create a gig

GREAT BOOK ABOUT HOW TO GET INTO FASHION

2010-01-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

Teen Vogue Handbook is a great primer on the fashion industry...not just for teens.

BRAND THYSELF SAYS MARK TWAIN

2010-01-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a terrific article from the Woodrow Wilson Center of International Studies about Mark Twain, and his understanding of the importance of branding oneself and having a clear brand voice.

CREATE AND LAUNCH YOUR OWN T-SHIRT STORE TODAY

2010-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

To start off 2010, here is a wonderful empowerment idea....Create your own freestanding t-shirt store, that lives independently of a broader portal (like eBay) FOR FREE.
Great concept.
http://www.pikistore.com

FREE HANDWRITING FONT CREATOR

2009-12-21T16:10:00.001-08:00

http://www.fontcapture.com

FREE LOGO DESIGN

2009-12-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

This very generous person offers a free logo design service!
http://www.freelogodesign.org

GOOGLE SEO STARTER GUIDE

2009-12-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

Very good information from Google on Search Engine Optimization. An excellent briefing on how to gain more web traffic.

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291

PERSONAL BRANDING

2009-12-21T15:03:00.001-08:00

Boston University - Personal Branding Keynote - Round 2

START A HEALTHY FOOD SERVICES COMPANY TO SERVICE LOCAL SCHOOL CAFETERIAS

2009-12-19T21:39:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest needs in US schools is better quality meals.

Check out www.revfoods.com as a case study. Within two years, this small start-up went from serving 500 lunches a day to 5,000 in 30 Bay Area Schools. They have raised two additional rounds of funding totaling $10 million. Good business.

HELP TO SECURE FEDERAL GRANT MONEY

2009-12-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

Seliger + Associates provides comprehensive grant writing, grant source research and related services for public and nonprofit agencies, as well as selected businesses and individuals, throughout the United States. We have been in business since 1993 and have had over 600 clients in 43 states.

Seliger + Associates has written over $220,000,000 in funded grant applications. We differ from other grant writers in that we use a turn-key approach. Our clients only have to give us general direction and sign the completed grant applications. In most cases, we do all the rest, including the program design, needs assessment, narrative, budget and final submission package.

www.Seliger.com

GREAT FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

2009-12-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Keith Reinhard Scholarship of Excellence: Berlin School of Creative Leadership at Steinbeis University

Through the Keith Reinhard Scholarship of Excellence, one multicultural advertising professional will receive full-tuition for the Executive MBA program (a $71,500 value.) The scholarship is named in honor of advertising legend Keith Reinhard, chairman emeritus of DDB Worldwide and class “godfather” at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. Reinhard is one of several creative industry leaders who have donated their time and energy to this unique global program. www.berlin-school.com

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, an applicant must be:

Asian/Asian American or Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic, Black/African American, American Indian/Native American, Multiracial or Multiethnic (e.g., Hispanic and Black)
A mid- to senior-level advertising professional with at least eight years of experience
An employee of a 4A’s member agency
A bachelor’s degree recipient.

To apply for the scholarship, one must submit:

The scholarship application form and essay
The completed Executive MBA in Creative Leadership application form
A current curriculum vitae
A thesis proposal.

The scholarship recipient will be selected based on professional and academic achievements, career objectives and leadership potential in his or her company and industry.

The next Executive MBA in Creative Leadership program begins in February 2010. To apply for the full-tuition scholarship, application materials must be submitted by Thursday, December 24, 2009.

MASTER GOOGLE

2009-12-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

Boost eLearning offers a comprehensive training suite on 15 virtually unknown techniques available within Google. These techniques enable knowledge workers to effectively find high value information, and provide immediate and significant value for everyone.

FIND FREE PDFs and eBOOKS FAST

2009-12-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

PDFGeni is a dedicated pdf search engine for PDF ebooks, sheets, forms and documents.
Nice tool.

CREATE A DIGITAL IMAGE REPAIR / MANAGEMENT SERVICE

2009-12-01T09:05:00.001-08:00

Increasingly, due to the proliferation of social networks, nasty rumors, often false, spread fast.

Create a web based service that can help people to repair a damaged reputation due to a false facebook rumor

This Wall Street Journal article outlines the growing problem.

DELL SOICAL INNOVATION COMPETITION

2009-10-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

Interesting competition sponsored by Dell for college students interested in social entreprenuership and altruism.
http://www.dellsocialinnovationcompetition.com/DSICHomePage

FREE ONLINE WEB RESOURCES

2009-10-04T14:07:00.001-07:00

Here are a range of very interesting, free web tools that could be useful for building your
online presence.
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/multimedia/free-online-learning-tools

TEMPLATES FOR MAPPING YOUR IDEAS

2009-10-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is a great site provides a variety of design templates for mapping and charting your ideas.
Much cooler that the standard powerpoint templates.
http://www.exploratree.org.uk

$4 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO EARN AN ONLINE DEGREE

2009-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage
The Career Stimulus Package, presented by eLearners.com, is an educational campaign, created to support under-employed and under-educated Americans.

Founded along with major college and corporate sponsors from across the country, the campaign is awarding full tuition scholarships and job shadowing opportunities to more than 100 deserving adults.

Apply today! Don't delay.

GOOGLE PROJECT FOR GOOD

2009-09-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.project10tothe100.com

Project 10¹⁰⁰ is a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible.

