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Ignite, Inspire and Innovate - are the guiding principles of iStart Jax. Fostering the startup culture and the entrepreneurial growth is the reason for our being. We are ready to take the next big leap with the impactful programs for Northeast Florida and beyond. As we prepare for the next level of growth, we are looking to on-board committed top talent for the Executive Leadership roles.
These positions with iStart Jax offer a unique opportunity to work with our global partners – Microsoft BizSpark, Google for Entrepreneurs, F6S, Global Accelerators Network (GAN), UP Global, Global Jax…and many more. It’s an opportunity to be a brand ambassador for iStart Jax in the media with our growing list of Media partners CNN Money, Huffington Post, Business Journal, WJCT, Advantage Biz Magazine, 904 Biz Magazine. Our organization structure is flat and each executive works in a collaborative goal oriented environment. Check us out at www.iStartjax.org
Please apply to the below roles for consideration before 31st March 2014 by entering your information at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZMRJ78L .
If you have any questions, send an email to
MJ Charmani, Founder and Chair –
Board Advisors: CEO’s and Founders at successfully run Startups, Incubators or Accelerators, Corporate Leaders in Executive positions preferably C-Suite, who can help iStart Jax in strategic and transformational initiatives. Providing key inputs to organization’s vision to be one of the world class accelerators and defining futuristic path for sustainable growth are some key responsibilities. This is an opportunity to work with visionaries and other Elite Leaders in the Industry to define the innovative ways to foster the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO): As a Chief Technologist and Architect, CTO will provide the thought leadership and leverage our global partners to expand our platform. Responsible to help organizations roll out of cloud based and cutting edge donor and grants management system. Leverage our relationships with TechSoup, Microsoft for Non-Profit (E1), Salesforce.com - Power of us and many others in the pipeline. A visionary Technocrat who can be the go to person for the Startups and their Technology challenges.
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): CMO will be solely responsible for Responsible for planning, development and implementation of all of the Organization’s marketing strategies, marketing communications, and public relations activities, both external and internal. Responsibilities include developing newer programs and partnerships that offer invaluable resources to aspiring entrepreneurs and Startups. You will spearhead the product innovation and work in collaboration with other accelerators across the globe for continuous improvement. You are single point of contact for Sponsorships and spokesperson for iStart Jax. You will work with Non-profit center and leverage the relationships. We are looking for dynamic and hands-on person to lead our technology efforts.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO – Treasury and Grants): CFO for Treasury and Grants, provides both operational and programmatic support to the organization and chief financial spokesperson for the organization. CFO Directly assists the Executive Leadership and the board on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to Grants Management, budget management, cost benefit analysis, forecasting needs and the securing of new funding. You are also responsible for day to day disbursements, accounting, and purchasing licenses and memberships for the organization. Preference is for someone with experience in Non-profit organization. However necessary Training will be provided during the on-boarding process
Director – Capital Investments: Establish and manage a network of local accredited investors who are interested in accelerating entrepreneurial growth in Northeast Florida via capital investments and knowledge dissemination. Responsibilities include the creation of the iStart Jax investor platform, investor engagement, continuing education, sponsorship and administration of deal flow to ensure capital investments are aligned with the needs of entrepreneurs in the iStart Jax community. This person is expected to be a leader, coordinator and spokesperson for iStart Jax and the growing entrepreneurial community in Northeast Florida.
Director – Public Relations: Responsible for development and implementation of support materials and services for Communications and public relations. Direct the efforts of membership outreach, communications and public relation and coordinate at the strategic and tactical levels with the other functions of the Organization. Preference will be to bloggers and a writers who have exceptional relationships with the Media at the local and National level. Responsible for correspondence, speeches, editorials and news articles for publication. Work with local and national media efforts to advance the organization's brand and recognition. Create and explore new channels in creative marketing and advertising
Director – Social Media Communication and Strategy: Responsible for helping Content creation. Play the role of Community Manager for our online community and discussion forum. Posts on for our website, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and email marketing platforms. Update social media platforms at least weekly. Manage the Center’s email marketing list. Help create and distribute a monthly email newsletter. Prepare status reports on social media efforts and success rates.
Director - Membership Growth: Help iStart Jax design programs to grow our membership base in all demographics. You are the spokesperson for our Members and their concerns. Responsibility includes working on newer and innovative ways to engage members working with our local partners and sponsors. You will also be our designated online Startup community moderator.
Perks and Growth:
All positions above are volunteer driven with no compensation offered at this time. However expenses will be reimbursed at actuals. Perks include all inclusive trips to Conferences, Workshops and Training by our Partners. We invest back in passionate and dedicated volunteers to help them with Training and Certifications that will fuel the growth of the mainstream career.
These positions offer exceptional opportunities to network with elite and cream of the crop professionals and entrepreneurs in the Startups and Technology Industry.
Board Advisors and Executive leaders will be nominated as featured speaker’s at various National and Global Summits and conferences held by our partners.
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iStart Jax supports technology company’s growth
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Energy Intelligence Worldwide, Corp. is installing its Energy Consumption Optimizer (ECO) software-as-a-service in a large indoor shopping center and hotel in the heart of Singapore.
