This event is a celebration of the entrepreneur; the spirit, the passion and of course the idea. We aim to put on display the creative talent of Philadelphia across a broad range of disciplines. Entrepreneurs are invited to demonstrate their projects in a trade-show setting. Best of all, The Entrepreneur Expo is free and open to the public.

Event Details
Thursday April 2, 2009
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
University City Science Center
3711 Market Street, Philadelphia

Come one, come all! We expect students, educators, investors, leaders in the political, legal, and business communities, members of the media and the general public to be in attendance. And, most importantly we look forward to seeing YOU.

Information for both guests and entrepreneurs is available at: http://expo.phillystartupleaders.org. Register for tickets early as limited spots remain.

This is the perfect venue for Philly area entrepreneurs to showcase their new business concepts and learn about what their fellow colleagues are inventing and taking to market,” said Doug Bellenger, COO at PhindMe Mobile. “It is also a great opportunity for the press and community to experience, first hand, a thriving startup and entrepreneurial environment in Philadelphia.”

“The Credo of Philly Startup Leaders is the creation and execution of novel business concepts by using personal initiative, ingenuity and risk tolerance of startup entrepreneurs. The result is the kind of robust new business activity for the region, which will enable it to become one of the most resilient in these times,” said Steve Goodman, Senior Partner at Morgan Lewis. “It is exciting to see the way in which PSL is infusing this exciting event with its great energy and creativity.

The UFL or United Football League will host it’s first season in 2009 and already seems more promising and ready for the long haul than leagues of the past. Lead by commissioner Michael Huyghue, they’re doing things differently from the get-go:

Starting small, starting smart:

• Television broadcast partnership with Versus
• Strong web presence with steady stream of communication
• 6 week season (October – November)
• Similar rule-set as the NFL
• 4 initial teams – Orlando, Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco
• 2 more teams in 2010 – Monterrey Mexico, Salt Lake City
• $12-20 million player salary cap per team
• $3 million staff salary cap per team
• $30 million will get you half ownership of a team
• Another $30 million ownership steak will be retained by the league
• Shares of team ownership may be sold to the public to raise another $60 million

That last bullet point is the most intriguing. It means that Joe the plumber can become Joe the UFL franchise owner.

Even with a solid foundation, no new venture is without challenges:

• Limited player talent
• Plans to seek out troubled players such as Michael Vick and Adam “Pacman” Jones
• Limited coaching talent; Jim Fassel, Ted Cottrell, Jim Haslett and Dennis Green have been hired
• Potential lack of investor funding
• Economic timing

As with all startups, be they bleeding edge web apps or professional sports leagues, execution matters above all else. The UFL has a solid plan, a smart leadership team and manageable obstacles. Only time will tell how far the league will go and how successful it will be.

I’m a huge sports fan and someone who can never get enough football so I’ve got the UFL’s back. From both a business and entertainment perspective I look forward to seeing the development, growth and performance of this new league on and off the field. Many questions remain, but one stands out and keeps me thinking: Would I invest?

Would you?

So here’s one from back when the Eagles were in the Super Bowl and Outkast liked the waaaaay you move:

XYZ is a hybrid social network and online marketplace catering to the needs of two distinct audiences: small businesses and students. Business owner post projects for talented students to browse details and request the assignment. Students create portfolios showcasing their talents, allowing small businesses to also offer assignments direct to qualified students.

For college students, a part-time job or project based role can make all the difference during financially tight college years as they develop their resumes. A small amount of income can add security and stability to a student’s financial position. Unfortunately in today’s economy, just finding that part-time job can be a very daunting task. Often, students resort to working inconvenient hours between classes at their local Starbucks or CVS. These positions offer little intellectual stimulation, have no relation to the student’s course of study and provide few opportunities for professional growth. Many student workers are unsatisfied with their hours and are often disappointed with a minimum wage paycheck. For those on the doorstep of graduation, finding a job will be harder than ever. Due to recent layoffs, the market is saturated with experienced professionals ready to accept positions with lower salaries that would have normally gone to students in entry-level roles.

