Launching LaunchPin’s expanded reach

 What if there were a way to leverage the power of entrepreneurship alongside key science, technology, engineering, digital arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education? 

And what if we could offer this for those in first-wave educational training (school-age students) as well as those looking for a new career (adult education)?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that tends to be asked early in a student’s primary school trajectory but seldom asked after that and almost never (at least in the USA) outside the confines of a guidance counselor’s office as it pertains to the university decision-making process.

As LaunchPin enters its third decade, headed into 2027, we think it’s a very pertinent question to ask at multiple stages in life. We also feel strongly that the tools of entrepreneurship—from startup funds to mentorship to patent assistance to targeted educational enhancements around emerging technologies and trends—aren’t just table stakes but instead an accelerated toolbox that curious minds of all ages should have access to…

More in the coming weeks about how LaunchPin’s 21st-year celebration will set us up to offer all these tools in a growing regional partnership with entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs)

Is Nimble Cool Again?

"Entrepreneurs used to brag about the size of their funding round; now they boast about how little money they need."

http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/on-the-wings-of-angels


iPhoned

Innovation meets KOSBE's Small Business and Entrepreneurship Program

The recent inclusion of a small business banquet for KOSBE, the Kingsport Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has been a great success under KOSBE's first full-time executive director, Aundrea Wilcox.

Like the small business awards of the past, several winners in established categories were announced.

This year, though, the judges also awarded a new award, the  Innovation Award, to a company I helped in the past define its strategy enhance product marketing.

From the official press release:

The new Innovation Award was presented to RLH JR Inc a/k/a Patient Scrubs (Nancy Hart, et al.).  In April 2003, Nancy Hart’s husband was admitted to the hospital for heart surgery.  It was there that she observed the medical staff and other patients, and discovered a need for a new level of function in patient attire that also offered more dignity.  She stitched her first Patient Scrubs prototype for her husband to wear as an alternative to the traditional hospital gown.  After many iterations, she has developed a product that is delighting her customers at their time of greatest need.


It's great to see two startups I've been heavily involved with—KOSBE and PatientScrubs—come in to their own. Both are run by determined visionaries who have a passion for what they do.

Small Business Loans: The Conundrum

Today it appears that a new $30 billion loan program will be signed in to law. Yet, as one article points out, it may not do much to unclog the engine of economic growth that is small business.

Why? Because most small businesses aren't expanding in uncertain economic—and regulatory—times.

"Our business customers are mired in uncertainty and are reluctant to invest in their businesses," said William Chase, who is CEO of a Memphis community bank, Triumph Bank, adding that he's got enough money to cover the very limited number of loans that are being requested these days.

What about the loan program? Apparently Triumph isn't buying into it.

"We have taken a strategic decision not to have our primary regulator, the government, also be a partner in our bank," Chase said.

Food for thought. 

How about a few investment tax credits instead? While I've been wary of SBA loans (express or otherwise) and don't recommend them to struggling companies due to the strings attached, I often recommend taking advantage of tax credits tied to investment. 

Investment tax credits seem a less underhanded way of wealth re-distribution (or an easy way to free the flow of capital, depending on your perspective).

Embarrassment in Entrepreneurship?

A great quote from the founder of LinkedIn:

"If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late."

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/the-iterate-fast-and-release-often-philosophy-of-entrepreneurship-ben-parr




iPhoned

Opportunity: State Operations Manager, East Tennessee

Tennessee, like neighboring Virginia, has a broadband initiative plan. Broadband, as noted during the presentation a group of participated in at Supercomm 2009, is a key to balancing economic development with innovation.

As such, this might be of interest to readers: a job opening at ConnnectedTN.org


Connected Tennessee is a part of Connected Nation, the country’s leader in working with communities and providers to break down the digital divide. If there is someone you think might be a good fit for the position, please hasten them to visit the job posting currently available at http://www.connectedtn.org/about_us/careers.php.

The departing person will be available to assist in the transition, as will Executive Director, Michael Ramage.

Pop Up Shops - A Mall Owner's Dream?

Yahoo News and Time magazine have a great story about "pop up shops" which appear in malls for a period of time. The article's premise is that mall owners and management need to fill empty mall slots, especially during the holiday season, and that entrepreneurs with a good idea and enough inventory might just be the ticket to sprucing up the facade between now and year's end.

Just, please nothing offensive at the Johnson City Mall, given their impeccable taste.