It’s that time of year again - IdaVation is happening in Boise. IdaVation, presented by Kickstand each year, is a wonderful day of learning about technology in Idaho and networking with folks in the industry. The theme this year is “Fostering a Culture of Innovation.” The event is Wednesday, May 26th and promises to be […]
Archive for the ‘Idaho’ Category
May
17
Mar
08
Leadership, Idaho and Breaking Down Barriers
My wife Tina and I had the pleasure of honoring Sharon Allen, Chairman of the Board of Deloitte, as she received the Legacy of Leading award from her alma mater, the University of Idaho. Sharon’s accolades are numerous and well deserved, but I wanted to touch on some highlights so more people can understand her remarkable […]
Jan
27
My Thoughts On The Idaho Technology Council
Last week, The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) held a press conference announcing the public launch of this very important organization. Judging by some of the comments I’ve seen on local media sites and some rash reaction from folks in the blogosphere, there’s clearly some misunderstanding about what the ITC is and what its mission is. […]
Jan
18
5 More Minutes with Eric Hansen
Back in November, 2009, I posted a blog entitled “5 Minutes with Eric Hansen of August Ventures.” Well, another firm raised their hand and claimed the name, so instead of fighting about it, Eric did the smart thing and changed the name of the firm to Portas Ventures. The investment thesis and ideas are the […]
Jan
13
The Future Of Innovation In Idaho
(The following is an open letter to members of the Idaho Legislature) Dear Idaho Legislator, As the father of a 9 and 11 year old, “why?” “how come?” and “can you explain?” are very, very common questions in my house these days. Inquisitiveness… Where does this come from? I need look no further than my […]
Nov
09
5 Minutes with Eric Hansen of August Ventures
We have a new venture capital firm in Boise - August Ventures and it’s run by Eric Hansen. Eric and I met back in the early 1990’s at a semiconductor capital equipment company located in Boise called SCP Global Technologies. I had the pleasure of working closely with Eric over 10+ years and respect his […]
Jun
01
TechLaunch and IdaVation Wrapup
In Boise last week, we had two wonderful events: TechLaunch business plan competition and Idavation. Phil Reed and I had the pleasure of participating as judges for TechLaunch and it is certainly refreshing to see the ideas and teams coming out of the universities and start-up community. Congratulations to all on getting to this point. […]
May
04
Local Knowledge vs. Outside Perspective: Cage Match
Last week, the Boise Chamber of Commerce hired a professional from Washington DC to be the new CEO for the Chamber. I certainly wish this person the best, but believe his unfamiliarity with the people and business of the Treasure Valley will put him at a disadvantage for a period of time versus hiring a […]
Apr
14
Bill Joos Entrepreneur Bootcamp - Wrap Up
As one attendee said, “Every entrepreneur in the Treasure Valley should be here.” Bill Joos put on a great day for 120+ entrepreneurs, students and business managers at Boise State University’s Jordan Ballroom. From the Top Ten Mistakes in Business Plans to Positioning to Perfecting Your Pitch, the attendees got real world advice and great […]
Apr
05
Idaho: Plant Innovation Seeds Now For Tomorrow’s Growth
As I was reading one of the Idaho Statesman’s recent articles about Micron’s latest round of layoffs, I was struck by the reaction of one of our legislators. This particular gentleman was quoted as saying “It’s a shock. I’ve been through three or four of these. You think you see things that show we’re hitting […]