Minnov8

Showcasing Minnesota Technology Innovation

ArcStone: Vision, Values, Products & Services

By

arcstoneOver a year ago I became aware of a local Minneapolis firm, ArcStone, when they introduced Wonderfile, a very interesting offering that is sort of a nouveau document management system for today’s always-on and always-connected internet crowd, and I was reacquainted with them when they demonstrated their brand new Association Management Portal (AMP) at MinneDemo a few weeks ago (their demo here).

Completely out of the blue a few days after MinneDemo, I stumbled across something ArcStone had created for a client called the Interactive Roof Designer, a Flash piece for Trimline Building Products (more here) that allows color changes for roofing tiles. Since half my business focuses on trends for the home furnishings industry (The Trend Curve™), I was immediately interested in what they’d created since this is the sort of thing our customers would be interested in. Though there have been many similiar types of Flash-based “changing colors on the fly” web offerings like this, I must admit being pleasantly surprised by how good an implementation they’d done and that it was visually stunning and worked flawlessly.

I immediately thought, “Who are these guys and why haven’t I heard much more about them?” As a consequence, I called CEO David Carnes and went over to chat with him last week to find out more about what this Minnesota firm is creating and what’s at the heart of their innovation.  …  [Read More…]

The Spirit of MinneDemo

By

Capturing the spirit and energy of MinneDemo is a challenge, so the Minnov8 team was really pleased when 2008 Emmy Award nominee, McKnight Filmmaking Fellowship holder, CurrentTV producer and videographer for MinnPost (who delivers videos like this one of local geek, Ed Kohler of TechnologyEvangelist and TheDeets, and his personal graffiti elimination program), Gabe Chefitz of 612Authentic, agreed to come to MinneDemo and shoot some video of this tech event. Take a peek….

This was a bit of an experiment to go along with the innovator demo videos shot by TJ Kudalis (and that I edited/posted this weekend) in order to provide those who couldn’t make MinneDemo with a bit of the flavor of it, the ability of those sucking the beer kegs dry with the ability to watch the demos after-the-fact, and to ensure that the next MinneDemo is even bigger by showing people what they missed. Thanks and great job Gabe!

MinneDemo 2009 Innovator Demos

By

minnedemo-logo2On Friday February 6th, nine internet and web innovations were showcased at the MinneDemo event held at Intermedia Arts. These entrepreneurs came to demonstrate their ideas, and what they’d built, to an appreciative audience of nearly 300 attendees. People from all over came for the demos, as well as to schmooze and connect with other geeks, developers and those interested in internet and web technology (and to ensure that the several kegs of beer on hand were properly drained).

A few points before you view the videos:

  • Each innovator was given seven minutes to present with the ground rules being, “No Powerpoint. Real working software only.”
  • The videos below were graciously shot (and streamed live via uStream.tv) by TJ Kudalis of Internet Broadcasting
  • Editing of that video by TJ, opening graphics, uploading and posting by Minnov8’s Steve Borsch
  • Listen to the Minnov8 Gang podcast with Graeme Thickins interviewing several attendees (editing by Tim Elliott)
  • Look for interviews done by Steve Borsch (shot by Gabe Cheifitz of 612 Authentic) to be available here at Minnov8 by end of day Monday
  • Another excellent event by Ben Edwards and Luke Francl and the terrific sponsors willing to support this event and make it happen. Thanks guys!

Now on to the videos (in alphabetical order vs. order of demo’ing) each 7-8 minutes in length:

…  [Read More…]

Minnov8 Gang Podcast – Episode 24

By

m8-minnedemo

No gang podcast this week, but several interviews recorded with attendees of Minnedemo last night. Graeme Thickins talks with several attendees as best he can in an incredibly crowded venue with a lot of socializing going on!

Hosts: Tim Elliott and Graeme Thickins.

m8-spacer

The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 19:20 — 11.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

m8-spacer

Emerging Minnesota Software and Internet Technologies to Take the Stage on February 6

By

Entrepreneurs, software developers, and computer professionals of all stripes will be rubbing shoulders again this Friday evening with other hopeful company founders, VCs, angel investors, bloggers, and media people from throughout the Twin Cities and other parts of the Upper Midwest.  minnedemo-logoThey’ll be gathering for what’s become a not-to-be-missed quarterly geek-fest called Minnedemo. Billed as “the Twin Cities’ premier technology demo and networking event,” it features free beer, pop, munchies, and lots of conversation, with product demonstrations mixed in between. The latter are delivered from the stage of an auditorium with theater-like seating. More than 200 people are expected to attend.

Minnedemo is being held for a second time at Intermedia Arts in Uptown’s Lyn-Lake neighborhood, and will kick off about 6:00 p.m. this Friday, February 6, with demos starting about 7:00. (Intermedia Arts is located at 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408.) According to Minnedemo organizer Luke Francl, “All are welcome, just please remember to RSVP online.” The web site for registering (again, it’s free) is http://minnedemo.eventbrite.com/.  This quarter’s event will feature ten demos — five, then a break, then five more. Most demonstrators will be launching their products or showing off their creations for the very first time. Here they are alphabetically: …  [Read More…]

Minnov8 Gang Podcast – Episode 23

By

m8-silverliningsThis Gang podcast is called “Silver Linings,” and we focus on good news, where your possibilities reside, how to create a different mindset and attitude about your current situation…and what action we all can take to move forward!!

