February 16, 2013

Atlanta Startups Getting a Lot of Love from the Press

By Jennifer in Uncategorized No Comments Tags:

There have been lots of tweets and posts about the “Hotlanta” USA Today article (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2013/02/13/atlanta-for-tech-startups/1911353/).

But, that’s not all.  FOUR Atlanta based startups had articles in the February Entrepreneur Magazine.  Check ‘em out:

pg 28: “Cold Cash” about Frozen Pints the craft beer ice-cream company that provided snacks at TedXPeachtree.

pg 46: #3 in the 10 Marketing Masterworks our very own Mellow Mushroom

pg 46: #5 in the 10 Marketing Masterworks Uber.  (Ok, maybe not Atlanta based but they have a great presence here!)

pg 68: “Salad Days” about PodPonics.

It’s about time the press start picking up on all the great things happening in Atlanta!

January 7, 2013

A Week in the Life & This Week’s Must Attend Events

By Jennifer in community No Comments

It’s January 7th, 2013. I’ve yet to do my “year end wrap up” post for 2012 AND I’m already behind in my resolution to blog at minimum twice a week in 2013.

Here’s Why:

Yup. This is my calendar for the week.  Everything in red is a MUST do.  Everything in Yellow a Nice-to-do.  And Purple represents individual office hour appointments for ATDC (managed by a different system).  CRAZY.

Here’s my must attend events for the week:

Tuesday 4-6pm : ATDC Info Session.  For those of you who wonder what we do…. come find out.

Tuesday 5pm – ? : StartupDrinks (http://atlsuds.com)

Wednesday 11:30am – 1pm : ATDC Lunch-N-Learn on Bootstrapping Tips & Tricks

Thursday 6pm – ? : Atlanta StartupVillage @ Hypepotamus.

The rest is for StartupChicks ONLY.  Sorry dudes!

Hope to see you at one of these great events this week.

December 20, 2012

The Party of the Year

By Jennifer in entrepreneur No Comments

Wow! What a night. I’m still recovering.

For the 1st time EVER, 20 Community Organizations focused on Technology Startups in the city of Atlanta and state of Georgia got together and threw one heck of a bash at Atlanta City Hall.  We had nearly 500 entrepreneurs, investors and friends join us.

Our Partners:

  • ATDC
  • EO
  • StartupAtlanta
  • The City of Atlanta
  • Venture Atlanta
  • StartupChicks
  • Atlanta StartupWeekend
  • CEO Council
  • Metro Atlanta Chamber
  • TiE Atlanta
  • MIT Enterprise Forum
  • StartupGeorgia
  • StartupLounge
  • Flashpoint
  • The Ritz Group
  • Hypepotamus
  • StartupRiot
  • StartupGossip
  • StartupDrinks
  • 151 Locust

Over 250 toys were collected (and some cash) for Toys for Tots and I think a good time was had by all.

A lot of people have been giving me credit for the party and I will take the credit for having the idea.  But, a LOT of people helped contribute to make it a success.   So, here’s a shout out to the folks that helped make this happen:

  • Eloisa Klementich of InvestAtlanta / StartupAtlanta for working with the mayor’s office to get us the amazing space!
  • Susan Stottlemyer of APG (on loan from TiE) helped negotiate and coordinate the catering efforts.
  • Chris Stanley of MIT Enterprise Forum navigated the logistics of purchasing alcohol for 500 people!
  • Kimberly Turner of Regator for providing us with a soundtrack for the evening.
  • Hypepotamus for getting a friend to contribute the photo booth!
  • Allyson Eman of Venture Atlanta and Ashish Thaker of TiE for getting everyone checked in.
  • Katie Elizabeth of TiE and David Duncan of EO for being my first co-conspirators when I pitched the idea in July.
A special thanks to Mike Mealling of Pipefish & John Nee of PWC for sponsoring.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the entrepreneurs for showing up!  I had a recurring nightmare the last week or so that no one showed up.  So, thanks for being there!
Happy Holidays!

 

 

December 10, 2012

My Events for the Week of 12/10/2012

By Jennifer in Uncategorized No Comments

Here’s what I’ve got going on.  If you want to engage with the Startup Community, get involved.

Monday, December 10th – Tampa, FL for a StartupChicks event

Tuesday, December 11th – Atlanta, GA

  • 4pm – ATDC Info Session (http://atdc.org) – come learn about all the different services ATDC provides.
  • 6pm – The Startup Outlook @ 360i. (http://startupoutlookatl.eventbrite.com/) – new event.

