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Meet the New PSL Leadership Team

Blake Jennelle on Aug 17th 2010

We’re proud to announce the newest members of the Philly Startup Leaders leadership team.

These leaders will join the current team for a transition period of 3-6 months. Then some of the Philly Startup Leaders founders will “retire” to the Board of Directors while the new leaders take over their roles and help the outgoing folks change their adult diapers (growing “startup old” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be).

The new leaders were selected from people who stepped forward in the PSL Next leadership search. They were interviewed by some combination of the founders and board members. Then they met with their future team members and decided that they wanted to help lead PSL into the future. Everyone who applied to PSL Next will continue to be involved in PSL whether in an ongoing role or on a project-to-project basis.

This is the first of what should be many successful leadership changes over the years. As with any mature organization, the founders can’t lead forever. We see it as our job to pass on our vision and values and to let people much smarter than us take the organization to the next level.

So here is the new leadership team:

President: Jameson Detweiler
Events Director: Gloria Bell
Tech Director: Cody Ray
Hacker-in-Residence: Josiah Kiehl
Membership Director: Jameson Detweiler
Finance and Operations Director: Matt Owens
Marketing Director: OPEN (Aaron McLean will continue to fill in the meantime)

And the current Board of Directors:
Chris Cera, Chairman
Doug Bellenger
Jameson Detweiler
Colin Evans
Blake Jennelle
Neil Kleinman
Aaron McLean
Tracey Welson-Rossman

Please congratulate and welcome our awesome new leadership team. Here’s to the next chapter in the remarkable history of the Philadelphia startup community!

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TECH Cocktail Philadelphia with Philly Startup Leaders (to replace August Happy Hour)

Aaron Haydn McLean on Aug 6th 2010

TECH cocktail Philadelphia to Showcase the 9 Local Startups – RSVP NOW
TECH cocktail (http://techcocktail.com) is hosting its first Philadelphia mixer event in partnership with Philly Startup Leaders on the evening of August 12, 2010. The event aims to rally the tech community while also helping start-ups find seed funding, experts, advisors, employees and media exposure.
TECH cocktail Philly will offer a handful of startups an opportunity to show off in an expo-style to the rest of the Philadelphia entrepreneurial community for FREE. Past events in other cities have showcased startups such as: BandsInTown, OneForty, SCVNGR, SocialThing, Crowdspring, FiltrBox, The Point (now Groupon), ClearSpring, Mobile Roadie, GeniusRocket and hundreds more. At past TECH cocktail mixer events companies have found employees, co-founders, funding and some start-ups have even been acquired.
The details:
WHERE:
The Field House Sports Bar, 1150 Filbert St., Philadelphia, PA, 19107
WHEN:
Thursday, August 12, 2010 – 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT
PRICE:
$10 online early bird, $15 online prior to the event ($20 at the door); attendees must be 21+
REGISTER: http://techcocktailphilly1-psl.eventbrite.com
ABOUT TECH cocktail:
TECH cocktail is a media company dedicated to better connecting, educating and amplifying the technology startup community in a number. Founded in 2006 as a community-building event by Frank Gruber and Eric Olson, TECH cocktail has morphed over the years into a company devoted to building and strengthening emerging local technology companies both online and off. Working with TECH cocktail has helped start-ups across the country find employees, co-founders, funding and even become acquired. TECH cocktail has hosted large events in Chicago, DC, Boston, Boulder, San Diego, Barcelona, Austin and more. For more information, visit: http://www.techcocktail.com or connect with TECH cocktail on Facebook http://facebook.com/techcocktail or Twitter: http://twitter.com/techcocktail

TECH cocktail Philadelphia to Showcase the 9 Local Startups – RSVP NOW

TECH cocktail (http://techcocktail.com) is hosting its first Philadelphia mixer event in partnership with Philly Startup Leaders on the evening of August 12, 2010. The event aims to rally the tech community while also helping start-ups find seed funding, experts, advisors, employees and media exposure.

