Entrepreneurship : In The News

Wildly successful entrepreneur Jassi Chadha has brought his expertise to TiE-NJ/Philadelphia, a newer chapter of the global entrepreneurship organization, reports SiliconIndia.

TiE NJ-Philly is an offshoot of TiE Tristate. New Jersey and Philadephia had quite a lot of entrepreneurs who would often find it difficult to make it to New York for various events of the Tristate. Hence the need for a chapter in this geographic area became a necessity. Today under the leadership of Chadha, the TiE-NJ-Philly Chapter is helping the budding entrepreneurs in this geography to realize their goals and dreams by conducting various events, providing mentoring, and networking opportunities.

"There are aspects of entrepreneurship like optimism, excitement, energy, and a sense of adventure that is inspiring to read and get excited. It also drives people to do more and pursue big dreams. However, the path of entrepreneurship is often lonely, hard, and the journey hectic with challenges of different sorts. That's why entrepreneurs need to be supported and find the right support in programs that TiE offers," says Chadha.

Original source: SiliconIndia.
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Technically Philly's profile of Human Network Labs takes us inside the startup developing technology that merges information about the physical world, users and their surroundings.

The company was established in 2007 in response to the huge growth in social networking. However, CEO Carlos Garcia wanted consumers to have the ability to use social networking in the real world, instead of just on the Internet.

The technology allows users to localize persons or objects indoors or outdoors without the use of the Internet on their cell phones.

"Having Internet should not be a prerequisite of social networking," said Garcia. Based in a city that faces the inequalities of a digital divide, Human Network Labs aims to produce a technology that would be available to everyone.

Original source: Technically Philly
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The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on two online news publications that have launched recently, including yours truly.

As the market for news fragments, new models for journalism are emerging. Two of those experiments, Flying Kite and Patch, launched in Philadelphia last month.

"This is a fresh way to get fresh content about all the innovative things happening in our city," said Danielle Cohn, (Philadelphia Convention and Visitors) bureau spokeswoman.

Original source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
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Philadelphia design company Tuned has created a beer bottle that doubles as a musical instrument, reports Pitch.

Tuned is a design company that draws its inspiration from sound. The beer bottle (at right) for Tuned Pale Ale can actually be used as an instrument in several different ways. The label features the musical notes that correspond to your level of beer while the grooves along the side (near the drinker's thumb) can be strummed with a bottle cap. The beer's six-pack holder can even be flipped over and turned into a tongue drum.

Tuned has actually been produced and drunk, but it's not currently on the market. If you happen to own a brewery or were looking to get into the bottled-beer business, the designers behind Tuned are looking for a distributor.

Original source: Pitch
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An engineer and physicist have teamed up to form superfluid, a social twork that helps creative talent collaborate, reports Technically Philly.

It's a novel idea based on a growing number of localized currency systems, like Ithaca Hours in New York. With these local systems, currency is kept within a community, be it Ithica or superfluid.

Currently, Solomon and Vasilic are working on the gig full-time, along with three others who are half-time. The team is preparing to announce a "well known" partner in the virtual currency before the end of September. They've also recently launched a contest to promote the new virtual currency with the Corzo Center for the Creative Economy.

Original source: Technically Philly
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Grasso Holdings has proposed converting a Richmond Street industrial building in Fishtown into a live music venue and museum for Philadelphia's rock and roll stars, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The project would be housed in roughly 34,000 square feet of a 75,000-square-foot building at 2055 Richmond St. Grasso Holdings has the property under agreement and is in the early stages of the project in terms of financing, design and seeking neighborhood support and zoning approvals.

The facility would be able to accommodate about 2,600 people and would incorporate high-tech features that would create an interactive experience for concert-goers. The facility is being designed with the fans' experience as the focal point, said one person with intimate knowledge of the project and that starts from the moment a ticket is purchased.

Original source: Philadelphia Business Journal
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Environmental publication Grist takes a look at Philly's urban farming scene, including the historic Manatawna Farm and Glenwood Green Acres.

The city is also host to two multi-acre farms, one at the Schuylkill Center, a nature preserve that operates a farm stand and a CSA in a surprisingly verdant area in the northwest part of the city. The other is managed by the member-owned Weavers Way Co-op grocery stores (more on that below, and full disclosure -- I'm a Weavers Way member, and the co-op hosts my Beyond Green blog).

Mayor Michael Nutter has issued a series of food-focused proposals and initiatives, including creating a food policy council and releasing the Philadelphia Food Charter, which puts ag front and center. Even the city's "Greenworks" initiative, designed to turn Philly into "the greenest city in America," sets the goal of increasing commercial agriculture within city limits.

Original source: Grist
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A new event from the gang at Technically Philly, Switch on Oct. 6, promises to sift through a handful of innovative companies that will give seven-minute demos and demonstrate Philadelphia's next buzz-worthy start-up, reports Philadelphia Magazine.

1. Packlate: If you can afford a bit of flexibility, Packlate can help save you hundreds on your next vacation. This West Conshohocken-based website help vacation home owners fill left over inventory while giving the rest of us a sweet deal. At Switch, Packlate plans to tell us how it all works as well as giving us inside tips about how we can snag the best deal possible. $140 a night in Costa Rica? Count us in.

Source: Philadelphia Magazine
Read the full story here.