In addition to flooding the market, layoffs have also encouraged professionals to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. During times of economic turmoil, victims of downsizing are forced into a career change and often begin sole proprietorships as consultants in their respective industries. For many, starting a business is the only way to take control their financial security and future. This is especially true during recessions. The growing number of self-employed professionals has created a demand for affordable support services that small businesses need. Such necessities include branding, marketing collateral and of course, a website. Agencies charge high prices for these services, forcing startups to deplete resources that could otherwise be used to hire employees, create more products or fund an advertising campaign.

Many of the services required by small businesses and startups can be handled via online relationships. XYZ is a catalyst for these relationships, serving as both an online marketplace and a social network. Talented students will be able to create Profile Pages featuring portfolios boasting graphic design projects, web development experience and other expertise from writing to accounting. These pages would showcase the students’ unique skill set and allow for feedback from previous employers who have hired them for projects through the site. Business owners would also be able to get in on the action by creating Project Pages. These pages would define an opportunity similar to a job board posting but with only temporary, project-based roles. Registering for the site and filling out Profile and Project Pages would foster mutually beneficial relationships for students and business owners by providing access to affordable skilled labor and the opportunity for valuable part-time employment. Through XYZ, students would add relevant projects to their resume in their field of study or interest. Businesses would also benefit by avoiding high agency costs and working with students.

XYZ is poised to compete with other online job sites and service marketplaces but initially will be positioned within its own niche, targeting skilled students. Several portals already exist which help partner skilled professionals with businesses needing support in various areas. These include Elance, guru.com, RentACoder and oDesk. Other competitors include websites like Monster and CareerBuilder, which are geared toward long-term projects and full-time roles. XYZ focuses on short-term projects, which could take half an hour to 14 days to complete. Remaining aggressive and viable will not be an easy task, but will be accomplished through innovation and improvement on current models. XYZ will stand above the competition in areas of website usability, project review processes, relationship building tools, interaction/communication as well as stickiness, viral reach and APIs with other social media.

Entering the market will entail extensive setup work as XYZ’s site is developed and launched in order to support all of the features necessary to operate the business. The first step is to recruit a team of one to two ambitious web developers who can build the XYZ website. After launch, the management team will focus on getting widespread adoption. Social media and a campus ambassador (reseller) program will be the primary means used to target the student audience. Initially, traditional internet marketing will be used to reach businesses. The website will make revenue by handling the entire relationship between business and student, including the financial transaction. This feature will transfer funds using escrow after completion of the project. XYZ will charge a commission on that transaction, deducting from the total payment by the business to the student. XYZ may also be supplemented by advertising placement on the site. As XYZ grows, a premium package will be added with either a recurring monthly fee or a yearly fee, appealing to frequent users in exchange for unlimited project posts. Students would only receive payment for a project upon successful completion, lessening the risk a business would face while operating via an online relationship.

Initially, projects like these would be managed via the XYZ site:

• Graphic design (logo, letterhead, newsletter)
• Web design (website, blog)
• Accounting (book keeping, payroll)
• Admin support (data entry, email management)
• Writing (proofreading, press releases)

There are several challenges when starting a “freelancer for hire” website. Most competitors position themselves to accept accounts from anywhere in the world. This is an approach XYZ will avoid in an effort to support our homeland economy. Restricting users to the U.S. will also help reduce the risk of a bidding war, as international workers are often able to charge less for projects. Eventually, XYZ may expand outside of an all-student worker base, but never outside of the U.S. Another concern is the posting of unrealistic projects, including too little pay for a work-intensive proposal. To combat this, XYZ will include a feature where students are able to provide reviews on both the project request and the business relationship they had with the requester. This feature will also help establish a community of users; businesses and students alike, ensuring projects are completed in a timely and professional manner by each party involved.

As the XYZ brand grows, additional features will allow collaboration between multiple student workers, enabling them to work together to complete a project and receive payment as a group. To further describe this element of XYZ, a potential scenario is detailed here. A plumber in Florida is re-creating his image and needs a website and branding to support his business. He logs on to XYZ site and posts a project request with an offer of $1000 for the successful completion of the work. His $1000 then enters escrow and is held until the project is finished. In this scenario, a graphic designer from Connecticut and a web developer from Texas could apply separately for the project, yet collaborate using XYZ as a means of communication during the project lifecycle thus helping determine payment and successfully meet deadlines. After completion, the student team would receive payment from escrow and enter the project review process.

