TODAY'S COCKTAIL OF TECH STARTUP STORIES:
The latest cocktail of emerging technology news, people, startups, products, and innovations for the true tech enthusiast.
| Caroline McCarthy: Hacking Business Travel [VIDEO] |
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Caroline McCarthy, during her work with various companies like CNET, CBS, and Google, found herself traveling a lot. Whether it was heading to a commentator gig for Countdown with Keith Olbermann or spearheading Google's presence at industry events, she enjoyed when her employers offered a choice with regard to business travel. "I have worked in large company environments where we did not have a managed travel program," says McCarthy. "I find that is one of the most empowering things a company can put into its company culture."
For example, employees might choose hybrid trips that fuse business and leisure travel – leaving a few days early, or staying the weekend in a popular city. To McCarthy, the best thing a business can do is offer its employees a viable means to accomplish that fusion of work and pleasure travel; it is a win-win for everybody involved. Joining us at Tech Cocktail Week, McCarthy shared more tips for setting up a better business travel program at your company. Here is the video: Tech Cocktail Week is a monthly series of events that takes place downtown Las Vegas and is produced in partnership with Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project. Subscribe to Tech Cocktail Sessions on iTunes and never miss a Session –  The post Caroline McCarthy: Hacking Business Travel [VIDEO] appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
| Newest Version of Romotive's Robot Teaches Kids to Program |
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Imagine telling an eight-year old girl that she could program her robot to find her brother, take an embarrassing photo of him, and upload it to Facebook. Do you think she'd be interested in programming then? "If you want to convince an eight-year-old that he or she should be interested in computer science, a robot is a really good place to start," says Romotive CEO Keller Rinaudo. "Harassing your little brother – that's about as compelling a use case as a little girl can possibly imagine."
 With Romotive's latest update, that scenario just got a step closer to reality. Now, kids can program their Romos using a new visual programming interface. They just select a trigger, pick actions for Romo to take or emotions to express, and adjust the parameters (like speed or distance). For example, they might program Romo to tilt back and look scared when someone picks him up.
It's pretty basic as far as programming goes, but it does help kids understand the idea of giving instructions to a computer and having the computer follow them. In the next six months, Romotive plans to add other functions, like face detection, motion detection, and space mapping. If connected to Facebook, Romos could eventually be able to play your favorite song the moment you walk in the room, or say hello to one of your friends – "Hi Chad!" – whom they've never met before. The funny part about all this is that the technology isn't complex. Rinaudo recalls talking to a professor who said that space mapping is a solved problem, with no PhDs left to be written. "There's so much technology in robots right now that is considered basically solved at a research level, and yet you've never seen a robot doing any of these things," says Rinaudo. "None of that technology has ever been relevant to normal people."
Most of the technology, Rinaudo says, is stuck in university labs – used to prove a thesis, then forgotten as a prototype that probably doesn’t work anymore. Kids are only the first audience for Romotive programming – and an enthusiastic one. While working on this update, the team collaborated with over 1,000 kids to figure out what works, what doesn't, what's boring, and what's totally awesome. And every week, you'll still find 8- to 12-year-olds in Romotive's San Francisco office playing with robots. The girls are as enthusiastic as the boys: they like befriending a robot with personality, and it sure beats programming on LEGO MINDSTORMS. And some brother shaming on Facebook wouldn’t hurt, either. 
The post Newest Version of Romotive's Robot Teaches Kids to Program appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
| Jifiti Raises $2.5 Million, Plans Expansion |
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Today Jifiti, the Columbus-based gift sending and receiving platform, announced a total of $2.5 million raised. The seed funds came from the Simon Property Group, a real estate company that operates over 300 malls in the US and Asia; Schottenstein Stores Corp, owner of American Eagle and DSW; and the Jesselson Group. The main function of Jifiti is to make gift giving more rewarding for both the gifter and the giftee. Gifters can buy a gift for a friend at a participating retail partner and have it teleported immediately to the giftee. Arriving in the form of a personalized digital gift notification on their phone, the giftee can then redeem that gift at any of the retailer's US locations. Say goodbye to distance issues while getting friends what they really want. "Our mission is to create the ultimate social gifting adventure by merging the unmatched shopping experience you can only get in-store with the unmatched shopping convenience you can only get online," says Jifiti CEO and co-founder Yaacov Martin. "Gift-giving is by definition a kind and generous act, yet too often it is a source of anxiety for the gifter and frustration for the giftee."
