Geoff Livingston

Heard that Geoff Livingston author of Now is Gone is crashing Memphis, TN on Monday September 22.
Time and Place TBD for MeetUp
http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/

Great primer style book for SVPs, VP, and directors on Web 2.0.
Sent Wireless via My BlackBerry

Speaking on Angel Investment

Mercury and LaunchMemphis were discussed in relation to angel investment:
"Mathews, who, despite his qualms about aggregating angels on a national level, is nonetheless impressed with Qualls' efforts to lower the economic barrier for angel investment."

As seen in . . .
Calling All Angels
Business Tennessee - Nashville,TN,USA
http://www.businesstn.com/content/200809/calling-all-angels

Video to put the burbs in perspective from CEOs for Cities.

Nashville 'Startup Weekend' for tech ventures is still a long shot

Eric was recently quoted for an online article. He spoke on speaking organizing Startup Weekends.

http://www.venturenashville.com/news.php?viewStory=70

Journal Article Published

I recently worked with Sidney D'Mello, Lee McCauley, and James Markham to publish some of the research we did at the FedEx Institute of Technology.  We studied the characteristics of four commercially available RFID tags. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of position and orientation of RFID tags on simulated real time asset tracking in the supply chain.

 

As stated by the editors of the journal (JTAER) regarding our work, "This type of fine grained, empirical testing of RFID tag location offers valuable insight into the obstacles that confront firms seeking to implement RFID in the supply chain."

 

Here is the citation and a link to read it:

D'Mello, S., Mathews, E. C., McCauley, L., and Markham J. (2008). Impact of Position and Orientation of RFID Tags on Real Time Asset Tracking in a Supply Chain. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 3(1), 1-12.

http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1365659&jmp=cit&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE

Investment Forum - Launch Memphis

Me speaking on the LaunchMemphis Early Stage Investment Forum -- http://www.launchmemphis.com

NanoTect Featured in BusinessTN Magazine

BusinessTN Magazine
June, 2008
Technology 3-2-1
By Alexei Smirnov

ANTI-CORROSION NANO-COATING
More than a Penny Saved
Eugene Pinkhassik is living proof that the terms "businessman" and
"scientist" need not be mutually exclusive. Since arriving in
Tennessee 11 years ago after completing post-doctoral studies at the
University of Colorado, the assistant professor of chemistry has done
well for himself and his current employer, the University of Memphis.
The native of Kazan, Russia, is now one of the principals of the
University of Memphis' first spinoff, NanoTect, which is on the verge
of commercializing the ultra-thin protective layer for metal piping
that Pinkhassik developed as part of his research in nanotechnology.
"Anti-corrosion sensors aren't as glamorous as sensors that diagnose
cancer, but it's a simple technology that can be easily
commercialized," says Pinkhassik, whose long-term goal is to develop
sensors capable of detecting cancerous growths early on as part of a
simple blood test. "It can happen in the next 10 to 20 years." It was
in this lofty research that Pinkhassik happened upon the curious
results of applying nano-coating to sensors for diagnosing illnesses.
Pinkhassik, along with colleagues Erno Lindner and Andrew Richter,
discovered that their coating solution could slow down corrosion in
copper by four times the current rate. Their side project won the
FedEx Institute's first business plan competition in 2006, followed by
another award from EmergeMemphis, as well as backing from Mercury
Technology Labs of Memphis.

Startup Weekend Making a Demo Video for the Facebook AP

Nick and Jonathan work on making a demo video of the Facebook ap made at Memphis Startup Weekend.

StartUp Weekend Memphis

In this video, I give a tour of the facilities where Memphis Startup Weekend will be held. Check out http://memphis.startupweekend.com for more details on the Weekend.

LaunchMemphis

If you are in the Mid-South and interested in entereprenuership you should check out LaunchMemphis and the program of events being put together. See www.launchmemphis.com.

Become a Fan on FaceBook too.

I was recently asked to Weigh In

Recently I was asked to "Weigh In" on a question for the Nov. 30th, 2007 Edition of the Memphis Business Journal

The Weigh In: How does your business of industry stand to benefit from Tennessee's increasing business relationship with China?

Here was my reply . . . 

"With the population of China beginning to equal the European middle class in purchasing-power, the demand for innovative new technologies from US firms will grow.   United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson recently relayed that China is by far the most rapidly growing market for US goods, having grown nearly four-fold over the past 10 years.   Because of enhanced China-Tennessee business relations, Tennessee firms stand poised to take an even larger share of this business. 

"Looking more specifically at new venture creation: In the technology arena, we know local start-ups turn to China for manufacturing.   What's new is we are seeing Chinese firms approach local start-ups with interest not only in the purchase of products and services, but also with money for investment and even outright acquisition of the start-up to compliment other US acquisitions.  "

U of M using technology to allow students to carry classrooms with them

I was recently in an article in the Memphis Business Journal:

U of M using technology to allow students to carry classrooms with them
By Michael Sheffield
Published: November 12, 2007

The term smart classroom no longer pertains only to students at the University of Memphis.
To continue reading, go to: http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/11/12/story15.html

 

Mercury Launchpad: Pre-Incubation Firm Scouts Incubator Clients

Pre-Incubation Firm Scouts Incubator Clients

 

Vol. 13, Issue 6
November 2007

NBIA Updates

National Business Incubation Association

 

Incubator managers know that it's not just the number of potential clients walking through the door that's important. Quality matters, too. Most programs have entry criteria for would-be incubator clients to ensure that companies are ready and willing to accept incubation services.

 

But what about the entrepreneurs who have a great idea, but haven't yet started a business?

 

EmergeMemphis, a mixed-use program in Memphis, Tenn., has one way to capture such clients.  It hosts Launchpad, a firm (started by an Emerge graduate) that helps nascent entrepreneurs turn their ideas into companies, in exchange for an equity stake in that company.

 

"We see [Launchpad] as a precursor to EmergeMemphis," says incubator President Gwin Scott. "They will be our pipeline for qualified companies -- all pre-screened."

 

That's important because Scott already has his hands full with his 27 incubator clients. "I spend a lot of time on them with strategy, sales, investments," he says. He also is raising funds to expand the incubator so it can take up to 15 additional clients. That leaves little time for the kind of hand-holding a totally new entrepreneur needs -- and that is Launch Pad's stock in trade.

 

Launchpad currently has three clients, including the winner of a business plan competition sponsored by the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. As a competition partner, Emerge arranged to have Launch Pad services in the winner's package.

 

"Since we couldn't write a check, this was our way to help the cause," Scott says. And it was a way to help everybody involved: the competition winner, Launch Pad and the incubator itself.

 

"We're just trying to help entrepreneurs by building the right community with qualified companies," Scott says.

Mercury Technology Labs: Mercury Launchpad Opens for Business

For those looking for flexible office space to launch new business ventures check out this latest post.

Mercury Technology Labs: Mercury Launchpad Opens for Business

Memphis Daily News: Entrepreneurs Bank On Fractional Ownership Market

Entrepreneurs Bank On Fractional Ownership Market
ShareCastle LLC recently was formed by Michael Hart, Marc Diaz, and Eric Mathews to take advantage of growth in fractional ownership of vacation properties.
30 October 2007 Memphis Daily News
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=99584