GOLDMAN SACHS ASSISTANCE WITH WORKPLACE RE-ENTRY

2009-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 2008, the firm launched the Goldman Sachs Returnship Program. The first program of its kind aims to provide individuals re-entering the workforce with an opportunity to sharpen the skills essential for “on-ramping.” Based on the success of the pilot program, we are proud to continue this signature on-ramping initiative by hosting a 2009 Returnship Program.

Mission

The Returnship Program aims to prepare on-rampers for a return to the workforce. Throughout the eight week program, “returnees” are provided with an opportunity to:

Explore a new career path or reacquaint themselves with new market trends.
Gain work experience and strengthen technical skills.
Assess the feasibility of career-life balance while returning to the workforce on a full-time basis

Program Dates and Location:
October 19, 2009 – December 18, 2009
Goldman Sachs Offices
New York, NY

http://www.gs.com/events/gsrp2009/attendee

For more information please contact:
Monica Marquez at 1-917-343-7204 or monica.marquez@gs.com

DELL SOCIAL INNOVATION COMPETITION

2009-09-26T13:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.dellsocialinnovationcompetition.com/

FREE FRIEDMAN AUDIO BOOK FOR BLACKBERRY

2009-09-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here is great resource, audio books for blackberry. Sign up and get a free download of Thomas Friedman's latest book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded"

BECOME A MEMBER OF A SUPER YACHT CREW

2009-08-30T14:28:00.001-07:00

The American Yacht Institute's Yacht Services provides a five-day "Yacht Crew Training Course" for stewards, stewardesses, deckhands, and cooks for the privately owned super yachts. With the help of yacht employment agencies, the school assists students in seeking placement.

http://www.americanyachtinstitute.com

CREATE YOUR OWN MAGAZINE AND CONVERT YOUR DOCUMENTS INTO BEAUTIFUL PUBLICATIONS

2009-08-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Issuu (pronounced 'issue') is a dedicated team who strive for excellence in online publishing.
Its product and services are based on providing instant gratification for people, businesses,
and publishers. In essence, it reduces some of the frustration associated with publishing on
the Internet.

Issuu turns your documents into beautiful online publications. Publish to an audience of millions and get your message across to anyone, anywhere. It only takes a minute and it's free.

http://issuu.com

Go DADDY FOUNDER HAS SOME VERY SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

2009-08-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Go Daddy founder Bob Parsons has started 3 successful businesses, and his blog is very good at explaining the process starting a business.

http://www.bobparsons.me/index.php

CREATE A VENTURE THAT HARNESSES THE EXPERIENCE AND REACH OF RETIRED, BUT STILL ACTIVE SENIORS

2009-08-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

HARVARD ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR SENIORS

Harvard is launching and directing the Advanced Leadership Initiative, a year-long pilot "third stage" educational program aimed at transforming experienced leaders into social entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Harvard's pilot program is the latest step in the flowering of the new "third stage" of university education. It's a growing phenomenon that has been emerging for several years, as the roughly 75 million baby boomers have begun to hit their late fifties and early sixties. The venture takes into account the convergence of a new set of global challenges and the growing population of older energetic leaders who have met goals through a lifetime of work and now have a yearning to serve.

The goal of the Advanced Leadership Fellowship is to prepare experienced leaders to transition from their primary income-earning years to community and public service for their next years of life. The Fellowship is designed to enhance and leverage the skills of already-accomplished leaders for maximum impact on significant social problems, including those that affect health and welfare, children and the environment.

http://advancedleadership.harvard.edu/

CREATE A PREMIUM, "GIFTED YOUTH" PROGRAM

2009-08-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Since 1979, the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University has focused on the needs of students with exceptionally high academic abilities. The CTY community includes very bright, genius level students from all over the world whose talents place them well ahead of their agemates. These students need special attention: greater academic challenges, interaction with intellectual peers, and teaching strategies designed especially for the gifted. CTY offers gifted students, and their families and schools as well, a wide range of programs and services to nurture their intellectual abilities, enhance personal development, and foster better understanding of the needs of talented youth. This is a product that any parent with a bright child will find a way to finance.

http://cty.jhu.edu

OPEN AN ORGANIC - DESIGNER MOBILE FOOD CART BUSINESS

2009-08-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

By simply using a more clean and modern vehicle, a food cart business will attract customers. When on tyhe run, which of these would you rather buy a smoothie or snack from?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cdp/cdp_pan_green_carts.shtml

ANGEL INVESTOR CONFERENCES

2009-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Interesting article about angel investors...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/business/smallbusiness/20edge.html

DEVELOP A FOCUSED OUTPLACEMENT SERVICE

2009-08-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

As demand rises in the $4 billion-a-year outplacement business, providers increasingly offer standardized services, which some workers say offer little value. Businesses anxious to shed former employees quickly and cheaply impose time limits that hamper effectiveness. Few employers track whether outplacement works. There is an opportunity to better serve laid
off workers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125069793645343423.html

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE A GROWTH SECTOR

2009-08-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Defying the Downturn, Charter School Construction Grows in New York
According to the city, 21 new charter schools will open in September, though only two of them will be in new buildings. The state has 141 charter schools in operation, and about 100 are in the city.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/education/19charter.html

COOL INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE MBA CONCEPT

2009-08-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Five premier universities representing four continents worked together to create OneMBA, the truly global executive MBA. You will learn from the faculty and students from all five partner schools.