TECH cocktail Philly will offer a handful of startups an opportunity to show off in an expo-style to the rest of the Philadelphia entrepreneurial community for FREE. Past events in other cities have showcased startups such as: BandsInTown, OneForty, SCVNGR, SocialThing, Crowdspring, FiltrBox, The Point (now Groupon), ClearSpring, Mobile Roadie, GeniusRocket and hundreds more. At past TECH cocktail mixer events companies have found employees, co-founders, funding and some start-ups have even been acquired.

The details:

WHERE:

The Field House Sports Bar, 1150 Filbert St., Philadelphia, PA, 19107

WHEN:

Thursday, August 12, 2010 – 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT

PRICE:

$10 online early bird, $15 online prior to the event ($20 at the door); attendees must be 21+

REGISTER: http://techcocktailphilly1-psl.eventbrite.com

ABOUT TECH cocktail:

TECH cocktail is a media company dedicated to better connecting, educating and amplifying the technology startup community in a number. Founded in 2006 as a community-building event by Frank Gruber and Eric Olson, TECH cocktail has morphed over the years into a company devoted to building and strengthening emerging local technology companies both online and off. Working with TECH cocktail has helped start-ups across the country find employees, co-founders, funding and even become acquired. TECH cocktail has hosted large events in Chicago, DC, Boston, Boulder, San Diego, Barcelona, Austin and more. For more information, visit: http://www.techcocktail.com or connect with TECH cocktail on Facebook http://facebook.com/techcocktail or Twitter: http://twitter.com/techcocktail

TECHcocktail-philly

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PSL Summer BBQ Bash – Get Your Tickets Now!

Aaron Haydn McLean on Jun 21st 2010

bbq4

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New PSL Event: Getting Your Startup’s Technology Built

Aaron Haydn McLean on Jun 4th 2010

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be technologist or have a co-founder with a tech background. Many of our region’s entrepreneurs get stuck in a quandary – how do I find a developer, how do I manage a development project, how do I choose the best platform to develop my ideas, how do I evaluate talent, and the list goes on.

PSL is working on a series of discussions lead by entrepreneurs, CIO’s and CTO’s who can answer these technology development questions. This first one, on June 14th from 6:30-8:30 at the Baiada Center on Drexel’s Campus, will be lead by Niraj Patel (see bio below).
Niraj will begin tackling this issue by starting out with the simple question – What does your customer need?  The first step in any technology development project is ensuring you are building the right product.  Niraj will lead an interactive discussion that will give you insight into solving your most critical technology development issues by focusing on your customers first.
Registration – http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHhna1FfOWxPRTN6MnRQcGNpdzJNMWc6MQ
Niraj Patel
Patel currently serves as President of ISGN, a Partner of Witmer LLC and Managing Director for the Musser Consulting Group. As a multi-national/cross border expert, he has a strong client base in India and has completed large scale projects bridging nations. Patel works closely with his diverse clients including single product firms, medium size firms targeting rapid growth and international conglomerates. It’s their potential that drives Patel to engage their leaders to conceptualize and generate innovative ideas, analyze business strategies, and develop effective solutions, processes and procedures to produce streamlined profitable operations. His approach assists organizations accelerate growth and realize their fullest potential.
Previously Patel served as a founding member and Executive Vice President/CIO for GMAC Commercial Mortgage.  As a member of the Executive Committee, he was a key contributor to the organization’s international growth by consistently delivering double-digit net income growth reaching as high as $341.6 million annually, increasing loan originations from $2 to $29.9 billion, building loan servicing from $5 to $276 billion.
Recognized as an award winning innovator and viewed as one of the leading technologists of his generation, Patel serves on numerous boards and panels, speaks at industry conferences and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal and numerous commercial real estate, finance and technology publications.
Patel’s community and professional memberships have included the Microsoft Executive Circle; Eastern Technology Council; the Board of Advisors of the Marketing Center at the Temple University Fox School of Business; the NPower CIO Advisory Council. and His executive board experience includes: the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) Board of Directors,  EnableUS, Epitome Systems, MortgageRamp, Deskom and GTEL.
He is a Wharton certified manager and has a BBA in Finance and MIS from Temple University. Patel resides in suburban Philadelphia with his family.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be technologist or have a co-founder with a tech background. Many of our region’s entrepreneurs get stuck in a quandary – how do I find a developer, how do I manage a development project, how do I choose the best platform to develop my ideas, how do I evaluate talent, and the list goes on.

