December’s New Tech Meetup came with a full agenda featuring six presentations described below:
The BlogFrog offers tools to turn blogs into communities. When a blogger signs up for a the BlogFrog, a new web page is generated creating a community where the blog’s followers can engage and interact. These niche communities are currently centered around mommy bloggers, but the company expects to tackle other verticals soon. The company generates revenue through advertising and via a premium offering available to bloggers.
The Unreasonable Institute seeks to create a program in Boulder similar to Tech Stars but focusing on social entrepreneurs with “big ideas for systemic social impact.” The institute is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class in the summer of 2010. Once finalists are selected, each finalist and her idea will be placed on a website where the public will be able to donate to the company and cause. The first entrepreneurs to raise $6500 will be those selected to attend in the summer.
Lititia Pleis offered the next presentation discussing equity compensation for startups. Pleis noted that while unrestricted and restricted capital interests are commonly seen in tech startups, both of these methods can result in significant tax burdens. She urged startups to consider unrestricted profit interests (phantom options) as an alternative that may make tax obligations less onerous.
A new segment format for BDNT brought Matt Emmi to the stage to introduce new tech gadgets. Among those on display were the impressive 50 megapixel Hasselblad H3D11 50 that shoots in incredible detail but comes with a hefty price tag. More affordable with price tags in the hundreds rather than thousands were the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj camera that allows projection of images and the Sonos S5 all in one speaker.
PublicEarth was on hand to announce its recent launch. The online map allows tagging of features that range from the traditional – hotels and restaurants – to the more obscure – fishing holes, fossil digging sites. The company has over 5M locations already tagged in its system, which allows users easy ways to filter and sort to find points of interest.
Resort Technology Partners took the stage last to describe its RealSki iPhone app. Using the augmented reality app, a skier holds up his phone and is able to see trail signs and other features overlayed on the viewfinder image. The app is expected to launch in the next week and will be offered for free loaded with the data for five mountains. Additional mountains will be available for purchase for $0.99 each.
The next New Tech Meetup will take place on January 5 in Boulder.
