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The Explosion of Entrepreneurism

In Things to Think About, Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

In a recent investigation 805connect learned that there are at least 30 regional organizations serving entrepreneurs. This explosion of interest in the last few years is worth thinking about in terms of the impact it has on our region. The 805connect project was initially conceived to create a Startup Community initially and has expanded to include businesses in all stages of development. 805connect …
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TEDxSantaBarbaraLive

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

Photo of attendees at TEDxSantaBarbaraLive “What are you going to do with your next ten days?” This was the closing challenge to the TEDxLive attendees, from Kymberlee Weil, Strategic Samurai and Executive Producer of TEDxSantaBarbaraLive.
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Unite to Light

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

Unite to Light is a local non-profit that provides solar products for people in developing countries. Lighting should be safe, clean and affordable to all. Over 1.5 billion people rely on fuels such as kerosene for lighting.
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Flutter

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

Imagine creating a website that becomes so popular that the market demands a print version be created. That’s exactly what happened to Flutter co-creator Kim Wiseley. Kim started with a web design business and a weekly newsletter called The Santa Barbara Skinny, writing about food, arts and entertainment with 15,000 readers. Impressive.
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Smartstones

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

An entirely new way to communicate. Smartstones® Touch™ is a wearable “status-casting” device that enables you to send messages by touch and gesture, keeping family members and friends in touch and in step with you. It’s small, screenless, and you can take it anywhere. It might even save your life.
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Karma Chow

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

Melissa Costello, founder of Karma Chow has always had a passion for healthy, delicious food and nutrition. As a child, Melissa would spend hours in the kitchen with her Italian father making homemade tomato sauce and pasta.
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LiftGator

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

At the Tech Pitch competition held last October, a local SLO firm, LiftGator, took first prize. 805connect talked with Cal Poly alum and LiftGator CEO, Justin Russo, to learn about the company. Justin is incubating the business at the SLO Hothouse (an 805connect partner) in downtown San Luis Obispo and is optimistic about the it’s potential. Watch this short clip to …
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MINDBODY

In Partners, Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

MINDBODY, a leading global provider of web and mobile management solutions to the combined wellness and beauty industries, has been selected for the second time as one of the top 50 Best Places to Work in the U.S. as part of Glassdoor’s 2015 Employees’ Choice Awards. In its seventh year, the Employees’ Choice Awards rely entirely on the input of …
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Moja Gear – San Luis Obispo

In Who's Doing Cool Stuff? by Mark Sylvester

For us, access to the outdoors is everything. That’s why built into the fabric of the company lies an eternal commitment to donating 1% of each and every sale back into organizations that allow everyone to explore and discover our world’s natural beauty. Moja Gear strives to set an example for how business and benefit can intertwine in a manner that adds value …