Past event Archive

Top Startup Screwups

Top Startup Screwups

Monday, Feb. 25
Noon – 1:30
CoCo Minneapolis
$25 (free for CoCo members)
Eventbrite - "From Aristotle to Groucho: Negotiating Effective IT Contracts"

Part of the Wise Counsel series by Gray Plant Mooty

What are the most common mistakes start-ups & entrepreneurs make?

Come hear what a couple of leading entrepreneurial attorneys* from Gray Plant Mooty have to say about the mistakes they regularly see.

In this session, Chris Carlisle and Max Bremer will discuss issues commonly encountered in structuring your business, raising capital, managing proprietary information, as well as working with consultants and advisors.

*WARNING—these folks are indeed high-powered attorneys. However,  they’ve promised not to wear suits in an attempt to seem less scary!

Google hosts Entrepreneurs Day

Google hosts Entrepreneurs Day

Update 2/20:

1:00 p.m. – We’ve posted the full announcement at bottom. PDF version

12:21 p.m. – We’ve updated the agenda below. Sorry for any confusion!

Got an idea for how Google for Entrepreneurs can boost the MSP startup scene. Tell us here.

You can catch a live stream of the following events on Google+ by following the links below:


AGENDA
Registration & Light Breakfast: 9:30 – 9:55a

9:55 – 10:00a:  Welcome (Mary) — Don or Kyle should kick off and introduce Google (Mary)

Mary introduces Senator

10:00 – 10:10a: Senator Klobuchar

- Senator and Mayor + Don/Kyle + Mary come up onstage

10:10 – 10:25a: Announcement of Partnership

10:25 – 10:45a: Innovation Globally & at Google (Mary)

10:45 – 10:55a: Welcome Address by Mayor Rybak

11:00 – 11:45a: On stage: Panel Discussion (Moderated by John Lyman) – One wireless mic for John

Theme: Entrepreneurship in Minnesota.

Panelists: Mary Grove, Don Ball, Solome Tibebu, & Scott Davis(1 or 2 wireless mics for panelists). 1-2 wireless mics for audience

11:00 – 11:30a: HOA with Mayor Rybak

Lunch: 11:45 – 12:15p

12:15 – 1:15p: Build Your Community with G+ and YouTube (Steve Grove) Lav mic #1

1:15 – 1:45p: Monetize with AdWords (Ben Emmrich) Lav mic #2

1:45 – 2:15p: Intro to Google Analytics (Andrew Bentley) Lav mic #1

Break: 2:15 – 2:30p
*Two tracks*
TRACK 1 – GENERAL

2:30 – 3:00p: Google Perspectives on Marketing (Kaili Holtermann) Lav mic #1

3:00 – 3:30p: Business Development and Strategic Partnerships (John Lyman) Liv mic #2

3:30 –  3:35p: Intro Adwords Campaigns & Consultations (Nicole Froker)

3:35 – 4:30p: AdWords Campaigns & Consultations (Kaili, Ben, Andrew) – Huddles (no mics necessary)

TRACK 2 – TECHNICAL (Speakers: Steph Liu/David Chandler)

2:30 – 2:45p: Google platforms and APIs for developers & startups

2:45 – 3:10p: Getting Started with Android 101

3:10 – 3:30p: Android Tool Tips 201

3:30 – 4:15p: stORM & basic-http-client 201


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Google for Entrepreneurs comes to CoCo

Minneapolis, Feb. 20, 2013 – CoCo announced today that it will partner with Google to boost entrepreneurship in Minnesota.

Working with the Google for Entrepreneurs program, CoCo will host a two-year schedule of events, conferences and social mixers at its Minneapolis location – all with a focus on technology and startups.

Events will include:

The event series will make use of Google technology, including Google+ Hangouts, so that entrepreneurs from throughout Minnesota can participate in events remotely.

The first event, the Google Developer Group’s monthly meetup, is occurring on the evening Feb. 20 at CoCo. A full 2013 event schedule will be finalized and made public in the coming weeks.

The announcement was made on Feb. 20 at Google for Entrepreneurs Day, an all-day conference that was held at CoCo’s location at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. The event was kicked off by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and featured talks and sessions led by visiting Google employees.

“This partnership with Google will allow us to continue to expand our mission of creating a robust community of individuals pursuing the work of their dreams,” said CoCo founding partner Kyle Coolbroth.

Through its Google for Entrepreneurs initiative, Google actively supports entrepreneurs in the United States and across the globe. “We believe entrepreneurship drives innovation and economic growth, and that vibrant communities.  We see that happening in Minnesota and particularly at CoCo,” said John Lyman, Entrepreneurship Manager at Google.

“From 3M to Target to Medtronic, Minnesota has a long tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation,” Klobuchar said. “I am excited that Google has selected Minnesota and CoCo to participate in their entrepreneurs program and look forward to seeing the impact successful startups will have on local communities.”

