We all had a budget for the year. In light of everything that has happened, that budget may have changed drastically or be gone altogether. Those assumptions we were so confident of in January may be wrong now. Priority #1 is revisit our budgets to see what makes sense. Even if our budgets make sense, you will probably find that your assumptions for delivering services and receiving payment may be changed in the current environment.  The same goes for operations: critical components like your human capital, suppliers, processes and systems, etc. may not function as you planned because of hard decisions you are making or will make. You must review these things and rethink to stay ahead of the curve — as hard as that may seem it is crucial right now that we all stay steps, days, weeks, and months ahead of the challenges ahead. There are future impacts to your business that are coming a few months down the road; you must try your best to get ahead of it.   Normally, a recession takes place over a 6 month or so period.  What’s different now is that a recession has arrived in the fastest manner in modern history, so the normal precautions that may have been in place will have to be in place immediately.  We tend to get stuck in the weeds of survival — heads down to deal with the crisis of today. But while we are doing that, we must also rise up and

At Start Co. we work with startups and small businesses by taking them through an entrepreneurial building process that challenges them to test assumptions and question everything. In these rapidly shifting times all businesses, including ours, are forced to go back to basics. We all must revisit customers and markets, conduct customer discovery and ask our clients (or potential clients) about what they need. So let’s get back to basics:  Problem: Is the problem you believe you are working to solve as painful or significant to your customers as you believe?  Is it relevant now and will it be in the future? Solution: Are the features of your solution in line with the problems your customers are seeking to have solved?   Price: Have you confirmed with your customers (even if they are already paying) that the price is correct?  Are you solving a more painful problem now? For how long? Go to Market Strategy: Are the marketing and engagement channels you are using the best ones to use in the present day?  Are you able to use them in a way that fits into the behavior of your customer so that they are better able to receive your products and services? What last changes will endure to these strategies? Overnight, COVID-19 has put businesses in challenging circumstances. But with new challenges, come new opportunities. Take this time to dig into your business. Go back to discovery and reconnect with clients. Identify what the new priorities are for your clients, if

Applications for all accelerator programs are now open! In the next 90 days, we are looking for teams across programs to invest up to $50,000. Each accelerator will take place during the Summer of Acceleration, presented by Memphis entrepreneurial partners Epicenter and Start Co. The Summer of Acceleration is a 100-day intensive, hands-on educational program that speeds the development of high-tech, high-growth startup companies, focused on regional industries of strength including Medical Device, Logistics, and Civic Technology. Startups receive unprecedented business and technical assistance that continues well beyond the 100-day programs. Applications close March 20th! See specifics and application links for each program below.  Smart City Technology Accelerator Via the Sky High Program Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/skyhighcivictechnologyaccelerator/apply The Sky High Accelerator powered by Start Co. is seeking smart city and property technology-based startup companies to solve problems and create efficiency in intelligent building, construction, space management, safety, and security.    We are looking for startups that want to leverage the perspective of real estate developers, architects, construction companies and smart building experts to create solutions that enhance the way we live and interact in our cities.      Logistics Technology Via the Sparkgap Program Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/logisticsaccelerator2019/apply The SparkGap Logistics Accelerator is powered by Start Co. and Epicenter and operates in the global logistics hub of Memphis, TN. We are seeking unique, innovative logistics technology startups that are creating products related to intelligent packaging, supply chain visibility, medical device tracking, data analytics, and data access.     Medical Device Via the ZeroTo510 Program

A Memphis Moment: Founder’s Spotlight with Megan Gray of Moment AI    Megan Gray, a native and long-time member of the tech community in Memphis, knows what can change in a moment. After experiencing multiple seizures, Doctor’s told her she would not drive again. From there, she decided to use her background and personal experience to create a technology that would help herself and other people whose ability to drive is affected by a medical condition.   Moment AI uses facial recognition software to monitor driver safety. The camera collects data points that can sense facial irregularities caused by everything from drowsiness to seizures and strokes. From there, the software can take control of the vehicle to drastically reduce the seriousness of crashes and quickly alert EMT professionals.    Along with Chief Technology Officer Jacob Sutton, Moment is part of the inaugural class of Start Co.’s Smart City Sky High Accelerator. We talked to Megan about her personal journey, relationship with Start Co. and her perspective as a woman of color in the tech ecosystem.    Liza: Hi Megan, please tell us a little about yourself.  Megan: I began my tech career as an IT intern, and then received a Google scholarship. I worked for Google for two years, including my time as an intern. At that point, I was more interested in technology and innovation and started building projects myself. I was working with electric cars and arduino projects when I began to have seizures while coming home from

