The Diplomacy of Technology - Alec Ross (Advisor to US Secretary of State)
Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Office of Secretary of State and Co-founder of global non-profit One Economy, discusses in detail innovation policy and how it can change national diplomacy. In addition, Ross offers advice to global innovators, stressing quality time management, effective hiring practices, the mutual benefits of mentoring, and assertive risk practices.
Moore's Law Forever?
In 1965, Gordon Moore observed that the number of transistors on a silicon chip doubled every technology generation (12 months at that time, currently 18-24 months). He predicted that this trend would continue for a while. Forty years later, Moore's Law continues to hold. Since the number of transistors in a circuit is a measure of the circuit's computational power, the doubling of transistor counts compounded over a 40 year period has led to an enormous increase in the performance of electronic
Vegetative Filter Strips May Deter Pesticide Runoff
The Center for Agriculture at UMass Amherst is studying how to improve methods that deter pesticide runoff and protect water supplies. Learn how researchers are evaluating how various plants, known as vegatative filter strips, can protect public health.
MacRetina
MacRetina simulates data from retinal ganglion cells in the eye to the brain.
By sampling neural activity while stimulating the retina with small spots of light, students can see the dynamic excitatory and inhibitory responses of these neurons in the simulation, and map the organization of the retinal region that drives the cell's receptive field.
MacRetina is modeled accurately on published data and is a realistic simulation of a lab experiment that would otherwise be beyond the reach of the
Dia de los Muertos, #8 (enhanced) Masks of Mexico Audio Tour
In Mexico, death is commemorated on Dia de los Muertos, at the start of November. Rather than a somber occasion, it is a time to celebrate life. The masks help you enter in the mood of celebration. Dr. Lydia Otero of the University of Arizona shares her insights.
A Panorama of Venture Capital and Beyond - Marc Andreessen (Serial Entrpreneur)
Serial entrepreneur Marc Andreessen offers the Stanford audience a rare opportunity to pose open questions. Topics addressed include everything from the state of VC and the stock market, to Facebook's market dominance, to the rebirth of consumer electronics. In addition, Andreessen offers ground rules for the start-up, including tips on attracting top talent.
The Ebb and Flow of Clean Tech and Entrepreneurs - Carlos Perea (Miox)
Twenty percent of the world's population do not have access to clean drinking water, says Miox CEO Carlos Perea. What's an entrepreneur to do? Ideally, find a way to clean and reuse the global water supply that's, "twice as good at half the cost" of conventional chlorine decontamination. In this lecture, Perea demonstrates his company's abilities and explains the benefits and challenges of being an entrepreneur in clean technology.
Getting to Plan B - Randy Komisar (KPCB)
While Plan A may begin the backbone on which an entrepreneurial idea is hinged, succinct data gathering and constant market evaluation more often lead to profit with the next idea in line. The tech sector breeds innovation, says KPCB partner and frequent speaker Randy Komisar, and to do so it is required to accept the numerous fits and starts of the start-up.
Sharing a Measure of Success - Rashmi Sinha, Jonathan Boutelle (SlideShare)
Jonathan Boutelle and Rashmi Sinha, founders of the presentation-sharing site SlideShare, describe the entrepreneurial process as a series of pivots. Boutelle explains it's not just a jump, but an evolving growth of stages that leads to an idea that can start a business. From there, Sinha says that focused execution keeps the vision moving forward. By continually measuring the activity, they both believe that entrepreneurs can better recognize the growth stages of their company.
Biotechnology and Biosecurity
Lecture on Biotechnology; its applications, its implications, risks and the challenges this new technology brings
Rauch on the Volt, Risk, and Corporate Culture
Jonathan Rauch, of the Brookings Institution and the Atlantic Monthly, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the evolution of the Chevy Volt, GM's planned electric car. Due to the transparency of GM's effort, Rauch was able to spend a great deal of time on site at GM writing a piece for the Atlantic Monthly on GM's plans and hopes. Rauch discusses the huge risks, GM's past failures, and GM's hopes that the Volt might change the company's culture. The conversation closes with a discussion
Spotlight on Scalability - Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook)
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg shares her trilogy of ideas for a successful start-up and a fulfilling career. Her thoughts include building an enterprise with scalable vision, building personalized, scalable products, and the ability to scale your own connections and capabilities.
Building an Organization, Building a Team - Mari Baker (PlayFirst)
After two decades in start-up entrepreneurship, Mari Baker, current CEO of PlayFirst, shares some of her lifelong strategies for long-lasting success. She stresses defining the relentless purpose of the enterprise, honing a focus, and building a conscious company culture, amongst other backbone-building tasks.
A History of Venture Capital - Spencer E. Ante (BusinessWeek)
Spencer E. Ante, BusinessWeek editor and author, quotes excerpts from his book, Creative Capital: Georges Doriot and the Birth of Venture Capital, and offers a historical portal into the start and evolution of venture capital. He draws an investment timeline starting with the post-WWII economy, delves into the dominance of Silicon Valley, and discusses current recessionary activity.
The Growth and Bloom of Cooliris - Soujanya Bhumkar, Josh Schwarzapel, Austin Shoemaker (Cooliris)
The team behind Cooliris - CEO Soujanya Bhumkar, Product Manager Josh Schwarzapel, and CTO Austin Shoemaker - discuss in detail the launch and management of their innovative web-discovery business. Topics discussed include cultivating vigorous start-up energy, building monetization into the product, and building an effective and talented team.
13 Mistakes and 13 Brilliant Strokes - Hugh Martin (Pacific Biosciences)
Hugh Martin, Chairman and CEO of Pacific Biosciences, looks back on the evolution of his career - from building computers to creating the future of medicine. Martin charts the lessons he learned working for large technology firms, as a leader in several successful start-ups, and while being courted by the VC community to launch a new wave in bioscience.
Retooling Early Stage Development - Steve Blank (Serial Entrepreneur)
Ninety-percent of Silicon Valley's start-ups fail not because of faulty product, but because they don't tap the right market and they don't know their customer. Well-seasoned serial entrepreneur Steve Blank drafts a new model for plotting the path between good idea and market success.
Angel Investing Revealed - Ron Conway, Mike Maples Jr. (Angel Investors)
Experienced angel investors, Ron Conway, Founder of Angel Investors LP, and Mike Maples, Founder of Maples Investments, provide a rare look into the ins and outs of angel investing. Conway and Maples discuss how angel investors assess opportunities, provide assistance to entrepreneurs and transition start-ups to larger venture investments or exit. In addition, Conway and Maples provide advice to entrepreneurs about finding one's passion and developing that passion into new ventures, including in
Connecting Common Experiences - Armen Berjikly, Julio Vasconcellos (Experience Project)
Armen Berjikly, the Founder and CEO of The Experience Project, and Julio Vasconcellos, VP of Business Development discuss their experience of building a technology start-up that unites people who can improve each other's lives. Berjikly discusses how he built his new venture from fund raising to establishing the company infrastructure. He talks about the importance of hiring the right people to work in a start-up and illustrates the key role of a "Mentor Capitalist" in the journey of an entrepre
From Venture Capitalist to Entrepreneur - Donna Novitsky (Big Tent)
Donna Novitsky, CEO of Big Tent Design and a former venture capitalist at Mohr Davidow Ventures contrasts her experiences as an executive in a start-up, a venture capitalist and as an entrepreneur. Novitsky addresses the role of risk mitigation in investing in new ventures and the importance of having a singular focus, aligning company goals with funding requirements and team work in an entrepreneurial environment. Her motto, "Go big or don't go!" has driven her endeavors from her first job to h
