Announcements are welcome from both members and guests. Please feel free to make your announcement during our next meeting!
January 2012
Eric Brown, Manager of Malone Training Solutions,
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, www.jcmalone.com, 502-814-0167 ext 315, 502-262-9904 - Cell
We are sponsoring seminars to help sales people generate more prospects, close more new business, and generate more referrals. These events will be held at the Hotel Louisville (120 West Broadway). The event links are below:
We are also putting on a workshop for people looking for their next career position and will share some proven strategies to get great results. These events will be held at JC Malone Associates (1941 Bishop Lane, Suite 100). The event links are below:
I will be presenting at both sessions and guarantee you’ll learn some innovative practices and have a blast in the process!
Andrew Prell, Agoratek.tumblr.com,
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Companies need Users as well as funding. AgoraStartupIdol.com is American Idol for Startups launching 3/9/12! Please help us by taking this 10 question survey about AgoraStartupIdol: http://t.co/eQyGMqOr
Mission: To provide startups crowd validation and real traction while helping them hone their elevator pitches.
Agora’s Startup Idol virtualizes the Silicon Valley pitch contest. Built on Agora’s Sessions™ platform, AgoraStartupIdol.com will be the first truly WEB 3.0 online event. Bringing the Silicon Valley pitch contest online adds Crowd Sourcing into the process which can be leveraged for both validation of ideas and traction for the startup companies.
Startup Idol breaks down the physical barriers of time and space for the traditional SV pitch contest. Entrepreneurs from around the globe can participate and interact in real time with professional Silicon Valley investors and people from around the world can tune in and interact with the event live or OnDemand via their PC, Mac, or mobile device.
Startup Idol provides traction to its participants via its Gamification layer which incentivizes audience members for preferred behaviors through points. Audience members receive points for doing activities such as watching segments of the show, signing up as users to the contestants’ products, providing helpful feedback to the companies and the judges as well as getting their friends to do the same.
Scott Broughton, Eureka Ranch, phone 814-505-3786,
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I wanted to tell you what the Dept of Commerce is doing in the state of KY to grow the economy. 2 things
they are sponsoring an Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute (IELI) in Cincinnati on January17-19; Its a 2.5 day work shop where senior and upper management learn tools and exercises to lead and create an environment within their organization that is built upon Creating meaningfully unique ideas, Communicating those ideas with better clarity through better marketing messages, and Commercializing those ideas more efficiently. Most people believe that Product Development has to be long and expensive ... it doesn't. This is a SYSTEM that increases innovation speed (up to 6x) & decreases risk (30-60%). There are 15 IELI's in 2012 and Cincinnati is the closest one to KY. Passcodes are available for a substantial savings to this powerful workshop.
is about a grant. A grant that the Dept of Commerce awarded to KSTC who partnered with the Eureka! Ranch. The purpose of the grant is business growth within KY manufacturers. Business Growth through being Meaningfully Unique and creating a culture within the manufacturing sector surrounded by innovation. The grant pays a substantial amount of the cost for the first 5 companies who participate in the grant. The selection process is underway.
Any questions regarding Innovation Engineering, the Business Growth Grant between KSTC and Eureka! Ranch, or the IELI, please contact me. Again, my name is Scott Broughton and I can be reached at
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or 814-505-3786. Thank you.
Mary Tapolsky, Nucleus, (direct) 502-569-2059, (cell) 303-579-1498 For details about the upcoming Kauffman FastTrac TechVenture program visit nucleus.affiliate.fasttrac.org. The 10 week program, which meets once a week for 3 hours on Tuesday evenings, will run from 2/21-4/24, inclusive. Registration deadline is 2/13. This concept analysis/business plan development course is designed for entrepreneurs with technology-based business opportunities. Participants will apply the concepts to their business opportunities and develop elevator pitches, opportunity propositions, draft business plans, etc. Additional benefits include the opportunity to work with experienced business coaches, the opportunity to connect to community resources, and the opportunity to interact with local business leaders. This course has been approved to count towards CE credits for engineers in IN and KY.
Dan Withrow,
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I'm Dan Withrow and together with my wife Mindy, we started CSS Distribution Group 5 1/2 years ago here in Louisville. We distribute pallets and packaging materials to large multi location companies internationally. Sales in 2011 were at a little over $17 million and the company is profitable. We have a line of credit that has not been used much but need at this point to establish a better credit facility to help fuel continued growth. So we are seeking a $1 million revolving line of credit. I will be available together with Bob Ogden of Ogden Associates to discuss this after today's lunch.