Winter Is Coming: Founder’s Spotlight with Winter Innovations    Lia Winter, Founder and CEO, and Preston Dishner, COO, moved across state this May to take part in the Summer of Acceleration. The two Vols, who both recently graduated with dual graduate degrees (both MBAs and MS’) from UT Knoxville, came to launch Winter Innovations, the namesake of the founder.    Working in research and development for an orthopedics company, Lia was stunned to learn that surgeon technology continued to be difficult, slow, and aggravating. Orthopedic surgeons use whipstitching to create medical sutures for surgery; a practice that is done by hand and involves both a surgeon and at least one assistant. Cue “EasyStitch”, the first product from Winter Innovations, that fixes these problems by creating an easy to use needle and secure, no movement mechanism to hold the suture.    We had an interactive, fun conversation about Lia and Preston’s background, the creation of Winter Innovations, and on their experiences this summer at Start Co. and in the Zeroto510 medical device accelerator.    __________________________________________________________   Liza: Please tell me a little about yourselves.  Lia: Great, we’ve been trained on this – how to say our name and spell it out. My name is Lia and it’s spelled L-I-A.  Liza: And your last name is Winter!  Lia: And the name of the company! I’m originally from Pittsburgh and I went to the University of Pittsburgh for undergrad and eventually to University of Tennessee at Knoxville for graduate school. I was there

Experience The World Around You  Sneh graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology. After graduation, Sneh worked at an accelerator focused on machine learning and after joined a marketing agency where he saw brands spend hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to engage with people based on location proximity. Sneh and his co-founder Nafis Azad became interested in smart city technology and saw an opportunity where he could improve people’s experiences with transportation services.    ________________________________________________________________ Abdullah: What is Lucky?  What is the problem lucky is trying to solve?  Sneh: Lucky is a location-based marketing platform that allows local business and brands to engage with people as they travel within the city using transportation services.  There are so many types of mobility services such as ride-sharing services, bike-share programs, and electric scooters, etc. As more people starting to use these services, we have access to the location data. Local businesses have a tough time trying to interact with consumers. Also, they do not have the budget to spend money on online advertising such as Google and Facebook, and they also do not have the brand awareness as larger brands do. We help local businesses level the playing field by creating this new marketing channel that engages with consumers based on where they’re at in proximity to their physical stores. For example, if you take a bird scooter from one intersection like Main and Union local coffee shop, they can offer you a discount on

Tallahassee Takeover in Memphis: Founder’s Spotlight with DiaTech Diabetic Technologies Inc. JC, John, Nick, and Luis, the four cofounders of DiaTech Diabetic Technologies Inc., came together during their undergraduate years at Florida State University. At the age of nine, CEO John Wilcox was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. His personal connection to diabetes encouraged him to look for innovative ways to modernize and progress diabetes technology. As his research into perfecting insulin delivery grew, so did the team.    Introduced by a mutual advisor, the four Seminoles together imagined and engineered SmartFusion, a sensor based device for insulin pumps that monitors, diagnoses, and predicts irregularities and problems in insulin delivery. SmartFusion helps resolve common injection problems such as leakage, blockage, and dislodgement, and will help reduce the almost $430 million in loss from failed injections.    Recently we sat down with John Wilcox, CEO, JC Gray, CSO, and Nick Cooper, COO. We had a lengthy discussion about how the four of them came together, the rise of innovation in the Southeast, their new life in Memphis, and on their time with Start Co.    Luis, DiaTech’s CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is a remote team member, currently working full time for Johnson and Johnson in the cardiac division. Not only is his professional experience an asset to the team, all three members categorized him as a productive, active, and vocal member of the team, involved in every step of operations. His co-founders could not speak more highly of him.    ________________________________________________________________

