Sign Up for The Windows Startup Challenge, Deadline January 29th

Do you have an innovative app idea? If so, entrepreneurs, startup and developers who use build on Windows 8 tablets, laptop and PCs are encouraged to register for The Windows Startup Challenge by the January 29, 2013 deadline!  Only 1 week left to apply!  

So what do you get if you win?

Up for grabs is the chance to launch your startup on stage at DEMO Mobile on April 17, 2013 and gain immediate visibility to top press outlets, seed and VC companies in attendance. Also, if you qualify, you are eligible to win scholarship money. To be eligible for scholarships, participants need to register before January 29, 2013 and submit a 2-minute app demo video or relevant screen shots.

The challenge will test your startup’s ability to prototype a Windows Store app, rapidly iterate to design and bring your app to life. Judging will consist of two rounds. The first will conclude on February 5, where prototype entries will be judged. From there a minimum of 20 teams will enter the second round, known as the app design and development round. During this round the top 20 teams will receive an engineer and design resource to help support the team for round two.

The top 5 teams from round two will receive their own marketing package which includes banners, marketing and PR support. One grand prize winning team will receive a trip for two to San Francisco to present and launch their company at DEMO Mobile. 

Full contest guidelines are available here. Don’t miss this opportunity to launch your startup and gain immediate traction while doing so! 

Think Big Partners and Denver-based Solopreneur Launch Bodeefit Windows 8 App

P90X.  Crossfit.  MyFitnessPal.  They’re all great fitness solutions, but none of them address a problem that many workout-enthusiasts look to solve—the problem of workout barriers.

You know what we mean:  the costs of gym membership, the high price of personal trainers, the motivation to get to the gym, the lack of education about nutrition, time to work out...the list goes on and on.  These are all barriers that prevent us from providing ourselves with healthy lifestyles.
Lucky for us, Adam Griffin, Kansas City native and Denver-based solopreneur is looking to eliminate all fitness barriers with one simple solution—Bodeefit.

Bodeefit is a free application that sends daily Crossfit-inspired workouts, healthy Paleo-inspired recipes and tips to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  The app sends Crossfit and bootcamp-style workouts to a user’s email Inbox or mobile phone every morning and does not require gym membership or workout equipment.  Bodeefit also incorporates a daily nutrition guide and sends Paleo-inspired recipes, courtesy of PaleOMG owner, Juli Bauer.

Griffin has also teamed up with Think Big Partners and has outsourced the startup accelerator as the “tech talent” behind the build-phase of Bodeefit.

“The natural evolution of Bodeefit is into the app marketplace, whether that be web-based or mobile,” says Griffin.  “Given Think Big Partners’ relationship with Microsoft, Blake Miller [partner at Think Big Partners] approached me about getting an app into the Windows 8 app store and the opportunity was a great fit.”

“We have used this not only as an opportunity to build a killer app, but also to explore the Windows 8 platform,” says Blake Miller.  “We want to build on it, experience it and then help others do the same.  This is a tremendous opportunity for both Bodeefit and Think Big Partners for discovering a new distribution channel.”

Bodeefit launched last week and currently has about 2,000 users.  The startup also boasts a solid, early-on following with almost 1,500 Facebook followers.  Griffin’s plan is to continue to grow the Bodeefit community organically and introduce new products along the way.

“I am incredibly motivated to reach as many people as possible with Bodeefit,” says Griffin.  “We genuinely improve someone’s life in a way that carries far beyond fitness.  I am regularly receiving emails and messages from people thanking me for Bodeefit and what we provide, and there is literally no better feeling in the world than knowing we touched a person’s life in a small way.”

Bodeefit is currently looking for users to try the free application by joining at www.bodeefit.com.  The startup has been bootstrapped by Griffin himself.  To connect further with Griffin or to learn more about Bodeefit, be sure to connect on Twitter @Bodeefit.

How does Adam Griffin, founder of Bodeefit, Think Big?  “I Think Big by thinking little. Companies need dreamers, but arguably more than that—they need do-ers. People that can take an idea, figure out the steps needed to bring that idea to life and execute on those steps. Because ideas don’t work. People do.”

@BodeeFit
@AllisonThinkBig

Global Entrepreneurship Week Goes Full Steam Ahead in Kansas City

Attention all Kansas City startups, entrepreneurs, and developers! It’s time to celebrate something totally awesome—YOU! On November 8^th, 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Week kicked off here in Kansas City.  The worldwide movement promises to be a week full of engaging events focused on celebrating the startup and entrepreneur culture and will culminate with Startup Weekend Kansas City on November 18, 2012.