Asia: Faculty of Business Administration at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Europe: Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)
North America: Tecnológico de Monterrey Graduate School of Business Administration and Leadership (EGADE)
North America: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC)
South America: Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo da Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP)

You will attend classes every four to six weeks at your home university. In addition, you will join OneMBA students from all the schools for four global residencies spread over the 21-month program. Each residency lasts seven or eight days.

http://onemba.org/

AMAZING GOLMAN SACHS BACKED INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO HELP ADVANCE WOMEN IN BUSINESS

2009-08-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

In March 2008, Goldman Sachs announced a significant new initiative that has two goals: increasing the number of underserved women receiving a business and management education and improving the quality and capacity of business and management education around the world. Expanding the entrepreneurial talent and managerial pool in developing and emerging economies – especially among women – is one of the most important means to reducing inequality and ensuring more shared economic growth.

The initiative has six components:

10,000 Women Over Five Years Will Receive a Business and Management Education: Goldman Sachs is supporting partnerships with universities and development organizations that will lead to 10,000 Women receiving a business and management education over five years.

Build Quality and Capacity Through Global Business Sister School Partnerships: To strengthen the quality and capacity of business schools in developing nations, Goldman Sachs is supporting partnerships between business schools and universities in the United States and Europe and business schools in developing and emerging economies.

Establish Mentoring and Post-Graduation Support for Women Entrepreneurs: In addition to funding tuition for business and management education, 10,000 Women is establishing mentoring and networking channels for women.

Work with Leading Research and Women’s Development Organizations: 10,000 Women is working with these organizations to better understand the local challenges these girls and women must overcome so more of them can ultimately realize their potential through access to greater economic opportunity.

Develop Partnerships in the United States to Help Disadvantaged Women: As part of 10,000 Women, Goldman Sachs is establishing parallel programs and partnerships to provide disadvantaged women throughout the United States greater access to business and management education.

Commit the Time and Dedication of Goldman Sachs People: In addition to the firm’s financial commitment, Goldman Sachs is also contributing its most valuable asset – its people – to the success of 10,000 Women.

http://10000women.org

ENTREPRENEURIAL RESOURCE SITE

2009-08-22T10:16:00.001-07:00

Innovation America (IA), isa national 501c3 not for profit, private/public partnership focused on accelerating the growth of the entrepreneurial innovation economy in America.

http://www.innovationamerica.us

ECONOMIST MAGAZINE COMPETITION

2009-08-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Economist is holding two innovation competitions to find the most exciting, game-changing innovations that will have a marked impact in two key areas: new media and energy. Twelve finalists will be invited to present their innovations at Economist Events to an audience of top executives in the field, and will receive complimentary conference registrations (value at up to $2495). The winning presenter will receive exclusive bragging rights and a free subscription to The Economist in the format of his or her choosing. The deadline for entries is September 8, 2009 in YouTube video format.

http://mediaconvergence.economist.com

EFFICIENTLY BOOST TRAFFIC TO YOUR WEBSITE

2009-08-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

This beta product automatically helps you optimize your website's positioning on search engines. A very powerful tool.

Traffic-Bug submits sites to 1,000+ directories, building backlinks while doing so

Traffic-Bug submits your site to over 138 different search engines getting you indexed even faster by Google!

Traffic-Bug submits your Blog Feed or RSS Feed to all the major RSS feed directories automatically.

Traffic-Bug submits bookmarks to 43 of the top Social Bookmarking sites

http://www.traffic-bug.com

CREATE A FREE FLASH WEBSITE

2009-08-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is a terrific site where you can build a flash website for free.

www.wix.com

TAKE ONLINE BRANDS OFFLINE

2009-08-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

Last week in New York City, eBay converted a brick and mortar space on 57th St. into a virtual gallery. The space showcased the broad range of stylish products available on the site. Press and trade only, but a constant stream of people were excited to see the brand in real space and wanted to enter. Many online brands could flourish when reimagined as real, 3D environments.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

CREATE A COSMETICS / WEB BASED BEAUTY CONSULTING FIRM

2009-08-20T07:51:00.001-07:00

http://modiface.com/mfund/

ModiFace, the facial detection and modification company with the world's most advanced library of instant and fully automatic facial transformations and makeover options**, is announcing the launch of the ModiFace MFund program. Modiface will provide resources including up to $20,000 per submission in the form of application service credits, advertising credits, and performance-based cash.

"We are delighted to put our resources behind up to 50 teams of entrepreneurs who want to use our technology to build their own companies" remarked Parham Aarabi, Founder and CEO of ModiFace. "We will provide each team with full access to our technology, provide advertising and public relations support, and provide them site monetization guarantees to help them get their business off the ground, for a total value of $20,000 per team."

Modiface will provide all reasonable technical help during the planning and development phases of the project, including direct access to key Modiface executives and engineers. A maximum of 50 winning ideas will be selected. Only one submission per company or team is allowed.

START YOUR OWN FOUNDATION

2009-08-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Association of Small Foundations (ASF) is a membership organization of over 3,000 foundations. Through our dedication to foundations, we have become the country's largest foundation-support organization.

At ASF small related to staff size, not to assets. The United States is home to over 60,000 small foundations - those led entirely by volunteer boards or operated by just a few staff. These small foundations account for half of the country's total foundation grant dollars, and provide essential financial support in communities across the country.

