<![CDATA[StartupMonthly Startup Accelerator

<![CDATA[StartupMonthly Startup Accelerator - Blog]]>Sun, 19 May 2013 17:02:51 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Startup Social: Entrepreneur Networking Made Fun]]>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:36:42 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/04/startup-social-entrepreneur-networking-made-fun.htmlby Ashanya Indralingam

Successful startups, as they say, do not exist in a vacuum. Oftentimes, a mere idea is transformed into a multi-million dollar startup venture through the simple act of networking. It is Startup Social’s mission to create events that foster this environment of innovation. On Friday, April 12, we hosted our largest event yet, attracting over 1000 entrepreneurs, investors and other professionals.

Set on the water, against the backdrop of the stunning Bay Bridge lights, One Ferry Plaza was the ideal location for this networking social, which featured a products showcase, full-bar, dance floor with DJs and more. The event kicked off with the Startup Showcase, where a selection of handpicked companies presented their products to potential investors and consumers alike, generating valuable feedback and forging lasting partnerships.

Matthew Kandler, co-founder of Quixplore, walked new users through the platform’s location-based social exploration platform, showcasing how the website cleanly aggregated popular events from your friends network. Meanwhile, across the room, the founders of WhalePath explained how their platform was reinventing the market, financial and legal research models, by connecting academic students with professional companies. Twyxt, an app for couples to capture their memories (including a direct messenger for two, a shared calendar and lists) took a different approach, encouraging guests to write love notes, later mailed by the founders. During this time, guests also enjoyed a full bar, mingling with old friends and making new connections.

Attendees were also treated to several special live performances – the 2008 US Memory Champion, Chester Santos demonstrated his extraordinary mind talents, while poi dancer, Zaika, entranced the audience with her fire-dancing skills. Once all hands had been shaken and business cards exchanged, the event switched gears into a dance party, with DJs spinning Top 40/Euro beats and keeping the floor packed.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, (we couldn’t have done it without you!)

New Relic . Nepho Scale . Uber Conference . SoftPlayer . Opera Software

About Us: Startup Social’s community members include entrepreneurs and highly motivated professionals who have clearly defined goals, often towards nurturing a new startup or revolutionary idea. If your goal is to network, find a job, new partners and investors, or just to explore the possibilities and have a good time, Startup Social is for you.

]]><![CDATA[Effective Networking by Learning to Listen]]>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:48:30 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/04/effective-networking-by-learning-to-listen.htmlBy Vadim Slavin

These tips are applicable for networking whenever you are trying to engage your partner and form an important immediate connection as a foundation of a future follow up.

I recently read a post by Fred Kofman, a professor of leadership and coaching, titled “7 Steps to Prove That You Are Listening”. It was addressing men, husbands, fathers suggesting how to open up the channel of communications with their wives, daughters, significant others. What was interesting is that I realized this was the intent only after getting to the end of the post. I read the whole thing with the impression that the tips were for effective networking for anyone.

Read more at http://www.women2.com/effective-networking-by-learning-to-listen

]]><![CDATA[Efficient Networking: Moving on from a Stale Conversation]]>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:07:56 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/04/efficient-networking-moving-on-from-a-stale-conversation.htmlby Vadim Slavin

As promised in my last blog entry, I'd like to address the topic of efficient networking and bringing to a close stale conversations. I called it "Knowing your No's".

You've been there, I am sure of it. You're talking to someone new at a networking event. You are eager to identify the threads that connect you only to discover that the two of you have nothing in common. Furthermore, you are sure you cannot bring value to each other and any further interaction is simply a lost opportunity to connect with someone else. We're talking about efficiency here! Worse yet, you have probably been on the other side of that handshake oblivious to the fact that your partner is trying to shake you off.

Here are some signs for you to read your partner's attempts at breaking away from your grasp. Watch for repeated glances over your shoulders or instinctive eye scans of the room. A disengaged person instinctively rotates their body away from you. It could be their shoulders or their feet. A defensive stance with arms crossed on the chest is another sure sign you are testing your partner's resolve to be polite.

No matter if you are the one sending these signs or receiving them, here are a few simple tips which can help you end a conversation with grace and assert your mastery of making meaningful connections.

