Aaltoes » demoday http://aaltoes.com Sun, 20 May 2012 20:34:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Bring on the heat – Startup Sauna demo day approaching http://aaltoes.com/2011/12/bring-on-the-heat-startup-sauna-demo-day-approaching/ http://aaltoes.com/2011/12/bring-on-the-heat-startup-sauna-demo-day-approaching/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:00:58 +0000 charlotta http://aaltoes.com/?p=6818 Continue reading]]> Startup Sauna, the 6 week seed accelerator program for chosen startups from around the Baltic Rim is approaching its grande finale. Next week, on December 15th, the fall, programs’ 15 participating startups will graduate in an open Demo Day.

This time we are trying out something new – don’t get me wrong, it will still be a show, featuring star entrepreneurs’ pitches, demo area and lively networking, but we’re adding some extra rock’n'roll to the mix by hosting it at the legendary Nosturi in Helsinki.

In the Demo Day, checking out the teams & voicing his views on Sauna and the region’s investment-worthy startups, will also be Om Malik, a US-based investor and founder of Gigaom, a leading tech & venture blog. (See Gigaom’s previous post about the Sauna).

As per usual, Startup Sauna Demo Day will be free of charge, but requires a sign-up. And be fast, tickets are almost sold out!

We welcome you all to join in cheering the graduating batch. It’s been an exceptional autumn and we are all really proud of you guys and wish you nothing but the best in future endeavors, Sauna Fall ´11!

]]> http://aaltoes.com/2011/12/bring-on-the-heat-startup-sauna-demo-day-approaching/feed/ 0 Media Lab Demo Day: What does it take to get the idea to the next level? http://aaltoes.com/2010/01/media-lab-demo-day-what-does-it-take-to-get-the-idea-to-the-next-level/ http://aaltoes.com/2010/01/media-lab-demo-day-what-does-it-take-to-get-the-idea-to-the-next-level/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:00:25 +0000 Lari http://aaltoes.com/?p=1351 Continue reading]]> Aaltoes took part in the Media Lab Christmas  Demo Day activities in mid-December. We were very impressed by all the initiative and great projects that were showcased during the event. No entrepreneurial spirit missing there, but great ideas need also great team members and some funding to turn into a business. Want proof? Here’s a story of one the Media Lab projects turned into a startup.

heimoi

HeiMoi – engaging local activities at the neighborhood of your city

One of the Aaltoes catalyzed startups is the project formerly called Cityard, nowadays known as HeiMoi. Shanfan Huang, a TaiK  graduate, presented the original idea of Cityard in Media Lab Demo Day December 2008.

-  The whole project was incubated inside Media Lab and many Media Labbers  gave me great advices to conceptualize it, Shanfan tells.

HeiMoi is a location based web service that engages local activities in the neighborhoods of the city.

- Since last year Demo Day, I further developed the idea in Dynamic Visual Design seminar and also got support from many workshops arranged in Media Lab. After the Media Lab round I went to Aaltoes Pitch in March 2009, followed  by the first Aaltoes Talkoot in April. I also participated in many training and workshops organized by Aaltoes.

Shanfan has been one of our favourite stories to share as the support she gained from the Aaltoes community has been so tangible. With Tuli-funding  and  a partner found from Aaltoes Talkoot she could further develop the idea during last summer. Shanfan also demonstrates the determination needed from an aspiring entrepreneur: for the first pitching round she practiced in front of the webcam for 40+ times.  Future plans for HeiMoi?

- Now I have a partner, and will continue the product development towards a possibly “incorporated future”.

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