The Google/CoCo partnership follows on the heels of Google’s support for the city’s STEP-UP summer jobs program. “We are excited to see Google deepen its investment in Minnesota,” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Our entrepreneurs are world class and this partnership is a fantastic addition to our robust innovation ecosystem.”

About CoCo coworking and collaborative space
CoCo is a place where entrepreneurs, freelance professionals, small businesses and corporate workgroups can gather to share ideas, team up on projects and get work done. For our members, CoCo is an alternative to working from home or meeting at the local coffee shop. CoCo has locations in Lowertown St. Paul and in downtown Minneapolis, on the former trading floor of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. More information: http://cocomsp.com

About Google for Entrepreneurs
Google for Entrepreneurs has programs all over the world to foster entrepreneurship, empowering the next generation of innovators to be successful. More information: http://www.google.com/entrepreneurs

Contact:
Don Ball
CoCo coworking and collaborative space
Email
612-735-7425

 

From Aristotle to Groucho: How to negotiate effective tech contracts

From Aristotle to Groucho: How to negotiate effective tech contracts

Tuesday, Jan. 22
Noon – 1:30
CoCo Minneapolis
$25 (free for CoCo members)

Eventbrite - "From Aristotle to Groucho: Negotiating Effective IT Contracts"

Part of the Wise Counsel series by Gray Plant Mooty

How you buy your tech can have a big impact on your company’s future.

Come for a lively and unconventional* discussion of key issues and concerns that organizations big and small should consider when acquiring computer software, systems or related technology and services. In this session, Gray Plant Mooty attorneys Mike Cohen and Karen Wenzel will show you how to plan more efficiently for tech procurement and how to employ contract terms and conditions that help you lessen your risk in technology transactions.

*Warning: could involve attorneys doing Groucho Marx impressions

 

Skillshare Fair

Skillshare Fair

6/25: Thanks to everyone who came  – it was a great success! We’re posting pictures of the event on Facebook.

Sat., June 23
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CoCo Minneapolis

We’re kicking off the Skillshare School at CoCo with an all-day knowledge fest! What interests you? Tech? Business? Startups? Design? History? Home brewing? At this event, you can bring your passions and share them with others. In true unconference style, the day doesn’t have an set agenda, but has lots of time slots that can be filled with classes, presentations, workshops, demos, panels, conversations — or whatever! There are at least three ways you can participate:

  • Volunteer ahead of time to lead a discussion session or give a presentation.
  • Just show up and post your topics of interest to the big board. We’ll group similar topics and look for someone to host the conversation.
  • Hang out in the commons and spend the day in conversation to other smart people.
Want to teach a class or lead a session? Leave a comment below and we’ll put you on the docket.

Lunch: We’ll either order in food or arrange for a food truck to pay us a visit!

Parking: We offer $5 all-day validated parking at the Gateway Ramp [new window].

Beer: At 4:00, we’ll ring the bell and bring out beers!

Proposed sessions

Schedule - click to enlarge

There’s still room to add sessions, especially sessions that don’t require a projector! You can suggest a session in the comments below or by pinging us on the Twitters!

  • How to Make More $$ as a Freelancer – Don Ball & Dave Allen
  • Startup Anxiety – Solome Tibebu, Cognific
  • GIStravaganza (title TBD) – Paul Wickman, Flat Rock Geographics
  • Hardcore Local SEO – Dave Allen, SEO Practice!
  • Search Inside Yourself – Leila Tite
  • The Economics of Disruption - Phil Pogge, Deal Pen
  • Sustainability (People, Planet, Profit) in Business – Stephen Yogi Rueff
  • What’s Your Why? – Dan Wallace and Jeff Brown, Catalytic Innovation
  • Open Badges – an overview – Chris Carlson, NarrativePros
  • Storytelling Mechanics – Ed Reilly
  • Secrets of Retail: What I Learned from Seven Years with Apple – Matt Woestehoff, The Foundation
  • Care & Feeding of an Online Community – Peter Fleck
  • How to Get Started in Android Development (a newbie tells all) – Jason Hsu
  • 200 Proof: A Craft-Distilled Snapshot of Biomass-based Manufacturing – Rachel Mann
  • Engagement Marketing – How small business can win in a social connected world – Jeff Ferrazzo
  • Power of Email Marketing in a down economy - Jeff Ferrazzo
  • Public Working Public Data – Vic Ward
  • Information Safety Basics – John Benninghoff
  • 3D modeling and printing (featuring a live MakerBot) - Joseph Rueter
  • I don’t blog and here is why you should Rif too – Joseph Rueter
Cover photo by Flickr user by blinkingidiot

Special evening d.school Crash Course

Special evening d.school Crash Course


Tues., June 5
6 – 8 p.m.
CoCo Minneapolis

This class is a quick and powerful introduction to the design thinking methods and mindsets – ideal for anyone who is curious about design thinking.

In this fast-paced session, we will take a common experience and redesign it completely. Get ready to get your hands dirty!

Register at Eventbrite