Vision
ASF enhances the power of small foundation giving by providing the donors, trustees, and staff of member foundations with peer learning opportunities, targeted tools and resources, and a collective voice in and beyond the philanthropic community.

Partner with your church, mosque or synagogue, and create your own foundation.

http://www.smallfoundations.org

TEACH OTHERS HOW TO BUILD PRODUCTS AND TOOLS THAT SERVE YOU

2009-08-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

The iPhone Developer University Program is a free program designed for higher education institutions looking to introduce curriculum for developing iPhone or iPod touch applications. The University Program provides a wealth of development resources, sophisticated tools for testing and debugging, and the ability to share applications within the same development team. Institutions can also submit applications for distribution in the App Store.
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/university.html

OPEN A MOBILE FRESH BAKERY

2009-08-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this terrific cupcake truck on 3rd Avenue, on the east side of Manhattan. A mobile bakery with fresh bread and other baked goods could be a nice venture.
http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2009/06/08/hot-dog-and-ice-cream-trucks-make-tempting-biz-ops-in-recession/
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INTERESTING ENTREPRENEUR CONFERENCE-PITCH RICHARD BRANSON

2009-07-29T08:21:00.001-07:00

http://www.perfectbusiness.com/ThePerfectPitch/?usatoday=1

http://www.perfectbusiness.com

LEARN HOW TO MASTER THE BLACKBERRY, THEN SELL YOUR KNOWLEDGE

2009-07-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

By design, some aspects of BlackBerry are intuitive; however, many valuable features are not obvious and require some means of training. BLACKBERRY TRAINING classes will ensure that you are utilizing all of the tremendous functionality the solution has to offer.

www.blackberrytraining.com

LEARN TO BECOME AN APPLE CERTFIED SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

2009-07-24T16:54:00.001-07:00

During this 3-day Training Camp course for the Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) certification, students verify their understanding of Mac OS X 10.5 core functionality and their ability to configure key services, perform basic troubleshooting, and assist end users with essential Mac OS X capabilities. The Training Camp course is a highly interactive combination of lecture, lab, and exam-focused review sessions that merges accelerated learning principles with custom-developed courseware and instructors to deliver the highest examination passing rates in the industry.
http://www.trainingcamp.com/training/apple/acsp/overview.aspx

CREATE A CHARACTER BASED ICON OF YOURSELF

2009-07-24T16:48:00.001-07:00

http://mywebface.mywebsearch.com/download/index.jhtml

REMARKABLE VIDEO ABOUT THE ACCELERTAING INFO CULTURE WE LIVE IN

2009-07-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

TAKE 5 minutes to watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpEnFwiqdx8

NEW STARTUP CAMP FOR EARLY STAGE ENTREPRENEURS

2009-07-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

TheFunded Founder Institute is a new incubator that trains entrepreneurs on the best practices for building quality high-tech businesses. The Institute has recruited 25 renown start-up CEOs to mentor founders and lead weekly evening training sessions on critical company-building tasks. The Institute has also enlisted world-class partners, such as Microsoft BizSpark, to provide necessary company-building tools and services at below market rates. The inaugural, Summer 2009 semester will be held in Silicon Valley, and participating founders can access the sessions online as well.

http://www.founderinstitute.com

START YOUR OWN ONLINE SCHOOL

2009-07-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

CafeCourses makes it easy to share your knowledge and expertise with a community focused on learning. The site is currently free to both take courses and create courses. Anyone can create a course on CafeCourses. Everyone is an expert in something; capture that information into a course so others can learn from you.

http://cafecourses.com

LEARN GRAPHIC DESIGN TO ENHANCED YOUR BUSINESS

2009-07-24T11:56:00.001-07:00

This is a cool online design diploma course comprised of 12 modules. It provides valuable feedback is given by your tutor on assignments and grades. All software learning comes with step by step tutorial videos. There is no need for prior software knowledge, we educate from the ground up.
http://www.thegraphicdesignschool.com

INTERNAL TWITTER DOCUMENTS REVEAL INTERESTING STRATEGIC INSIGHTS

2009-07-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

In Mid July 2009, a French hacker stole and sent to TechCrunch blog more than 300 confidential Twitter documents. Many of the documents can be found here.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/16/twitters-internal-strategy-laid-bare-to-be-the-pulse-of-the-planet/

LOW COST ACCOMADATION VENTURE

2009-07-21T23:50:00.001-07:00

Terrific site that pairs up people who are looking for a low cost place to stay with people who have an apartment or home to rent. Global.
http://www.airbnb.com

CREATE AND MARKET YOUR OWN BOARD GAMES

2009-07-20T15:09:00.002-07:00

The Game Crafter is a new company that lets you build your own, fully customized, table-top games. Board games, card games — you name it, there’s a good chance these guys can put it together for you, with fully customized art assets and text.

http://www.thegamecrafter.com/home

PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE BANK OWNED HOMES

2009-07-20T14:29:00.001-07:00

CREATE A CONTENT VENTURE BY AGGREATING INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES

2009-07-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

http://distilldigital.com

Interesting style magazine that compiles the best articles from a variety
of international fashion publication. Aggregating / curating content from a variety of sources under a new brand you create could be a low cost way to build a new content business.