Be polite but firm. No need to be rude but it pays to be confident in your actions.
Introduce a friend in order to switch the dynamic of the conversation which is going nowhere. Simply pull a new person into the conversation creating a pause for your imminent 'escape'.
Bring a conversation full circle to take the air out of the conversation. For example, if the conversation started with a discussion of a common acquaintance you have in mind, you can say "Great, I will let Yuri know we chatted - it was an interesting coincidence we both knew him from the same conference. It was great talking to you - thank you!". A firm handshake should be enough to break away.
Excuse yourself with or without a reason. Whether you need to take a bathroom break, get a refill on your drink, or quickly catch someone you have been chasing all night - you can excuse yourself at this opportune moment. However, do not feel like you owe an explanation. Simply stating "Please excuse me. It was great chatting with you" should be enough. Make sure to follow with a brief but firm handshake to avoid lingering contact.
Close with a follow up if you are considering connecting with this person in the future. End the conversation with something along the lines of: "I am sorry I have to go but let's connect on LinkedIn and let me get back to you on that information I mentioned earlier".

I hope these tips will help you save some time at the next networking event and increase the chance of making meaningful, long lasting connections. If you have any other tips to share, please post them in the comments below.

]]><![CDATA[6 Tips for Effective Networking]]>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:16:45 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/03/6-tips-for-effective-networking.htmlby Vadim Slavin

The value of networking events cannot be overemphasized. A stimulating conversation can spark a new idea. A thoughtful introduction can create an opportunity. A supportive ear can rekindle the passion in your pursuits. Whatever the benefit an entrepreneur receives, networking events provide a great overall value to the startup ecosystem.

However, with so many events happening seemingly every day in Silicon Valley, attending more than a few every month can be taxing. How does one maximize the utility of these events? Here are 6 tips to taking better advantage of networking opportunities.

Know Your Calendar. Sign up for various event digests and newsletters to be in the know of what is coming up. Then carve out the time, make the effort to show up, and plan out your strategy for getting the most out of these events.
Know Your Goals. Know ahead of time what you need to get out of the event. What is your value and purpose? Simply expand your network? or do so strategically? Once you identify your goals, try setting the action plan for reaching those goals. How many people do you need to meet to find what you're looking for? How many business cards you want to give out which will force you to interface with more people? How many follow ups are you hoping to make so that you keep in mind the level of familiarity you need to have with a person after your conversation.
Know Your ASK: If you do find the right person - do you have your pitch and your ASK ready? Prepare a short intro to introduce yourself: something concise, precise, and memorable. Also prepare a few opening moves: questions to engage the partner in an open communication. Because time is of the essence, you need to be able to quickly figure out whether the person in front of you is the one with who you need to create a closer relationship. This includes figuring out what your knew friend is there for. Lastly, have your "ask" ready. What do you need?
Know Your Names. Get ready to remember lots of names. Wear your nametag, get creative, and help others approach you and remember your name. Think of the times you got that warm fuzzy feeling when someone you don't know called you by your name? Did they remember you from your pitch? Were you interesting enough for them to make the effort of writing down your name? Sure, you soon realized you are wearing a nametag... yet the importance of hearing one's name is clear. "Remember Your Networking Contacts" may be a lecture worth attending.
Know Your No's. How do you get rid of pesky networkers? Suppose that you come across that dreaded person who just can't seem to get the idea from your glances over their shoulder, your nervous disengagement from the conversation, your vague hints at suggestions to move on. Just as important is knowing when your new friend is trying to move on and is sending you subtle hints. We will explore specific moves in the next few posts.
Know Yourself: Know your weaknesses. Are you an extravert or an introvert? Do you have trouble clearly stating your pitch? Practice it. Do you feel lost in a big crowd? Come early and get comfortable before scores of people arrive. Do you have trouble remembering people's names? Come to the next Startup Social Party to hear the lecture by the U.S. Memory Champion, Chester Santos - "The International Man of Memory". He will give a lecture titled "Remember Your Networking Contacts" - this will surely come in handy.

This is of course just the beginning. We here at StartupMonthly have designed our social networking events to help you with all of the above. Keep track of our networking events around the world and come say hello!

]]><![CDATA[First Week in Silicon Valley]]>Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:20:31 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/02/first-week-in-silicon-valley.htmlOnce in a while StartupMonthly will feature guest bloggers who will share with us their wisdom, experience, and inspiration. Here is a little post by the new addition to Silicon Valley - Val Dobrushkin. He offers the following impressions of Silicon Valley as a recent outsider.