While this platform is helpful to both gifters and giftees, let us not forget that at the heart of those affected by Jifiti is the business. It works wonderfully at established retailers like Old Navy, Williams-Sonoma, and Barnes & Noble, but the small business is the key. Mom-and-pop shops might not have the best online experience or have the means to reach a massive amount of people, but Jifiti does. Offering a hassle-free way to give a meaningful gift is amazing, but giving the gift of business to smaller venues is even better. The post Jifiti Raises $2.5 Million, Plans Expansion appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
| Why Hiring the Best Can Make Your Startup Fail |
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I once had a very successful startup founder say to me, "I don't get it. I hired all of the smartest people I could find. And they all hate each other now." There's a clear path to startup success: killer idea, strong funding, high growth, impressive valuation. But many startup founders get to that point and finally turn around and look at the company they've built with disappointment. The culture's not there. Teamwork's sorely lacking. And debates are getting more heated and more personal. Your problem is that you've hired too many good people. Founders often hire to one principle: get me the best. They want the programmer or developer with incredibly mad skills. The ones who are sought after by bigger, more established startups. The ones who are so good at what they do, founders let everything else slide. There's a risky proposition to hiring stars. When everyone walks in the door with an ego, it's hard to make decisions. It's hard to admit fault, failure, or average work. Even geniuses do average work sometimes. But in a room full of "the bests," this means no one wants to fail in front of their peers. Everyone's trying to best each other. Get the founder's attention. Scream the loudest. And win. And when each person tries to win individually, the whole of the startup fails. Sure, you might say you're willing to sacrifice a happy workplace for the best work – you're growing, after all, and it's all about making money for your investors. But do it at the expense of encouraging failure, teamwork and vulnerability, and you'll end up with talented people who hate each other, care only about themselves, and will ultimately impact your vision and growth. And no one's ego – from founder to developer – is important enough to survive that. Guest author Susan Strayer LaMotte is the founder of exaqueo. She helps startup and high-growth companies develop cultures, build employer brands, and create strategies for talent recruitment and retention. Follow her @SusanLaMotte. The post Why Hiring the Best Can Make Your Startup Fail appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
| Maryland's ReelGenie Raises $850,000 in Seed Funding |
| 10:00:47 AM | Kira M. Newman |
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ReelGenie, a video creation startup based just outside of Washington, DC, today announced $850,000 in seed funding from CNF Investments, the Maryland Venture Fund, faculty members from the Wharton School, and angel investors. ReelGenie helps you create videos of events like weddings or vacations by combining your own photos, videos, narration, and music. It's a tool for the amateur as well as the pro: you can let ReelGenie do the editing and organizing, or customize it yourself. Then, you can share the video online, download it, or buy a DVD. ReelGenie will initially be available through partner websites (I’m assuming things like photo sharing sites), although a consumer version will be released down the line. Founder and CEO David Adelman credits DC’s alive-and-well angel scene for the funding. "You don't have to be in Silicon Valley to raise a healthy seed round, even pre-revenue," he says. The startup is based in Maryland's Silver Spring Innovation Center, a low-cost office space created by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. And it looks like ReelGenie will be staying in Maryland for the foreseeable future: the Maryland Venture Fund, which is state-funded, requires portfolio companies to maintain office space in the state for five years. That's partly why ReelGenie earned some praise from the governor. "Entrepreneurs and startups like ReelGenie place Maryland at the forefront of innovation and discovery as they create the technologies, companies, and jobs of the future," said Maryland governor Martin O'Malley.
ReelGenie will use the funding to continue product development and publicly release the product this fall. The post Maryland's ReelGenie Raises $850,000 in Seed Funding appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
| 8 Experiential Marketing Tips for Startups |
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Bootstrapping startups spend endless hours creating extravagant online and social media marketing campaigns to build brand recognition, and for good reason: they are an inexpensive way to spread word of the company to their target audience. Notwithstanding traditional and non-traditional media marketing avenues, entrepreneurs need to expand their approach to include experiential marketing and make the most of their opportunities by engaging customers or possible investors, and building excitement with the public in general. Experiential marketing is the process of creating an experience for consumers which results in a sensory connection to a brand or company and its products or services and leaves a lasting positive impression. An example of a recent successful experiential campaign involved MOOLAGRAM, a new app that is a community where people and businesses connect on their terms. ICE Factor (the experiential marketing agency where I work) was hired and given the objective of engaging consumers and encouraging them to download, register, and actively use the app, all while developing brand awareness. The campaign involved Brand Ambassadors and "Moolamen" in red morph suits with QR code boxes strapped to their chests, explaining the app to festival attendees and helping them register. The first activation took place over three days, within which time approximately 640 users were registered and 10,000+ interactions/impressions took place. The Moolamen served a number of different purposes. First, the bright red morph suits drew the attention of festival attendees and served as an icebreaker for engagement. The outfits also reinforced branding, as the business portrays itself as an exciting and dynamic company, and red is the color of the app. Most importantly, the QR boxes alleviated one of the steps of the download and also provided real-time, measurable data regarding the success of the activation. Almost all festival attendees had experienced the team