EasyMove Founder Is No Stranger To Moving: Founder’s Spotlight with Emin Aliyev     EasyMove Emin Aliyev was born and raised in Azerbaijan, a country nestled in the southern Caucasus Region of Eurasia (the geographical area between Europe and Asia). Emin received his undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics and Economic Cybernetic from Baku State University and earned his Master’s in Computer Science from The University of Michigan. Upon graduation, Emin started his career in the IT field. After a few years in the IT industry, Emin decided to start his own logistics company in Chicago called Easy Move.   Abdullah: What is EasyMove? Emin: EasyMove is an Uber-like application that connects local truck owners with people and businesses that needs moving and delivery help at an affordable flat cost.   Abdullah: How did you hear about Start Co. and the SparkGap Accelerator Program? Emin: I applied through f6s after I saw that Start Co. specializes in logistics and they can support my company with their expertise in the field.   Abdullah: In terms of progress, where is EasyMove now and what is the goal for next year? Emin: We had more than 250 delivery requests since we launched in Chicago, and that includes furniture delivery, appliances, and so on. This year, we are developing our growth hacking strategy. We saw out of the 150 applicants that want to be movers; only 10% of them are using the iPhone. We are developing our Android app. and we will launch it soon.

A PhD on Her New Learning Experience: Founder’s Spotlight with Kristen Archbold This summer, Dr. Kristen Archbold, CEO and Founder of Azimuth Sleeping Solutions, is embarking on a new learning journey. With both a Bachelors and Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Michigan, Kristen Archbold has spent her career in nursing and academia, most recently at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) here in Memphis. However, this accomplished academic found herself on a new academic journey this year after launching Azimuth Sleeping Solutions, which has designed a strapless CPAP masks for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Kristen’s long nursing and academic careers have been dedicated to patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Currently, only about 35% of patients prescribed a CPAP machine actually use it. Kristen sought out to find an alternative to current devices by creating a strapless mask. The mask is orally-retained, making sure air flows where it’s needed, with no leakage, and of course without claustrophobic or uncomfortable straps. In May of 2019, Azimuth began the intensive Zeroto510 medical device accelerator. Kristen and I sat down for a chat about the transition from nursing and academia to entrepreneurship and startup culture. Hear how an RN and PhD is navigating the world of startup accelerators… ———————— Liza: First, what is Azimuth? Kristen: There’s a mathematical definition of an azimuth angle; the angle is zero when you are standing due north and the sun is standing over your head. The angle is where your location is in

Public innovation, meet private innovation. On May 29th, startup founders from the Sky High accelerator at Start Co. were invited to spend a day with officials from the City of Memphis. The full day of programming included an invite to Mayor Strickland’s monthly data meeting, a presentation from Chief Information Officer for Memphis, Mike Rodriguez, and a visit to the MPD real-time crime center.   Each event throughout the day was designed to highlight the innovative strides Memphis is taking as a city. By investing in and expanding the use of civic data and technology, city officials hope to improve Memphian’s quality of life while also attracting a new generation of entrepreneurs. Startups selected for Sky High are using technology to find solutions to city problems surrounding transportation, mobility and, or public safety. Using public, civic data provided by the City of Memphis, Sky High startups can use their technology and creative skills to develop accessible, user friendly devices and applications.     The 2019 cohort all bring fresh solutions to civic problems. Moment AI, from Memphis, is using facial recognition to improve driver safety; PAT, also from Memphis, uses augmented reality software to help solve Memphis transportation problems; and Atlanta based Parka Solutions, is developing a digital advertising platform that can be used in city transportation apps.   The day began at the monthly Mayor’s dashboard review meeting at City Hall with Mayor Jim Strickland and department directors. Craig Hodge, who runs the Office of Performance Management, presented current