PSL is working on a series of discussions lead by entrepreneurs, CIO’s and CTO’s who can answer these technology development questions.

This first one, on June 14th from 6:30-8:30 at the Baiada Center on Drexel’s Campus, will be lead by Niraj Patel (see bio below).

Niraj will begin tackling this issue by starting out with the simple question – What does your customer need? The first step in any technology development project is ensuring you are building the right product.  Niraj will lead an interactive discussion that will give you insight into solving your most critical technology development issues by focusing on your customers first.

Click Here to Register – Act Now – Space Limited!

Niraj Patel

Patel currently serves as President of ISGN, a Partner of Witmer LLC and Managing Director for the Musser Consulting Group. As a multi-national/cross border expert, he has a strong client base in India and has completed large scale projects bridging nations. Patel works closely with his diverse clients including single product firms, medium size firms targeting rapid growth and international conglomerates. It’s their potential that drives Patel to engage their leaders to conceptualize and generate innovative ideas, analyze business strategies, and develop effective solutions, processes and procedures to produce streamlined profitable operations. His approach assists organizations accelerate growth and realize their fullest potential.

Previously Patel served as a founding member and Executive Vice President/CIO for GMAC Commercial Mortgage.  As a member of the Executive Committee, he was a key contributor to the organization’s international growth by consistently delivering double-digit net income growth reaching as high as $341.6 million annually, increasing loan originations from $2 to $29.9 billion, building loan servicing from $5 to $276 billion.

Recognized as an award winning innovator and viewed as one of the leading technologists of his generation, Patel serves on numerous boards and panels, speaks at industry conferences and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal and numerous commercial real estate, finance and technology publications.

Patel’s community and professional memberships have included the Microsoft Executive Circle; Eastern Technology Council; the Board of Advisors of the Marketing Center at the Temple University Fox School of Business; the NPower CIO Advisory Council. and His executive board experience includes: the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) Board of Directors,  EnableUS, Epitome Systems, MortgageRamp, Deskom and GTEL.

He is a Wharton certified manager and has a BBA in Finance and MIS from Temple University. Patel resides in suburban Philadelphia with his family.

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Happy Hour on Tues June 8 @ Ladder 15

Blake Jennelle on Jun 2nd 2010

Join us for the June happy hour! Note that it’s on a Tuesday this month instead of the usual Wednesday.

Happy Hour June 8
6:30-9:30 PM

Ladder 15 Bar & Restaurant
1528 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 964-9755

Click here for a map and location details

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Entrepreneurs Unplugged 8 – Steve Welch of We Are All Born Entrepreneurs

Jordan Epstein on May 19th 2010

Picture 1

We are incredibly excited for Steve Welch's Entrepreneurs Unplugged Session. Steve will be leading our group through the characteristics of a successful startup entrepreneur and instructing us in trait development as a success predictor.

Register today to reserve a FREE seat for Entrepreneurs Unplugged v. VIII

Entrepreneurs Unplugged Series continues on Wed, June 16th at 7 pm.
Featured Entrepreneur: Steve Welch of Dreamit Ventures, "We are All Born Entrepreneurs", Philadelphia's Entrepreneur of the Year, 2008
Location: Hamilton Hall 320 South Broad Street (map – http://tr.im/hHpj )
Cosponsored by the Corzo Center for the Creative Economy at The University of the Arts.

