Speedgeeking! 5 Demos To Keep Your Career Heading UP @ Interconnect
Yes, I am a self proclaimed Girl Geek. In fact, Geek Girls are very chic!
So for my top 5 Picks at IBM's Interconnect Conference in Las Vegas on Feb 22-26 -- here you will find my top choices! And Yes, I want to go to all of them! How about you!?
You can register here: http://www.ibm.com/cloud-computing/us/en/interconnect/devat/
Top 5 Speedgeeking Demos
- Startup in 15 Minutes Using Bluemix -- Disrupt or be disrupted is the mantra of IT today. Watch this demonstration where we take an idea and turn it in to a prototype for a real business and take it to a pilot stage. We will use a variety of services on Bluemix including Cloudant, dashDB, Twillio, Analytics for Hadoop and Node-Red.
- Real-time Sentiment Analysis of Twitter during Brazil World Cup soccer games - FAMA was implemented for real-time sentiment analysis of streaming Twitter data during all matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This engine included the sentiment about each player, the coach and the teams. We have implemented a Machine Learning-based classifier to identify the polarity of each tweet during the games in real-time using IBM InfoSphere Streams over Softlayer cloud infrastructure. The system provided a report of the most frequent topics, terms and their co-occurrences and the corresponding volume of messages classified with positive, negative or neutral polarity. These results were made available to a major nation-wide television network mobile app and at a ESPN hotsite.
- From Nothing to a Running App in the Cloud with IBM Bluemix DevOps Services - You want to develop something quickly but you don't have days or weeks to set up an environments? No worries, Bluemix DevOps Services is here to help you be more productive. Come to this hands-on demo to see how to create a new app (Node.js), manage source code (Git), or configure automated builds and deployments (continuous delivery) in the cloud. The demo will also introduce DevOps Services capabilities to manage agile product development (Product Backlog, Sprint planning). When cloud computing is so easy with Bluemix DevOps Services, you can focus on what really matters: Develop your next brilliant idea.
- Building a Living Heart - (Just in time for Valentine's Day!!) - Dassault Systemes, an IBM Business Partner and Silver+ sponsor, is building a heart simulator by working with experts in medicine, device manufacturing, academia and regulatory agencies. This is a short demo of the The Living Heart Project announced by the FDA and Dassault Systemes for a Living Heart collaborative research project with crowdsourcing and ability to project IP and share outcomes.
- Let's Build a Start-up In 30 Minutes Using Bluemix and IoT - In this workshop we will show you how to quickly develop a new line of business using the IoT technology provided by Kiwi Wearables and the IBM Bluemix platform. As telco executive is trying to target the under-served market of senior citizens. They don't carry smartphones so they sign very inexpensive contracts that barely generates any profit. The new business idea is to create a plan where they receive a smartphone with the Kiwi app pre-configured, a data plan and an automatic fall detection service. The attendees will build the fall detection service that will be running on IBM Bluemix and will use the services provided by the platform to store and analyze data and automatically notify a caregiver of the fall.
The Best Ideas: Entrepreneur creates WishPop
Yesterday, I had a wonderful meeting with Rob Ross who is a natural techy, developer, and entrepreneur.
His creation -- an app for the iPad inspired by his daughter. WishPop allows kids to create wish lists and thank yous to help their "grown ups" know what to buy them!
And Rob did all the right things:
1. First, he got a first class team. While the team was only 8 people, he had experience from Nickelodean, Disney, National Geographic Kids, Game Designers from Ramps, and Acclaim Entertainment. This drove an incredible design.
2. Second, he knew his "client's" pain points. His own daughter served as a chief requirement giver and her 15 BFFs gave constant and consistent feedback.
3. And finally, he learned and pivoted. He noted that the technical platform that he chose to build on didn't allow flexibility. He has since switched over to a developer platform Xamarin.
I love this app and the story!