This installation is scheduled to be followed by ECO installations in high-rise office buildings and other hotels owned by the same international building developer and operator. Owners of large properties with building control systems can cut operating costs by more than 20 percent by using ECO. The software uses artificial intelligence to dynamically optimize HVAC systems, autonomously, in real time, thereby reducing energy consumption and costs.
“Our expansion into Singapore and adding an office in Asia came as a result of adding WEnergy Global to our global Affiliate/Agent network. They are a global provider of renewable energy systems solutions. Market research indicated that there are more than 4,300 high-rise buildings concentrated in an area of less than one-fourth the size of Jacksonville,” EIWCorp CEO Herrald Jonkers said.
WEnergy Global agents, Jonkers, and EIWCorp Engineering Solutions Inventor Thamir Massraf presented the ECO software for large HVAC systems at the 2013 International Green Building Conference in Singapore in September. The conference drew more than 40,000 attendees and EIWCorp representatives discussed ECO with a variety of potential clients from both the private and public sectors throughout Southeast Asia.
EIWCorp also has added sales offices in Dallas, San Francisco, and Flintshire, Wales in the United Kingdom within two years of launching. Jonkers credits the company’s growth in part to the assistance it has received through iStart Jax and other entrepreneurial support groups. As one of the top 10 technology startups, EIWCorp was recognized by iStart Jax during the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Week.
“iStart Jax is committed to the success of technology-based startups in the region, and we are pleased with EIWCorp's growth,” iStart Jax CEO Yash Nath said. “Its success emanates from its innovative technology solutions and its leaders’ eagerness to learn from others how best to bring those services to market.”
EIWCorp plans to add an office in South America next, since it has contracted with EcoFuze and Infinite ECO Solutions to identify marketing opportunities in Central and South America. “Utility providers cannot keep up with increased electricity demands there,” Jonkers said.
The company also plans to expand its Jacksonville headquarters, adding as many as 45 jobs -- tripling its current workforce -- within the next three years. “Building owners' strong interest in our powerful HVAC efficiency solution is fueling EIWCorp's rapid growth,” Jonkers said.
“We are thrilled to hear about EIWCorp’s growth in the recent past. This is a testimonial to startups creating jobs. Congratulations to EIWCorp and we are glad to be associated through the journey” said MJ Charmani, Chairman and Founder of iStart Jax.
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Energy Intelligence Worldwide Corp. reduces HVAC energy consumption and energy cost in large buildings. EIWCorp’s flagship product, the Energy Consumption Optimizer (ECO) software-as-a-service, uses artificial intelligence to dynamically optimize HVAC systems, autonomously, in real time, 24/7/365, reducing energy use and energy cost in large commercial buildings by more than 20 percent with no upfront cost, if a building control system is present. Website: www.eiwcorp.com
About iStart Jax:
iStart Jax is a Non-Profit, 501(c) (3), Business Accelerator for Technology based Startups in North East Florida. Our goal is to provide world class resources for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their creative ideas into growing Tech Startups. iStart Jax offers free web applications to Crowd source and Project Manage Startups. We sponsor programs such as Startup Weekend, Google Boot camp, Monthly workshops to accelerate the growth of Startup community. iStart Jax partners with investors to help fund the startup ideas. Affiliated programs include Microsoft BizSpark, 1M\1M Silicon Valley Incubator, F6S and Startup Florida. We help redefine the startup ecosystem with the support of local and global resources by providing Northeast Florida with a viable pool of startups and entrepreneurs. Website: www.istartjax.org
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Monday, October 7, 2013: iStart Jax is pleased to announce their partnership of our city’s inaugural TEDx Jacksonville event, happening at WJCT on October 26, 2013. 300 audience members will experience a day-long, multi-disciplinary conference featuring 10 inspiring talks by a roster of distinct speakers, four inspired performances from Jacksonville’s brilliant art scene and thoughtful dialogues, along with shared meals.
According to Yash Nath, CEO and President of iStart Jax, "Ideas and innovation are the basic ingredients for cutting edge startups. Our goal at iStart Jax is help nurture these by bringing global programs to Jacksonville. What better way to do so than by helping establish TEDxJacksonville and sharing ideas worth spreading.”
iStart Jax’s partnership of the TEDxJacksonville is in keeping with its tradition of supporting Jacksonville’s thriving community. As the leading business accelerator for technology startups in northeast Florida, iStart Jax’s goal is to provide world-class resources for this area. TEDxJacksonville, with its creativity and theme of sharing ideas worth spreading, is exactly the kind of program iStart Jax is proud to sponsor. Jacksonville residents hopeful for selection as an audience member in the TEDxJacksonville conference on October 26 have already submitted more than 200 applications. The distinguished roster of speakers includes former ambassador Nancy Soderberg, former congressman and current Executive Director of the Energy and Enterprise Initiative at George Mason University Robert Inglis, Executive Director of Second Harvest North Florida Bruce Ganger and many others. For a full listing of speakers, visit: http://tedxjacksonville.com/speakers/
Jason Juall, Director at iStart Jax, says “We believe that bringing events like TEDx to Jacksonville will help put Northeast Florida on the map as a community that fosters innovation and ingenuity. We proudly support TEDxJacksonville and hope that Northeast Florida entrepreneurs will take advantage of this unique opportunity to support the region's growing creative community."