Bob Uberti, Phone: 502-758-6788,
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I am available on a full time or contract basis to work with leaders of startups and small or mid-sized businesses to provide guidance and leadership in the following areas.
Operations Management - Whether your business is just getting started, or if you're trying to scale it up, I can help. My focus is on profitably impressing your customers each time that they make a purchase. I've successfully started up three facilities in three different industries, and participated in mergers.
Process Improvement & Cost Control - I have a knack for identifying inefficiencies, and correcting them. I also negotiate deals with vendors who will actively participate in controlling costs and improving quality.
Financial Analysis - Numbers are just data unless you have someone who can analyze them to uncover opportunities for improvement. I can analyze financial data and convert it to usable information upon which to make decisions.
Culture Change - Start ups and acquisitions are dynamic, and, significant growth requires significant change. I eat "change" for breakfast! I use proven methods for developing people and driving positive culture change.
My experience includes these and other industries: furniture, pharmaceuticals, printing, building materials, distribution, wholesale and light manufacturing.
My ideal role will be one in which I wear several hats for a growing business. If you contact me, we can explore how I or someone in my professional network can help you to achieve your goals.
The Network of Entrepreneurial Women is a grassroots, informal organization for entrepreneurial women who are interested in mentorship, education and support. And we have a lot of fun!
Our Wednesday, January 11th event will be at the Yum! Center at 6:00pm – a real treat with a double featured event!
Brian Mazar, President, Fortune Business Transfers & Acquisitions, will speak on “Why Business Plans Don’t Get Funded” in the Hickman Camp room at 6:00pm
Then we’ll be guests of UofL in one of their suites to watch the Lady Cards vs. South Florida basketball game starting at 7:00pm
We have a great line-up of additional meeting presentations through June, so we invite you to join us. Find out more information and register at www.nentw.com.
Gametut.com is a Video Game and DVD trading network were members trade their used games and movies for our form of virtual currency. Gametut users can then use that virtual currency to purchase any listed item on the site. Gametut.com capitalizes on the multi-billion dollar secondary video game market by o-ering our members more value for their used games and movies then anywhere else currently available.We have created a very innovative way to make money and a trading platform we feel will become wildly popular. Right now we are looking knowledgeable E-Commerce advisors that can help us in the areas of fund raising, legal counsel, and general guidance.
Heidi Platt, founder and president of Platinum Grants & Proposals, LLC, provides proposal assistance for businesses seeking grant funding. She specializes in writing grants for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. If you are an entrepreneur or small business trying to obtain funding to develop and commercialize innovative technology, the SBIR/STTR program might be the solution to your funding needs. This competitive program provides grant money for the critical startup and development stages, and it encourages the commercialization of the technology, product, or service.
There are eleven federal departments and agencies that are required to reserve a portion of their research and development (“R&D”) funds for award to small business through the SBIR program. You may search the solicitation database at the following link, www.sbir.gov, in order to determine if there is an open topic that matches your innovation.
Most of you know me as a Board member of the Venture Connectors and founder, president, & CEO of DICKEN Enterprises, Inc. Recently I have been working with David Khazai, President, Owner, and CEO of Innovations International on a project to introduce a new retail process to empower independent retailers to compete effectively in a marketplace increasingly dominated by big box stores and giant online retailers.
There are over 3 million retailers in the US representing a $4 Trillion dollar market. The industry is highly fragmented, unsophisticated and recently experiencing margin compressions driving smaller retailers out of business.
Innovations International is focused delivering subscription based, contract recurring revenue, software as a service solution to level the playing field for the small retailers to maximize their sales and profits. After a successful business in retail rug business, David re-launched the company in 2008 into a multi-vertical offering. They have experienced over 20% growth annually since then with 2011 being a year filled with major relationship accomplishments including contracts with suppliers who represent almost 80% of the rug business. Including carpet retail sales, this $21 billion annual market is the initial target of the company to present streamline the shopping/buying experience between retailers and consumers via PCs and mobile devices. Other identified verticals include flooring, home furnishings and accessories, etc. Additional applications are planned for Remodelers, Builders, Designers, etc.
Seeking $750,000 in funding to complete the development and sustain operations till the end of the year, the company is on track for 1000 retailer in that same time period; the first international retailer has joined the growing list last month.
Finally, Innovations International has a strong management team in place and is offering an attractive return to investors in 3 to 4 years.
