The San Franista » san francisco

Wanderlust Wows

Emily Goligoski — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:29:35 +0000

The Wanderlust Festival returned to California’s Squaw Valley with much for eco-conscious yoginis to love. Between local organic eats and myriad classes and lectures, I was excited to see (and use) Zero Hero’s zerowaste bins with simple instructions for composting and recycling. And after heading to one of teacher Seane Corn’s classes (in local threads from Dude Girl), I was excited to hear the instructor extraordinaire and founder of Off the Mat and Into the World talk about women’s roles in protecting Mother Earth. Her suggestions for the hundreds of practitioners? Know where what you eat comes from, choose sustainable materials when building or refurbishing homes, and kick that plastic water bottle habit. Photo by Wanderlust.

Outgoing, Anyone?

Emily Goligoski — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:07:21 +0000

If you’re a San Franciscan in a rut (because of, say, weather, expense, or dating), the new Outgoing.me could be just what you need. A community built around meeting fun folks locally, it posts casual social events of different varieties (though they won’t give you advice on what to wear). Think “bottomless brunch” at Ironside, thai food with other cyclists, and–my favorite–Yoga Lovers Dinner and Sustainable Vegan Fare at Gracias Madre this Tuesday. And you’re waiting for what to reserve your seat?

Halle Tecco on Invigorating the Field of Health Tech

Emily Goligoski — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:10:38 +0000

Women 2.0 recently talked with Halle Tecco, founder of health startup seed accelerator Rock Health, about picking partners and the post-business school task of selecting participating startups. The non-profit program selected from 350 applicant ideas for its first class and gives startups $20K grants, mentorship, curriculum, and operational support.

W2: You’ve just set up shop in San Francisco with 11 very active in-house startups. Why health?
HT: Working at Apple’s App Store and covering health and medical apps confirmed for me that the medical space could use some of the creativity found in other technology segments. I sat next to the woman covering games and realized how motivated the developers were by the chance to build products they love. I wanted to see those same talented developers working on ideas to improve health.

When I went back to graduate school, I started working to understand why the health tech ecosystem is different from other fields. We learned that hospitals wanted access to technology and tech leaders but didn’t have the infrastructure to vet the ideas and founders coming at them. We learned that investors were optimistic about the space. And we found that entrepreneurs new to health wanted access to both hospitals and investors. We decided to start Rock Health to bring these groups together.

The 11 local startups and 20 member startups (which get access to Rock Health resources, but don’t work full-time from the office) have access to the hospital partners for product feedback, trials and evaluations. The hospitals, including Mayo, love it because they get to work with a vetted and high-caliber group of startups. Our VC partners that are more tech focused, like Accel, see health as a vertical for technology to disrupt. And our life-science focused VC partners like Aberdare, see it as a way to expand their portfolio into IT. And in the process I’ve created the best job for myself as managing director.

Healthcare isn’t often seen as the most inviting. What excites you about it, and how did you convey that to get startups and prospective partners interested?
Healthcare can feel stuffy and formal, and we wanted to present ourselves in the Valley with a voice that’s more inspirational (hence taglines like “Do something useful”). Health has a longer feedback loop—especially if a founder needs to test for efficacy—which makes it different from getting instant feedback from friends about a game you’re building.

But this is a quickly moving space and we offer a learning and investment opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to get involved in healthcare. It’s exciting to see the collaboration between top healthcare systems and Silicon Valley technologists, who want to be in the thick of solving problems—that’s the next wave of innovation.

Interested health tech startups can apply for placement in the next Rock Health class this October. Halle is pictured with team Skimble.

Tentastic

Emily Goligoski — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:12:32 +0000

I already liked the look of bags by local bikewear maker Chrome, so learning that the company will be sourcing reclaimed fabrics for their newest line has me jazzed. US Army tents are being cut and sewn at the company’s factory in Chico, California, to create bags in the Salvage Series line. The individually numbered and stamped bags ($160 each) are in very limited supply, but you can own the utilitarian style by biking over to a Chrome store in SOMA, New York or Chicago.

Experiencing hello tomorrow: Bay Area Artists Envision the Future

Emily Goligoski — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:08:36 +0000

“Have a good time saving the world. Otherwise, you’re just going to depress yourself.”

The Brower Center’s call for artist responses to founder David Brower’s inspiration yielded 500 submissions recently, and select works are soon to be gracing the gallery walls. Thursday will see the Berkeley-based opening of hello tomorrow: Bay Area Artists Envision the Future and art that ranges from installations, avant-garde and paintings. Mari Andrews, Claire Brandt and Noah Breuer are among those whose contributions are worth experiencing.

Poster by Wendy MacNaughton.

Design, D.Talks & Disorganization

Emily Goligoski — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:56:30 +0000

IDSA, AIGA, IxDA, AIA, and SEGD have enough shared vowels to make your head spin, but you’ll be grateful for their collaboration when SF Design Week starts on Monday. Get on the wait list for Smart Design’s discussion of “Design, Technology, and the Meaning of Life” and D.Talks on “The Future of Experience.” Sitting down not your thing? Tour Frog Design before trying one of Public Bikes’ frames. It all leads to the Greener Mind Summit next weekend in Mendocino, where you can take personal productivity sessions next to a self-proclaimed disorganizational psychologist.

Clare Rojas Comes to MOCFA, Flowers in Hand

Emily Goligoski — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:15:01 +0000

I’m back in SF where I belong, and, as I look through plans for the beginning of June, am excited for a Thursday book party to honor the work of Clare Rojas. The painter and printmaker is releasing (with Chronicle Books) “Everything Flowers” and signing copies at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in the early evening. Her colorful work includes elements of “West Coast modernism, Quaker art, Latino folk art, Native American craft, and contemporary art practices,” according to the publisher, and it’s got a fair amount of gender discourse as well. Do explore.

CloudFlare’s Michelle Zatlyn; Introducing New Women 2.0 Partner FounderLY

Emily Goligoski — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:55:37 +0000

“You should all become entrepreneurs, but not because it’s easy.” When Women 2.0 heard Michelle Zatlyn’s advice based on her experience co-founding website protection service CloudFlare, we were excited to share her straightforward words. Other points Zatlyn emphasizes include the importance of creating a service that actually solves a problem and surrounding yourself with people who will support you even if your undertaking isn’t an immediate success.

The conversation was recorded and shared by FounderLY (Founder Like You), a new Women 2.0 partner that aims to capture and crowdsource videos of technologists as they launch organizations. Visitors to theIn Conversation channel and FounderLY will see more questions and answers with female founders in upcoming weeks, and please send your thoughts on other entrepreneurs you’d like to see included.

Oceanic Class for Teen Yoginis

Emily Goligoski — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:02:44 +0000

Thursday night promises a great near-water practice at the edge of Golden Gate Park led by SF instructor Mark Morford. The benefit Vinyasa class will raise proceeds for the Art of Yoga Project, a cause that’s especially front of mind for me for its important work serving at-risk teen girls in the local juvenile justice program. A $20 contribution will get you into the outdoor class, and happy hour drinks will follow at 7. It’s all in the name of a great time for you to help young gals.

Shape Shifting on Hayes

Emily Goligoski — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:46:50 +0000

A Friday night party at Peace Industy’s showroom (which moved the whopping distance from Octavia to Hayes recently) promises new artwork by Melina Raissnia and Kelly Defayette. The duo designs the rugs that have brought beauty to Hayes Valley twice over, and they’ll be bringing their geometric paintings and prints together to start the weekend. Champagne to be on hand, of course.