It is rare to find the author of a creative work who was an instant success, never tasting the bitter flavor of failure. Those who persevere despite failure generally gain valuable knowledge that is forged in the exhausting and often demoralizing process of moving past the most recent rejection and onto the next opportunity. This struggle is an experience that Albuquerque-based David Pinter and Samuel Dalton may know too well in bringing their animated series Indigo Ignited to ... Read More
Si66: Five Biggest Social Media Pitfalls for Startups
For startups looking to gain a foothold in a new market while working with relatively small budgets, the use of social media is now less of a unique marketing tool and more of a priority. Sites like Twitter and Pinterest have become vital parts of lead-generation, customer-service and brand-awareness strategies for new businesses, but few entrepreneurs understand how to maximize social media. No matter what stage your new business is in, growing a social media audience is vital. In addition, the ... Read More
Si66: See How PERK Designed the Coffee Machine “of the Future of the 1960s”
Coffee establishments have become the getaway destination akin to the corner bar—but without the booze. People instinctively know where their local coffee nook is and they go there en masse to seek a bit of quiet or perhaps some social nesting with a friend. As people have become more and more serious about their coffee, those lattes and daily blends are becoming true works of art. Just ask inventor Jakub Svec, who’s developing the PERK, a machine that promises the ultimate in coffee savoring at ... Read More
Si66: The Importance of Diversification and Other Business Lessons from the Chickasaw Nation
In ancient times, the Chickasaw Indians were revered as the "Spartans of the Lower Mississippi Valley." An agrarian tribe, the Chickasaws boasted of a lively trade business with other Southeastern Indians, and the French and English nations, but were also feared as fierce warriors. Even after the “Great Removal,” commonly known as The Trail of Tears when the Chickasaws and other tribes were forced from their homelands to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, the Chickasaws regained prosperity, and ... Read More
Si66: Alan Webber on the Importance of Pattern Recognition, Resource Deficits and Defining Victory Early
SANTA FE, N.M. – Some entrepreneurs see into the future with a keen eye and uncanny confidence. Time after time, they seem to have an edge no one else has – like media whisperer Alan Webber, co-founder of Fast Company magazine. Whether it’s the Japan of the late 1980s or the New Mexico of 2017, Webber has become an expert on seeing the future hiding in plain sight. That’s how he co-launched a magazine that captured the internet mystique and launched a thousand Silicon Valley rock stars – ... Read More
Si66: Agruity Makes It Easier for Consumers to Access Local Food
TULSA, Okla. — Founded in 2015 by a farmer and an environmental scientist turned food publisher, Agruity is an online marketplace that connects northeastern Oklahoma farmers with public and private consumers. After logging in, a buyer can pre-order and pre-pay for produce, meat, eggs or firewood for pickup at one of a dozen farmers’ markets in the Tulsa area. “It’s almost eBay and PayPal in the same respect for local food,” co-founder Barry Jarvis said. “I personally love the idea of ... Read More
Si66: Evil Controllers Expands Options for Disabled and Pro Gamers
Like many gamers, Charley Gentry loves to load up his favorite first person shooter, connect with some friends online, and pit his skills against other players. But there is something about Charley that distinguishes him from most gamers. Charley has no arms or legs. “I was born like this,” Gentry explains. "They don’t know what caused it, and they didn’t pick it up on the ultra sound,” adding, “So basically when I was born they were like uh-oh.” Gentry’s love for games began as a child. ... Read More
Si66: Descartes Labs CEO Shares Six Tips for Entrepreneurs Worried They Need to Move to a Coast
In June 2015, Descartes Labs CEO Mark Johnson looked down from his plane to views of northern New Mexico’s Jemez and Sangre de Cristo mountains, and realized he was home. Six months earlier, he’d left everything behind in San Francisco—where he’d launched several successful startups—to move to Los Alamos to launch Descartes. Johnson really doesn’t seem like a middle-of-nowhere kind of guy. A Stanford grad who started Zite, which CNN bought in 2011 and turned into Flipboard, he’s got the ... Read More
Si66: UNM Neuropathologist Develops Biomarker Test for Identifying Childhood Abuse
In 2012, more than 686,000 children in America were victims of abuse or maltreatment. Of those, 1,600 died from abuse and neglect, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The effects of child abuse can linger well beyond childhood. Maltreatment in children can result in adult disorders like anxiety and depression, but also chronic illnesses that harm the lives of millions of adults across the United States each year, according early childhood expert, therapist and ... Read More
Si66: Medefy Removes Veil of Secrecy Around Healthcare Pricing
For Medefy, it all started in the shower. In 2012, Matt Scovil was calling multiple offices, trying to figure out how much it would cost him to see a doctor. Each time he would call, he’d get the same answer: We don’t know, but will get back to you with a bill after your visit. “If I went to a restaurant and they said ‘Thanks for dining with us. You’ll get your bill in three months,’ and that bill could be anything, nobody would go out to eat,” Scovil said. “But in healthcare, we’re like ... Read More
