looking for funding in the area is robust and extremely exciting,” said Poage. “We are always looking for good technology companies that we can help.”
The ETF award recipients are:
AdviTech, Inc.: $2.5 million investment to commercialize products for spatial disorientation
AdviTech is a leader in providing physiological-centric solutions to the impairments of Spatial Disorientation, Vertigo and Motion Sickness, commonly experienced in the environments of aviation, vehicular travel, and recreation. The investment will allow AdviTech to start commercialization of a unique Vertigo and Motion Sickness solving technology.
American Stem Cell, Inc. (ASC): $2.5 million investment to commercialize a treatment to improve the success of cord blood stem cell transplants
ASC is a biopharmaceutical company developing an enzyme treatment for cord blood stem cells to enhance their homing and engraftment to target diseased organs, accelerate cell and organ regeneration and improve survival and quality of life outcomes for patients. This investment will enable Phase I/II clinical trials.
Bio2Medical: $1 million investment to commercialize a novel vena cava filter catheter (CVFC)
Bio2Medical is a medical device development company. Funding will allow the company to develop the ”Angel” VCFC to help critically ill patients at risk of developing pulmonary embolism.
Enthuze: $1.65 million investment to commercialize a social operating system for datamining social networks
Enthuze is a disruptive consumer research company which is developing new research methodologies, tools and a next generation social networking platform.
Pronucleotein: $1 million investment to commercialize a suite of products for rapid onsite food safety testing
Pronucleotein is a biotech company developing synthetic DNA aptamer sequences and conjugates to provide novel solutions to food safety needs. Funding will commercialize fluorescent assays to be used with a portable hand-held detection device for real-time, rapid on-site detection of pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella in food and water in as little as 15 minutes after sampling.
Congratulations to our local companies and the leadership at SATAI / STRCIC for their guidance and counsel in helping facilitate the funding and growth of innovation and intellectual capital in San Antonio.
Ya’all Rock!
South Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization Announces Call for Startup Funding Applications
June 23, 2009
The South Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (STRCIC) today announced a call for startup funding applications for the Texas state Emerging Technology Fund www.emergingtechfund.com. South Texas based entrepreneurs, inventors and businesses seeking early-stage investment in new, technology-based, private entrepreneurial entities that collaborate with a Texas public or private institution of higher education may qualify and should immediately contact the STRCIC at (210) 458-2585 or vr@satai.us.
The applications will continue to be processed quarterly and the upcoming deadlines will be posted at http://strcic.com/etfdates.html . The next application deadline for IT, engineering and other technologies is June 25, 2009. The next application deadline for Life Science ventu res is July 28, 2009. Starting a business is a process and we urge entrepreneurs in any stage of their business to contact us today so we can provide complimentary coaching on the unique aspects of the ETF process before the application is filed.
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund is a unique financial catalyst available right now for Entrepreneurs who may be having difficulties raising capital by other sources. In addition to being the South Texas portal to the Emerging Technology Fund, the STRCIC has entrepreneurial services, industry mentors, and a vast referral network to help entrepreneurs in any industry at any stage of their business. The STRCIC also offers educational events and workshops such as the quarterly New Venture Forum. The next New Venture Forum begins July 27, 2009 and more information can be found at http://www.satai.us/enterprise/NVF_Schedule.html – space is limited, don’t miss out!
2009 Texas Venture Capital and Private Equity Directory Now Available
May 28, 2009
Massinvestor just announced its 2009 Texas Venture Capital and Private Equity Directory, which profiles more than 250 Venture Capital and Private Equity firms with offices in Texas.
This newly revised and updated edition includes more than thirty additional firms not published in the 2008 Directory including Capital Factory, Elm Creek Partners, Gideon Hixon Fund, PlumTree Partners, Treadstone Partners and dozens more.
While many professionals are familiar with some of the more prominent local investment names - Austin Ventures, CenterPoint, Texas Pacific, Lone Star Ventures, Sevin Rosen - it may be surprising to know there are more than 250 Venture Capital and Private Equity firms with offices in Texas.
In addition to covering all Texas Venture Capitalists, the directory includes profiles of local Private Equity firms (Growth, LBO, Mezzanine, etc.), Incubators, prominent Angel investors, Family Investment offices, Merchant Banks, Fund of Funds, and Economic Development offices; more than 250 firms in total.
According to a recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree survey, Texas ranks as the number three state in terms of Venture Capital activity. In the first quarter of 2009, Texas saw $156 million in Venture financing invested across 24 deals.