The evolution of retail: EyeQ and RosieApp from North America Regionals move on to SmartCamp Global Finals
We're seeing an incredible transformation in retail right now driven by Cloud-Analytics-Mobile-Social (CAMS)! Nowhere was this more evident than at the US Regional SmartCamp Finals recently. The winners chosen by our crack judging team of VCs and startup experts both had something in common: they are transforming the customer experience for retailers and brands.
eyeQ gathers data about in-store customers to help retailers understand how purchase decisions are made at the shelf. How does the customer react to a given product? What role does gender bias play? How much time are they taking to make a purchase decision? eyeQ collects all this information on the Bluemix cloud platform, giving brands better customer insight. (Follow them on Twitter @eyeQinsights)
Likewise, Rosie makes it possible for small and medium-sized brick-and-mortar stores to offer a robust online shopping experience for their customers. They collect data on a shopper's buying habits and then translate that into an enhanced online shopping experience. Their platform brings together the whole retail supply chain to deliver exceptional customer experience. The mobile-based RosieApp lets customers keep control of when their key groceries run out and order and deliver them automatically! A powerful recommendation engine suggests relevant products. (Follow them on Twitter @RosieApp)
Winning their second People's Choice Award, BeehiveID's solution for authenticating online identities clearly has a popular following of supporters and customers. Their solution is a critical service in our increasingly mobile and online lives! (Follow them on Twitter @BeehiveID)
Congrats to all our winners! And we look forward to seeing eyeQ and Rosie at our SmartCamp Global Finals!
Helpful links:
eyeQ -> http://www.eyeqinsights.com/
Rosie -> https://www.rosieapp.com/
BeehiveID -> http://beehiveid.com/
Content transformation and Fire fighting: Two startups make it to Global Finals!
What do two startups, one with a solution in content transformation and the other with a solution in fighting forest fires, have in common? They are both heading to the SmartCamp Global Finals! Stelae Technologies and Insight Robotics won our SmartCamp Asia Pacific Regional!
Stelae Technologies, winner of SmartCamp India, has an automated solution that enables an end-to-end workflow for information management. With at least 70% of cost savings over current solutions, theirs is one platform for multiple file types (PDF, Word, ASCII, etc.) and enables rapid turnaround times for converting files into multiple output formats (XML, S1000d, XBRL, etc.).
So, imagine if you had access to a single platform that enabled you to create, manage, and convert multiple file formats. That would be a huge time and money saver!
And I really love what Insight Robotics, winner of SmartCamp China, is doing to prevent forest fires. Just last year in the United States, over 9.3 million acres of forest were lost to fires! Just think of how many acres globally are lost! Thankfully, Insight Robotics has a solution to address this global problem.
Using thermal imaging sensors and advanced artificial intelligence vision technology, Insight Robotics solution allows fire fighters to quickly locate a forest fire, giving them a jump at extinguishing the flames. So precise is their solution that is can spot fires as small as an area of 2m x 1m within 5km radius!
Congratulations to Stelae Technologies and Insight Robotics! I'll see you both at the SmartCamp Global Finals!
Helpful links:
Stelae Technologies -> http://www.stelae-technologies.com/
Insight Robotics -> http://www.insightrobotics.com/
2 Latin America Start-ups to watch! They Won Their Regional Finals by transforming industries!
Two Latin American startups changing the way brands and bands interact with their fans! These change moments will help to transform an entire industry!
Have you ever stood in line to hear your favorite local band? From my experience, that seems to be a universal thing to have to do to hear your favorite band perform. But what if you could just watch them live from your living room couch? What if you could participate to more personal performance delivered through an app?
That's exactly what Netshow.me does! Winner and Judge's choice of our SmartCamp Latin America Regional Finals, Netshow.me is a live-media channel for online marketing, promotion and performing! Their solution can literally strengthening the relationship between broadcasters and performers with their fan base! Live streaming broadcasts can give bands total freedom and autonomy to perform whenever and wherever they want. Very cool! Follow them on Twitter @Netshowme.
The People's Choice award went to Store Level, a provider of real time in-store execution monitoring using crowd sourcing and mobile technology. Store Level's mobile app allows consumers to execute social media-type missions based on the brands' needs.
In exchange for their work, they can receive cash rewards! Think about the possibilities! Using Store Level, you could actually get paid helping out the brands you enjoy most! Simultaneously, brands can analyze the results directly from their cloud-based dashboard. Talk about a mobile workforce!
Congrats to our two winners, and we look forward to seeing Netshow.me at the SmartCamp Global Finals!
Helpful links:
Netshow.me -> https://netshow.me/
Store Level -> http://storelevel.com/
I love Entrepreneurs! We love Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs are the soul of global innovation!!
And today, start-ups are rocking our world.
According to CB Insight, over $4.6B has been invested by VCs into Cloud Computing over the last year, representing a 113% YOY funding growth! And this year in particular has been incredible.
- Q1 2014 was the biggest funding quarter over the last 5 years
I am on the plane right now heading to San Fran and Silicon Valley to spend time with our most valued natural resource: The Start-Up. And with Silicon Valley is driving 42% of the cloud deals this year, the adventure of listening, helping, and announcing is my favorite part of my role!!