and brand by the time they left the event. Various business professionals estimate that the growth of experiential marketing now exceeds digital advertising, and with the development of social media, you have a new monster altogether. Experiential marketing fits the requirements of early-stage companies because the startup does not have to dish out previously budgeted resources for publicity. At the same time, engagement campaigns allow the consumer to experience the brand, burning a significant imprint in their memories. In the past few years, the emergence of social media and other platforms has facilitated the evolution of the consumer. Now, successful marketing must target the experiential consumer who requires engagement to stimulate various senses to strengthen their connection to the brand. Creating a positive impression upon the consumer through innovation will eventually influence the way they feel about the brand. Below are eight essential tips that startups can incorporate into their experiential campaigns to ensure successful branding: 1. Be "The One"When planning campaigns with teams attending events or expos, strive to be the one booth that everyone at the event recognizes. The goal is to be the most visible brand at the event. A successful campaign should be judged by how many attendees experience the brand. 2. CreativityAnother vital element is ingenuity, which is something that cannot be taught. The concept of advising someone how to plan an effective activation is similar to a company commissioning a viral video, in that the ability to project how a viewer or consumer will perceive the brand is analogous to fortune telling. Brainstorm ideas with those who best know the brand, what it represents, and the objective of the campaign. It is critical that every idea mentioned at these sessions be explored and investigated, as the most memorable and unforgettable promotions are regularly derived from profound and provocative ideas which will ultimately spur raw emotional reactions within consumers. 3. Appeal to the Five SensesDig into your memory bank and think back to kindergarten when learning about sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. As mentioned throughout this article, success hinges upon the ability to appeal to the consumers' senses. The beauty is when a company strikes a nerve with its audience who experiences the brand; the payoff can be tremendous and potentially be that elusive tipping point sought after by so many startups. 4. Make the Campaign ManageableAfter a concept has been agreed upon, the process turns to designing the initiative to be both manageable and cost-effective. A startup can have the best idea in the world, but if they cannot figure out how to pull it off (and sometimes repeatedly), all they have is an idea and no campaign. Accordingly, it is necessary to be reasonable when strategizing. Breaking down a promo booth or equipment can be time consuming and extremely taxing when doing it on a weekly basis. With that being said, you must also "GO BIG" or at least fake it, but never lose the illusion that you have put all available resources into the activation. 5. Appear as Organic as PossibleNot in the context of food, but rather ensuring that the consumer's experience is as natural an impression as possible. A campaign that doesn't seem organic will resonate less with consumers. As a result, it is imperative to create a measurable campaign while maintaining its memorable qualities and quirkiness, which help connect the consumer with the brand. 6. Be MemorableThere are numerous marketing activations that have effectively had consumers talking for years at minimal cost to the company. For the most part, the largest resource involved was the time invested by the marketers to canvas the targeted area. And the time of startup founders and their employees is one of the few resources that (although valuable) is readily available. This is why experiential marketing is so powerful for startups. 7. Maintain a Level of ProfessionalismEnergy and enthusiasm are often main components of a successful marketing effort. However, ambassadors must remain professional throughout the campaign even in the most enticing atmospheres. During promotions, there are plenty of opportunities for those involved to veer off track. However, to make the most of the opportunities, everyone must realize that during the event is neither the time nor the place. Celebratory cocktails can wait. 8. Utilize TechnologyBased on the new development of the experiential consumer, implementing data collection with the experience is of the utmost importance. Collecting data clarifies customer trends, allowing marketers to tailor campaigns to fully engage and convey an impression upon the end user. Technology can serve as a tool to provide that data. The ultimate goal of experiential marketing is for the consumer to remember the experience and discuss it with others after the campaign. More importantly, the consumer should recognize the brand and how it applies to their world. Experiential marketing is a perfect fit for startups, given that innovation and ingenuity, along with manpower (rather than disposable capital), are the perfect blend for an impactful campaign. While the value of digital marketing cannot be undermined and should not be overlooked, startups should consider a more gripping approach. If done right, witnessing a group of brand ambassadors in memorable branded outfits, running through the streets or a festival handing out sample products or tickets to an upcoming event, will have as profound of an impact upon a consumer as any of the most creative digital campaigns. The term "startup" is interpreted by many as the beginning of a new project, venture, or company. The natural progression after the initial launch of a project includes building momentum toward an ultimate goal. A valuable tool to achieve that goal is growing brand recognition. Given that traditional customers have evolved into experiential consumers, startups must modify their marketing strategies to include this additional and important aspect, as the relationship and associated opportunities between startups and experiential marketing is undeniable. Guest author John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) is an avid enthusiast of the Chicago startup community. He serves as the Director of Business Development at ICE Factor (@ICEFactorbrand), an Experiential Marketing Agency based in Chicago. John continually strives to connect his passions of marketing, business, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about ICE Factor at www.ICEFactor.com. The post 8 Experiential Marketing Tips for Startups appeared first on Tech Cocktail  |
WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER
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