The Directory is sold exclusively through the website: www.massinvestor.com. The Directory includes an eBook (a complete electronic version of the printed Directory in an easy-to-use PDF format), as well as an interactive Excel spreadsheet containing the contact information (including email addresses) of more than five hundred, individual Texas Venture Capital and Private Equity investors.
Frost & Sullivan to Join SATAI Advisory Committee
May 7, 2009
Being based in San Antonio, and having Frost & Sullivan in town should be a big help to SATAI (the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative) now that they are joining its committee of technologists, investors, entrepreneurs and professional organizations that provide a 360 degree review of business plans for technology-based companies seeking funding and guidance.
You take the collective brain power of Frost & Sullivan, marry it with some very smart and pre-qualified entrepreneurs in the making, and you have the potential to help accelerate the chances of getting it right with your vision by getting a reality check with one of the best market research firms in the world.
SATAI fosters economic development in South Texas by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Once per quarter, SATAI presents an opportunity for start-up companies to present their business plans, products, and models to a group of experts who decide if the company should proceed to the next level of funding and development or continue in consultation with SATAI or their network of experts to re-tool the plan and make it more attractive to investors in successive funding opportunities.
My take is that SATAI has really evolved into serving as the South Texas portal of the $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund and also manages the South Texas Angel Network to provide channels to additional funding.
As a partner with SATAI, Frost & Sullivan will help assess the viability of companies’ business plans and offer guidance for entrepreneurs. Frost & Sullivan’s consultants will have the opportunity to review entrepreneurs’ business plans, confirm that the company is ready to proceed to another funding level, and/or suggest the changes necessary to transform into growing businesses.
PodCamp San Antonio 3.0 Happens Saturday, May 16. Register Today!
May 3, 2009
PodCamp is a great way to not just learn about Podcasting. It’s a way to surround yourself with the best and brightest in our community who are breaking ground and disrupting traditional media.
Highly recommended. And thank you Jennifer and Luis for making this happen!
| Time: May 16, 2009 all day Location: El Tropicano Hotel Organized By: Jennifer Navarrete & the San Antonio Podcasters Event Description:
Sign up to attend the Premier Camp event in San Antonio. This is the event that kicked off all of the Camp phenomenon in the Alamo City Podcamp San Antonio is being held May 16, 2009 at the El Tropicano Hotel on the Riverwalk. It’s an UnConference, meaning that its a conference organized in an ad-hoc manner for everyone to attend and participate. Attendees create the sessions which are held in an open and conversational manner. If you’ve never been to a Camp before, get prepared to for one of the best learning experiences of your lives! There are no keynote speakers or rigidly defined schedules. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join. That means YOU! Want to learn more about podcasting, blogging, online video and social networking? Then Podcamp San Antonio is the place to be! We are planning for a crowd of the most plugged-in, most active bloggers, podcasters, video and new social media folks from all around Texas. Register now for this free “Learn, Share, Grow” event: Feel free to check out the blog to get the latest updates: In addition to all of the connections you’ll make and knowledge you’ll gain, you will also receive a t-shirt and badge. Wear these with pride to show the world you were at PodCamp San Antonio 3.0! Feel free to share this with your friends, co-workers and family. |
The Perfect Dwelling and Workspace for your Startup: Urban High Rise Living Now A Reality in San Antonio
April 11, 2009
About every six months, Ed Cross and I sit down for breakfast at the Olmos Pharmacy to compare notes on business, economic trends and the changing landscape here in San Antonio. For the last 2 years, I have been keeping tabs on his dream of creating a very unique and very cool urban high rise known as The Vistana.
When you stand right in front of the building, you’d think you are in mid-town Manhattan or a very cool building in San Francisco or Portland. Ed made sure that having a cool place to live (and possibly work) had the right amenities and architectural characteristics that made The Vistana the premier downtown address for urban rental living.
The Vistana offers studios, one and two bedrooms, one and two bedroom loft-style penthouses and an amazing 3,500 square foot, three bedroom / 2 level Tower Suite that goes for $7,000 per month. Part of attracting young, smart people to San Antonio is having places like The Vistana available to not only rent, but are wired for living and working. Ed decided to go with AT&T’s U-verse IPTV service which makes his building the first residential, multi-dwelling unit that is based on AT&T’s all IP platform.
Here’s my interview with Ed and his tour…
The Vistana / San Antonio’s First Urban High Rise Apartment from Alan Weinkrantz on Vimeo.
Denim Group Innovates with Unique Expertise in Software Security
April 6, 2009
I recently had the opportunity to visit with San Antonio-based Denim Group’s Director of Operations, Aaron Copeland. The company on the bleeding edge in doing some very cool things in the area of software security.