In just five short years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has grown to include roughly 35,000 activities that will take place in over 129 countries, all in the course of one week. GEW is officially the world’s largest celebration of startups and entrepreneurs. Through its existence, Global Entrepreneurship Week has inspired nearly 20 million people, through 125,000 activities and it’s ever growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. The weeklong celebration is powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

With a total of 35 events taking place throughout Kansas City during GEW, there will be something for everyone. Think Big Partners is even getting in on the fun by hosting two fantastic events that are completely free with registration.  TBP’s first event is the ever-popular Startup Waffles. The second will be Microsoft Windows 8 Kansas City Bootcamp, which will provide attendees the opportunity to experience and learn how to build on Microsoft’s new flagship operating system, from Microsoft startup evangelist Taylor Cowan.  Attendees of the Windows 8 Bootcamp are eligible for a drawing where the lucky winner will get a brand new Microsoft Surface With Windows RT. Both events will take place on Friday, November 16.  

The week will culminate with the arrival of Startup Weekend KC, a global grassroots movement aimed towards educating and empowering entrepreneurs from all walks of life. The two-day event in itself will start on November, 16^th at 5:00pm and will conclude on November 18^th.  Attendees wanting to participate need to pay the $60.00 registration prior to the event.

So put on your startup pants, shirt and shoes, and don’t miss out on all the fun of celebrating the amazing culture that is entrepreneurship. A full list of events along with registration and location info is available here. If you find an event that you can’t wait for, be sure to register in advance as space can be limited!! 

Why I Love Windows 8

WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER, PARTNER AT THINK BIG PARTNERS

Think Big Partners recently partnered with Microsoft on a number of fronts.  It’s been incredibly exciting to get hands support from a company so dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, especially in the Accelerator space.  One of the biggest perks of all has been the opportunity to dive into the new Windows 8 platform before (almost) anyone else in the country.  With access to the Samsung Slate loaded with Windows 8 (which I now conveniently use as my laptop and can easily plug in to my desktop screen) as well as exposure to the Windows 8-loaded new Surface, I’ve gotten a glimpse at the new Microsoft products that are starting to rock the tech world. 

I am most excited about the new Windows App Store.  The creation of any new app store provides entrepreneurs and developers with even more opportunities.  The new app store, as of now, has a low amount of noise, which gives entrepreneurs the chance to create unique apps and get them in front of users quite easily.

In addition, the Windows Store “rules” (I guess I should call them “unwritten rules”) haven’t been written yet.  This new app store is intriguing in its ability to reset the way developers price their apps.  In my opinion, every app needs to have a price tag.  It’s important for entrepreneurs, developers and app builders to get out of the trap of free apps (plus, Windows lets you host a “trial” period for your app—allowing users to try it for free!).  I think that the Windows Store could potentially create a new revenue stream and a “new normal” for the pricing of apps.

And although I am excited about the new Windows Store, I am absolutely blown away by the Microsoft hardware that Think Big Partners has received.  Yes, the new Surface is killer—but I have been using the Samsung Slate for a few weeks now and cannot get over how quick and snappy everything feels.  Not to mention, the ability to run it on a duel screen.

Currently, I have a ton of applications open on my Slate.  And they’re not small either.  I’m running Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Spotify, this Word Document, and of course, the Internet, all from one powerful, thin Slate.  And guess what?  It’s keeping up (and passing this developer’s speed expectations).

There’s no doubt about it—there are critics out there—people that don’t believe that Windows can keep up with iOS.   I’m as shocked as the next person that I converted from a laptop to using a just a slate for my primary computing needs.  But it works.  And the reviews speak for themselves (and while you’re at it, check out this other Microsoft article too).

I adapt pretty quickly when it comes to new technology—but I am aware that others don’t.  I’ll admit: Windows 8 is different.  It definitely has a learning curve that new users may struggle with.  Getting used to the Charms Bar, the corner-driven usability and the shortcuts did take me a few hours to get used to.
 
Think Big Partners is going to be hosting the Microsoft Windows 8 Kansas City Bootcamp—a one-day tech-focused bootcamp that will educate startups and developers on how to use Windows 8 (and it takes place during Global Entrepreneurship Week).  Attendees can actually play around on the Slates and Surfaces (yes, I’ll even let you use mine...I guess...) and learn the ins-and-outs of Windows 8 and the Windows Store.  Trust me, you’re going to need to know this stuff.

Interested in learning more about Windows 8?  Register today for the event or sound-off with any questions you have in the Comments Section below.

Follow me! @blakemiller32