LaunchPad INW

Startup Weekend Spokane Slated for March 1-3, 2013

Stephanie Regalado-Hertel — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:52:58 +0000

After the successes of Spokane’s first two Startup Weekends, there will be a third this spring on the Washington State University (WSU) Riverpoint Campus to bring developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts together to participate in 54 hours of sharing ideas, forming teams, building products, and launching startups!

The business community is coming out to support this event as mentors and judges. This event will feature successful local entrepreneur Lisa Shaffer. Lisa Shaffer is the founder of Signature Genomics and Paw Print Genetics. Brett Noyes is excited to bring this event back to Spokane and play a small role in cultivating an entrepreneurial community.

Startup Weekend Spokane started less than a year ago and already 3 emerging companies have been created: Tarrango Wine App and Pixel Buddy. Pixel Buddy recently released its first mobile application in the apple app store and already has over 5,000 subscribers.

Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees are encouraged to bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday, teams design and develop business plans while continuously streamlining their startup vision. On Sunday evening teams demo their prototypes, and receive feedback from judges.

Startup Weekends are specifically designed for entrepreneurs interested in receiving feedback on an idea, looking for a co-founder, or who want to learn a new skill. They also welcome anyone looking to test the entrepreneurial waters. Startup Weekends are risk-free environments where everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves and dive into the exhilarating world of startups.

“This Startup Weekend, given WSU Riverside’s healthcare focus, we would like to encourage attendees to bring their healthcare-related startup ideas,” Noyes said. “Just like with the last two Startup Weekends, all ideas are welcome but we will offer additional resources for healthcare ideas throughout the weekend.”

Startup Weekend Spokane will be hosted by WSU in the Health Science Building on March 1-3. Early registration is open at http://spokane.startupweekend.org/tickets/. Tickets are $65.00 through January 30th. On February 1st, tickets will be sold for $85.00. For more information visit: http://spokane.startupweekend.org.

[VIDEO] Gemiini Systems – Invest NW episode for NBC

Maciej Kosinski — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:45:23 +0000

GemIIni is a web-based provider of video modeling therapy for Special Education students. GemIIni’s web-based library includes over 5,000 high definition, professional videos can be individually selected and stitched into custom therapy videos for use at home or in school. Every video includes a discrete presentation of a word or concept, a speech therapy component , a generalization component and the ability to test/record mastery of the concept for later evaluation. GemIIni’s initial successes were in the treatment of autism-spectrum disorders, but their videos are now used for ESL students, students with dyslexia and those with Down Syndrome in clinics and schools around the country.

Cummins Inc. Makes Strategic Investment in Spokane Valley Company ReliOn

Bill Kalivas — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:57:01 +0000

The following news release was issued by Spokane Valley company ReliOn on January 24, 2013. ReliOn makes hydrogen fuel cell technology for backup power systems:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday,
January 24, 2013

Cummins Inc. Makes Strategic Investment
in ReliOn

Spokane, WA – ReliOn, the leading provider of high
reliability fuel cell solutions for backup power and grid-support applications,
is pleased to announce that Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) has made a strategic
investment in the company. Cummins is a corporation comprised of multiple
business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and
related engine related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air
handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation
systems.

Gary Flood, ReliOn’s CEO, characterized the investment:
“Cummins is a global leader in power generation and, as such, will be an
excellent partner to work with ReliOn as we continue our global market
expansion. Cummins is committed to assist ReliOn toward increasing our market
visibility and access. Additionally, Cummins will use its broad capabilities in
engineering and manufacturing to accelerate ReliOn’s efforts to drive costs down
and increase the distribution reach of our fuel cell products around the
world.”

As part of this investment, Cummins will join the ReliOn board of
directors.

Read the release on the ReliOn site here

[VIDEO] Paw Print Genetics – Invest NW episode for NBC

Maciej Kosinski — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:48:07 +0000

The Definitive Resource for Canine Genetic Health. One local entrepreneur has developed her passion for genetics – both human and canine – into an innovative new business. She calls it her “pet project” and Paw Print Genetics is really hitting its stride.

Steven Tabacek: Spokane Technology Company Secures $1.25M in Funding

Stephanie Regalado-Hertel — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:29:14 +0000

Steven Tabacek: Spokane Technology Company Secures $1.25M in Funding — SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – newsle.

Golfers’ Delight: First GolfTEC Improvement Center In Spokane Area

Stephanie Regalado-Hertel — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:20:33 +0000

Former Gonzaga University golfer Randy Potter is the owner and Certified Personal Coach of the first GolfTEC Improvement Center east of the Cascades.