Please contact us to learn more about this exciting local opportunity to assist the retail market retention and to help our economy with job creations.
August 2011
Lisa M. Bajorinas, Managing Director, Entreprise Corp The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation is hosting the Angel Resource Institute's excellent seminar on the angel investment process. The agenda will address topics such as: portfolio strategy, due diligence, deal structure, valuation methodologies and much more. Whether you're an entrepreneur considering angel funding, a new investor in the angel realm or a seasoned investor, this is an excellent opportunity to hear and learn from the best in the business.
When: September 8, 2011 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm with cocktails following Where: Embassy Suites, Lexington (Discounted room rates available-under Angel Seminar) Price: $130 Space is Limited – Registration closes September 1 Register at:www.angelworkshop.eventbrite.com Questions: Call Shari Ball at 859-246-3233 or email her at
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Sponsored by: ENTERPRISECORP
Lisa M. Bajorinas, Managing Director, Entreprise Corp The Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards pay tribute to and memorialize one of Louisville’s most successful entrepreneurs and benefactors—Henry Vogt Heuser, Sr. Mr. Heuser was a native Louisvillian and spent his entire career at the Henry Vogt Machine Company, where he served as president for 28 years. One of the very last civic contributions Mr. Heuser made to Louisville before his passing in 1999 was the creation of a $5 million endowment to inspire and support inventors and innovators in the commercialization of their products and ideas. Over the last 10 years, the Vogt Awards have invested close to $1.7 million into 22 companies.
Description The Vogt endowment is jointly managed by EnterpriseCorp and the Community Foundation of Louisville. The Vogt Awards are dedicated to supporting inventors, innovators and engineers with funding to assist with the commercialization of their products and ideas. By providing up to $250,000 to award winners each year, the Vogt Awards contribute to the long-term development of regional research, development and product deployment infrastructure. The Vogt Awards assist in creating opportunities for economic growth, thus enhancing the competitive position of the Greater Louisville region.
Applicants Anyone with an innovative invention or a new and better way to do things, including engineers, students, scientists, technicians, creative people, entrepreneurs, intra-preneurs, individuals, fledgling companies, inventors, or tinkerers is welcome to apply.
Selection Criteria All online applications are due by September 30 and are judged by a cross-community selection committee. Each idea is evaluated as to whether it exhibits:
Truly innovative content
Economic community impact
Competitive improvement
Market value
Capacity to generate employment by opening new markets or starting new enterprises
Social or environmental benefits
Willingness to locate all or part of operations in the Greater Louisville region
Ability to commercialize product within 2 years
Application Process The Vogt Selection Committee will invite potential candidates to submit full business plans based on information provided in the proposal. Full business plans will be due approximately four weeks after submission of the application. Finalists will be reviewed by Selection Committee members and appointed "peer reviewers," who will comment on the technical merits of each proposed invention. Vogt Award recipients will receive expert support and advice provided by EnterpriseCorp in addition to capital.
Bob Ogden, Ogden Associates, Inc. Phone: 502-893-2000,
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Vanguard Utility Service is a nine year old company that installs water, gas and electric meters and controls nationally. The customers are the operators or owners of the utility infrastructures. The company had sales last year of $17 million, has a compounded annual growth rate of 38% with profits in all but one year and positive cash profits every year. Peak EBITDA has been $1.4 million plus. $4 million is sought to fuel growth. Contact Tony Bates, CEO at (866) 691-4646,
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, or Bob Ogden of Ogden Associates, Inc. (502) 893-2000,
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.
April 2011
Mike Noll, Phone: 502-272-0777 Investor with an opportunity to purchase a business in Eastern Kentucky is seeking $1.5 million in financing for a business with a $2.8 million appraised asset value. For more information contact Mike Noll, Noll Law Office, 502-272-0777.
Jason Young, Zindagi,
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, www.OneZindagi.com Founded in the wake of the Great Recession, Zindagi is an early stage social enterprise dedicated to educating a new generation of financially capable Americans. Zindagi will achieve this goal by providing students aged 10 through 18 with financial literacy instruction through a next-generation web and mobile platform that combines some of the best aspects of social gaming, such as incentive structures, social networking, and competition, with hands-on money management experience. Think Farmville meets Mint.com. We are currently working on the first version of the application. For more information please contact Jason Young.