INTERESTING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR THAT HAS EVERY "DISADVANTAGED" CATEGORY

2009-07-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

In the last three years Military Hardware has supplied a very broad range of material to the Federal Government: Radio Frequency Amplifiers, Hand tools, specialized and highly complex kits, and a good variety of tactical gear. The Federal Acquisition Regulations require Government agencies to support “disadvantaged” businesses. The full range of “disadvantaged” categories is: minority owned, woman owned, Native-American owned, Veteran owned, service disabled Veteran owned, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8a, HUB-Zone, and labor surplus area. Military Hardware represents every italicized category. There are only two we do not have and we expect approval for the most important, Service-Disabled Veteran owned business, in the very near future. Once SDVOB is in place we will proceed with application for 8a. The stated DOD purchasing goals for 2009 are: 22.24% small, 5% small disadvantaged, 5% woman owned, 3% HUB-Zone, and 3% service disabled Veteran. Typically competitors have one or two of these classifications, thereby requiring purchasing entities to use multiple vendors to reach the mandated goals. Through Military Hardware, each dollar spent gives the purchaser credit for every category, which makes compliance, and the buyer’s job, much easier! There really is not another company like us. In ccr.gov you can search for NAICS 316999 (holsters) and check boxes for Veteran owned, SDB, and HUB-zone. You’ll get 1 response: Military Hardware llc.

http://www.militaryhardware.us/store/agora.cgi

INTERESTING IDEA: MASTERCARD KILLER APP

2009-07-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

MasterCard Worldwide today announced the availability of the MasterCard^® Priceless Picks iPhone application which gives consumers a location-based utility to find and share their favorite picks with friends and family. Leveraging the iPhone’s GPS technology, users can instantly find shopping deals, entertainment options, dining venues and special experiences just steps away from where they are or where they’re traveling to, for business or for pleasure. Priceless Picks is available for free download at the iPhone App Store or at:
http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewSoftware%253Fid%253D322850940%2526mt%253D8

Unique features of the MasterCard Priceless Picks app include:

User-generated content and partner generated offers
Priceless Picks separated into five categories including Priceless, Dining, Shopping, Entertainment and Other
Pinpoints Priceless Picks in your selected location
Add your own Priceless Pick by simply inputting the name, description and location along with your first name and a Priceless Pick category
“Send to a Friend” allows you to share your Priceless Picks with others via emai

GO WHERE THE GROWTH IS

2009-07-20T08:57:00.001-07:00

In a recent New York Times article, jobs lost and gained during recession chart was very enlightening. Consider creating opportunities in the growth sectors:

Home Health Care Services
Oil and Gas Exploration
Ambulatory Health Care Services
Educational Services
Health Care
Outpatient Care Centers
Nursing Care

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/weekinreview/19uchitelle.html

CREATE A BUSINESS USING A NEW DESIGN OF AN OLD PRODUCT

2009-07-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

http://lovelypackage.com

Lovely Package is the leading source for the very best that package design has to offer. So many great, new venture ideas that are driven by packaging and "modernizing" the look and feel of traditional, staid products...

AFFORDABLE, QUALITY DAY CARE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY

2009-07-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.parade.com/news/2009/07/19-the-new-push-for-quality-child-care.html

Lack of affordable day-care for young children is now a crisis. The costs have risen 11% in the last two years—varies widely, depending on such factors as location, type of care, and the age of the child. Nationwide, the cost ranges from $3380 to $10,787 for one preschooler, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies. Full-time care for one infant at a center can be as much as $15,895 a year. A full-time babysitter may cost from $400 to $1000 a week, depending on where you live. Great article in Parade, supporting this thesis.

CREATE YOUR OWN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE / VIRTUAL TOWN FOR FREE

2009-07-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Elgg, started in 2004, is an open source social engine which powers all kinds of social environments - from education and business to football and politics. If you are looking for a professional social intranet or want to run a social network site for your small business, Elgg is a great choice. It was voted the best open source social networking platform 2008 by Infoworld magazine.

http://elgg.org

LEARN CHINESE THEN TEACH OTHERS FOR A FEE

2009-07-19T12:03:00.001-07:00

Learn Chinese using your mobile phone and simple, yet advanced online group learning exercises....then start a business that teaches others the language.
http://chinesepod.com

WEB 2.0 BACKPACK: COOL APPS FOR STUDENTS

2009-07-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/web_20_backpack_web_apps_for_students.php

EXCELLENT RESOURCE BLOG FOR STUDENTS - A MUST READ

2009-07-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.core77.com/hack2school

LAUNCH A DORM ROOM INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE ON CAMPUS

2009-07-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

A service that helps students develop a more comfortable, stylish and cost effective dorm room space would be very popular. Here is free floor plan and 3D pre-visualization software to appear more professional.
http://www.sweethome3d.eu

FREE ADVANCED SOFTWARE FROM MICROSOFT

2009-07-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Most people don't realize that big software companies have research labs around the world developing new ideas....and that they often share some of their new ideas as open source downloads. Here are a few really cool applications in Miicrosoft's research labs, free.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/about/feature/downloads.aspx

OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE TOOLS TO CREATE YOUR OWN GADGETS

2009-07-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Bug Labs is a new kind of technology company, enabling a new generation of engineers to tap their creativity and build any type of device they want, without having to solder, learn solid state electronics, or go to China. Bug Labs envisions a future where CE stands for Community Electronics, the term “mashups” applies equally to hardware as it does to Web services, and entrepreneurs can appeal to numerous markets by inventing a range of new devices.

