Autonomic Materials featured in Technology Review
December 19, 2008
This is just a quick note to let all of you know that TECH cocktail Champaign demoer Autonomic Materials (a company based on University of Illinois technology) was recently featured in MIT’s Technology Review. If you have a chance you should check out the article. The technology is very interesting and I, for one, hope this is the first step toward greatness for this early stage Illinois company.
4 Rules for the Networking Rookie
December 10, 2008
I saw this post a couple days ago about networking tips for Silicon Valley … we all know I feel about the valley. I thought they were good tips that can and should be applied to all networking situations. As many of you know the DC area is getting a little more tech hip these days and along with that comes some great events with tons of networking opportunities.
About a year ago, I was new to the scene. I was just starting to get into the social media scene. I remember my first event I attended, I knew only the person I went with and was a bit intimidated. But after a few under the belt it gets a lot easier. Once you meet and connect with one person, the dominoes start to fall form there.
So here are those tips from the Silicon Valley post, lets take a look and see how we can best utilize them.
1. Never, ever, underestimate anyone
Ok I admit it, you probably have the same story, but at some event you see someone who acts a little odd, looks a little different and you may tend to shy away. But think about something, that may be the founder of the next big thing. And in talking with them and taking a few seconds to get to know them could lead you places you may have never envisioned.
2. Be genuine.
Don’t give people anything but who you are. They see through the facade much easier and faster than you would ever imagine.
3. Be patient.
You probably are not going to make that blockbuster deal right there after the intro over a cocktail. Just follow the other rules here and then see how things go. After events I go home, take all the business cards I have gathered and enter them into some for of CRM, like Higherise form the 37 Signals guys. I also note how and when I met them and what they do as best I can remember. I also take a minute to give a quick hello/follow up email to them. It keeps the dialogue going and you never know were that continued dialogue can take you.
4. Give before you get.
I have heard this a lot and try to follow it to a tee. People dont want someone to walk up introduce themselves and start in on everything they have going on. As in #3, be patient in the moment, and get to know the other person. See what they have going on and ask questions. It will come back around to you, trust me.
Do you have any other tips for the networking challenged ?
TECH cocktail Community Contributed Knowledge
Jimmy Gardner is the founder of MyDropBin and 2Plus11 Technology. He works in the technology field as a government contractor. He also blogs at East Cost Blogging. He can be reached at jimmy@eastcoastblogging.com. Or add Jimmy as a friend in the TECH cocktail COMMUNITY.
Attention Non-Profits: New IBM Computers Available
December 6, 2008
Update: I have received so many inquiries about the computers from some really top notch orgs that I now have to put a deadline on submissions or I won’t be able to push any of the applications through due to sheer overload! Deadline for inquiries will be 5pm central time on Thursday, December 11th. Unfortunately, this is a hard deadline for the aforementioned reason. Thanks for all of your inquiries thus far!
I (Eric Olson) agreed a while back to manage day to day activities for TECH cocktail’s preferred non-profit, Teaming for Technology, for November, December and January while founder, Randal Dill, was at bootcamp (National Guard). Not only was this a great chance to do a little giving back but it was also great to help a friend who is serving our country.
Anyhow, as part of keeping Teaming for Technology moving forward I am in the position of having to give away a number brand new IBM laptops and desktops to some deserving non-profits here in Chicago.
If you think you may be one of these non-profits please email me (eric [at] techcocktail [dot] com) and let me know what your needs are and how the laptops would be used. I will do my best to accommodate and please keep in mind I need to work through the United Way for these machines so the process may take a while.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Teaming for Technology exists to place technology focused individuals in volunteer roles with local non-profits. If you are a non-profit that needs tech help or a techie who wants to give back please email me.
ChangingThePresent.org Needs Your Help
December 3, 2008
Given the tough economic climate and the desire to make a difference, it’s no surprise that there is a new movement afoot, and it’s being faciilitated and promoted by a nonprofit website.
Increasingly, people are giving charitable gifts this holiday season; that is, a donation in a friend’s name to help make the word a better place, in lieu of giving yet another traditional present. (After all, how many of us need another pen & pencil set or pair of fuzzy slippers?)
Visitors to ChangingThePresent.org can make tangible charitable gifts in a friend’s name. For instance, you can:
· preserve an acre of the wilderness
· provide a child with her first book
· fund an hour of cancer research
· feed a family for a week
· or even sponsor cataract surgery to restore a blind person’s sight.
More than 1,500 tangible donation gifts from hundreds of leading nonprofits address a full range of causes, so you are certain to find something that moves you. No wonder the New York Times called ChangingThePresent the “amazon.com of the nonprofit world.”
You can also personalize beautiful printed greeting cards, which include a photo and description of your gift, right from the site.
StrawberryFrog, one of the hottest creative ad agencies, has donated their time to create two fantastic Public Service Announcements to promote this powerful new type of giving and the nonprofit website that makes it easy. You can see them here: www.ChangeThePresent.org.
The TECH cocktail community certainly knows how to spread a meme. We invite you to join with us in spreading the word. Blog it, share it, twitter it, display our banner ads — whatever you can do.
Thank you very much.
crowdSpring needs your vote!
December 3, 2008
Local company and former TECH cocktail demoer, crowdSpring, need your vote. They have made the final four of the WIRED magazine small business competition and they are currently sitting second in the voting. It would be really great to have a Chicago company take this award and the guys at crowdSpring couldn’t be more deserving of it.
Check out the website when you have a chance and vote for crowdSpring. It literally only takes 10 seconds. I am hoping the TECH cocktail community will rally around this and help crowdSpring get the win.
For more on crowdSpring check out the video below that TECH cocktail co-founder “Somewhat” Frank Gruber put together a few weeks back.
CrowdSpring Co-founder Ross Kimbarovsky Interview from Frank Gruber on Vimeo.
Windy City Social: Update
December 3, 2008
Panelists annouced:
-Mark J Carter - Director of Social Media for SavingTheWorld.net and Social Media Jungle
- Kevin Ryan - Chairman of Search Engine Strategies, “How Search And Social Media Collide in 2009”
- Spot in a year long Master Plan professional coaching class from The Business Muse $4,800 value
- Registration to the Online Marketing Summit $1,695 Value (two will be raffled off)
- Autographed copy of Saving the World at Work by Tim Sanders
- a la card Chicago 2009 card decks $30 value each (three will be raffled off)
- $100 Halo For Men gift certificate
- Salon Duo gift certificate
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Sponsors
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Preferred Services Providers
Preferred Accounting Services Provider: Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C. 
Preferred Legal Services Provider:
Hinshaw & Culbertson
Preferred Charity:
Teaming for Technology
Preferred Creative Service Provider: Jess3 
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