Get to Know #5: Kristofer Layon and Minnewebcon

February 27, 2010 | by Jeff Pesek Comments

Kristofer Layon is Director of MinneWebCon, the University of Minnesota’s annual regional conference about Web design and standards, content management and strategy, user experience, and social networking. Into its third year, MinneWebCon remains much of a grassroots initiative – produced by a core group of University staff & alumni who volunteer their resources to bring us a day packed with some of Minnesota’s finest minds and material.  Last years conference drew a crowd of 250 attendees with featured keynotes by Doc Searls and Bruce Schneier; this years keynotes are:

Kristina Halvorson

“Kristina Halvorson is the CEO and founder of Brain Traffic, an internationally-renowned content strategy agency. Her recently-published book, Content Strategy for the Web, is helping to shape and define the value of this emerging practice all over the world. Kristina has appeared as a featured speaker at Web 2.0 Expo, An Event Apart, Voices That Matter, and SXSW Interactive.”

Wendy Chisholm

“Wendy Chisholm is a Web developer, human factors engineer, and co-author of Universal Design for Web Applications. She was a staffperson for the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)  for 6 years where she focused on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Wendy has also consulted for Microsoft, Google, Adobe, and the American Foundation for the Blind.”

The conference will be held on April 12 at the University of Minnesota’s Continuing Education and Conference Center from 8 – 5.  Tickets range between $100-$200 depending on one’s role and the format remains consistent with years past: two keynotes (morning/afternoon), four breakout tracks with three sessions each and three “unconference” facilitated discussions.  Lunch buffet is included.

By day, Mr. Layon is a web designer with the University where he works as part of an  “internal agency” on an estimated 30-40 websites.  In his personal time, he also develops  mobile applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch and (eventually) the  iPad.  His first release was ArtAlphabet followed by ArtKids.  His more specialized apps include OrthoTrauma and UrgentCare.

February 25, 2010 | sourced Comments

via Nerdery Interactive Labs

“What: Prior to the March 20-21 Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, representatives from the 16 selected nonprofits and teams of volunteer web developers will gather Thursday, Feb 25 to prep for their 24-hour experience. http://www.overnightwebsitechallenge.com/

When: Thursday, Feb. 25, 6-9 p.m.: 6-7 – Group Q&A and brief advisory remarks from volunteers and nonprofits with previous Challenge experience; 7-8:20 – Speed-dating; needy meets nerdy as volunteers make the rounds to visit reps from each nonprofit for five minutes; 8:20-9 – Social time

Who: http://www.overnightwebsitechallenge.com/nonprofits
http://www.overnightwebsitechallenge.com/teams

Where: Benchmark Learning (event sponsors) 510 West 77^th St. in Edina, MN”

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February 19, 2010 | sourced Comments

Recorded on 2.17.10;   Panelists (left to right):  Robert Stephens, Alex Hawkinson, Kim Garretson; Moderator: Doug Pollei

February 10, 2010 | sourced Comments

By Steve Borsch, Minnov8

“With I.T. spending beginning to accelerate nicely, now is the time to look seriously at an entrepreneurial adventure in this area. Bill Coleman from Community Technology Advisors reached out to me this morning about an upcoming event that Minnov8 readers would likely have an interest in attending. With support from the Dakota/Scott County Workforce Investment Board, Minnesota Workforce Center, Dakota Future and the Dakota Scott IT Entrepreneur LinkedIn group, it’s shaping up to be a solid session.”

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February 5, 2010 | sourced Comments

Part I

1. ArtsApp – (1:14)  Like Monster.com for artists to submit multimedia (Dejen Tesfagiorgis)
2. Reliacloud – (10:23) A cloud computing platform that allows people to build scalable computing infrastructure on demand (Jason Baker, VISI)
3. Pedal Brain – (18:50) Advanced cycle computer based on the iPhone platform combined with web-based data analysis (Matt Bauer)
4. MinuteBids – (29:25) An online bidding platform that makes it easy for property managers/owners to request and get bids for their property maintenance needs from top rated service providers (Jon Coudron)
5. Pedalr – (37:37) A many-to-many market place for people who love bikes (Andrew Korf)

Videography & Livestreaming Services By:

Part II

1. MobileRealtyApps.com – (00:01) Custom branded MLS home search apps for realtors on iPhone and Android (Aaron Kardell)
2. MileMarker – (10:00) Helps organizations capture ideas and prioritize them, making it easier to understand what to work on first (Bill Galfano)
3. Live Information Manager for Business – (19:43) Connects employees of an organization to their data and each other from anywhere in the world, all from within a single workspace (Roger Peters)
4. Mobile Roots – (28:41) Customized iPhone applications for campaigns (Lynn Smith)
5. WebSlide – (35:32) Provides you and your clients with a private, secure, easy-to-use system for uploading, sharing, and collaborating on designs without ever leaving your browser (Paul Armstrong)

Twin Cities Maker to host Minne-Faire

February 4, 2010 | by Mike Bollinger Comments

Twin Cities Maker is organizing a Mini Maker Faire at the Hack Factory on February 13th, 2010. Local “makers” will be exhibiting projects and playing in the newly acquired Hack Factory space located in Minneapolis.

Twin Cities Maker (TC Maker) is a community group based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. They have opened a maker space for members to build projects using various media and technologies, from wood and metal-working to electronics to fabrics and beyond.

Learn more about the event.

TECHdotMN to livestream Minnedemo

February 1, 2010 | by Jeff Pesek Comments

Ben Edwards and Luke Francl are at it again! Minnedemo, now in its 8th production, will kickoff this Friday, February 5th, 7:00pm at the Intermedia Arts Center.  Tickets to the live event went fast, but for those who want in the action (and after party), there’s a crowd (50 strong) growing for the concurrent Minnedemo Annex at Moto-i, just down the street.

In collaboration with Minnedemo, TECHdotMN has partnered with Stemmler Productions to provide a real-time livestream of all 10 demo’s – straight through from start to finish.  The stream will be available right here, starting between 6:30 – 7:00. The livestream will also be recorded, archived and made available for your viewing pleasure after everything is all said and done.

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Twin Cities Startup Culture Roundtable Discussion

January 19, 2010 | by Jeff Pesek Comments

Thomas Knoll’s “Twin Cities Startup Culture”  thread over at Social Media Breakfast MSP has picked up steam and will culminate in an early February round table discussion.

Schedule is forming: http://www.doodle.com/sz24c2ms6g7f7dsx?adminKey=&participantKey=

January 13, 2010 | by Guest Comments

By Robert Weber, W3i

I made the trek out to Las Vegas for the 2010 Annual CES conference with fellow Minnesota tech entrepreneurs including Aaron Weber of Open Preferences , Joel Dahlin of Dahlin Development and Scott Wright of Draft Countdown. My objective at CES was to build relationships with consumer application marketing partners for W3i, and to cover Minnesota companies for TECHdotMN. While we were all on the lookout for fellow Minnesota tech entrepreneurs, the only noticeable MN tech presence that we collectively observed was the huge splash that Best Buy made.

Best Buy exhibited for the first time ever at CES 2010 and they nailed it.

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BizLounge Hosts Events Featuring Local Entrepreneurs

January 11, 2010 | by Mike Bollinger Comments

BizLounge is a community group that helps business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs grow their businesses through continuing education, mentoring and networking.  Each month the group hosts a local entrepreneur who has successfully started a business (or three) and has some practical experience in the startup world.  Past speakers have included the likes of Robert Stephens (founder of Geek Squad) and Phil Roberts (CEO of Parasole Restaurants).

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