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Archive for February, 2011


STEM Preparatory Academy

Posted by: tfetherling  /  Tags: , , , ,


Discover How. Discover Why.
Yesterday the STEM Prep Academy hosted the admissions ceremony and sort of a community day at the Adventure Science Center.  “We are excited to be here at the ASC, where exploration is a way of life,” said Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, Board Chair of the STEM Prep Academy.  “Dr. Kristin McGraner, the Founder and Executive Director of the STEM Prep Academy’s vision was critical in shaping the curriculum.”
Rising fifth graders from throughout the region met each other for the first time and roamed the Adventure Science Center.
Three local luminaries shared their stories with the 200+ parents and children.
Dr. Samuel Lynch, President and CEO, BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. shared his story from rural Southern Illinois to Harvard to Nashville via science and his drive to find ways to help people heal faster. He challenged the students to dream big.
Famed Orthopedic Surgeon and Olympic Team Physician, Dr. Craig Ferrell, related his experience as a child to his fifth grade report card.  He has all S’s in Conduct and no A’s on his report.  He said “Effort and Conduct will take you a long way in life.”
Bubba Miller, University of Tennessee and Philadelphia Eagles Football Player started his presentation talking his dream as a student.  He is a native Nashville, growing up in the JC Napier Housing Project until his mom moved the family to Franklin.  Bubba said “Every child has a dream and a dream is an unrealized goal.”  Bubba’s goals were to play pro football and own his own business.  He has achieve both of these goals.  However, he reminded the students that small steps are required to get to a big goal.  Today is your first step in life’s journey of science, technology, math, and engineering.  “You have to make your own luck.”
Take this opportunity and be successful.  A great message for all students.
http://www.stemprepacademy.org/



CyberCave Academy summer camps

Posted by: jhill  /  Tags: ,

Murray State University’s Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) will host four CyberCave Academy summer camps, three 1st Year Camps and a 2nd Year Camp. This will be the seventh year that the summer academies are being held; the excitement and popularity of the camps continues to grow more and more each year. Last year campers had the chance to meet other students from 51 different schools among seven states: Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio. There were a total of 65 students who attended the four camps, 18 of them in the 2nd Year Camp. 

The following are the dates for the 2011 CyberCave Academies: 

Camp 1: June 13-17 
Camp 2: June 27-July 1 
Camp 3: July 11-15 
2nd Year Camp: July 25-29 

Click here for more info

New MacBook Pros Bring Faster Processors, Thunderbolt & HD Camera

Posted by: jhill  /  Tags: , ,

After weeks of rumors and speculation, Apple has updated its MacBook Pro line of products, upgrading processors and graphics and adding a high-speed Thunderbolt I/O port and a new FaceTime-enabled HD camera.

The biggest news is definitely the inclusion of Thunderbolt (Light Peak) technology, developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. In practice, it’s a dual Thunderbolt/DisplayPort I/O port (marked by a lightning icon) that provides two bi-directional channels with data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.

Read more about it here!

HIMSS 2011 – The Nashville Effect

Posted by: tfetherling  /  Tags: , , ,

Tired feet, legs, and back.  No sleep, non-stop networking, good food, drinks, and plenty of old friends.  No this is not a family reunion or wedding, it is HIMSS.  Healthcare Information and Management System Society ’s annual show was in Orlando, Florida this year.  There was technology as far as the eye could see.

From the moment we got there, the “Nashville Effect” was apparent.  Nashville’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of Healthcare is secure.  Hundreds of the 1000 vendors were from Nashville, but equally important were the numbers of providers and payers who were present to demo the latest healthcare technology.  The number of attendees is estimated to be 31,000 this year.

EMR and Interoperability were the buzz this year at the conference.   What I didn’t hear as much about was major innovations.  I always try to look for the emerging themes because they will be all the rage in Las Vegas (next year’s site).  Dashboards and Business Intelligence are two of those areas where you can see some maturity occurring.  Also, many of the vendors had great booths, but the UX of their products did not match with their marketing.  So maybe there will be UX growth in the next year.  Talent acquisition was another area where I saw more booths by providers and recruiters.  Most of the major systems (Kaiser, HCA, Cleveland Clinic, Hopkins, and Mayo) had a presence.

Noticeably absent from the show were past exhibitors Cerner and Meditech.  Always interesting to see the strategy behind the sales side of HIT.

The Nashville Technology Council was well represented.  Emids’ HIT MEN Party was a smashing success.  The party featured many of our product and services leaders from Nashville plus venture capitalist and CIOs from IDNs both large and small.  Southeast Regional HIMSS held a social at the same time.  It is a good thing they were only a few feet apart, so we could all go back and forth to both of these events.

The HIMSS Interoperability Showcase was very cool.  We were able to spend some time talking to both large and small providers of new technology in a variety of vertical segments (patient safety, security, ambulatory, content, disease management, wellness, etc.).  A new crop of talent is emerging in Nashville which is focused on each of these verticals.

Teknetex was in full force searching for talent for our local companies and we were able to spend a little time with the American Hospital Association.