I landed in San Francisco International Airport on Saturday. Today is already Friday. A full week of living in Silicon Valley, not as a visitor, but as a local. It feels amazing!

Sunny weather and palm trees! Tall pines and redwoods, majestic in the strong ocean breeze. There is a coastline on every side. A hill, a park, a grove, or a reservoir, every few miles, everywhere I look, I see beauty. Driving on 280, on the one side, I struggle to keep my eyes on the road as the Pulgas hills loom wave after wave on the West side. Somehow, I am able not to veer into the wrong lane as I observe Palo Alto Cows nibbling on green hills on the opposite side as sunshine streams into the Valley. (click Read More)

This is February and the East Coast prepares for another huge snow storm. Snow? I no longer remember what the word signifies. Everything here is already in bloom. Orange trees, lemons, grapefruits, and limes, race to deliver their fruit. Flowers and exotic plants blossom. And so do the people!

The Californian entrepreneurial spirit is ever-present. Everyone I meet is full of passionate energy. They come from all walks of life, but mostly from the ever-expanding IT world. Whether they work for large corporations, government agencies, or small fledging start-ups, Valley dwellers are filled to the brim with confidence and new ideas. It's a whirlwind of energy.

This isn't the "every man for himself" energy that thrives on conflict and competition, where jealousy and anger are the source, where people's goals are more to outdo their neighbor or to stop all others from achieving their dreams. This energy is about making a positive impact. Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs yearn to change the world for the better. They have a vision and they are not afraid to share their ideas, to collaborate, and work side by side towards something great.

Ideas and projects progress at the speed of sound. Long gone are the days of waterfall program management where each project stage has its carefully designated place. Today is all about Agile and Scrum methodologies with development in the state of perpetual motion. New startups rise up every second, as if green buds nurtured by an inspiring climate. A yesterday's startup can be already a world-wide success today, and tomorrow's startup promises to alter the way we think and act.

What will tomorrow look like? Spend a few days in the company of yesterday's startups such as Google, Facebook, or Ebay, or in the company of historic powerhouses, like IBM, Apple, or Microsoft. Better yet, join a farm incubator program or a startup training seminar and see what tomorrow's companies will bring to this world.

This is the Valley of tech innovation,but it is also the Valley of numerous microclimates, oceans and mountains, palm trees and evergreens, homegrown oranges, and a cheerful energetic populace.

California, I love you!

by Val Dobrushkin

]]><![CDATA[Blogging in 2013]]>Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:02:06 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2013/01/blogging-in-2013.htmlby Vadim Slavin

Welcome back, readers, to the StartupMonthly Blog. It's a new year, new beginning, new resolutions to keep and to procrastinate on. One such resolution of mine is to keep this blog current. There is so much to share with our community, so many lessons learned, so many ideas for how to help our growing ecosystem.

Here is what to expect in this Blog in 2013. I will be sharing the ecosystem news from around the world where StartupMonthly is active. Currently it is Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Israel, USA, UK and the list is growing. Secondly, I will be sharing our lessons learned on running our accelerator. I will report back on what we, at StartupMonthly, are learning from our own mentors and advisers. And lastly, I will be giving away insights on how to get your next idea funded. Phew. Let's hope someone will be reading this.

"A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension."- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Let's get our minds stretched in 2013, let's get pumped to achieve what we set out to achieve, and let's be accountable for our own actions towards our own dreams - it's the only way to go. Happy New Year and see you all soon!

]]><![CDATA[Smart$ Money Executive Program - Great Success in Silicon Valley, November 12-15, 2012]]>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:12:42 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2012/11/smart-money-executive-program-great-success-in-silicon-valley-november-12-15-2012.htmlSmart$Money is a unique program which informes, educates and prepares foreign business angels and VCs for their future investments in IT startups. Smart$Money enables them to exchange knowledge and experience as well as share, inspire and connect with each other.

Program moderator Pemo Theodore and Startup Monthly team made it a reality.

40+ participants, keynotes, and panelists (among them Steve Blank, Robert Scoble, Buddy L. Arnheim, Christine Herron, Jeff Pulver, Bill Reichert, Greg Kidd, Brant Cooper and more key players in Venture Capital ecosystem) learned about foreign and domestic angel and VC investments, deal-structure, market trends, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. The participants got connected to leading investors in Silicon Valley, visited successful startups, and got acquainted with various accelerator programs. During the 4-day program, participants visited Facebook, Microsoft, Stanford University and other Silicon Valley companies' offices. Agenda also included keynotes, roundtable discussions, networking events and pitch sessions (5 companies from Startup Monthly Accelerator presented their products to investors).