Potter, a member of the PGA of America who worked at Spokane’s Hangman Valley Golf Course while in college, returns to the Spokane area after three years as head professional and general manager at Roseburg Country Club in Roseburg, Ore.

“We are looking forward to showing off our new technology at the facility,” said Potter, who is from Othello, Wash. “Golfers in the Spokane area have never had this kind of instruction available before.”

“We are proud to be the first GolfTEC center to provide such a 360-degree game improvement center, which is available day and night – and the temperature is always perfect,” Potter said.

A leader in high-tech golf improvement, GolfTEC has a 95% success rate among its students. The 500 GolfTEC Personal Certified Coaches at 165 Improvement Centers will surpass 4-million lessons mark this year since the company’s founding in 1995. All lessons are based on the company’s “Five Factors:” Fact-Based Diagnosis, Sequential Lessons, Video-Based Practice, Advanced Retention Tools, and Precision-Matched Clubs.

All GolfTEC lessons are taught one-on-one in private, indoor bays that maximize the learning experience. GolfTEC utilizes proprietary teaching technology and the skills of its Certified Personal Coaches to help golfers improve their skills and increase enjoyment of the game.

The Spokane center is the first in the country with the proprietary g-SWING teaching software available to students. The center also offers the new Foresight GC2 launch monitor and ball tracking system, combining technology and staff that will provide golfers in the Eastern Washington region year-round instruction, as well as club-fitting service and equipment analysis.

The 2,000 square foot facility, which features three teaching bays, is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Spokane GolfTEC Improvement Center is at 1207 N. Washington St., Suite 2. Call (248) 429-1600, or visit the center’s website.

[VIDEO] Barters Closet – Invest NW episode for NBC

Maciej Kosinski — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:44:40 +0000

Barters Closet is the first online market where people can buy, sell, barter, and donate their clothes. Our bartering interface allows people to expand their wardrobe thriftily and efficiently. You don’t need to buy new clothes, you can exchange your clothes and cycle your closet with Barters Closet.

[VIDEO] ToGiveAGift.com – Invest NW episode for NBC

Maciej Kosinski — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:42:09 +0000

ToGiveAGift.com offers an online Shopping, Reminder and Wish List service allowing you to shop at hundreds of your favorite stores. At ToGiveAGift.com we believe it is our responsibility to give back to the communities we serve. That is why we pay 30% of our Gross Revenue to participating charities. Members can select the charity they want to support.

ASL is Spokane’s “intellectual warehouse”

Bill Kalivas — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:19:34 +0000

scribbled by Susan Ashe on Oct 5, 2012

I just completed an excellent tour of the Applied Sciences Laboratory (ASL) in the Innovate Washington (formerly Sirti) Technology Center. Oh my. Created from the WSU-Pullman Schock Physics Institute some years’ ago, this version is “Spokane’s intellectual warehouse,” according to Yogi Gupta, ASL director.

ASL conducts research for such local companies as Avista, Itron, Triumph Composites and Boeing, as well as for federal agencies and other national companies.

We met tremendously talented people and viewed actual testing of “brain in a dish” by Dr. Pari Sengupta, PhD in biophysics and neuro-photonics. HSSA is pleased to note that bioscience has joined the materials sciences & chemistry, optical physics, modeling & simulations and materials characterization research focusesi. It’s a great fit with the AHSC. Perhaps medical device and materials will be created from the materials research side with that the biosciences are present.

The ASL is self-sustained, runs more like a business as its serves as a contract researcher, and deserves Spokane’s support!!

Medical Engineering featured at the Downtown Library

Bill Kalivas — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:17:14 +0000

scribbled by Susan Ashe on Oct 15, 2012

This just in: the downtown branch of the Spokane Public Library will host an event about “Medical Engienering: Bodies and Machines Working Together” this Wed., Oct. 17th, 6:30 PM.

If you want to be the entrepreneurial start-up that engineers a medical device to help people or desire a career in medical engineering, this is for you.

Speakers will be Aaron Fielder, Research Information Volunteer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; David Lin, PhD, WSU Bioengineering Department, and Christopher Coppin, MD, PhD, WSU Bioengineering Dept. and UW Medical School.

The science of medical engineering combines medical science and engineering and means the potential of improved qualtiy of life for millions of people. Think implanted devices or glucose monitors.

This program is presented in connection with Discover Tech: Engienrers Make a World of Differnece, a traveling exhibition emphasizing STEM education.

I didn’t know that our city public library system was participating in this traveling exhibition for libraries as part of the STAR Library Educationm Network.

Thanks Spokane Public Library and Pat Partovi, Director!