One of the highlights was stumbling on our Downtown Wifi provider, Meraki.  It is good to have a physical contact at the company now.  That is what makes HIMSS so powerful.  Thousands of partners and providers all in one building at one time.  It is truly a unique experience.

NTC Companies Attending/Exhibiting

Advocat
C3
eMids
IBM
InfoPartners
Deane and Smith
Parental Health
HealthSpring
Passport Health
Nashville Medical Trade Mart
HMS
Medquist
Entrada
Change:Healthcare
Brentwood Capital
ACS/Xerox
Comcast
The Martin Companies
Ingenix
Microsoft
HP
Emdeon
Intel
KPMG
Avondale Partners
Cisco
TwTelecon
Vision Consulting
Informatics Corporation of America
Decision Source
Sungard
Oracle
Shareable Ink
VMWare
HPA
AT&T
Thomson Reuters
Ciber
Avaya
Sprint
Verizon
Dell
Deloitte
Cumberland Consulting
HCA
CHS
Compuware
Teknetex

I am sure we missed some of our local companies.  If we did, drop us a note and we will be sure to include you in the next update.

Next year, HIMSS will be heading to Las Vegas.  Time to make a healthy bet on HIT.

At Long Last, PGA Lifts Cell Phone Ban and Embraces Social Media

Posted by: jhill  /  Tags: , ,

To me, golf always seemed like one of those sports that had a lot of tradition… one of which was being quiet. That means no cell phones allowed, right? But it also seemed like the perfect place to use Twitter. The game is slow paced and lots of people follow it. I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought that!

“With an unparalleled ability for sports, franchises, and players to interact with fans, one group has finally joined the technology-savvy masses; the Professional Golf Association has at long last embraced social media. In a sport ruled by tradition, civility, and gamesmanship, an attempt to gain a greater audience and connect with fans has led to the embrace of Twitter and Facebook.”

Read the article here.

100+ Upcoming Social Media & Tech Events

Posted by: jhill

Want to see over 100 events that are coming up in the world of Social Media and Technology? Every week, the website Mashable puts together a calendar of upcoming social media and web events, parties and conferences.
It’s a pretty handy resource and a good way just to keep up on all the upcoming events.

http://mashable.com/2011/02/21/100-upcoming-social-media-tech-events-26/

March 15 is deadline for High School Seniors to apply for the Technology Scholarship Fund.

Posted by: jhill  /  Tags: , , ,

The Technology Scholarship Fund was established by the Board of the Nashville Technology Council, an organization devoted to helping the Middle Tennessee technology community succeed by leading in education, innovation, exposure, and connections to the technology community. The Fund will endow permanently, one or more scholarships benefiting Nashville high school seniors, entering two or four-year degree programs in pursuit of an education in fields related to the creation, innovation, installation, or maintenance of technology.  TN HIMSS joined us in our efforts this year to raise money to grow the total number of scholarships available for tech and HIT students.

Details below:

Who is eligible to apply?
Each scholarship fund has specific eligibility criteria that were defined by the donor when the fund was established. Please read through the specific criteria to see if you are eligible for any of the funds.

Are all scholarships for Tennessee residents?
Yes

How much does it cost to apply for a scholarship?
There is no charge to apply.

Are the scholarships awarded sufficient to pay the cost of my college education?
No. These scholarships are intended to provide only partial support. In addition to applying for scholarships through The Foundation, you should look into other financial aid resources such as federal grants, loans and work-study awards. A complete financial package can be put together by your high school counselor or your college financial aid office and may include a portion of each of the above types of financial aid.

If I am awarded a scholarship, how much will I get?
Most scholarships offer varying award amounts, which range from $500 to $2,500, depending on the size of the particular fund, the number of qualified applicants, and the wishes of the donors.

Where can I go to school with these scholarships?
Unless noted differently under the scholarship description, the scholarships are for accredited schools anywhere in the United States. Unfortunately, we cannot make awards outside of the United States.

May I receive grants from more than one scholarship?
Yes, you can apply to all the scholarships for which you are eligible and can be selected as a recipient by any or all.

How do I apply?
You must submit the following materials:

* Completed application form
* High School and/or College Transcripts (sealed in a separate envelope)
* Two appraisal letters (sealed in a separate envelope)
Applicants for the Genesco Scholarship, Nash Scholarship, Eloise Pitts O’More Scholarship, Sensing Scholarship, DBI Scholarship, Col. Richard Dawson Scholarship, Jimmy Edwards Scholarship, William “Bill” Richards Scholarship, Juliann and Joe Maxwell Scholarship, or Turner Family Scholarship must submit the appropriate forms included within the application. Applicants to the Student Education Loan Fund (SELF) should contact The Foundation for the appropriate loan application.

When should I apply?
Your application, sealed appraisal letters, sealed transcripts and other supporting material must be received by The Community Foundation on or before March 15 at 4:30 p.m., central time. Your transcripts can come directly from your school if it is the policy of that institution not to give official documents to students. Transcripts must arrive before the March 15 deadline. To ensure that your application is on time, you should request your transcript and appraisal letters before March 1.