Presentation Topic: The Traits of Success and How to Develop Them.

Description: Steve Welch is in a unique position. As a successful biotech/engineering entrepreneur, analytical genius, angel investor, incubator founder and author, he has made a study out of what it takes to succeed in the startup world. Steve examined the characteristics of success while interviewing and profiling over 100 hyper-achieving businessmen and women for his novel "We Are All Born Entrepreneurs". His findings are remarkable and you should know about them if you want to succeed in your venture.  Join us to learn, be inspired and challenged while putting yourself in the position to attain success.

Register today to reserve your free seat!

Thanks to our friends at the Corzo Center of the University of Arts for providing such an extraordinary venue to showcase our local talent. Video production by Paul Shannon of Real Arts Media. Tickets are free thanks to TicketLeap.

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Entrepreneur Expo Video Interviews Up

Aaron Haydn McLean on May 12th 2010

Video interviews with 2010 Entrepreneur Expo exhibitors are now online!

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Startup Love Triangle – Wednesday, May 19th

Nathan Solomon on May 11th 2010

We’ll have some highly experienced angel investors and others participating in a friendly competitive setting; it should be a great time to learn about the ways that a really well conceived early-stage startup can gain support in getting to next steps of success. -And three enabler-selected local startups will get a very specific look into how they can move ahead.

You can register to attend at:

https://philly-startup-leaders.ticketleap.com/startup-love-triangle—a-philly-startup-leaders-event-05-19-2010-19-0

The Format:
1) Four startup enablers introduce themselves and their models. 5 minutes each. 20 minutes total.
2) Three early stage startups (approved by the enablers as being of interest) present their pitches. 5 minutes each for presentation, and 5 each for questions. 30 minutes total.
3) The enablers then pitch each of the startups regarding how they are the best solution for that startup, and present their advantages over the other models in this particular scenario. 20 minutes per startup, 60 minutes total.
4) Startups each respond, choosing which pitch sounds best for their own needs. 10 minutes. -But no money is exchanged or further support promised; this event is for demonstration purposes only.

Our enablers are:
Ellen Weber -Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures
Gabe Weinberg – Lean Angel/Entrepreneur
Steve Welch – Dreamit Ventures
Gabe Zichermann – Founders Institute

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Next Happy Hour: May 12 at Ladder 15

Blake Jennelle on May 2nd 2010

Join us for the May happy hour!

Happy Hour May 12
6:30-9:30 PM

Ladder 15 Bar & Restaurant
1528 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 964-9755

Click here for a map and location details

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PSL Next: Raise Your Hand to Lead PSL

Blake Jennelle on Apr 27th 2010

Apply for President and All Executive Roles

Philly Startup Leaders is now accepting applications for every key position in the organization.

This includes President, Vice President, Events Director, Technology Director, Marketing Director, Operations Director, Membership Director, Finance Director and new positions we need and don’t have.

We hope you’ll apply.

This not a third world coup (we’d love to be important enough for one of those).

It’s exactly what a thriving movement like ours should do at this moment in its life.
 

Why PSL needs fresh blood

PSL was created from fresh blood in a stale city. It was created by young entrepreneurs crazy enough to believe that they could build their dreams here. That Philly could become the next great startup city.

As a community, we’ve crushed it. No one in Philly feels lonely anymore when they launch a startup. No one struggles to find other entrepreneurs like them. No one wonders whether it’s possible to succeed here.

We have more members, events and internal entrepreneurship than ever before. Over 650 people participate in our email lists, we host over 30 yearly events, and traditions like PSL poker, Starter Stories and PSL Vice Squad were all started and run spontaneously by members.

Now it’s time for more fresh blood to transform this city all over again. It’s time for each of us who has built PSL to make room for the people who will grow this community in ways we could never imagine.
 
Continue Reading »

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