Each day had special keynotes, themes, mentors and speakers: Ecosystem Day, Angels Day, VCs Day, Investment Day.
Learn more...
Press about Smart$Money
Follow Smart$Money: FB, Twitter, Google+

]]><![CDATA[Startup Social Palo Alto November 13, 2012]]>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:11:05 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2012/11/startup-social-palo-alto-november-13-2012.html

On November 13 Palo Alto's Patio saw one of the biggest Happy Hour event organized by StartupMonthly!

More than 250 ambitious entrepreneurs, investors and startups got together to mingle, pitch and discuss future business opportunities on a Tuesday (!!!) night.

BIG special thanks goes to our sponsor Roger Royse.
Download a free copy of his book "Dead on Arrival: How to Avoid the Legal Mistakes That Could Kill Your Startup"

Another big thank you goes out to Softlayer for co-sponsoring this event which enabled StartupMonthly to provide free beer and appetizers to attendees.

And finally, a big thank you to all attendees for coming: we will see you soon at the next Startup Social Party, December 7 in San Francisco! More info here!

]]><![CDATA[Housewarming party at Startup Mansion, Nov11, 2012]]>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:08:35 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2012/11/housewarming-party-at-startup-mansion-nov11-2012.html

Sunday evening the StartupMonthly team invited friends, mentors and investors for a housewarming party to welcome our new guests in their new home - the StartupMansion House. The guests are the startups who have recently arrived to take part in the StartupMonthly's second startup accelerator.

Family style table was full of international dished: Russian "blinchiki", "manty", salads and appetizers and of course Polish "Zubrowka"!
The "BIG START" celebration brought everyone together with a great reason to talk informally, make new friends and get know new roommates closely.

Four out of five startups participating in the accelerator will live in the same house for 4 month during the program and share the working space, located close to the Mansion.

Throughout the evening the atmosphere remained very warm and filled with jokes, stories, and toasts for good luck and a great start!

]]><![CDATA[Startup Monthly Accelerator is open! Meet Weendy!]]>Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:09:50 GMThttp://www.startupmonthly.org/2/post/2012/11/startup-monthly-accelerator-is-open-meet-weendy.html

Accelerator Program 2012 is rapidly gaining speed, 5 teams from Russia, Greece, Lithuania and Silicon Valley are working side by side with mentors, investors and angels improving their products.

Every other week we will be introducing you to one of the Startups!

Meet Weendy!

Weendy is a web and mobile application for surfers, snowboarders and extreme sports fans, enabling them to share action video and photo updates, meet with people, explore places and find the best conditions before they go out.

Co-founders Katerina Stroponiati and Yiannis Varelas will tell you about Weendy.

Problem
All sport enthusiasts face the following problem: lack of real time updates from the spots they care about as well as failing forecasts. These challenges makes these enthusiasts drive for hours to the beach/mountain, but most of the times actual conditions are far away from those expected. These guys are struggling to find a way to connect with the people who are already at the spot in order to get an accurate update of the conditions, so they can save their time and their money. To overcome this problem, some created Facebook groups, but they ended up as advertising lists. Lack of filtering based on users' profiles makes the groups noisy and (due to their local character) it's hard to discover new places or connect with people in different locations. Also, industry fragmentation and the lack of a common communication platform provides a unique opportunity for businesses to find, communicate and engage with new or existing customers through weendy.

How they started
Both of the founders are addicted windsurfers, kiteboarders, surfers and everything related with watersports, so they know first hand how it feels to spend all your weekend driving around to find the appropriate conditions and get in the water. And it's common to be wasting your time and money, either because forecasts were wrong or because you didn't have the right information. So, they decided to do something about this in order to help their community members not wasting their time. They built a simple app that allowed you to shoot a 10 second video of the conditions, and share them with your friends. In just two months, the app dominated the Greek market, and expanded to more than 15 countries.

Why they got selected
They believed that what they had was a kick-ass product. They are part of the extreme sports community, great niche of the crazy people/surfers, so they deeply understand how this market works. The product has been validated from their market, has remarkable traction and the business model is straightforward.

Good luck, Katerina and Yiannis!

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