When mailing your application, be sure to allow sufficient time for delivery. It is important that ALL materials, including transcripts, appraisal form and financial information be mailed together with your application and/or arrive before the March 15 deadline.

Materials received after the deadline are considered incomplete and cannot be reviewed. We are unable to accept faxed or e-mailed materials. Due to the number of applications that are received, we are unable to extend the deadline for any reason. Applications must be received (regardless of when they are postmarked) by the deadline.

Please mail or deliver you application to:
Scholarship Committee
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
3833 Cleghorn Avenue #400
Nashville, Tennessee 37215

Deadline for Applications: March 15 at 4:30 p.m. central time

Do I need to pay scholarship money back?
No. These are charitable grants that do not need to be paid back. However, the Student Education Loan Fund (SELF) is a loan program and must be repaid.

How are the scholarship decisions made?
A selection committee appointed by the Board of The Community Foundation and comprised of impartial Middle Tennesseans will meet after the deadline to review each application and select the recipients based on the criteria established by the donor.

How will my application be evaluated?
In evaluating the applicants, the committee will consider the applicants’ academic records, test scores, extracurricular activities, work experience, community involvement, and recommendations about leadership and character. The selection process shall balance merit and financial need with an emphasis on financial need. No student athlete will be excluded from consideration, but athletic ability alone will not be the deciding factor.

If I am awarded a scholarship, do I get the check?
No. Award checks will be made payable to the institution and mailed shortly after selection, prior to the beginning of the Fall semester.

What can my scholarship be used for?
The scholarships are for any educational expenses: tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses.

If I am awarded a scholarship, what are my responsibilities?
Scholarship recipients must attend college on a full-time basis in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded and continue in college that entire academic year without interruption, barring illness or emergency. Recipients are responsible for having The Foundation notified of their enrollment each quarter or semester by the school.

If I receive a scholarship one year, will I automatically receive an award for the following year?
No. In almost all cases, students must complete the application process again in order to be considered for a renewal scholarship award.

When would I be notified?
Recipients will be notified by mid-May.

Poor still don’t have access to Broadband

Posted by: jhill  /  Tags: ,

In a new study, the first of its kind, the feds yesterday released a map (http://www.broadband.gov/maps/availability.htm) of the US with broadband coverage.  Pricing would be a good overlay to this information.  Our own Michael Ramage of ConnectedTN (http://connectedtn.com/) has been hard at work documenting Tennessee’s efforts in broadband coverage.

“The Commerce Department’s telecom policy arm, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, said 32 percent of U.S. households don’t use the Internet at home, a slight decrease from last year.”

“Forty percent of rural homes don’t connect to the Web, compared with 30 percent of urban homes, the agency said. Those who aren’t using the Internet say they don’t think it is a necessity and that prices are too high, and about 9 percent of people in rural areas say they don’t have access to high-speed connections, according to the NTIA.”

Meanwhile at the Nashville Technology Council, we are continuing to look for ways to expand the downtown wifi footprint.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021707234_2.html?wprss=rss_business&sid=ST2011021707262

CIO of the Year Awards

Posted by: tfetherling  /  Tags:

CIO Magazine is accepting Applications.

The Deadline was extended.  All entries due February 24, 2011

Submit today at: http://www.cio.com/cio-awards/cio100

Negotiating a Term Sheet

Posted by: tfetherling  /  Tags: , , ,


Last night’s Roundtable on Negotiating Terms Sheets was another success in our evolution of connecting startups with venture capitalist.  For the past two years we have focused on capital formation and this year we wanted to tackle the next level which is negotiating a term sheet.  The event was sponsored by Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.
Bill Brown, CEO of Entrada said “To fail when you are doing something as courageous as starting a company is not really a failure.”  It is not part of our culture today, but one we need to embrace more as part of the startup culture in Nashville.  Are you ready to fail in a safe environment?  If so, join us April 15 for Nashville Startup Weekend.
Vic Gatto with Solidus, is always good for a quote or two and this one is interesting.  “Are you playing checkers while others are playing chess?”  In other words, are you really thinking through your strategic options and trying to stay a step ahead of your competitors and capital partners?
Another good point made by our panelist last night is to make sure you do diligence on your capital partner.  Each venture capitalist or angel has their own needs and interests, so make sure you know who you are doing business with in the transaction.  Also, it is important to ask if you are the first investment or last investment in a fund because that might determine the timing of the exit strategy for your venture.
J. Tod Fetherling, President/CEO of the Nashville Technology Council asked the question “Are start-ups too focused on valuation?”  ”In an early stage world, there is no such thing as valuation,” said Jim Phillips, Partner XMI High Growth Development Fund.  The point here is that most startups are beginning from ground zero.  If you have traction with customers in your business, then you can have a different conversation.
Another question asked to the panel was “How do you negotiate when you have little leverage and at the Idea stage.”  The panel responded that you don’t have much leverage at all.  However, you build credibility as you build your customer base and your business.  It is really important to show results each and every day.



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