2010 Calendar

Be involved with the emergence of an organization which will change Austin! The Austin Inventors and Entrepreneurs Association (AIEA) has been formed to offer education, support, and developmental guidance to inventors and entrepreneurs who have unique ideas. -- Join us!

When:
1st Wednesday of every month

Time:
6:00 PM - 6:30 Networking
6:30 PM - 7:30 Featured agenda
7:30 PM - Join us for a happy hour social at Cool River

Location:
Austin Public Library - Milwood Branch
(behind Cool River)
12500 Amherst Drive
Austin, Tx 78727

Should an individual or an organization consider presenting at one of our monthly programs. Please send your request to info2222@austininventors2222.org.


January

Topic: So you have a great product. Now what? How to let the world know about your invention.

Speaker: Julie Simon, Orca Communications PR Guru

 

 


Julie Simon has a rich history in broadcasting. In college she worked in CNN's White House Bureau. Upon graduation, she headed West to her hometown of Las Vegas and became a producer at the NBC affiliate in Sin CIty. She moved from behind the camera to in front of it by moving to Reno, NV and working as field reporter. She then landed in Austin where she was a reporter for KEYE (CBS-Austin) for 6 years. In 2003, she won the Texas Associated Press Reporter of the Year.

She seamlessly moved in to the world of Public Relations where she works for Orca Communications, (www.orcacommunications.com) a national PR firm known for its no nonsense results, driven model for entrepreneurs from one-man/woman businesses to multi million dollar corporations. Orca prides itself on being 'America's PR firm for Inventors and Entrepreneurs.' The staff is made up of mostly all former media folks who have been on the other sides of pitches. They know how to savvily get clients publicity using trends, holidays, seasons, recently released studies, and other news tie-ins. It's important the story, segment, or article be somewhere in between an editorial story and an advertisement. Orca has secured clients on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, and in The New York Times, The LA Times, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, In Style, The Wall Street Journal and the list goes on and on...

Julie will discuss the role of publicity, what it can do/ accomplish for your business, how it can lead to retailers, the power of editorial press vs. straight advertising, and how to craft a pitch that gets the attention of reporters, editors, producers


Sponsor: Rana Bauer

January 6, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

February

Topic: Patents 101

Speaker: Robert Villhard



 

 

Intellectual Property law basics from Provisional to Utility Patents.


Sponsor: Lu Heald

February 4, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

March

Topic: Inventor Share


Speaker: Panel Lead Discussion

 

With several AIEA subject matter experts contributing in the discussin we will cover a variety of topics of special interest to inventors and entrepreneurs as they face various challenges getting their products to market.

Note: this month we will meet at the Tech Ranch location off North Burnet Road.

 

Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

March 4, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

April

Topic: Member Share with Focus on Reseach Best Practice

Speaker: Group Discussion



 

 

March was such an engaging discussion we decided to do a repeat by facilitating an open conversation on the topic of research: IP, Product, Market, etc.


Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

April 7, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

May

Topic: Facilitated Discussion - How to Disclose Without Disclosing


Speaker: Member Lead Discussion

 

In this meeting we will feature the 3rd in the series of facilitated discussions
with the membership. In this session we will focus on the difficult task of
"Disclosing without Disclosing". As an inventor/entrepreneur you will be in
a situation often where you need to talk about your idea with someone and
get them interested quick. You also need to protect your idea by not giving
away the secret sauce.

In this session we will have several folks share their perspective on how to
disclose without disclosing and we will have some folks who practice by
sharing with the group. Please come and join your comrades in creativity to
network, share and learn.

 

Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

May 5, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

June

Topic: Funding Options

Speaker: Eve Richter

 

 

 

Eve Richter is the Emerging Technologies Coordinator in the Economic Development Division at the City of Austin. In that capacity she helps businesses, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals in the tech sectors to grow and be successful in the Austin community. She also works to bring new businesses to the City. She refers to her work as part business consulting, part matchmaking, and part cheerleading.

She has undergraduate and master’s degrees in business administration, government, and public affairs/public policy, studying at both California State University Sacramento and UT Austin. She was raised in New England and California, and will admit to being born in New York if pushed. Despite being a Yankee and a Californian, she loves her adopted home in Austin, and is excited that her work helps to create jobs and investment in such a wonderful and creative community. She lives in the Cherrywood neighborhood with her 2 lovely dogs, one handsome cat, and one somewhat lovely significant other.


Visit www.austinisit.org for the latest information about our Emerging Technology initiative!