In business deals, the two most important elements are value and relationships. XYZ aims to provide access to both via an innovative portal that functions as a talent marketplace and a social network.

Possible Differentiators

• Live Chat
• Crowd Sourcing
• Project Wall (think Facebook wall)
• Student Feedback
• Project Requester Feedback
• Independent 3rd Party Feedback
• Campus Ambassadors

By the Numbers

• 17.1 million undergraduates and 3.4 million students in graduate or professional schools (U.S. Census 2006) http://is.gd/hW6o
• 25 million businesses operating in the United States. Of these, more than 19 million are small businesses owned by one person. (Wikipedia and U.S. Census Bureau) http://is.gd/hWam
• 413,974 professionals laid off and counting since November 1st, 2008. And, these are only 500 public companies. (Forbes) http://is.gd/bod6
• Nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply in January (-598,000) and the unemployment rate rose from 7.2 to 7.6 percent. Payroll employment has declined by 3.6 million since December 2007; about one-half of this decline occurred in the past 3 months. (U.S. Department of Labor) http://is.gd/6Biu

Any comments with feedback would be welcomed with open arms.

I know I will. I’ve got this neat blog here to share what I’m thinking. Some ideas I’ll run with, some I’ll talk up and some may never even make it past a post on a website. Regardless of their path, my ideas won’t be afraid to be out in the open. I hope that some may be just good enough that they can make it into your thoughts and go on to grow into something great.

An entrepreneur who doesn’t share their ideas is like a singer who won’t get on stage and perform.

We’re notorious for asking anyone from a venture capitalist to a friend we grab a beer with to sign a non-disclosure agreement. It’s silly, I don’t buy it. The only thing I’m worried about has nothing to do with someone stealing my idea. I’m more fearful that I won’t get the appropriate feedback, a deserving kick in the ass or the much needed introduction to the partner who will help me get my idea launched.

Next time you think about hiding your idea, think about all the great ideas that have come before yours. The telephone, automobile, printing press, the computer screen you’re staring at are all good examples. These were all ideas at one point in time. I guarantee that all the great inventors and thinkers that came before you didn’t go it alone and had to share their idea to achieve success. My advice? Talk about your ideas to anyone who will listen.

Stay tuned for some of mine.

Only in the last month have I begun to realize the value of Twitter and the caliber of connections one can develop using this micro-blogging service. I know enough about communication, online or not, to understand that communicating creates relationships and at the core of every relationship is value. Successful relationships are mutually beneficial as well as rewarding and that’s exactly what I mention when someone asks me about starting a Twitter account. It’s also what I try to exemplify when tweeting myself.

My Twitter experience has been brief but meaningful thus far, I even named this blog after my Twitter account. I haven’t stopped learning and when I set out on this journey, I didn’t go it alone. The following is a list of tips and tools I’ve collected which helped me get started, get smarter and get valuable:

1. 17 Ways You Can Use Twitter: A Guide for Beginners, Marketers and Business Owners – A good description of what Twitter is and how it can be used.
2. 10 Traits of Highly Effective Twitter Users – Be the best twitterer you can be.
3. 10 Ways to Increase Your Twitter Followers – Expand your reach with these tips.
4. 10 Ways to Decrease Your Twitter Followers -  A funny “don’ts” list which can alienate and anger your followers.
5. How Twitter Can Make You A Better (and Happier) Person – Must read by Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com.
6. 5 Steps to Going Viral on Twitter – Get people to talk about you.
7. 20 Most Retweeted Words and Phrases – Use these words in your tweets to increase your chance of getting retweeted.
8. 7 Reasons Why Users Think Twitter Will Go Mainstream – Why Twitter is poised to enter your life sooner than later.
9. Twitter Tools for Community and Communications Professionals – The holy grail of available Twitter tools and trends.
10. You Know You’re Addicted to Twitter When – Last but not least, a fun read for Twitter veterans.