One favorite meme about our current situation discussed is, “the world is undergoing an economic reboot”. In a nutshell, here’s our choice: Focus on the bad news, continued negative reports on poor economic indicators, and sit and do nothing (or continue on with business-as-usual as if nothing has happened). Or…look at this as an opportunity to grab market share, reinvent your business, or accelerate your startup.

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

m8-spacer

The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 41:54 — 24.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

m8-spacer

ANNOUNCEMENTS
+ MinneDemo will be live-streamed over uStream…and Minnov8 will be conducting video interviews there and we’ll then be delivering both the recorded live stream and our interviews here at Minnov8 as quickly as we can post-production done and them posted.

LINKS

  • That user generated YouTube Trader Joe’s ad mentioned by Tim Elliott is here
  • The group Phil is involved with as their new Director, The Association for Downloadable Media, whose mission surrounds providing standards for advertising and audience measurement for episodic and downloadable media. If you’re an individual podcaster, media company, publisher, syndication company, distributor offering downloadable media, advertising agency, marketer, technology supplier, hardware and software manufacturer of portable media products and services, market research firm or audience and advertising effectiveness measurement company, you’ll undoubtedly want to join.
  • Sprout, iWidgets, TubeMogul and Vimeo.

Minnov8 Gang Podcast – Episode 22

By

garykoellingWe strive to deliver a high value podcast at an affordable price (um…that would be free?) and this week’s show is no exception as it’s packed with topics.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson. (Photo credit: Lee Odden (TopRankBlog; Flickr).

m8-spacer

The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:44 — 36.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

m8-spacer

Joining us on the podcast is a brand new Minnov8 contributor and participant, Gary Koelling, who is Senior Manager, Social Technology at Best Buy Inc. After interactions with Graeme Thickins — who isn’t bashful about promoting Minnov8 — Gary decided he’d like to create for Minnov8 and completed the form (hint: you could too!).

Gary is the founder of BlueShirtNation.com, Giftag.com and leads several social technology projects within Best Buy. He describes himself as a tinkerer, gadfly (and an aspiring iconoclast), reader, tryer (someone who tries), teacher and listener (with a fairly tuned bullshit meter). Due to the success of the efforts he’s involved in, and the high profile of our hometown consumer electronics retailing giant, Gary has been able to talk to lots of people and companies around the country about social media and social technology.

Our favorite quote about his speaking around the country from his LinkedIn profile? “I don’t know if it’s helping, but I enjoy it.” We sure think so since he’s in-the-game, taking risks, experimenting and driving towards high value outcomes for his employer.

LINKS
Here are links to sites, products or other resources discussed during the podcast:

MinneDemo Showcases MN Innovation

By

Ben Edwards & Luke Francl, Minnedemo hosts and organizers

Nearly 300 people attended MinneDemo last Wednesday held in Uptown’s Intermedia Arts which was the best venue in the series of “unconference” demo showcases. Ten Minnesota tech companies presented their products in 7 minute demos to a packed auditorium coordinated by MinneDemo co-founder Luke Francl.  After a brief introduction by Luke and MinneDemo co-organizer Ben Edwards, the demos began without the use of Powerpoint or any other presentation software.

The event got off to a fast start with Reactor, the first product from Rochester-based Hardcore Computer. An imposing beast of a computer at over 125 pounds, this is billed as the first personal supercomputer. Aside from being a wicked fast machine tuned for gaming, the first thing you notice is that the entire motherboard is encased in oil to cool the processor and other components. This fluid is highlighted with a blue light that makes a stunning first impression. After the demos were complete we were able to see Reactor put through it’s paces with a racing game which was most impressive. But it was clear from speaking with executives at the event that they have plans to target other processor intensive applications outside the gaming world such as architecture, video rendering and government applications….  [Read More…]

10 Startups to Present at MinneDemo

By

An estimated 300 Twin Cities tech-heads will gather for an evening of networking and to watch demos of ten of Minnesota’s hottest technology products on November 12, 2008.

MinneDemo brings together entrepreneurs, investors, software developers, designers, and other techies for a night of short demos and long conversations. Founded in 2006, this is the fifth MinneDemo event. It will be held at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. in south Minneapolis (map). Pre-networking begins at 6:30 pm, and the demos start at 7:00.

The format of MinneDemo is similar to national conferences like DEMO. The rules are simple: seven minutes for each demo, only real/working software allowed, and NO POWERPOINT! However, MinneDemo is free, both for presenters and attendees. All costs for the event are paid for with sponsorship by local technology and services companies.

At November’s MinneDemo, the following companies will demo their products:

…  [Read More…]