Hope to see you there!
Empowering the consumer: Two Spanish startups shine in Madrid!
When was the last time you got your utility or energy bill and were pleasantly surprised? If you're like me, you dread even opening the bill -- especially in the winter in NY!!!!
Now, imagine getting that same bill and knowing what to expect, no ugly surprises. This is what Green momit, winner of SmartCamp Madrid, offers in their solution!
Green momit can enable significant energy savings in your home. Their solution learns from user behavior, comparing and improving the use of energy control systems, and adapting the devices to the customer's habits. So, not only can it learn from your energy usage habits, but it can also save you money on your energy bill!
How do they do this? Their solution uses Big Data and Analytics to crunch the math for predictable outcomes and actionable plans. They also use Cloud to deliver and securely store all this data. They've got the key ingredients for success!
Already, they have thousands of users and are developing agreements with utilities and other industries to provide this great service! Congratulations to Green momit on their SmartCamp victory! Follow them on Twitter @greenmomit.
The People's Choice Award winner, Weplan, has a mobile solution aimed at informing consumers about mobile phone plans that best fit their needs. Their free mobile app analyzes phone calls, data, and text expenditures directly from your smartphone.
Managing all this information provides Weplan with a complete picture of your telecommunications needs, as well as providing telcos with business intelligence that will allow them to better understand both their customers and their competitors.
Weplan is hoping to be in 30 countries in Europe and Latin America before year end. I'd say they're on the right track to educate consumers and industry, alike! Congratulations to Weplan! Follow them on Twitter @weplanapp.
Helpful links:
Green momit -> http://greenmomit.com/
Weplan -> http://weplan-app.com/en/
Silicon REAL! Why London is HOT and Entrepreneurs are Cool!
Gang; I was just in London and had a great time with the Silicon Real gang!
Take a watch!
Entrepreneur Fire! SmartCamp comes to Dallas, y'all! Visual Content and Conversion WON the Day!
The very first SmartCamp Dallas event was held recently, and there were PHENOMENAL startups competing to be a finalist in the event. Two startups stood out from all the rest: ImageVision and Digital Certainty!
Congratulations to ImageVision, the judges' choice and winner of SmartCamp Dallas! And congratulations to Digital Certainty, the people's choice award winner!
By using image recognition and machine learning technology, ImageVision built a search system that helps web and social media companies monetize their visual content and automate the recognition and tagging of images and videos. Customers can tap into their visual search system using ImageVision's web APIs.
Think of ImageVision as the watchdog for large web companies that deal with tens of thousands of images. ImageVision allows them to monitor and manage all those images and videos!
Digital Certainty's solution designed to increase the conversion rate of your marketing plan. Turning web and mobile visitors into paying customers - faster than anyone else - is their goal!
Lastly, congratulations to the Dallas team! Nice job on your first SmartCamp event!
2014: Year of the Entrepreneur
Have you noticed the new energy around Entrepreneurship?
For instance, Shark Tank is one of the most popular family shows. Families are teaching their kids about the potential and the feasibility of changing the world.
We now have Restaurant Start-up and even Walmart is running a "entrepreneur" event to gather new products for its US stores.
And more women are also joining the trend .... did you know that nearly 20% of angels invested in women-led businesses — the percentage grew more than 40% from the previous year, according to the Center of Venture Research.
Why is this the case?
1. There is more access to capital and it costs less to start a business. With new technologies like cloud, the cost to begin a start up is less, and areas like social enable businesses to market like the large companies for less.
2. There is more "hope" now in the economy that in the past few years. Yes, CNBC says we are in the period of overjoy, there are signs that our economy is improving -- it's a good time to start a business.
3. Corporate America isn't fulfilling the "need to show value" and to "change the world." To attract and retain the best employees, companies should be more proactive and willing to invest in their workers' future. Many believe they have to create their own company to get that culture.
4. Mentoring abounds. I see IBM offering business and technology mentoring. Virgin is focused on mentoring in the UK and the list goes on. Mentoring provides confidence to get started!
5. Support is pervasive. Unlike in the past, support for start-ups exists in networking groups, meetups, and beyond. For example, for women entrepreneurs, some groups are National Association of Women Business Owners, Women's Toolbox, PBWC, WITI, and Women 2.0.
I love this time of Entrepreneur Energy and know 2014 will truly be the Year of the Entrepreneur!