Small Businesses on the Web - Or Should Be?

Small businesses can thank Tacoman Scott Loughran for a better understanding of small businesses and their use of the web for marketing.

Loughran is in the Masters in Communications and Digital Media program at the University of Washington. His project, only available for a few days, is open to you.

Loughran is studying digital media and communications. You can learn more about the program here. The Flip the Media blog (work of the faculty and students here) is also a great resource for the Chamber and those businesses we serve.

Loughran's research is specifically investigating if micro (0-4 employees) & small businesses (5-25 employees) have websites, and if so, how they are using them to communicate and market their goods and services. His theory is that these businesses strongly rely on hiring out the construction of websites, and may not understand how popular tools like social media, blogging and pod casting could help customer retention and word-of-mouth advertising (the two most trustworthy forms of business growth to this sector.)

He hopes his research will accomplish two things:

First, consumers who want to shop local, some reports say 90% of them have started by searching for local businesses online. Other reports are saying that as little as 44% of micro/small businesses even have a website. With the health of our local economy largely being supported by the success of local business, we need to find a way to close this statistical gap.

Second, there are people in the community wanting to help local businesses. If we find there is enough of a need in the community, we can educate local businesses how this technology is beneficial to business. This could be through the Chamber for example, as a workshop, in service or part of a regular meeting.

BioScience Business Roundtable

Life Sciences Economic Impact

The Washington Research Council has published an economic impact study of Washington's life sciences industry. To read the full report, click on the link preceding or log onto the Research Council’s website and look under Recent Publications.

SST 2009: Entrepreneur in the South Sound

South Sound Technology Conference 2009:
Entrepreneurship and the South Sound Technology Cluster

You're invited to the 10th annual South Sound Technology Conference, the technology showcase for the Tacoma and the South Puget Sound region.

On Friday November 20th in William W. Phillip Hall on the University of Washington Tacoma campus civic and industry leaders, government representatives, university faculty and students will come together at a free conference to hear panels speak on building technology companies in the South Sound and leveraging the commonalities of the companies that are here.

A lunch keynote from the CEO of Corporate Privacy Group, Richard Purcell, former Chief Privacy Officer of Microsoft and chairman of the board of TRUSTe will highlight the middle of the day. Breakout sessions that include discussions on sustainability and poster presentations from Institute of Technology students will occur once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

The South Sound Technology Conference, provides a forum that increases the awareness of technology as it impacts our daily personal and professional lives, and even more importantly, the role it can play in the development of our regional economy. The conference charter is to further the continuous growth of technology in the South Sound region and provide information about global technology issues.

Bruce Kendall, CEO of the Economic Development Board of Pierce County will kick things off with a discussion of entrepreneurship and the economic development of the South Sound Region. The morning panel that follows will pick up the topic with Tacoma entrepreneurs such as Derek Young, Mark Briggs and Brian Forth. Graham Evans of the Washington Technology Center and John Dimmer of the TacomaAngel Network will talk about funding and innovation.

The afternoon panel will feature companies from the area that represent the data integrity, information assurance and Cybersecurity cluster that is growing in Pierce County. Breakouts will include discussion of how to support that infrastructure and will also give attendees the opportunity to view student research projects at the Institute of Technology.

The yearly event is made possible by the hard work of many volunteers, the generosity of corporate and community sponsorship such as the City of Tacoma, the Institute of Technology, University of Washington Tacoma and GRIDWORK as well as the support of honorary co-chairs Congressman Norm Dicks and Congressman Adam Smith.

For more information, contact conference chair
Andrew Fry - andfry@u.washington.edu - 253-692-4583
To register, go to http://www.sstconference.org/ and sign up under the “attending” menu.

Tech Demo Show Call for Exhibitors

CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS!

The MIT Enterprise Forum NW is pleased to announce it is partnering with all six of the area’s angel organizations to host the Northwest Startup DEMO – Fall 2009. This partnership is the first of its kind in our area, and represents a truly unique and valuable opportunity for all. Partner organizations are the Alliance of Angels, Keiretsu Forum, Puget Sound Venture Club, Seraph, TacomaAngel Network and Zino Society.

The companies selected to present will be able to DEMO their product or service to all these organizations and more at one time – for FREE!

Judges for the event will include representatives from the angel organizations, as well as VCs and the media.

Northwest Startup DEMO – Fall 2009 provides you with an unprecedented opportunity for exposure that can be leveraged to take your company to the next level.

How to apply
Email a one-page summary describing your company and product or service to Edward Hansen by November 13th. Please note that this is a DEMO event, not a financing pitch. Therefore we ask that you adjust your one-page summary accordingly by telling us why it will be a great DEMO.

Based on your submissions, 10 to 12 companies will be selected to present to our screening committee on November 19th. From there, the committee will select the companies that will demo their product or service at the Northwest Startup DEMO - Fall 2009 event to be held on December 10th.

Click here for more entry details. They look forward to receiving your applications!

Questions? Contact JaRon Snow or (425) 771-4790

Kudos for Tech-Based Economic Development

Washington Technology Center was named one of six recipients of The State Science and Technology Institute's 2009 Excellence in TBED awards for initiating successful programs to sustain the nation's position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness.

WTC's Research and Technology Development (RTD) Program was honored as a best-practice model for demonstrating leadership and meaningful impact to state and regional economies.

The WTC has assisted state companies over 17 years. Impressively, the RTD Program's more than 330 funded projects have resulted in almost a half-billion dollars in follow-on support from private and federal sources.

WTC awards $1 million in applied research funding each year to teams comprised of companies and researchers in the state of Washington.

About SSTI: The State Science and Technology Institute is a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation.

About WTC: Washington Technology Center channels state, federal, and private resources to help companies develop and commercialize new products and technologies. For more information how Washington Technology Center can help research and development projects succeed, call 206-685-1920.

SST 2009 Conference First Panel Confirmed

Andrew Fry, in a catch-up meeting this afternoon, announced the first panel is complete for the upcoming SST 2009 Conference.

Panel One: Entrepreneurship in the South Sound - Creating Connections

Brian Forth, SiteCrafting
Graham Evans, Washington Technology Center
John Dimmer - TacomaAngel Network representative
Derek Young, Seasonal View LLC
Mark Briggs, Serra Media

As an addition to keynote speaker, Richard Purcell, and an anticipated second panel and/or additional conference features, Andrew is pulling together another gem.