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June events at CoCo

May 29, 2013 | By
vilay
June events at CoCo

I think we can safely say winter is over now right? Right?!! We’re tough here in MN, but I do think if it snowed in June it might really bring us all to tears. Which is why June is a welcoming word and month. If you’re not busy with Hug Your Cat Day, National Gardening Exercise Day, Applesauce Cake Day, or some other bizarre June “holiday” — join the CoCo community at one of these meetups/events!

MONDAY, JUNE 3RD: HealthcareMN Meetup // What’s Next For HealthcareMN
HealthcareMN is working on some larger initiatives around providing resources to early stage ventures, and want to know what you think! They’ll be meeting in the Classroom space at CoCo, which is better for round table small group discussions. Food and drinks provided!
DETAILS & REGISTRATION 

TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH: Android Users Group Meetup
Brad Armstrong just returned from GoogleIO and will lead a discussion about the events and announcements from the conference.  Come ready to join the discussion! He’ll also be taking a deeper look at the Google Play Services library and the new Android Studio.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5TH: Google Developers Group Meetup // Recap of Google IO and Lightning Talks/Open Mic
Please join us in another meetup at the fabulous CoCo space.  We will have a panel of folks who were able to attend the event in San Fransisco, they will regale us with highlights. Bring a cool project you are working on or interested in to share. The topics should be related to Google Developer Technologies.  This can range from HTML5 to maps api to embedded android.  Keep it to 5-10 minutes.  We will have a projector and a laptop with at least internet connectivity and Office Suite for you to use, but by all means feel free to bring your laptop as well.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION 

THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH: House of Genius 
The goal of House of Genius is to assemble brilliant, diverse groups of people to focus their collective creativity and experience to explore, discuss and solve important problems. We hold evening sessions once a month in cities around the world. We bring together a group of 15-18 wide-ranging minds and three business presenters.  The three presenters share their business and a key problem they are facing in rapid-fire fashion. Next, each attendee offers questions, insights, suggestions, or introductions that may assist the presenter. The true “genius” is in the collaboration – you’ll be amazed at the power of thinking that is evoked from the structure of the sessions and the synergetic format.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION  

MONDAY, JUNE 10TH: RailsMN // Building OpenCamp (a project management tool)
As part of the Google for Entrepreneurs at CoCo program we will have monthly sessions to help you get started building a real Ruby on Rails web application while learning best practices and fundamental web development concepts. Each session in the series will build on the previous session. Each session will take place in three parts: an introductory lesson, a group coding workshop and an ‘advanced topics’ presentation.  We’ll aim to provide documentation and tutorials to go along with our sessions, so newcomers can catch up and dive right in.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH: TechMN // Spark Homecoming Party
Join us in welcoming local startup Spark back to CoCo Minneapolis after three months in Shenzen accelerator HAXLR8R while raising some $ for BRIDGEdotMN. We’ll hear from the team about their experience overseas, Demo Day, Maker Faire, and the success of their Kickstarter campaign.  A panel discussion featuring local makers and an open brainstorm about MAKEdotMN will follow.  And like the Enstratius acquisition party, good times will be had…
DETAILS & REGISTRATION  

MONDAY, JUNE 17TH: GFE Black Box // “Tech Sprout” hosted by Bobbilee Hartman
Do you have an idea tucked away but you aren’t quite sure how to turn it into reality? Come join us at Tech Sprout for an open discussion between developers / “technical people” and non-technical entrepreneurs for insightful feedback and guidance to help you get started. With a diverse room of people you will leave the discussion with new connections, ideas, and a fresh perspective on bringing your idea to fruition.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19TH: Developer Patent Summit
The software patent system poses a significant challenge for developers. Vague claims, product life cycles shorter than the PTO review process, patent trolls and general uncertainty threaten to stile app industry innovation and growth. Throughout the year, the Application Developers Alliance will host events around the country and invite developers to share stories of claim letters, lawsuits, the challenges they face, and the need for software patent reform. Patents summits will bring developers, policymakers and patent experts together to discuss practical topics like assertion and defense strategies for startups and examine the issue of policy reform.  Each event will feature a patent expert, followed by a panel discussion between policymakers, app developers, and attorneys. The events will conclude with an open Q&A for attendees and a networking reception – including food and drinks.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION 

MONDAY, JUNE 24TH: GFE Black Box // Battle Royale hosted by Curt Prins & Paul Prins
Join hosts Curt Prins and Paul Prins as they host an impromptu “Battle Royale” during a Black Box Monday! For those of you who didn’t attend their impromptu session at MinneBar, Paul and Curt engaged in an epic debate–an ordained pastor who programs vs. an avowed homosexual who markets. The topic? What’s more essential to the success of a startup: good marketing or good development. They had no format, made the rules on the fly and had a keeper to score them on successful jabs. The audience joined in, the insults flew and in the end, everyone had a lot of laughs and an intensive discussion where they all gained knowledge and perspective. (And the pastor won by 8 points.) They’d like to do it again and CoCo seems to be the perfect space for it (and with complimentary snacks and bevs to boot!).
DETAILS & REGISTRATION 

 

Entrepreneurs-in-training Stepping up at CoCo

May 7, 2013 | By
John
Entrepreneurs-in-training Stepping up at CoCo

We’re enjoying a boost of youthful entrepreneurial energy at CoCo this week thanks to students from AchieveMpls and the Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) team, including special guest Evan Rowe (a STEP-UP graduate).