Wednesday, December 12th – Atlanta, GA

  • 5:30pm Atlanta Social Media Women (Private Holiday Party)

Thursday, December 13th – Atlanta, GA

  • No Plans – my Dad’s B-day!

Friday, December 14th – Savannah, GA BOUND!

December 3, 2012

Upcoming Atlanta Events

By Jennifer in Uncategorized No Comments Tags:

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is…. “how do I connect with the Atlanta Startup Community?”, followed by “what events should I go to?”.

Here’s what I’ve got on my calendar for this week:

Today – Lean Startup Conference Livestream (til 9pm tonight) Community Room until 2:30pm, then the Hodges Room.

Tonight – CEO Council Holiday Party to raise $ for Junior Achievement. Guests welcome (https://secure.georgia.ja.org/event/Event.aspx)

Tuesday 12/4 – StartupDrinks @ The Marley (http://atlsuds.com)

Wednesday 12/5 – TiE Visions (https://atlanta.tie.org/event/6/tie-monthly-meeting-visions-2013-0)

Thursday 12/6 – Atlanta Startup Village (http://www.meetup.com/Atlanta-Startup-Village)

And an upcoming event that WILL SELL OUT!!!
Tuesday 12/18 – Community Holiday Party. (http://ascholidayparty2012.eventbrite.com/)

Get involved. Be there.

November 22, 2012

What I am Thankful for

By Jennifer in entrepreneur No Comments Tags:

It’s a beautiful sunny and warm day in Atlanta. I’m sitting the lobby of the Westin Peachtree Plaza with my sister enjoying a glass of vino. Upstairs, our family is trying to wrangle 2 adorable and independent children between the ages of 3 and 6 into showers and “fancy clothes” for our Thanksgiving feast later today. This year, the family came to me and for that I am thankful.

It’s been a great day. Sleep in, breakfast with my sister, brisk walk to pick up the car from where we left it last night (no drinking and driving for us), got some starbucks, came to the hotel, worked out while watching the Dog Show, showered and now, relaxing and waiting on the others.

These days in down moments, often walking across Tech Square, I find myself smiling and thinking how blessed I am. My family and friends are all healthy and relatively happy. Those that wish to be employed are, though most have chosen to employ themselves. I have an amazing relationship with my family.

I am blessed to have a second family. This family is the Atlanta Startup Community. I have been involved with Startups in Atlanta since 1997. But, it has been the last 4-5 years that I have really seen this community come together. I am so grateful to be a part of it.

There are so many amazing things going on….. new co-working spaces like Hypepotamus, new accelerators like Flashpoint, new funds being created thank to Sig & Raj, new Education for early stage entrepreneurs like “Lean Startup” and Customer Discovery (now being taught at ATDC, VentureLab, NSF iCorp, Flashpoint, StartupChicks), new events that highlight local Startups like Atlanta Startup Village. And more.

(I apologize for a lack of links and/or spelling issues, I’m posting this from my iPhone.)

I am thankful for all of you! Have an amazing Thanksgiving.

Jen

October 19, 2012

Proud Mama Chick

By Jennifer in entrepreneur, startup 1 Comment

For the last 2 days, I attended Venture Atlanta. The largest angel & venture capital conference in the Southeast. I am a proud alumni, having been chosen to participate in the Early Stage showcase in 2009 for Nexpense (acquired in 06/2012). Now, I attend to support our StartupChick and ATDC companies.

First and foremost, I have to congratulate ALL the presenters. I have been on that stage and others, there is nothing easy about sharing your passion w/ 500+ “suits” under the lights.

That being said, I am opinionated and known for speaking my mind. And while a lot of our local blog posts will not play favorites. I WILL.

My thoughts mean NOTHING. I am not currently investing in Startups. My current roles at both ATDC & StartupChicks call on me to help all entrepreneurs. If I invested in a company I’d be more likely to hedge my bets and spend more time & energy on making sure they succeed and therefore not giving others the attention they deserve. This is a HUGE challenge. ATDC has nearly 380 companies and StartupChicks over 1000. Time management is difficult, at best.

So, for those interested in my 2 cents….

Best Venture Stage Presentations:

Best Early Stage Presentations:

Best Surprise:

Funniest:

 

*  To be fair, I am biased. These companies are female founded and their founders are actively involved in StartupChicks as either participants or mentors/coaches.

