The Gang covers much of what happened this past week in innovation, specifically surrounding the Minnesota Cup, Unsummit, iPhone 4 introduction and we even discussed an infamous news item, the ICANN authorization of the new “.xxx” top level domain.
Show Hosts: Steve Borsch, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson (Tim Elliott was off this week).
Music by Al Phlipp and the Woo Team and their song, “Timber Stone” from Music Alley.
Discussed during the podcast:
+ SMBMSP at Target Center
+ Minnesota Cup Semifinal event and the semifinalists
+ UnSummit
+ 2005 Bush Administration objection to the .xxx top-level domain
+ The Collaborative
+ A fabulous resource for anyone in business in Minnesota (especially startups!), the James J. Hill Library
+ Alvenda funding ($5M from Split Rock: link to PDF)
+ W3i mobile strategy announcement coming. Check their site Monday morning.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:01 — 36.8MB)
June 27th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
You guys mentioned the Google/Marketing article – The article mirrors a lot of my tweets about Google lacking a right brain hemisphere. Here’s a great article about it also…http://bit.ly/afrb8c
June 29th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Hey guys,thanks for the thoughtful discussion on innovation and the good coverage of UnSummit!
BTW, Steve, the partner of mine you were referencing is Jeff Heegaard. He’s usually a silent partner, but it sounds like he broke his silence last Saturday!
Phil, a quick thought in response to your question “why do we keep having this conversation (about the local innovation culture)?” I think in any burgeoning startup culture (and that’s how I’d describe MSP), it’s important to have people who take up the care and feeding of the culture. It’s good to have people who evaluate the local culture and resources – and shout out if something seems to be lacking (e.g., connectors, specific types of talent, discussions, venues, funding, etc.). Anyway, I think that’s what you’re seeing when people like Jeff Pesek and me want to talk about the state of the state. But not to take away from your comment that we also just need to get out and do stuff. I fully agree!
June 30th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Don,
Thanks for your thoughts on the discussion of innovation culture. Don’t get me wrong, I love that we have the conversation, but my point was, as you noted, actual innovating trumps talking about innovating every time.
I always look forward to Unsummit and I want to make sure to say thank you, as well as Meg and Mykl, for your hard work. Also thanks to you and your silent and not so silent partners at COCO for making the space available. I look forward to the next gathering!