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Archive for the ‘News’ Category


Posted on June 23, 2011 - by

Silicon Valley Welcomes First of its Kind Minority Accelerator

The Silicon Valley Welcomes First of its Kind Minority Accelerator was originally posted on BlackWeb20.com

NewMe%20Accelerator

Silicon Valley welcomed the first ever technology accelerator for minority-led start-ups, NewME Accelerator. NewME’s select participants commenced their first class on June 16 and will participate in this program throughout the summer.  The start-up founders are based in a shared house in Mountain View, Calif. and are utilizing co-working space at Citizen Space in San Francisco.

This program gives the founders a unique opportunity to learn from key industry leaders during private group dinners and one-on-one mentorship. The founders will leverage this once-in-a-lifetime access, and being in the epicenter of Silicon Valley’s culture, for nine weeks to take their ventures to the next level.  Speakers and mentors will include representatives from successful start-ups such as Tagged, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Zynga Games. The accelerator concludes with a demo day at Kapor Capital August 4th where founders will pitch their products to various investors and members of the start-up community.

“The amount of support and interest from the Silicon Valley community in the NewME Accelerator is overwhelming,” shared Founder & co-Producer Angela Benton. “It serves as a testament to not only the need for a program like this, but also to the excitement and stewardship of the mentors and companies who are participating.  We are thrilled about this summer and the companies and individuals who’ve agreed to be involved.”

The accelerator provides housing, transportation and other basic living needs in addition to the mentorship and access to some of the industry’s elite minds. The intent of the program is to remove some of the barriers involved with being an entrepreneur and help pave the way for even greater success.  The program is supported by various sponsors who support not only the program’s mission but entrepreneurship in general.  Many of the program’s supporters view their participation in the 9 week long program as an opportunity to connect with budding entrepreneurs and expand their own businesses.

“Whether it is with our 100 million registered users or our own employees, everyday Tagged celebrates diversity and the entrepreneurial spirit. The opportunity to partner with the Accelerator is a natural fit for us,” said Greg Tseng co-founder and CEO of Tagged. “In addition to helping racially diverse entrepreneurs get their start, as my co-founder and I once did, our involvement also helps us connect with and ultimately attract the best talent to Tagged.  The NewME Accelerator is providing both the entrepreneurs and us with a great opportunity to connect, learn and teach.”

NewME has a total of thirteen start-ups participating in its first cycle.  Five were pre-selected while the other eight were selected from a large pool of applicants. Eight of the participating companies will travel to Silicon Valley to be housed this summer while the other 5 are Bay area locals. Applications were evaluated by the producers of the accelerator and selected based on concept, quality of pitch, and the problem the product solves in addition to several other criteria.

Yesterday the group gathered at Zibbibo in Palo Alto to commence the programs curriculum with it’s first speaker out of a series of others with Interactive One CTO Navarrow Wright.  The discussion included practical information on how each participants pitch could be modified along with candid stories of Wright’s experiences leading technology teams and raising money in Silicon Valley.

The start-ups include:  goKit, kloud.co, Pencil You In, Cued, TriOut , BeCouply, Playd, FetchMob, Aislefinder, Central.ly, Mosion, Qykno, +1 stealth start-up.

The NewME Accelerator is supported by generous sponsors, speakers, and mentors.  Sponsors include:  Interactive One, Google, Tagged, Gunderson Dettmer, Syncom Ventures, PepsiCo, Kapor Capital, Bronze Investments, Justin.tv, and e3 Innovation Fund.


Posted on May 11, 2011 - by

What Google announced at Google I/O 2011

If you didn’t know Google I/O 2011 just ended and Google made a lot announcements.  Google revealed everything from updates to the Chrome Web store to the release of the new Chromebook.  In case you missed any of the news here’s a list of what Google announced at Google I/O 2011.

  • Chrome Web Store Available Worldwide
  • Google Music
  • Chromebook
  • Google TV’s Getting More Apps
  • A New Version of Honeycomb
  • Updated Android OS: Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Google Movies for Android
  • Android@Home framework
  • Google Task API
  • Angry Birds on the web
  • Google Places API open access
  • Google Opens Places API to the Public

Did I miss anything?

via Google I/O 2011: Google’s Plans Revealed | Black Web 2.0. and Google I/O in a Nutshell: All the News You Might Have Missed | Mashable

What Google I/O announcement are you looking forward to the most?


Posted on May 10, 2011 - by

Announcing the NewME Accelerator Startup Winners – This summer is going to be epic!