** OK, I was caught in compromising positions with their lizard.

*** OK, I have a secret crush on the entire team.

**** They are WAY too young for me to have a crush on, but, I’ve watched them since Flashpoint and extremely impressed where they have been and where they are going.

Disclosure: I am not currently an angel or venture investor. While I intend to invest my own funds & others (via a future StartupChick fund), I have not made an investment in 2012. Right now, I invest my time. Pretty much 110% of it.

March 30, 2012

When Do You Walk Away?

By Jennifer in entrepreneur No Comments

This question has plagued me for a LONG time, in both relationships and startups.  As I get older (and hopefully wiser), I have to wonder if I have walked too soon from some of the opportunities in my life (both personal and professional).

Fred Wilson posted this image on his Blog a few weeks ago and it really resonated with me.

Did I leave after the novelty wore off?  Or in the Trough of Sorrow?  If I had just stuck it out…. would I have hit the promised land?  I’ll never know.

So, I ask you…. when is the right time to walk away?

February 19, 2012

My Brush with Greatness

By Jennifer in Uncategorized No Comments

I’m sitting here.  Playing with code and watching “The BodyGuard” after listening to the CNN.com coverage of Whitney Houston’s funeral most of the afternoon.

And it just occurred to me, that most of you (my Atlanta / Savannah / Hilton Head Island / StartupChicks Friends) have no clue that I grew up in the town where Whitney lived after she “made it”.

Yup. Mendham, New Jersey. Between the Township & the Borough, population is around 10k.  About one hour west of NYC, there is no public transportation.  Mendham and the surrounding area is extremely affluent.  And Whitney is not the only public figure in the area.   Meryl Streep, William Hurt, and Mike Tyson live in the surrounding areas.  My friends and I spent some summer evenings (during college) partying on the grounds of  Jaclyn Kennedy Onnasis’s horse farm. (sshhh – don’t tell!)

I recall a Sunday brunch with my sisters and a friend at the Pub at Black Horse Inn, where across the room from us, sat Bobby Brown & another artist composing songs on bar napkins.  They smiled at us; but, nothing came of it. We would NEVER dream of invading their privacy without an invitation.  While they are famous, they were also our neighbors and we were taught to allow them their privacy in our quaint little town.

I recall stories where our famous neighbors were less than courteous and demanded special treatment because of their social status.  But, for the most part, the special requests were denied.  Who would you rather piss off a famous singer or CEO of a Fortune 100 company?

So, that brings me to my brush with greatness.  I don’t recall where I was going or why I went to the grocery store that Saturday morning.  The store is STILL my favorite grocery store EVER.  King’s.  There is one in Mendham and one in Morristown, New Jersey.  If I find myself in the area, I go and walk around just to see what’s new.  The store in Mendham has these mixed up doors.  The path in and path out cross like an X.  So, imagine my surprise early (8ish) one Saturday morning when I am (literally) running in and nearly run into none other than Whitney Houston.  I managed to stop before I hit her.  She was wearing no make-up, workout clothes and sneakers, so we are nearly the same height.  And my face is like 3 INCHES from hers.  SERIOUSLY.  I was dumbstuck; but, eventually managed to apologize for nearly running into her.  She gave me a brilliant smile and replied “It’s OK.” and walked away.

I have to say she was the MOST beautiful person I have ever seen in my life. God bless you Whitney Houston. May you find the peace that you deserve.

November 18, 2011

The Power of Punctuation

By Jennifer in Uncategorized No Comments

I tend to use punctuation in text messages and on Twitter.  I’ve EVEN had people make fun of me on twitter because of it.  But, today I learned the true value of using punctation in these new short messages that we seem to be addicted to:

I lost my cleaning person today.  She quit via text message due to a response I sent her via text.  The problem was… she didn’t use punctuation in her original text… so I interpreted her message differently than it was intended.  And then, she did the same to my response.

“Hi Jennifer – I feel terrible but my schedule is full next week because of thanksgiving would u mind if I come in the morning?”
My thought process was: I thought I was on your schedule for this week, not next.  And didn’t you text me yesterday and say that you are today?  Or am I losing my mind?   So, I responded:
“You texted me yesterday and said you were coming today???”
Ok, so maybe I was excessive on the question marks.  BUT, apparently she is sick, and meant to say:
“Hi Jennifer – I feel terrible.  (implication: I can’t clean your house today I am sick)  My schedule is full next week because of
thanksgiving. Would u mind if I come in the morning?”

One little period and my house would be clean tomorrow afternoon.

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