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:
Uber Encourages New Orleanians to Tell City Council #NOLANeedsUber
Uber’s New Orleans general manager Tom Hayes was hired on a few months ago to get the on-demand car request service up and running in the city. Over 2,000 people have signed an online petition to bring Uber to New Orleans, originally launched by pro-Uber techie Joe Corbett. Earlier this week, Uber was hoping some of the regulations currently in place in New Orleans would get amended, following a meeting with the council, allowing the car service to legally operate in town with so much red tape. In return, the city proposed a minimum $25 charge for sedan rides, a minimum $35 charge for SUV rides, and a flat $75 rate for airport trips ($90 for SUV). On June 12, Uber supporters received and email from the company, urging them to tell city council members that #NOLANeedsUber.
JEDCO Unveils State-of-the-Art Conference Center in Newly Rebranded Fairfield
The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) celebrated the grand opening of its new 8,000 square foot conference center with a ribbon cutting Thursday evening (June 12). The JEDCO headquarters is situated on the mostly undeveloped Churchill Technology and Business Park-owned land, which spans 500 acres. JEDCO and Jefferson Parish officials hope the state-of-the-art facility showcases the continued growth and success on the West Bank. The conference center can seat up to 150 people in a variety of configurations, and also features a large supply of audio/visual equipment, a full-service prep kitchen, and even ten pieces of Michalopoulos artwork.
New Orleans BioInnovation Center Annual Report Reveals 66 Startups Created
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC) recently released their 2014 Annual Report, which includes details on the programs, services and impact of the center throughout the region, along with specific highlights of clients’ achievements over the past years. In the report, NOBIC notes that their team has brought 34 tenants to the building, evaluated the commercial potential of 115 technologies, supported grant and competition applications that successfully earned clients more than $4.1 million in capital, hosted 45 educational events, invested over $1.65 million in 10 companies through the New Orleans BioFund loan program, and trained over 50 interns and fellows on life science technology commercialization.
BarCampNola 7: Mario Kart and the Passionate Unconference
BarCamp New Orleans is back for the seventh annual “unconference” of passionate people with amazing minds. The community is encouraged to not only attend but to present on any topic they choose. The location will be announced within the next few weeks for the weekend long event taking place July 12th and 13th, 2014. For more information or to register, visit barcampnola.com and register at barcampnola7.eventbrite.com.
Employers Receive Friendly Computer-Fraud-And-Abuse-Act Ruling From Louisiana Court
Author PJ Kee is an associate at the Jones Walker law firm in New Orleans. He and a few colleagues recently launched Trade Secret Insider, which chronicles legal insights on trade secrets, non-competes, computer fraud and confidential data theft. To read about the computer-fraud-and-abuse act, click here.
University of New Orleans Dubbed National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations
In 2012, the National Security Agency (NSA) established the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Operations Program designed to further the goal to broaden the pool of skilled workers capable of supporting a cyber-secure nation. The University of New Orleans (UNO) has been newly designated as a National Center of Excellence by the NSA for the next five years, marking the first Louisiana university to achieve the honor. The designation certificate will be presented next week on June 18th in San Diego.
Moonbot Studios Releases New Book, The Numberlys, Readable Through IMAG•N•O•TRON™ App
From the creators of “The Scarecrow,” game and animated short film in partnership with Chipotle Mexican Grill, and other animated films, games and apps such as Lollipop 3: Eggs of Doom, comes a brand new book.Moonbot Studios has just released The Numberlys, an adventure-filled picture book by William Joyce and Christina Ellis.
Application Deadline Nears for TechCrunch Battlefield
TechCrunch Battlefield is a premiere startup competition that encourages new companies from around the world to apply for a shot at $50,000 and the Disrupt Cup. Competing startups will also get to demo in Startup Alley, placing them in front of potential users, partners, investors and the over 200 press outlets on-site. Applications are open through June 16th for both TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco (September 8-10) and London (October 20-21).
Local Dad Launching Toy Business on Kickstarter
Contributor Max Gaudin recently came across a Kickstarter created by a local father, Scott Touchton, who found the books he was using when teaching his kids how to read utterly lacking, specifically on the food side. Touchton is in the process of launching a toy company to “instill some of dat real Nawlins cultcha in kids,” as Gaudin writes.