Sponsor: Mike Romanies

June 2, 2008, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

July

Topic: Introduction to Tech Ranch Austin
Speaker: Kevin Koym, Founder of Tech Ranch

Kevin Koym is Founder of Tech Ranch, a technology incubator that accelerates startups through advisory and venture development services. Kevin is personally and professionally defined by his ability to both inspire and mobilize entrepreneurs to match their passions to market opportunity. Kevin has launched seven startups and his experience includes both venture-backed and bootstrapped endeavors. Prior to founding his own companies, Kevin worked for Motorola, IBM, and NeXT Computer, and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas. To learn more about Tech Ranch Austin, visit us at Tech Ranch Austin or join us for a Campfire.

 

Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

July 7, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

August

Topic: Austin Small Business Development Program

Speaker: Vicky Valdez, SBDP

SBDP stands for Small Business Development Program. We provide counseling and assistance to small businesses. Our focus, as our name implies, is to develop and empower small businesses in order to strengthen their business capability and survivability. Our goal is to help you succeed in today's business environment!

Vicky Valdez, Senior Coordinator of Development Information Resources joined the City of Austin’s Small Business Program (SBDP) in March of 2001 after working in the City’s Planning Department for two (2) years. She currently manages SBDP’s Business Solutions Center and works with an array of customers, from all walks of life, while guiding them through the process of starting their small business or expanding their existing business.

Prior to that, she was Deputy Director for a local non-profit agency where she held the titles of land developer for the agency and lead project manager for all of their construction projects. She has over 15 years of commercial and residential construction experience. Additionally, under her belt, she also has six (6) years experience in owning her own small construction company.

Vicky has an undergraduate degree in Engineering from Texas A&M University - Kingsville and a MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

August 4, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

September

Topic: Austin's Entrepreneurship Scene (#ATXentScene)
Speaker: Bijoy Goswami

Founder of Bootstrap Austin and cofounder Austin Equation, Bijoy, will discuss Austin's Entrepreneurship Scene. The scene has received recent national press from Entrepreneur Magazine, Portofilo and Kiplinger.

Austin is a city that encourages us all to be who we are at our core - to fully express ourselves, and in so doing to connect with others. This identity is evident across Austin's varied communities and scenes - and resonates particularly with entrepreneurs.

What can you do to best position yourself and your business in this thriving Scene? How can you gain closer connections, leverage new relationships, and be a steward for greater collective success? We will explore the equation that describes what makes Austin such a viable environment for entrepreneurial success, and why the Entrepreneurship Scene is critical to Austin's future.

 

Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

September 1, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

October

Topic: Patent Law

Speaker:Loren T. Smith, Patent Attorney

 

 

 

 

 

Before becoming a Patent Attorney, Loren Smith participated in several startup companies in areas such as computer design, consulting, and assembly; web development; e-commerce; and server design and implementation. During Mr. Smith’s five year tenure with Hulsey Intellectual Property Lawyers, P.C. he has assisted startup and early stage companies in evaluating and protecting their Intellectual Property including: patent and trademark prosecution; validity and clearance opinions; management of Intellectual Property portfolios; infringement risk evaluation; and litigation support.

Hulsey Intellectual Property Lawyers, P.C. is an Intellectual Property firm specifically structured to address the needs and challenges of emerging growth companies. With a host of professionals with varying technical expertise and experience, HulseyIP is uniquely situated to assist startups and early stage companies with protecting their Intellectual Property at highly competitive prices while maintaining superior quality and responsiveness. We at HulseyIP believe we have entered the New Golden Age of Entrepreneurship™ and that there have never been more opportunities for creativity and innovation.

 

October 6, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

November

Topic: Social Business
Speaker: Laurie Loew, Give Realty

Beyond the Bottom Line - the professional and personal benefits of creating a business model that benefits others. Social business models are redefining business by creating value beyond dollars and cents. Laurie will discuss the pros and cons of creating this type of business model and the difference between “social objectives” and “social purpose” within the model. Laurie is the founder of Give Realty, a socially innovative boutique real estate brokerage of two agents that has donated more than $73,000 to 34 different nonprofits in less than two years of business. Laurie has found the rewards to be immeasurable and is fueled by her passion to teach others about social good and its potential to transform your business and life. Laurie is the 9th of 10 children, and was born with entrepreneurial blood in her veins. Both sets of grandparents, her parents and all her siblings have all bootstrapped their own businesses! In April 2010 she was honored with the 2010 Ethics in Business Award in the individual category, is a member of Austin Women Entrepreneurs, and a subgroup co-lead of Bootstrap Austin.

www.GiveRealty.com

Sponsor: Chris Ritchie

November 3, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

December

Topic: TBA

Speaker: TBA

 

 

TBA

 

December 1, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm