Minnov8

Showcasing Minnesota Technology Innovation

Archives for May 2012

Project Skyway Accelerator Graduates Four

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Justin Kaufenberg, CEO of TST Media

Minnesota tech accelerator Project Skyway held its “Demo Day” on Wednesday May 30 at the New Century Theater in downtown Minneapolis. It was the culmination of its 2012 spring program. After opening remarks by Project Skyway officials, Justin Kaufenberg, CEO of TST Media, took the stage to tell his company’s story (photo). It is one of the state’s most successful Internet startups, now with close to 100 employees.

Founders of the four startups that participated in the program then took the stage to explain their businesses and their progress to date.

HypeSpark offers consumers exclusive deals for the links they’re already sharing. The founder was introduced by the general manager of Toby Keith’s nightclub and restaurant in West End, a business that’s using its service.
YumZing is a service to let you share your food experiences with friends, family, and the world. It’s launching soon.
Political Harmony was described by its founder as “Match.com for politicians.” It’s aimed at college students to help them find political candidates most compatible with their views.
The final startup of the class to present, QuadROI, is an information service for utilities that “transforms compliance documentation into industry intelligence.” It aggregates data on clean energy resource investments to create a single, searchable repository and enable data discovery and visualization.

Minnov8 Gang 170 – Must. Have. Show.

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The Gang was all over the place at events this past week and we also discuss the potential for the disruption of the TV business. Steve rationalizes downloading content he ‘forgot’ to record on his DVR — and is adamant he shouldn’t have to buy content more than once — and Tim has strong feelings about buying content…unless it’s Downton Abbey and hear why!

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins, Phil Wilson and Julio Ojeda-Zapata

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The Podcast

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Minnov8 Gang 169 – Does This Make Me Look Dorky?

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The Gang is joined by Julio Ojeda-Zapata as our guest host and talk the Facebook IPO, gadgets, travel technology and much more.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins, Phil Wilson and Julio Ojeda-Zapata

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The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:16 — 42.0MB)

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Minnov8 Gang 168 – Goober says “Hey!”

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The Gang discusses several developments this week in search, gadgets, and a mention of the passing of Goober Pyle (brother of Gomer), a character of the Andy Griffith Show back in the Sixties, played by George Lindsey who passed away this week. For anyone old enough to have seen the original show — or have enjoyed it in reruns over the years on TV Land — the show was a cultural icon and Goober a lovable doofus.

What struck us after the show recording was how far the world has come with technology since that shows debut in 1960…in black & white. Rotary dial phones, cooking only on stoves (what, no microwave?), and a community isolated due to the slow movement of communications (huh? no internet?), we’ve come a long way.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott and Phil Wilson as “Floyd the Barber” (Graeme Thickins is off this week).

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The Podcast

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U of MN Paying Professors $500 to Review Open Textbooks

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The University of Minnesota launched an online catalog of open-source books last month and it’s just been revealed that the University will pay its professors $500 each time they post an evaluation of one of those books, according to this article on Inside HigherEd. Minnesota professors who have already adopted open-source texts will also receive $500, with all of the money coming from donor funds.

This is a brilliant move on the part of the University, especially when you consider the accelerating cost of a higher education as well as the increasing demand to for students to have textbooks they can view on multiple digital devices. With this payment motivator for professors, the University is clearly working to align the incentives of professors with those of a concerted effort on the part of higher education institutions to move toward an open textbook and open courseware.

Below is an infographic from OnlineSchools.org that will give you a glimpse in to the drivers behind the open textbook and open source books movement.

…  [Read More…]

Minnov8 Gang 167 – The Mod Squad

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At the same time we’re all experiencing the amazing acceleration of gadgets, internet disruptions and new ways of getting social, there is a resurgence in the old: 1960s because of Mad Men and a re-do of “muscle cars” from U.S. automakers; the ageing of the population and their interest in nostalgia; accessibility of on-demand streaming playback of old TV shows like The Mod Squad; and so on.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson

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The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:39 — 35.4MB)

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