Originally Posted on BlackWeb 2.0 by Sherri L. Smith

NewME Accelerator

Last month, Black Web 2.o CEO and founder, Angela Benton announced the launch of the NewME Accelerator. The “first-ever technology accelerator for minority-led startups,” the NewME Accelerator will help a select number of startups take their budding businesses to the next level. Taking place over a nine-week period (June 16 – August 18), startup founders will travel to the heart of Silicon Valley to learn from some of technology’s top industry leaders.

In addition to five pre-selected startups, (goKit, kloud.co, Pencil You In, Cued, TriOut ) and a group of  locally selected startups (Central.ly, Mosion, AisleFinder, and Qykno), and a stealth startup, there were three additional spots open. With an opportunity this big being offered, the selection process wasn’t taken lightly.  In addition to concept, quality of pitch, and the problem the product solves were also taken into consideration.

The winners of the NewME Accelerator application process are:

 

  • Playd – A mobile app that allows you to check into, rate, share, and discuss the games you love with your friends and other gamers worldwide.
    http://playd.it
    played

 

  • FetchMob –  Offers a way for people to buy what they need without shopping for it.
    http://fetchmob.com 

    fetchmob

 

During the program, startup founders will have speakers and one-on-one mentorship opportunities with reps from successful startup reps including Zynga, Facebook, Twitter, Tagged, and Foursquare. At the end of the program, NewME participants will have the opportunity to pitch their products to investors and other members of the startup community.

“The NewME Accelerator is not just about the participating startups, but about providing a path for future minority-led start-ups to be encouraged to launch successful companies. We want to be an example to show that no matter your race or gender innovation can happen in the web/tech space. I’m beyond excited about this summer and am grateful to have the support from many industry peers,” said Sutton.

News of the accelerator has been spreading like wildfire around the web with tech influentials like Stanley “M.C. Hammer” Burrell showing his support. Benton and Sutton are pleased at the positive response.

“The amount of support and interest from the Silicon Valley community in the NewME Accelerator is overwhelming,” says Benton, “and serves as a testament to not only the need for a program like this, but also to the receptiveness of a program like this.  We are more than excited about this summer and the companies and individuals who’ve agreed to be involved.”

For more information about the NewME Accelerator and its first class, please click here.


Posted on May 9, 2011 - by

Microsoft Near Deal to Buy Skype for Nearly $8 Billion – WSJ.com

microsoft Near Deal to Buy Skype for Nearly $8 Billion

If this happens, it’s a big deal! Microsoft Near Deal to Buy Skype for Nearly $8 Billion

Microsoft Corp. is close to a deal to buy Internet phone company Skype Technologies SA for between $7 billion and $8 billion—the most aggressive move yet by Microsoft to play in the increasingly-converged worlds of communication, information and entertainment.

Via Microsoft Near Deal to Buy Skype for Nearly $8 Billion – WSJ.com.

If Microsoft buys Skype will you continue to use it or look for an alternative?


Posted on April 17, 2011 - by

Is the iPad a job killer? Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blames The iPad For Killing Jobs

From: Real Clear Politics Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), who admits to owning an iPad, blames the Apple Inc. product for “eliminating thousands of American jobs.”

iPad 2

“A few short weeks ago I came to the House floor after having purchased an iPad and said that I happened to believe, Mr. Speaker, that at some point in time this new device, which is now probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs. Now Borders is closing stores because, why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes & Noble? Buy an iPad and download your newspaper, download your book, download your magazine,” Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL, Chicago) said on the House floor Friday afternoon.

Ironically, it was only last month that Rep. Jackson was promoting the Apple iPad and Amazon on the House floor.

 

My thoughts:

Ok I try to avoid talking about politics but this one touches a nerve. First make sure you watch the video on Real Clear Politics website. I mean, I get what Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is saying and If you really think about it, he’s part right. The iPad is made in China, and Borders is closing stores. But there’s a lot more other factors that come into play to why Borders is closing doors. Also note Borders has their own ebook (digital book) reader as well. So Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. you can’t blame the iPad.

Also as the publishing industry has been under “attack” from the decline in newspaper sales and more, changes must happen for the industry to continue. It’s called innovation and adoption. It’s what the New York Times is doing with their apps and why we have new apps like the Daily. Also not to mention how much money Apple has allowed for developers to make. If I’m a publisher or write or in the publishing industry I would have been thinking about mobile like… 4 years ago.

So while “I get” what Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr is saying, I believe it to be a very incorrect statement and a sign of how technology is progressing industries into new directions. Also it’s up to each individual to continue to learn and grow to stay current with today’s job / technology industry. It’s not easy but it’s life.

RealClearPolitics – Video – Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blames The iPad For Killing Jobs.


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