The Silicon Bayou has been buzzing with tech and entrepreneurial news. Here are the most popular stories published on Silicon Bayou News in the past seven days:
Venyu Provides Cloud-Based Storage Solutions for Habitat for Humanity of Riverside
Venyu, a technology solutions provider located in Baton Rouge, announced yesterday a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Riverside, CA. The company is improving Habitat for Humanity’s data backup solution, using RestartIT to secure two decades of loan, mortgage and deed information. This move from on-site data protection to a cloud-based solution will greatly strengthen the protection of its vital database of fundraising contacts, along with the decades of sensitive financial and real estate documents.
Introducing Propeller and 12 new social innovators of 2012
In this week’s post by Adriana Lopez, she recaps people and companies behind Propeller’s new accelerator fellows for the 2012-2013 year. Previously written about here, these fellows will have a chance to generate economic development in the city as well as create jobs and gain financing. AMPS, Birthmark Doula Collective, BreakOUT!, Derrell Talent, The Fine Arts & Wellness Center, Gay It Forward, Global Health Services, Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana (JAC), Louisiana Lost Lands Environmental Tours, Nola Tilth, VEGGI Farmers Cooperative, and The Well Integrative Medicine are all part of this year’s program.
Fed Sample Keeps Growing, Hires Andy Ellis as SVP of Corporate Development
Federated Sample, the New Orleans market research technology platform, recently hired Andy Ellis as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. In his role, Ellis will join Federated Sample’s executive team and be tasked with growing the company’s licensing business model. Ellis joins Federated Sample with over 15 years of experience managing fast-growth, progressive companies in the Market Research industry. Federated Sample raised $2.8 Million in its Series A last fall.
WaLa! Solutions Brings Home Coup d’Tech Award from LTC eWARDS
WaLa!, a big data search and analytics platform provider, has received the Coup d’Tech Award from the Louisiana Technology Council (LTC) eWARDS for the Shreveport/Bossier City region. The award honors the company’s innovative approach to creating a powerful, real-time business intelligence for today’s organizations. The WaLa! platform is set to launch this fall. It is a semantic-based big data search and analytics platform that harnesses big data and turns it into insights that any employee at any level of an organization can use.
All About You: James Guenther
James Guenther is a a bagpiper who is big in to fishing and biotechnology. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in science with a minor in Chemistry and then continued on to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to study at the biochemistry cellular and molecular biology program. After James then received his doctorate in Philosophy, he returned home to New Orleans after Katrina. In 2011, he formed the Crescent City Biotechnology Consultants at the with the purpose of integrating academic and private sector research.
Louisiana Students Compete at International Fair and Win Big
The world’s largest high school science research competition, the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, was held recently in Pittsburg and featured 20 projects from Louisiana students. Many of the students took home honors for their entries, receiving category awards, special awards, scholarships, and cash prizes. Read the post for the full list of winners and prizes.
LSU LBTC Student Incubator Awards Seed Capital to Startups
The Louisiana Business & Technology Center held the first annual Student Incubator Venture Challenge on Friday, April 20, at the Lod Cook Alumni Center. The event showcased LSU student entrepreneurs and LBTC awarded $20,000 in seed capital for the growth of four ventures. PhycoGenesis LLC won $7,500 for its algae technology company. Yellow Jacket, a personal defense weapon concealed inside a smartphone case, took home $5,500. BluReach, an online marketing company, and LocalMed LLC, medical software and application development firm, each won $3,500.
#SavetheTP Highlights Impact of Social Media on Local and Global Issues Alike
On May 23rd we found out the the Times-Picayune was expecting major cutbacks to the newspaper’s printing and scheduling. New Orleanians quickly became outraged, expressing their opinions through social media channels and the hash tag #SavetheTP. The outcry on social networks was immediate and far-reaching. Local and national celebrities, news organizations, and average citizens alike tweeted support for the Times-Pic, angst over the future of her writers and editors, and a staunch determination to fight the decision.