Motes' Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Slocum Glider

Friday, October 29, 2010, 1:00PM -5:00PM:

Behind the Scenes Tour of Mote Marine Laboratory.

The tour will include a “Behind the Scenes” look at Mote’s groundbreaking laboratories and research facilities.

It will also include a question and answer session with Mote’s patent agent, other members of the research staff, and those involved in bringing Mote’s innovations to either the market or for use within Mote.

Following the tour, attendees may enjoy free time in Mote’s Marine Mammal Center and Aquarium.

Incorporated in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory encompasses three campuses

with over 191 staff members and seven major research divisions.

More information is available at www.mote.org.

The tour will conclude with free time in the Aquarium.

That will allow those that would like to leave early to avoid traffic to do so

if they chose or stay longer depending on their preference.

Saving sea life from the Gulf's oil spill.

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY – Sarasota

If you choose to visit Mote Aquarium on your own, please feel free to use this coupon flier as provided by Mote Marine. Mote invites visitors to explore the secrets of the sea with touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and over 100 other species of marine life. Viewable working labs and interactive theaters showcase recent discoveries in marine science and the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. Discover why sea life matters at Mote. Open 365 days a year, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Located in Sarasota, FL.

To use this coupon:
• Print from your computer’s menu bar

1. •Cut along dotted line
2. •Take coupon to ticket window



Earlier this week, BNFE student members were invited to attend the Tampa Bay Technology Forum’s

(TBTF) Emerging Companies Network. This event showcased the Tampa Bay WaVE group,

a non-profit member organization of area Web venture entrepreneurs. Allen Clary of Jibidee,

Karen Post of Oddpodz, and Brian Burridge of Agile Nomads headlined the panel discussion titled,

“Avoiding Pitfalls in Website Development- Lessons for Entrepreneurs.” Each of spoke about their

experiences in creating their Web ventures providing simple, but sometimes forgotten, lessons and

insight for those seeking to dive in to this space.

In summary, here are the panel’s top words of wisdom for future Web entrepreneurs:

1. Do Your Due Diligence: Read & understand all vendor contracts; research vendors by calling past clients of jobs similar to the one you are hiring for; make sure there is enforceability in the contract if deadlines are missed by the vendor.

2. Stick to your Core Competency: Don’t try to be everything and do everything- Keep it Simple! Having a lot of startup capital doesn’t solve all problems, sometimes it can make things more complicated, because you have the cash you think you can do more

and without clear direction this equals a high burn rate.

3. Be obsessed with the project.

4. Creating a Web venture is not simply building a Website, it’s product development and you’re hiring

your product development team.

5. The cost the Web developer (or other vendors) quote, multiply it by two (2x) or maybe three (3x).

He/she already has [developers in the room agreed].

6. It’s difficult to get traction on the Web- It’s Not “If you build it, they will come.”

7. Have someone involved who has done this before- writing code is different than building a product.

8. Create a Website wireframe prior to hiring a developer, the storyboard of the entire site’s design and structure.

See if he/she gives you push back or tries to up sell non-critical features.

*Tip: Create a wireframe: Balsamiq

9. Hire an intermediate, a project manager linking the business (AKA the product vision) to the code,

like a CTO or Tech Advisor. This person needs to lean toward the overall product, not the code.

10. Suggested reading: “Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules”

Last Thursday, John Schaible, serial entrepreneur and chairman/CEO of Atlas Federal,

visited USF to share his advice on how to raise money to ensure you start your business

down the right track. He shared some of his missteps, like giving up on raising capital too soon,

doing it the ‘hard’ way for NexTrade.  Today, John will not start a business until he has met his

capital goals (e.g. for Anderen Bank, John raised $54 Mil before opening its doors).

Ten Things to Learn from John Schaible:

1. Learn to read a balance sheet (accounting).

2. Select a business model that works for your business: unique, drives the market,

is married to the corporate structure.

3. “Business plans are make believe,” but need to be as realistic as possible.

Research the marketplace and ensure your assumptions are based on research -

it’s more than just numbers, it has to follow a rational thought process.

*Tip for creating assumptions: Look at similar public companies’ financials and annual reports.

4. In order of actions: Select your business model; write a business plan;

choose your corporate structure; select your people; raise money;

and then start your business – Avoid starting a business without adequate money on-hand.

5. You can’t be afraid to get sued, but try to minimize your risk like communicating verbally

as much as possible. Think that every document or email you write will show up in court one day.

6. Find people with the experience you lack needed for your company.

Investors like to see: military service; a graduate of a well-known school;

a commendable business record like an IPO track record.

7. Investors go through the intellectual process in choosing to invest in your company,

but overall it’s a highly emotional process. They have to like you and believe in you. They invest in people.

8. Go for a 5-10 second business description, not an elevator pitch.

9. ALWAYS run a background check on investors – Screening is key for credibility & mitigating extraneous risk.

10. Believe in your business. You should be able to ask anyone for money

if you believe in your business; if you don’t believe in it, no one will invest.

Valpak Tour

Tour Valpak’s Manufacturing Center:Friday, September 24th from 2:30-4:00P.M.

Valpak, North America’s leading direct marketer has built one of the most advanced and

automated manufacturing centers in the world. The new state-of-the-art manufacturing center

located in St. Petersburg, Florida is a hub of technology where automation and robotics is at the core of

the operation.

* Occupying nearly 500,000 square feet of space
* Able to house approximately 13 Boeing 747 airliners
* The $200+ million building features a global list of suppliers and partners

To improve Valpak’s leading position, a dramatic change was necessary to help sustain the company’s

long term outlook. With the support of its parent company, Cox Enterprises, CTM set out to design a

premier manufacturing facility that would achieve its business model and meet its growth needs.

The facility is one of the largest single capital investments in Cox’s 107-year history.

Tour Note: Plan to arrive by 2:15 P.M. to get a security pass.

Event is open to Students and Alumni: YOU MUST SIGN UP BY SEPTEMBER 22nd through

Facebook OR Send an Email to contact_us@bnfe.org.

September 16th, 2010 at 6PM

USF College of Business, Room BSN 225

A local serial entrepreneur, Mr. Schaible was featured in the Saint Petersburg

Times on August 9, 2010 talking about his most recent entrepreneurial effort

– the creation of Atlas Federal Financial Holdings based in Panama.

Mr. Schaible was the founder of the electronic stock-trade NexTrade Holdings

in Clearwater in 1995 which grew into a global business, sold one of his companies

- OnTrade – to Citigroup in 2006, and was the co-founder of Anderen Bank of Tampa Bay in 2007.

Monday, September 20th @ 5:30 P.M. at the Wyndham (formerly the Quorum), 700 N. Westshore Blvd.

“Avoiding Pitfalls in Website Development— Lessons for Entrepreneurs”

At this event, an expert panel from the Tampa Bay WaVE (Web Venture Entrepreneurs),

a member-based not-for-profit organization of Web tech entrepreneurs dedicated to

generating and supporting successful home-grown Web ventures, will discuss their experiences, challenges,

and war stories in developing their Web ventures; including selecting and managing developers and bringing

their sites live. Additionally, gain helpful hints on such topics from a Web developer. The panel will feature

Allen Clary of Jibidee.com, Karen Post of Oddpodz.com, and Brian Burridge of Agile Nomads.

You don’t want to miss this educational discussion, so register today!

Event is Free to Current Entrepreneurship Students (please pre-register as a “High-Tech Entrepreneur”).

Follow the link to pre-register: http://www.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=74831103-f5a9-43d3-b86e-122251373830