Tag Archives: new business

LaunchHouse Accelerator Fuels Ten Cleveland Tech Startups

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Invites venture capitalists and angel investors to attend Showcase Day

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO – Nov. 20, 2012 – The LaunchHouse Accelerator program, also known as LHX, is set to present ten exciting technology based companies to the investment community at the LHX Showcase Day on Wednesday, November 28, from 4-9pm.

The ten teams preparing to graduate from LHX were exposed to a range of topics including concept validation, revenue modeling and customer acquisition. The integration of customer development, first-class mentors and speakers from around the country helped to take these companies to the next level.

The startups have worked day and caffeine-fuelled nights to prepare for Showcase Day and beyond.  They were selected out of applicants from around the world for the program, which started September 2012.

The companies provide a range of cutting-edge, broad-based technologies including smart phone apps, online marketplaces and adaptable platforms. The ten companies that will be showcased are:

Tagora
iOTOS
Gtail
Quick2Launch
FitVia
Nest
Sliced Apples
HooftyMatch
Duel
Winners Circle Gaming  

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Ohio Secretary of State Husted Releases New Business Filing Figures for October 2012

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Secretary of State Husted Releases New Business Filing Figures for October 2012

COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that 8,001 new entities filed to do business in Ohio in October 2012. These numbersare up compared to October 2011, in which 6,449 new entities filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s office has assisted with 74,735 new business filings to date in 2012 (January-October). This is an increase from the same time period last year, in which there were 69,475 new business filings.

Though the most visible role of the Secretary of State is that of chief elections officer, the office is also the first stop for individuals or companies who want to file and start a business in Ohio. While recognizing these numbers can’t provide a complete picture of Ohio’s jobs climate, they are an important indicator of economic activity that Secretary Husted hopes will add to the discussion of how to improve the state’s overall climate for business.  

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LaunchHouse’s Accelerator Program Targets Small Tech Businesses

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In the past few days, I’ve had an opportunity to talk with David Greenberg, from LaunchHouse, about one of their accelerator programs giving ten teams of tech start-ups $25,000 in seed money.

Now, unless you live near Cleveland, Ohio where LaunchHouse is based, you probably don’t know much about them.

David explains, “LaunchHouse is an Ohio-based seed capital investment fund, like Y-Combinator or Tech Stars, currently offering $25,000.00 investments to 10 technology based entrepreneurial-teams from around the world.”

“What does an accelerator program in Cleveland, OH have to offer an aspiring entrepreneur?  Cleveland is not a Silicon Valley, New York City, or Boston; however, LaunchHouse has played to its geographic strengths and embraced its city’s identity to foster a creative and successful environment for entrepreneurs in Cleveland.”

Below is the official press release on the program. There is a link at the end of this post to the press release on LaunchHouse’s site, and you can find much more information there, or start on their homepage at: www.LaunchHouse.com.

 

LaunchHouse Accelerator Program Takes Off

by Stephanie  

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Using Opensource Software for E-Commerce at www.OhWowThatsCool.com

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I’ve always advocated starting new business ventures with as little investment at risk as possible. It makes sense to let the business pay for itself. I’ve also given all of my consulting clients a copy of Open Office.

Now, I’ve put opensource software to work as an e-commerce platform at www.OhWowThatsCool.com. We’re using Zen Cart on  OhWowThatsCool.com as a storefront that supports our other three websites.

It was a lot of work. I’ve spent six weeks learning the software, adding inventory, and trying to make things look pretty. I’ve also opened it up to other local vendors as a way to help them get more exposure.

If you have a few moments, go check it out. Leave me a comment on the site design. I’m pretty happy with it for a free piece of software :)