BUG gives you all the tools you need to build your dream gadget -- a collection of electronic modules you can easily snap together and program to make any device you want. Best of all, it's open source.

http://buglabs.net

http://bugblogger.com

SITE THAT TRACKS COUPON OFFERS

2009-07-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

This site tracks coupons and cost savings offers. Nice idea.

http://www.enbargain.com

NEW WEB STARTUPS POSTED DAILY

2009-07-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

KillerStartups.com is a user driven internet startups community. Entrepreneurs, investors, and bloggers are staying informed on up-and-coming internet startups using our blog platform, where internet entrepreneurs submit their startup to see what others think about it. Each day it reviews 15 new web startups and the community votes on which are most compelling.

http://www.killerstartups.com

FREE WORLD CLASS DESIGN SCHOOL

2009-07-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Founded by legendary designer Bruce Mau, The Institute without Boundaries at George Brown College in Toronto is a center of research and learning focused on design innovation and inter-professional collaboration.

The Institute comprises of a post-graduate program that teaches design collaboration to professionals from diverse backgrounds; a research division, which conducts applied research on global issues; and a think tank, which offers design consultation to clients. Each year it accepts 20 students to work on a range of projects and learn cutting edge design techniques.

http://www.institutewithoutboundaries.com

REPACKAGE FREE, FAMOUS BOOKS INTO "NEW" PRODUCTS

2009-07-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Sales of graphic novels, too, have grown by double digits in recent years. So it makes sense that a convergence is under way, as graphic novels take up stories from the Bible, often in startling ways. In the last year, several major religious and secular publishing houses have announced or released manga religious stories. Last year, the Bible, written as Japanese Mange Graphic Novel, With a Samurai Stranger Called Christ hit the market with critical acclaim.

Repackaging and selling famous, public domain books (like Alice in Wonderland) in new ways is an interesting business model.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INVESTS $1 BILLION EACH YEAR ON SMALL BUSINESSES

2009-07-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

The US Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR and STTR programs fund a billion dollars each year in early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies -- projects that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications.

The SBIR Program provides up to $850,000 in early-stage R&D funding directly to small technology companies (or individual entrepreneurs who form a company).
The STTR Program provides up to $850,000 in early-stage R&D funding directly to small companies working cooperatively with researchers at universities and other research institutions.

Small companies retain the intellectual property rights to technologies they develop under these programs.
Funding is awarded competitively, but the process is streamlined and user-friendly.

http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir

FANTASTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCE

2009-07-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States and is the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship.

It has an endowment of nearly $2.1 billion. It spend about $90 million per year on grants, programs, and related expenses.

The Kauffman Foundation is working to further understand the phenomenon of entrepreneurship, to advance entrepreneurship education and training efforts, to promote entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and to better facilitate the commercialization of new technologies by entrepreneurs and others, which have great promise for improving the economic welfare of our nation.

http://www.kauffman.org

LEARN HOW TO BECOME AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST

2009-07-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Pioneers in Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) in the UK, since 2003, The Center for Investigative Journalism has run an annual CIJ summer school, providing cutting-edge training in technical and theoretical skills, married to expertise and insight from the highest levels of investigative journalism.

We also offer practice-based one-off workshops in CAR to industry, higher education, and NGOs. These cover; advanced internet research, Freedom of Information theory and practice, and the application of spreadsheet, database and mapping technologies toward supporting and inspiring ideas for investigative research.

http://www.tcij.org

WIN $100,000 FROM AMAZON TO START YOUR WEB VENTURE

2009-07-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com is looking for the most promising start-ups that can grow into significant, meaningful, and lasting companies that leverage AWS to build its infrastructure and business.

Start-ups in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Israel are encouraged to apply for a chance to win $50,000 in cash, $50,000 in AWS credits, mentoring sessions from AWS technical experts, and AWS Premium Support Gold for one year.

Deadline is AUGUST 26, 2009

http://aws.amazon.com/startupchallenge/

Amazon Web Services provides all the -commerce services and back-office management needed to open your own webstore.
http://aws.amazon.com/what-is-aws/

ALL BRANDS TAKE NOTICE...CREATE TOOLS THAT HELP OTHERS CREATE PRODUCTS FOR YOU

2009-07-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

START A MODERN NURSERY SCHOOL

2009-07-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

As a sideline to his fashion career, A.P.C. designer Jean Touitou opened a new Paris preschool.

Spend a few minutes at Ateliers de la Petite Enfance, a new nursery school two blocks from Paris’s Luxembourg Garden, and you might not initially notice anything out of the ordinary. In one corner, a two-year-old boy slathers orange fingerpaint on just about everything except the blank sheet of paper he’s been given, while at a nearby table, another boy kneads a block of clay into an amorphous blob that he triumphantly declares is a birthday cake. Gradually, however, a discerning eye will spot a few unmistakable signs of pre-K fabulousness. The blue cotton smocks, with their tiny front pockets, look very A.P.C., the label known for low-key Parisian cool; the kiddie-size chairs are by Alvar Aalto. The school’s logo is a multicolored tree created by fashion designer Jessica Ogden, who also serves as a part-time art teacher.

