January 2009 - Posts

• The Insider: Innovation Philadelphia Announces Third Recipient of Creative Economy Investment Fund

  On January 22, 2009, Innovation Philadelphia announced the third recipient of its Creative Economy Investment Fund (CEIF) awards.  CEIF provides pre-seed and early-stage investments to for-profit creative economy businesses based in the Philadelphia Region.  Vuzit (pronounced "views-it"), an online document platform that utilizes web services and AJAX technology to create a best of breed web platform for distributing and displaying documents, received $100,000 from the CEIF. Developed by Brent Matzelle and Chris Cera, Vuzit allows content publishers to embed documents in their web pages, similar to how YouTube distributes video, by maintaining consistent branding and site navigation. Vuzit provides publishers with tools to display documents alongside other web content and systems. Cera and Matzelle won the Emerging Business Award for Most Innovative Product or Service from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania at the organization’s Emerging Business Awards reception in June 2008, and in addition received an investment from the organization. "Secure document viewing is our number one priority," said Brent Matzelle, co-founder of Vuzit. "Vuzit can effectively display documents through both an online and server-based platform, which sets us apart from our competitors." Vuzit participated in DreamIt Ventures, a three-month business boot camp for start-up companies in the Philadelphia area, which was funded by Innovation Philadelphia through the CEIF in May 2008. To learn more about Vuzit, visit http://vuzit.com/. “Supporting entrepreneurism is essential to grow the economy in Philadelphia and the region. The CEIF was created to help grow for-profit, technology driven creative industries in the Philadelphia Region,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia.  Creative industry sectors identified by Innovation Philadelphia include: architecture, engineering and planning; communications and marketing; digital media and programming; fashion design; graphic and visual arts and multimedia design; information technology; interior and industrial design; music, film and video production; photography; product and merchandising design; and software development.  The award recipient was chosen by Innovation Philadelphia’s Board of Directors Investment Committee.  To qualify for an investment award, companies must: be a for-profit creative industry business; facilitate or enhance the growth of the Philadelphia Region’s Creative Economy; be headquartered or have important operations and jobs in the Greater Philadelphia Region; be a privately held company; generate new jobs and increase tax revenue; add value to Innovation Philadelphia’s investment portfolio; and have a strong management team and business plan where success is achievable.  For more information about the CEIF and to apply online, visit www.innovationphiladelphia.com.  Tell us what you think. Posted Jan 27 2009, 07:00 PM by blogadmin with no comments

• The Insider: Innovation Philadelphia: 2008 in Review

  How many entrepreneurial programs would you guess Innovation Philadelphia hosted in 2008? How many times was the Entrepreneurs Resource Guide downloaded on our website?  As 2008 has come to a close, Innovation Matters looks back at Innovation Philadelphia’s year of programs and initiatives which have aided the growth of the Philadelphia Region’s for-profit, creative economy. Read below as we run the numbers. Distributed over 3,500 copies of Creative Footprint  Generated over 100 articles and 50 million media impressions about the Philadelphia Region’s for-profit, creative economy Assisted 12 companies to start or grow a business in the Philadelphia Region through the Creative Economy Investment Fund Featured 24 regional creative young professionals and entrepreneurs in Innovation Matters, sent to over 325,000 subscribers total Assited nearly 100 regional employers in finding creative talent through createAdelphia, a creative industry career fair, and PhillyCreativeJobs.com Hosted 7 entrepreneurial programs, with over 650 creative entrepreneurs participating  Distributed 2,200 hard copies of the Entrepreneurs Resource Guide and nearly 3,900 searches of the Guide’s online database have been conducted Showcased the Philadelphia Region’s creative economy to more than 3,000 people attending national and international conferences Advancing to 2009, Innovation Philadelphia will host numerous creative industry, young professional and entrepreneurial programs throughout the year, and partner with regional organizations to support existing creative and entrepreneurial conferences and programs in the region. In addition, we will update and add new contacts to our online edition of the Entrepreneurs Resource Guide for budding entrepreneurs in the region. The first program Innovation Philadelphia will host in 2009 is Resources for Creative Professionals, on January 29, 2009, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Painted Bride (230 Vine Street, Philadelphia). This panel discussion and networking reception will discuss the importance of job sources, freelance projects, networking opportunities, professional development organizations and funding sources for the careers of creative professionals in the Philadelphia Region. This is a free event, and registration is required at www.innovationphiladelphia.com. On February 26, 2009, Innovation Philadelphia will host Running on Empty: Make a Little Go a Long Way. Learn how to make a little go a long way within your company, as experienced entrepreneurs and business owners discuss strategies and share personal experiences on how to survive and thrive during challenging economic times from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m, at the PNC Center (1600 Market Street, Philadelphia) in the Center Hall. The cost to attend is $25, which includes light appetizers and a cash bar. Registration is required at www.innovationphiladelphia.com. Innovation Philadelphia will host the second Global Creative Economy Convergence Summit on October 5-6, 2009, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Summit will attract 1,000 entrepreneurs, business leaders, creative industry and technology professionals from for-profit and non-profit organizations. The purpose of the Summit is to exchange ideas on initiatives and technologies that have successfully impacted the growth of the creative economy. Stay tuned to www.innovationphiladelphia.com as more information about the Summit is released. Posted Jan 14 2009, 07:22 PM by blogadmin with no comments