“We are impressed with the line-up of speakers and quality of the preparation by Doug Robinson and TEDx Jacksonville Team. We are also proud that one of our Director – Sheena Koshy is engaged in the program as a volunteer. We are a very hands on partners” said MJ Charmani, Chairman and Founder of iStart Jax.
About iStart Jax: iStart Jax is a Non-Profit, 501(c) (3), Business Accelerator for Technology based Startups in North East Florida. Our goal is to provide world class resources for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their creative ideas into growing Tech Startups. iStart Jax offers free web applications to Crowd source and Project Manage Startups. We sponsor programs such as Startup Weekend, Google Boot camp, Monthly workshops to accelerate the growth of Startup community. iStart Jax partners with investors to help fund the startup ideas. Affiliated programs include Microsoft BizSpark, 1M\1M Silicon Valley Incubator, F6S and Startup Florida. We help redefine the startup ecosystem with the support of local and global resources by providing Northeast Florida with a viable pool of startups and entrepreneurs.
About TEDxJacksonville, where x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. At TED, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
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iStart Jax is pleased to announce the launch of Startup Weekend NEXT (September 28 – October 26), a 3 hour, part-time program for five weeks to build the skills and tactics your startup needs to prepare for an accelerator, investor, or early-stage launch. The NEXT program, led by Startup Weekend and in partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs, Techstars and GAN, will follow the course content of Steve Blank from his Lean LaunchPad at Stanford class. Startup Weekend’s Next “pre-accelerator” program will teach early-stage founders how to turn their business ideas into successful companies. Participants will learn and use basic tools for building successful companies, using Steve Blank’s Customer Development process to “get out of the building” and see if the vision is real or a hallucination.
Jacksonville is only one of 23 cities worldwide which will be hosting a NEXT program. Yash Nath, President and CEO of iStart Jax says “NEXT participants will now have the opportunity to pitch their business to several investment groups including PS27 ventures and Suresh Investment Holdings. We are also pleased to have Kevin Riley, serial entrepreneur and Managing Director at Kevin Riley & Associates | Health Model Innovation, Jessie Shternshus of The Improv Effect and Bob Dahlstrom, CEO at BluePrint Data join us in this exciting venture”.
Kevin Riley, NEXT facilitator says “Startup NEXT is designed to be an intermediate step, after Startup Weekend but before entrepreneurs enter a business accelerator - where they build a product and seek that first round of angel investor funding”.
“We’re constantly asked ‘what’s next’ by our participating entrepreneurs,” says Startup Weekend founder and CEO Marc Nager. “We are thrilled to help entrepreneurs everywhere take their next step toward success,” Nager says, “in a far more comprehensive program providing a new startup with a rigorous methodology, vital business tools, and a common language to discuss their progress with coaches, investors, and team members.” Nager anticipates upwards of 200 Startup Weekend Next programs to be completed in 2013 alone.
HOW IT WORKS
Startup Weekend’s Next offers startup teams five intense weeks:
- Week 1 - Customer Discovery: Learn to validate your ideas through in-person customer interviews using Steve Blank’s Customer Development methodology and tactics from customer development practitioners.
- Week 2 - Big Markets, Big Ideas: Hone up on skills you need to build your idea into a great company
- Week 3 – Fundability: Learn how investors evaluate what they are looking for and the milestones you need to hit for them to pay attention.
- Week 4 – Pitching Your Idea: Learn about pitching or communicating an idea for recruiting a co-founder, selling to your customers, applying to an accelerator or pitching an investor.
- Week 5 – Go to Market: Last but not least, learn strategies and tactics that entrepreneurs can implement to reach more customers and sell more.
Learn more at http://www.swnext.co/events/jacksonville-next
About iStart Jax: iStart Jax is a Non-Profit, 501 (C)-(3), Business Accelerator for Technology based Startups in North East Florida. Our goal is to provide world class resources for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their creative ideas into growing Tech Startups. iStart Jax offers free web applications to Crowdsource and Project Manage Startups. We sponsor programs such as Startup Weekend, Google Boot camp, Monthly workshops to accelerate the growth of Startup community. iStart Jax partners with investors to help fund the startup ideas. Affiliated programs include Microsoft BizSpark, 1M\1M Silicon Valley Incubator, F6S and Startup Florida. We help redefine the startup ecosystem with the support of local and global resources by providing Northeast Florida with a viable pool of startups and entrepreneurs.
About Startup Weekend: Startup Weekend, the global 501(c) 3 that’s hosted more than 800 such events in over 350 cities worldwide. Startup Weekend is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA, that organizes 54-hour weekend events during which groups of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, form teams around those ideas, and work to develop a working prototype, demo, or presentation. It has hosted more than 800 such events in over 350 cities worldwide. The Kauffman Foundation, Google, coke and Microsoft are sponsors.