(courtesy W Magazine)

LEARN DESIGN IN ITALY

2009-07-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Architect Marc DiDomenico, the 2009 President of the American Institute of Architects Continental Europe, is overseeing The Florence Institute of Design International, a brand new "boutique" design school in Florence, Italy. Just opened in the historic center of Florence, a new international design school will welcome students from all over the world to commence the first full session in January. The Florence Institute of Design International offers a new type of boutique academics focused entirely on international students providing Interior Design, Graphic Design and Architecture programs with both master and semester abroad options available, as announced by Founder and Creative Director, Architect Marc DiDomenico.

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS

2009-07-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.fabrica.it

Fabrica is the Benetton Group's communication research centre, was set up in 1994. The fruit of the Group’s cultural legacy, is based in Treviso, Italy in a complex restored and enlarged by Tadao Ando.

Fabrica is not a school, advertising agency or university. It is an applied creativity laboratory, a talent incubator, a studio of sorts in which young, modern artists come from all over the world to develop innovative projects and explore new directions in myriad avenues of communication, from design, music and film to photography, publishing and the Internet.

The school offers free one year residencies for those accepted. Unfortunately, you must be 25 or under to be considered...

GO GLOBAL AS REAL ESTATE PRICES WORLDWIDE ARE DEPRESSED

2009-07-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

France v. Los Angeles – $500,000
Half a million dollars in France will get you five-bedrooms, or one quarter, of a nineteenth century chateau. This chateau is encircled with a rushing river, lush landscape, gardens, sauna, and swimming pool.

In the concrete jungle suburb of Los Angeles, Downey, your half a mil will buy this lovely four bedroom two-point-five bathroom home. It is encircled with growing weeds, a dead tree, and your own garden hose.

Check out these other interesting price comparisons:
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22297/49153-colossal-castle-humble-home--price

LEARN WEB DESIGN FROM HOME

2009-07-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Learn how to build e-commerce websites from home.
http://bestwebdesignschools.com/

CREATE AN EMAIL MAGAZINE

2009-07-18T15:12:00.001-07:00

Design great looking emails using your own tools, or create templates and let your readers/subscribers log in and build their own.
http://www.campaignmonitor.com/

BECOME AN ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER

2009-07-18T15:05:00.001-07:00

Omnisio lets you select clips from videos you find on YouTube and other video sites, and easily post them on your profile page or blog.

With Omnisio you make and share your own shows by assembling clips from different videos. Are you a sports fan and think you can do better than SportsCenter? Create your own sports show by combining the best sports highlights you can find. Are you a fashion guru? Create a fashion show with clips showing the latest fasions worn by celebrities - you can even add your own commentary.

http://www.omnisio.com/

INTERESTING VENTURE IDEA : SCHOOL OF LIFE

2009-07-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Based in a small shop in Central London, The School of Life is a new social enterprise offering good ideas for everyday living. It offers a variety of programmes and services concerned with how to live wisely and well.

Have you had one of those mornings lately in which you got up and wondered why you were doing a job that exhausted you or that you didn’t really enjoy? Or found yourself spending the day running against the clock, too stressed to eat properly but not actually creatively challenged? Do you waste time brooding over unresolved arguments or feeling guilty for not being kinder to those in need? Do you notice your mind flitting unsatisfactorily from what the government should be doing about the world’s financial situation to what you are going to do with your weekend?

The School of Life is a place to step back and think intelligently about these and other common concerns. You will not be cornered by any dogma, but directed towards a variety of ideas - from philosophy to literature, psychology to the visual arts – that tickle, exercise and expand your mind. You’ll meet other curious, sociable and open-minded people in an atmosphere of exploration and enjoyment.

http://www.theschooloflife.com

ANNUAL STARTUP SCHOOL AT STANFORD

2009-07-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

http://startupschool.org/

Startup school is an annual free conference for hackers interested in startups. This year notable speakers included Mike Arrington, Marc Andreessen, Jeff Bezos and Paul Graham. Really impressive speakers and web entrepreneurs

FREE STOCK PHOTO LIBRARIES

2009-07-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Great resource: free stock photo libraries for your website or business
http://fffound.com/

FREE EDUCATION FILES FOR iPHONE

2009-07-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

iTunes U, part of the iTunes Store, is possibly the world’s greatest collection of free educational media available to students, teachers, and lifelong learners. With over 175,000 educational audio and video files available, iTunes U* has quickly become the engine for the mobile learning movement. It puts the power of the iTunes Store in the hands of qualifying universities and cultural institutions, so they can distribute their educational media to their students or to the world.

Watch the video to learn how to access this content...

http://www.apple.com/education/mobile-learning/

LEARN HOW TO CREATE iPHONE APP FOR FREE FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY

2009-07-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Free videos of Stanford's wildly popular course on creating applications for the iPhone and iPod touch have now been downloaded a remarkable million times from Stanford's site on iTunes U in the iTunes Store since the course began on April 1.

The way the downloads have taken off like a rocket makes the iPhone Application Programming videos the fastest to reach the 1 million milestone in the history of iTunes U, which hosts offerings from hundreds of colleges and universities around the world.

http://itunes.stanford.edu/

PROFIT WHILE HELPING

2009-07-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.undp.org/gimlaunch/

The first report of United Nations Development Program’s Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative and the first such one with such depth and local knowledge, Creating Value for All showcases 50 studies by researchers predominantly from developing countries. These case studies demonstrate the successful pursuit of both revenues and social impact by local and international small- and medium-sized companies, as well as multinational corporations. Best study we've seen on the exciting subject of micro-finance and opportunity to "do well and do good".