75 high school students from the STEP-UP Program packed the coworking deck Saturday to use technology to solve real world problems.

A beautiful breakfast spread from Chowgirls catering greeted the students, while the GFE team kicked things off with a game of “human bingo.” But the games didn’t last long. Participants broke into groups to pick an issue to tackle in the afternoon break-out session. Challenges du jour: obesity, gang violence and bullying. Group members sparred with personal stories and observations from their neighborhoods before casting votes.

The GFE team shared insights from their driverless car and glasses to kick-start a conversation about innovation before leading a panel of local business leaders for a Q&A lighting round.

The breakout strategy sessions were just as lively. CoCo members donated their time and expertise facilitating small groups competing in a battle royale for the entrepreneurs-in-training title belt.

“The quiet students had some of the best ideas,” one member volunteer told me. “Holding space at the table for everyone was a big challenge.” Meanwhile the students seemed right at home in front of a whiteboard or on stage presenting their strategies to the panel of judges.

You never know if it’s your turn to learn or lead around here. These students reminded us to do both at the same time!

 

 


 

 

More event photos

Welcome to our new staffers!

January 8, 2013 | By
dball
Welcome to our new staffers!

If you’ve seen some new faces at CoCo lately, that’s because we’ve made some new hires! We’re pleased to introduce you to three new CoCo nuts, who will be hosting at both St. Paul and Minneapolis locations, and also keeping things in order behind the scenes. Please say hi next time you see them!

Vilay Dethluxay
Vilay Dethluxay (“vee-lye da-lou-sigh”) was born in a tiny village in Thailand, but grew up in the exotic “turkey capital” of the world (aka Worthington, MN). Since she had zero interest in ornithology, she spent most of her formative years perfecting Madonna’s dance moves (but for the most part helping out her parents at their retail store). Being she was named after her mother’s favorite Thai pop star from the 70′s, she knew destiny had more in store for her than polka dancing with octogenarians on Sunday afternoons.

She began her career in the fashion industry at the early age of 14 and that opened up opportunities to further explore her interests in film, music, casting, photography, design and event production. After developing her career in LA, SF, and NY, she was drawn back to the Twin Cities to work as a freelance event & festival producer. Some of her projects include the Sound Unseen Film & Music Festival, the inaugural Vita.mn “Small Bites” Food & Film Festival, and the Friedman Iverson Art Gallery. When she’s not belting out glam metal tunes at a local karaoke bar, you can find her collaborating or volunteering on many different local art/film/music-related projects around the metro. She also moonlights as a wanna-be Prince protege and hopes to be the next Apollonia.

Ashley Paguyo
For Ashley, this is home. The Midwest, the Twin Cities, CoCo – Ashley gravitates towards places boasting of tight-knit, vibrant communities. She first found her way to the space as a CoCoNut before making the switch to the host post.

Talkative by nature, but a fine listener too, Ashley studied strategic communication at the University of Minnesota. She can be found weaving garrulous Twitter threads or lending an ear in a coworker’s ideation session. Ashley seeks understanding and vision through conversations, once talking her way from London to Cape Town on a 20,000-mile-long road trip.

John Pederson
John is an internet handyman and digital strategy consultant for The Mighty Mo! WordPress Design Group. Before discovering his righteous passion for open source Web development, he produced programs for NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me! and To the Best of Our Knowledge. He launched Indonesia’s first student-run radio station as a Fulbright Fellow in Sumatra, but you may remember him from local cult classics such as The Dance Shanty, Eat for Equity, and his most recent side projet, The Mobile Sauna. John came to the CoCo community by way of WordPress Wednesday and is thrilled to finally have an official pulpit for his CoCo evangelism.

 

 

 

Clean Tech Open comes to CoCo

October 16, 2012 | By
dball
Clean Tech Open comes to CoCo

As the name suggests, Cleantech Open is an accelerator that finds, funds and fosters cleantech startups  that create technologies, products, and services focusing on addressing problems in practically every industry originating from:

  • Negative environmental impact
  • Inefficient or wasteful use of natural resources
  • Macro factors such as population growth, standard of living parity and global impact of technological advances

Cleantech Open helps these companies focus on business models that make sense while solving these urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges.

As part of our ongoing relationship, Cleantech Open will operate its Midwest headquarters out of CoCo and hold periodic social events for cleantech aficionados as well as hosting regular educational sessions.

Justin Kaster is the cofounder of the organization that covers the Midwest for Cleantech Open. The newly expanded regional program covers Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Previously, Justin had a long career in investment banking, which he gave up in order to ensure the initiative continued to grow and reach its potential.

At the global level, Cleantech Open is supported by a large number of leading organizations, including NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, and works with start-up companies across all 50 states and 30 countries.

The Midwest team can be reached at nc_info@cleantechopen.com or can be seen hanging out near the CoCo trading pit.

USA Today covers MN startup scene

November 22, 2011 | By
dball
USA Today covers MN startup scene

Click to read the article and view the video at USAToday.com

USA Today reporter Jefferson Graham visited CoCo recently in order to report on the startup scene that continues to develop in Minnesota.

Local NBC affiliate KARE 11 aired a short piece that featured CoCo members Mobiata, Project Skyway as well as local startup Qonqr.

The full article appeared in the Nov. 25, 2011, issue of USA Today. The accompanying video on USA Today’s website also featured local startup Crumblepop, a South Minneapolis company that creates broadcast and film effects for Apple’s Final Cut Studio video software.

Click to watch Jefferson Graham's report on Kare 11

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