Tech Ranch Austin

JaxCOE Innovation Connection Conference – Finding Solutions to World Problems

This last Friday, Kevin Koym, Tech Ranch CEO, had the opportunity to speak at the Jacksonville Community of Entrepreneurs (JaxCoE)’s Innovation Connection Conference in Jacksonville, Fla. and share his vision of a world cleansed of many of its problems. Kevin’s vision of an entrepreneurial heaven, in which the ability to find the “100,000 solutions to the world’s problems”, has begun to manifest itself in Austin, and Tech Ranch hopes to foster this entrepreneurial mission in ecosystems across the U.S. and the world.

Tech Ranch is pleased to share that JaxCoE’s founder, Kate Stewart, was a former Venture Forth program participant and has taken Tech Ranch’s community building mission to Florida. JaxCoE has formed many of it’s ecosystem development philosophies after Tech Ranch, and for Kevin to travel to Jacksonville himself and meet its thriving community of forward thinking entrepreneurs, investors and students was a chance to see the future. [Read more…]

Defining Entrepreneurship: Starting with Customers

This Defining Entrepreneurship segment is a prequel to our segment on Types of Investment. We encourage you to watch this first to better understand our philosophy at Tech Ranch! Enjoy!

Hi, it’s Kevin Koym, Founder & CEO of Tech Ranch. Sometimes confusion comes about with all the popularity of lean startup practices that all the focus is on investment, but what I really want to talk to you about to day the importance of identifying and acquiring customers before going for funding. [Read more…]

Tech Ranch Austin Proud to Sponsor Defense Energy Summit

Defense Energy Summit

The Defense Energy Summit is being held in Austin this week (Nov 11-13) will gather stakeholders and working groups to build the foundation for a new Defense Energy Center of Excellence. The summit’s focus will center on this proposed initiative and how to accelerate clean energy and infrastructure solutions for the DOD.

The Tech Ranch is excited to be a Supporting Partner of the conference and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fall Summit.

Just this week, the Department of Defense and the National Security Technology Accelerator announced a new $100 million Energy Innovation Authority. The Initiative will focus on rapid Prototype and Test opportunities for defense and non-defense companies and research organizations.

The SBIR programs are highly competitive, encouraging small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) work with potential for commercialization. Representatives from all 11 federal agencies with SBIR programs will attend to help entrepreneurs and businesses learn how they can participate in these innovation programs.

For more information about the Summit keynote and information sessions, as well as registration instructions, visit defenseenergy.com.

Meet some the #VF22 Graduates

vf22 cohort

Venture Forth #22 was an amazing diverse group of entrepreneurs working on a wide arrange of technology startups. Here is a sample of some of the ventures that participated in our first VF cohort of 2014.

David Nelson of RepairOrReplaceIt – We offer an online marketplace for repair of devices to help reduce the cost and hassle of keeping electronics and appliances in working order.

Truong-An Thai of FitChimp – FitChimp removes the barriers to workplace wellness. Our interactive “micro-gym” enable employees to engage in energy boosting and pain reducing 2-5 minute micro-workouts, without having to change clothes or shower.

Stephanie Dentinger of Horns Connect LLC – Horns Connnect enhances loyalty by supporting businesses in your Longhorn alumni network. We have established both a social and professional (online directory) platform for alumni and fans to build their business.

Gabriel Valles of MentorWings.com –  MentorWings gives students direct access to seasoned Mentors and structured learning with a pathway to industry and entrepreneurship. We also help Mentors build a personal brand and business from their teaching. We want to be the home of million dollar teachers.

Knut Graf of Graf Systems LLC  – Our software, Hoversight, provides smart, simple handling of UAV images as a tool for targeted land stewardship. We connect UAV capabilities to real needs on the farm.

Luissette and Luis Figueroa of Health Innovators Systems, Inc. – HealthPasskey is a web-based application that reduces 30-day hospital readmission rates by adhering patients to their follow-up plan and coordinating care. We save lives. Would you like to learn how we accomplish this?

Gary Wagner of Warp10 Games, LLC – Warp10 makes innovative, free to play mobile games, by combining the casual virality and compulsion loops of Candy Crush, with the monetization and retention of mid-core games.

Lauren Foster of CatFoster Media LLC –  Stretch is a life made easy mobile app that helps consumers pair their budget with nutritional chef recipes while earning points to redeem coupons

Eric Stallsmith of USOutfitters.com – For the past 14 years we have designed and implemented full service marketing strategies for small outdoor recreation companies. Now we are scaling our delivery of this.

RuDee Sade Lipscomb of At The Door – At The Door helps property owners distribute, track and monitor access to their homes. 

Bassanio Peters of Assisted Development LLC – We created a web / mobile platform that converges product development, crowd funding, & social media to give anyone with an ideas access to the necessary resources & expertise to create innovative products.

Dan Bryant of Vertical Information Systems, Inc. – Verticalinfo creates software tools for small companies to run field services. Using web applications and android devices in the field. We help specialists to optimize their operations 

 

Be sure to come check all the graduates pitch THIS FRIDAY (March 28th, 2014) at the Alumni Round Up.

RSVP HERE