The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad of the University of Michigan is the primary text on the subject.

REVERSE MENTORING IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR RECENT GRADUATES TO START A NEW BUSINESS

2009-07-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

When General Electric head Jack Welch realized that GE was falling far behind other companies in its use of the internet as a business tool, he knew he needed help. But who could he ask? Welch himself rarely surfed the Web, finding it overwhelming, but he realized that understanding and embracing online technology was critical to GE's long-term success.

To catch up, Welch instituted a "reverse mentoring" program at GE. He required more than 500 of his top executives to find a younger, tech-savvy "Web mentor" to teach them how to use the web and understand e-business. Following Welch's lead, over the past few years, a growing number of organizations, from Proctor and Gamble to the Seattle Public Schools, have implemented reverse mentoring programs to help them understand technology, business trends, and pop culture.

WORLD CLASS, FREE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP

2009-07-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Founded in 1966 in Harlem, the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) is a private non-profit organization that is committed to assisting men and women with the drive to become successful entrepreneurs. WIBO’s mission is to enable small business owners and budding entrepreneurs from under-served communities to obtain financial success by starting, operating, and building successful businesses that develop economic power, provide jobs and improve communities.

In 43 years, WIBO has developed over 15,000 entrepreneurs resulting in the creation of 31,500 jobs. Over 54% of WIBO graduates are in business after 5 years, compared to the national average of 20%.

The 16-week workshop and consulting services are equivalent to a mini MBA program. Due to private support, the workshop is free and the cost for materials is $199 with further discounts for individuals with incomes under $50,000. The market value of the workshop is $4000. All
other services are free.

http://www.wibo.org/

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH VETERANS TO LAUNCH NEW BUSINESSES

2009-07-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

The US Department of Veteran Affairs has partnered with the Small Business Association to offer veterans small business loans.
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/smbus.htm

There are also special opportunities for women veternas as well...
http://www1.va.gov/WOMENVET/

MCKINSEY HAS A VERY INFORMATIVE FREE ONLINE JOURNAL

2009-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

The highly respected management consulting firm, McKinsey and Co has a free online magazine that offers lots of insight and perspective on a broad range of business issues.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com

CREATE A HIPSTER LAUNDRYMAT

2009-07-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Why are the typical laundrymats so ugly and lacking style? Create a cool laundrymat that has some lifestyle energy.

TRAVEL CHEAP AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES

2009-07-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

For 50 years, LET'S GO have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, they spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.

http://www.letsgo.com

RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

2009-07-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is a great resource for anyone contemplating a run for any public office. Even though this is a democratic site, the ideas are useful regardless of political persuasion. (if a wrestler can do it, so can you.)

http://www.runforoffice.org/resources

FORD IS OFFERING SMALL BUSINESSES A VEHICLE JUST FOR THEM

2009-07-05T15:59:00.001-07:00

This summer, Ford will be introducing its Transit Connect small business van to the US market. Hugely popular around the world, the van is a perfect fit for companies looking for something not as big as a full sized van, but carries more than a mini-van. It gets good fuel efficiency and is very reliable. Ford dealerships can also help arrange customized exterior skins (creating a mobile billbooard for your small business). The truck also has GPS, and an in-dash computer with wireless keyboard and printer. wonderful product. An electric version of the van will be available in 2010. Nice to see someone in Detroit is developing products that are part of a bigger solution.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect/

EXCELLENT INSPIRATIONAL BOOK FOR REBOOTING YOUR LIFE

2009-07-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

This wonderful book is full of great ideas about how to become a content producer and reorient your perspective about how you travel through the world.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Explorer-World-Portable/dp/0399534601

HYPER-PROGRESSIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL SCHOOL

2009-07-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

The KaosPilot: School of New Business & Social Innovation is a very progressive school located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which is a part of the KaosPilots INternational school chain. KaosPilot is a 3 year long education for young entrepreneurs from 21 to 31 years, in the fields of new business design, marketing, creative design and social innovation. The program focuses on personal development, value-based entrepreneruship, creativity and unorthodox approaches to the problems and challenges in business, society and organizations. Really cool.

http://www.kaospilot.dk

VIRTUAL WORKER ROLE MODEL

2009-07-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Mullenweg, 25, is the founder of Automattic, the company behind the open-source blogging tool WordPress and a handful of other software projects. WordPress.com powers 12 million blogs, including those of The New York Times, which invested in Mullenweg's company last year. H e spends his days either traveling the world to meet WordPress fanatics or holed up in his home office, where he often blasts Jay-Z and writes software code into the wee hours. The 40 employees all work from home too.
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090601/the-way-i-work-matt-mullenweg.html

MASS PRODUCTION OF START-UPS? CHECK OUT Y COMBINATOR

2009-07-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Paul Graham's business school and investment fund, Y Combinator, has launched 145 companies -- for an average of $25,000 each. Y Combinator, is a hybrid venture capital fund and business school that invests in, advises, and, literally, feeds 40 or so early-stage businesses a year. Investments are small -- less than $25,000 per company -- but Graham supplements the money with smart advice, introductions to later-stage investors, technical help, and a sense of community. The model has produced many promising companies, a few sizable acquisitions, and copycat funds in cities across the country and around the world.
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090601/the-start-up-guru-y-combinators-paul-graham.html

http://ycombinator.com/