Dawn Marie Yankeelov, Aspectx, Phone: 502-292-2351 After Nearly a Decade of Waiting, ICANN Looks to Award .shop Top Level Domain- Commercial Connect LLC Anticipates Delegation in June. Jeffrey Smith, CEO of Commercial Connect, LCC based in Louisville, KY has announced his firm's intention to file within the 2011 Q2 window for delegation on the award of .shop, expected this year. In the past, ICANN has awarded top level domains (TLDs) based on market conditions, and its various committee recommendations. "We anticipate that this is the year, ICANN sees a value in this .shop domain, because of all the increasing activity surrounding online shopping and ecommerce activities. We have been involved in the process of delegation specifically for .shop approaching a full decade, and have patiently awaited this opportunity," said Smith. He has been active in the management and reorganization of the Internet for the past 15 years.
Golden Link International Mining is licensed by the Ghanaian government to prospect and mine gold on a small scale and buy from small scale miners. G.L.I was afforded an “exclusive agreement” by the Ghanaian government to mine, buy and sell gold using procedures that are in the best interest of the country and import the gold into the United States.
Mike Noll Phone: 502-272-0777
Investor with an opportunity to purchase a business in Eastern Kentucky is seeking $1.5 million in financing for a business with a $2.8 million appraised asset value. For more information contact Mike Noll, Noll Law Office, 502 272-0777.
Founded in the wake of the Great Recession, Zindagi is an early stage social enterprise dedicated to educating a new generation of financially capable Americans. Zindagi will achieve this goal by providing students aged 10 through 18 with financial literacy instruction through a next-generation web and mobile platform that combines some of the best aspects of social gaming, such as incentive structures, social networking, and competition, with hands-on money management experience. Think Farmville meets Mint.com. We are currently working on the first version of the application. For more information please contact Jason Young.
Dawn Marie Yankeelov Aspectx Phone: 502-292-2351
After Nearly a Decade of Waiting, ICANN Looks to Award .shop Top Level Domain- Commercial Connect LLC Anticipates Delegation in June.
Jeffrey Smith, CEO of Commercial Connect, LCC based in Louisville, KY has announced his firm's intention to file within the 2011 Q2 window for delegation on the award of .shop, expected this year. In the past, ICANN has awarded top level domains (TLDs) based on market conditions, and its various committee recommendations. "We anticipate that this is the year, ICANN sees a value in this .shop domain, because of all the increasing activity surrounding online shopping and ecommerce activities. We have been involved in the process of delegation specifically for .shop approaching a full decade, and have patiently awaited this opportunity," said Smith. He has been active in the management and reorganization of the Internet for the past 15 years. He is also a founding member of CORE, continually active in multiple ICANN functions, and a founding co-owner of Afilias which was successful in launching the .info TLD.
Dawn MarieYankeelov Aspectx Phone: 502-292-2351
Is 2011 the year for landing a new satisfying career? Do you find yourslf in a transition for the first time in years? Have you been recently laid off, or unexpectedly downsized? Join us for a three part series designed to provide you resourcesfor successful career endeavors in 2011. Learn how to perfect your resume, to utilize Business Frist as a resource and gain valuable advice from hiring professionals. We will also teach you how to network and utilize resources avilable to to individuals in your industry and how to be more proactive in your job search. Space is limited, so register today. For more information visit www.businessfirstoflouisville.com.
February 2011
R. Casey Barach Vice President Entrepreneurship NKY ezone: Innovation and Commercialization Center Phone: 859-292-7781; Mobile: 513-225-1014
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www.nkyezone.org
Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit Program Today, 27 states have angel tax credit programs that are designed to increase investment capital and create jobs. HB 448 will make Kentucky’s Angel Investor program one of the best in the country and puts our early stage companies at a competitive advantage. Angel investments lead to the creation of jobs. HB 448 provides investors with a 40% personal income tax credit.
It is really simple, pick up the phone or send an email to your clients and everyone in your database that supports entrepreneurship. Tell them to take 30 seconds and call the legislative hot line and tell their representative that they support House Bill 448, it’s that simple and it’s a quantity game. Each call is counted and reported back and your legislators will take note.
If you support HB 448, you can call Toll Free 1-800-372-7181 Message Line.
Note: When using this message line, you are not connected directly with your legislator. Instead, this simple service allows you to leave a brief 30-second to 45-second message with a live operator, who will complete a “green slip” that each House and Senate member reviews on a frequent basis. Short messages are the most effective: “This is John Smith, and I live at 111 Maple Street in Covington. Would you please inform Representative <<name>> that I support HB 448 – The “Angel Investing Bill”, and I thank Representative <<name>> for his support on this important issue.”
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