What are some of your favorite Twitter resources? Leave a comment and catch me on Twitter.

There are 3 types of people which DreamIt works with to build winning startup teams; Innovators, Strategists and Hackers. Innovators are idea people, always thinking up the next big thing and Strategists are classified as anyone with business talent. Because most applicants have web based ideas, Hackers, in other words, great programmers are also vital. With their powers combined, these teams immerse themselves in an educational, super valuable 3 month experience. During this span of time, through hard work and mentorship they are able to take their business idea from dream to reality.

I applied as a Strategist with the hopes that someone with better ideas than mine will need some marketing or business strategy consultation. Besides, before I run with my own project I want to make sure I can support someone with thiers. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that I’ll share here in the near future. For now, I’ll hang out, wait for a reply from DreamIt and endure the nagging phone calls from my mother – “have you found a real job yet?” “No mom, I’m going to stick with what I’m passionate about.” That said, here’s to dreams, value and a healthy dose of danger.

Until now, you were limited in how much you were able to customize your signature. This is because most web based clients such as Gmail lack the ability to include HTML, images and hyperlinks at the bottom of your messages. WiseStamp has come along with a fix and addressed these shortcomings. They help individuals and organizations better brand themselves via an easy to use “what you see is what you get” signature editor.

These settings allow WiseStamp to lovingly hijack your signature and insert your choice of sweet social icons, HTML coded elements and even images.

When you hit the compose button in your email client, the signature is auto-inserted into your draft. You also have the option to select from two different presets – one for personal and one for business use.

After several weeks of use, WiseStamp has enhanced my emails and allowed me to provide a better experience for my recipients. Be it clients or friends, my signatures now include unique information relevant to each audience. Through custom fonts, colors and graphics, my emails are aesthetically pleasing and more professional, helping me improve my response rate. And, by providing links to my social network profiles I can subtly invite my audience to reach me on their terms, encouraging them to get in touch outside of email.

That’s not all! My favorite WiseStamp feature is that it’s free. So, go ahead, jump on the bandwagon. For more information or to download WiseStamp visit them at http://www.wisestamp.com.

Photo Credit: JasonB3 via Flickr

The 2008 Eagles season was a wild ride and reminiscent of a song you may know by Katy Perry:

“Cause you’re hot then you’re cold
You’re yes then you’re no
You’re in and you’re out
You’re up and you’re down”

You get the picture.

Even though we didn’t make the Super Bowl, we had a memorable season filled with great Eagles moments. Here are some of my favorite:

1) Sheldon Brown Decapitates Steven Jackson (vs Rams 9/7/08)

Hits like these are becoming a staple of Sheldon’s on-field arsenal. Remember Reggie Bush? Eagles went on to win the home opener 38-3 against the Rams.

2) DeSean Jackson’s Primetime Fumble (at Cowboys 9/15/08)

If DeSean wasn’t so talented and able to dazzle us with his speed and great hands, this mistake would probably haunt him for a long time. In a big Monday night matchup at Dallas he celebrated prematurely and dropped the ball a yard shy of the end zone. It helped that Westbrook was able to score soon after that infamous play.

3) Weapon X Shows Flashes of his Old Self (vs Steelers 9/21/08)

Criticism after the Dallas game added fuel to the fire and Brian Dawkins responded with a sack and a vintage leaping tackle which forced a Roethlisberger fumble.

4) A Rookie’s First Pro Touchdown (at Bears 9/28/08)

McNabb threaded the needle on a beautiful pass into double coverage – caught by DeSean Jackson in the end zone.

5) Special Teams Gets a Special Player (at Redskins 10/5/08)

A rising star, DeSean Jackson gave our punt return game the spark we’ve been needing, taking a punt 68 yards to the house.

6) Parker’s Big Day (at 49ers 10/12/08)

Defensive end Juqua Parker dominated the 4th quarter and had a career day, recording a sack and his first career interception return for a touchdown.

