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.
Espimedia Continues to Break New Ground in News Reporting and Broadcast Media
April 26, 2009
San Antonio’s Patricio Espinoza is a traditional broadcast news journalist that is breaking ground in developing innovative and original programming and production. Of late, he’s been spearheading coverage of the San Antonio’s Mayoral race with his SA4Mayor.com site. He was able to bring together the leading candidates and held a town hall meeting that was well received and well participated. Aside from his role at Espimedia, Patricio works with leading networks acting as their local freelance reporter / producer for breaking news, including this one on a local family being affected by Swine Flu.
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.
Salesby5’s Eric Darmstetter Gives Sound Advise to San Antonio Startups
March 9, 2009
Erik Darmstetter, CEO of Salesby5 is a practical and pragmatic person who is focused on one thing: increasing your sales. Enough said. Here’s what he’s got to say from his recent appearance on Great Day SA.
Erik Darmstetter on Great Day SA from Erik Darmstetter on Vimeo.
Got A Startup? Get in Shape over at Robot Creative’s “Marketing Gym”
February 8, 2009
The folks over at Robot Creative, are offering a very cool Marketing Gym, that’s aimed at small businesses and startups. It takes place on Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 11:30 am - 1 pm. Space is limited to 8 non-competing companies, and the cost is $45 and includes lunch.
Ready. Flex. Go.
Head Robot, Lara August, filled me in that this event is going to be focused on customer retention and how to make it a goal from day #1 to keep every customer you get, turn them into repeat purchasers and great advocates for your business/product.
At this workshop, they will cover:
- Database Management and Segmentation
- Building and Measuring Customer Satisfaction
- Strategies for Continual Contact and Customer Loyalty
Lara says that as a Startup, you can radically reduce your advertising expenses over the life of the business and strengthen your brand by thinking this through ahead of time.
Lara and her team are way cool, way smart, and way effective.
Sign up: carl at robotcreative dot com
Highly Recommended
Attention San Antonio Startups: Apply now for the Beta Summit at San Antonio Innotech
February 5, 2009
The San Antonio Innotech, the region’s largest business to business technology conference, is looking for emerging startups to take part in the first Beta Summit at the Norris Conference Center, March 5.
There is a great opportunity for local start-up tech businesses to get great exposure and VC feedback through the first Beta Summit live demos.
Sean Lowery, who runs the event, told me that we now have the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor for this event. They, along with the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, with their CIO Forum lunch program, have done a lot to bring together technology advocates throughout south Texas.
Lowery also told me that the San Antonio Innotech Beta Summit will follow the same process as the one for Austin Innotech. Technology leaders with organizations such as the Austin Technology Council, the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Austin Interactive Marketing Association provided judges for this annual event. Last year, 18 tech firms submitted applications with only six getting the change to present their technology for eight minutes during a lunch meeting.
Let’s get going…. you have until February 10 to apply
Businesses have until February 10 to submit an application. You can email mjohnson (at) sachamber (dot)org or call him directly at 210-229-2148 for more information. You may download the application here.
Attention San Antonio Startups. It’s First Friday; Must be Co-working over at Firecat Studios
February 4, 2009
Each First Friday of the month, San Antonio entrepreneur, Susan Price, holds a free co-working session at her wonderful facility, Firecat Studio.
This month, on Friday, February 6, Web presence management specialist John Ray will join Firecat’s CEO and chief web strategist Susan Price to discuss the many factors involved in optimizing a website for specific search terms.
If you’re a San Antonio startup, come in an join in on the conversation. As a startup, you can learn all about SEO techniques and methods, plus, network, find possible partners, and even possible customers.
Susan and her team put on a great day to co-work, and there’s always plenty of good food to enjoy.
Thank you Susan Price for providing a facility like this to our Startup and business community at large.
Welcome to the San Antonio Startup Blog
February 3, 2009
This is Alan Weinkrantz and I am thrilled to get the San Antonio Startup Blog underway.
I need your help.
If you’re a San Antonio-based start-up, reach out to me: alan@weinkrantz.com and let me tell your story.
More to come….