7) Who Needs LJ? (at Seahawks 11/2/08)

Brent Celek filled in for an injured L.J. Smith and had himself a career game, leading all receivers with 131 yards, his longest going for a gain of 44.

8) After 75 Minutes of Play (at Bengals 11/16/08)

A bewildered Donovan McNabb learned that regular season games can and do end in ties. Final score 13-13, unlucky.

9) I Can Go the Distance (at Ravens 11/23/08)

Quintin Demps was the only bright spot in a tough loss, returning a kick 100 yards for a touchdown, our first kickoff return for a score in several years.

10) From Franchise Quarterback to Benchwarmer (at Ravens 11/23/08)

Donovan’s season, maybe even his time as an Eagle seemed to be rapidly coming to an end after a 2nd half benching and Kevin Kolb coming in as the starter.

11) Movin’ and Groovin’ on Turkey Day (vs Cardinals 11/27/08)

Andy Reid looked like a genius following the benching, seemingly lighting a fire under Donovan’s ass. The team played excellent ball in all 3 facets of the game and rocked the Cardinals 48-20. Donovan went 27 for 39 with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on Thanksgiving night.

12) Defense Shines Brighter than Any Star (vs Cowboys 12/28/08)

With their destiny in their own hands the Eagles beat the Cowboys by the largest margin of victory in franchise history. 44-6 final. Our defense arguably had their best game of the season recording 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 defensive touchdowns. The planets aligned and with a Buccaneers and Bears loss the Eagles moved ahead into the playoffs. Unbelievable.

13) Why We Pay Him the Big Bucks (vs Vikings 1/4/09)

Cornerback Asante Samuel set an NFL record with his 4th playoff interception for a touchdown – the most in the post-season by any player. He brought this one back 44 yards.

14) Catch Me if You Can (vs Cardinals 1/18/09)

DeSean was able to end the season on a high note, bobbling the ball but making a fantastic catch on a 62 yard bomb from Donovan. Immediately after, DeSean proceeded to celebrate by dancing something that looked like an Irish jig mixed with the famous Eagles arm flap.

15) Almost Doesn’t Count (vs Cardinals 1/18/09)

Similar to many games this season, the Eagles were one drive away from a win and this time a Super Bowl appearance. Even after mounting a comeback of 19 unanswered points, the Eagles fell short 32-25, ending a roller coaster of a season.

Through the ups and downs, this season left us wanting more. It’s never enough, not until we win the big game.

I hope you enjoyed the 2008 campaign as much as I did and that these memories last for months and years to come.

The Eagles faithful will again have to wait until next season. It hurts, but we’ll be ready. We’ll come out in force to training camp, sell out preseason games in anticipation for the home opener and stand around the water cooler, yearning for a star wideout. As Philadelphians, we’ll be ready, ready to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy home where it belongs in 2009.

Here it is.

And here’s why I did it:

Blogs are necessary. They allow individuals to claim their online identity. When an employer, a potential business partner or a co-worker Googles your name, what will they find? You probably don’t want them clicking through to your Facebook or MySpace profile because it’s likely that these don’t put your best foot forward. Even more likely, these don’t provide the type of information people outside your group of friends would be interested in. A LinkedIn profile is another story and while it may put your best foot forward and showcase your talents, it limits you in other aspects.

Blogs are useful. Blogging is head and shoulders above other methods of publishing yourself to the world wide web thanks to limitless customization and the ability to give the reader a true peek into the writer’s personality. Topics can range from microbreweries in Philadelphia to do-it-yourself tree houses. As a blogger, you’re free to dictate your focus.

Most importantly, blogs are valuable. Posting articles that motivate, educate and encourage positive action can provide value to a community that shares your interests. As a bonus to you, the writer, a blog can establish you as a thought leader, gain you friends and even respect if you’re really good. I’ve also had blogger friends receive job offers from those who found them through their blogs. Not too shabby for simply sharing your thoughts on your favorite topics.

Starting your own blog is easier than you think and free tools are out there. Do some research before selecting the option that works best for you. Visit the links below for more information on today’s popular blogging solutions:

• Wordpress
  
• Blogger
• Tumblr
• Typepad

Happy blogging!