Girls in Tech Boise has now wrapped up our 2013 Spring season and will not be meeting again until next Fall.  Please watch our website for updates and information throughout the summer as we gear up for another great season of meetings, inspiration, and collaboration with other women in technology.

In celebration of Develop.Idaho, Girls in Tech Boise will not be meeting tonight for Happy Hour at Solid!  Please attend the Develop.Idaho cocktail instead and meet other women and men in the valley working on great projects in technology!  See below for details.

develop.idaho is the only event of its kind in the state.  This half day, industry led event was created to connect software developers, designers, entrepreneurs and students with Idaho's brightest software leaders and special guests.  "Find Your Platform" is the theme of this 3rd annual premier event.  It is about showing how software companies are not just solving specific problems, but building integrated solutions that scale and serve a wide customer base.  "Find Your Platform" also challenges each of us to find our own platform for success OR through our mutual efforts, help someone else find theirs. 

 This year's conference is shaping up to be the best one yet!  Are you ready to "Find Your Platform"? 

http://software.idahotechcouncil.org/develop.idaho

Event:  
develop.idaho Software Conference - Presented by Perkins Coie

When:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
1:00pm - 5:30pm

Where:
Stueckle Sky Center, BSU (Double R Ranch Room)
1910 University Dr
Boise, ID

Tickets:

ITC Members: $25 Non-ITC Members: $30 Students: FREE

The space is limited (500 tickets available)

*Tech Cocktail tickets are purchased separately due to seating limitations.*

FREE parking will be available

A startup company formed out of theb|launched competition, a program of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce’sBoise Young Professionals (BYP), has taken its first round of startup fundingto pilot their program in Boise, ID. 

In December2012, four teams of young professionals competed for startup funding.  Taking first place, Be Free Village received$29,000.  Faisal Shah, one of the mentorsthat helped start the b|launched program explains, “This program is givingyoung professionals the critical tools they need to start companies and helpour community create jobs.”

Today, the winningcompany launched its website, www.befreevillage.com, and social media sites.  Spokesperson Lisa Bloomquist explained, “Weare building a virtual community for travelers with food allergy needs,starting with Gluten-Free consumers.”Bloomquist continued, “We encourage the local community to engage in oursocial media, provide feedback on our product offerings, and connect with us aswe grow the company.”

Be FreeVillage will be introducing a balanced box of healthy Gluten-Free products inthe near future.  In June, the BoiseChamber will hold an official unveiling for the two teams that received fundingas part of the b|launched program.

 “Be Free Village was created as part of acollaborative partnership.  Our team sawa need and envisioned a company to help fill those gaps.” explains BrookeGreen, CEO of Be Free Village.  “We arepiloting our program in Boise because this is a community our team believesin.”

About Be Free Village

Aimingto become the trusted name for travelers with dietary needs, Be Free Village isa brand of resources, products and convenience.Be Free Village is based in Boise, ID, and got its start as the winningteam of the Boise Metro Chamber’s b|launched program in 2012.  For more information and to read the fullstory, visit www.befreevillage.com.

Mark your calendars for April 5th and 6th and StartupTV (Startup Treasure Valley)!

Interested in starting a business? Have an idea but don't know what to do first? Want to see what others are up to in the Boise Valley in the entrepreneurship world? Register now and find out! The registration is $39 and students - there are some scholarships available.

Check out the agenda. See you there!

This Wednesday (2/20) is our monthly Girls in Tech meetup!  Please join us for Happy Hour cocktails and conversation at Solid in BODO from 4:30p-6pm.  We hope to see you there!

Tomorrow is the STEM Exploration day (Formerly Discover Engineering Day) at Boise State and Girls In Tech Boise will be there volunteering!

Are you familiar with HTML5, JavaScript/CSS/PHP? have experience with jQuery Mobile, PHP and Zend Framework? Even better! RIA Fox wants to talk with you!

As a programmer with RIA Fox, you will modify and create ui components and elements including HTML5 and iQuery objects.

If interested, please send a resume to Ben(at)riafox.com. Check out their site to learn more about RIA Fox.

Spread the word! 

 

Come join us tomorrow afternoon at 4:30pm at Solid in BODO to kickoff 2013 with your fellow GirlsinTechBoise members!  We'll have some cocktails, some good conversation, and spend some time reconnecting about what each other is working on.

We hope you thoroughly enjoyed the holidays and spent some good quality time with friends and family over the past few weeks. If you are like us, you created some great memories and participated in more than one generous feast. Now its time to buckle down and head back to work. Don't let that thought get you down. There are many terrific opportunities awaiting you in 2013!

One you don't want to miss is the Women's Business Symposium, Friday, February 15th at the BSU Student Union Building. Realize the path from opportunity to success at this annual event. The keynote is Carolyn Buck-Luce. Ms. Buck-Luce is the Global Pharmaceutical Sector Leader at Ernst and Young and the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Woman of the Year for 2012. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University  in the School of International and Public Affairs where she teaches Management and Gender. She also serves as a Board Member at the Center for Work-Life Policy and the New York Women's Foundation. Registration is $75 and includes the Symposium, networking reception, lunch and parking. 

Be sure and save the date as registration opens soon.

 

Earlier this month, MBA Online created a terrific graphic illustrating women's increased participation in tech. Check it out! Have you noticed any changes in the tech sector in Boise? Who is thinking about starting a business? Who started a business in 2012? As you think about the goals you want to accomplish in 2013, give this chart some thought. Do you want to start a tech-based business? Are you interested in gaining more STEM education? Do you want to serve on a corporate board?

Let us know - we are here to help! Here's to more progress in 2013!

And a big thanks to our friend Britt Ide ((at)brittide on Twitter) with Ide Law & Strategy for bringing this infographic to our attention.

Looking for a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer for the reader(s) in your life? Check out The Game of Books, a game engine for reading and a project by Boise's own Novel Projects (aka Booklamp). Aaron Stanton and his team have a project on Kickstarter to bring the game to life.

The good news is that they met their funding goal of $102,364 with hours to spare! The funds raised will provide access to The Game for schools and libraries. There is still time to contribute and be part of an exciting and educational game for readers of all ages. They would like to raise at least $110,000. With 2 hours left, they are at $108,038.

Every little bit moves them closer to their goal and puts The Game of Books in more schools and libraries around the world. If you are interested and able to contribute, check out The Game of Books on Kickstarter.

We just pledged a little - it was quick and painless. We are really excited to be part of this entrepreneurial aspect of our community and even more excited to see and play The Game of Books!

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Healthwise needs you! Healthwise is looking for a Software Engineer V. This is a manager position that is full time with benefits. The salary range is $66,000 to 87,000 depending on experience. To find out more or to apply, visit Healthwise's job page.

Don't forget that the Idaho TechJobs portal is your one-stop shop for tech related information and job opportunities. Visit the portal here.

Tell your friends!

Because a picture is worth a thousand words.....

We just discovered a terrific graphic at JUMPTHRU, a women's business accelerator, that speaks volumes and broadcasts the urgency and timeliness of the 12/12/12 at 12:00 noon event at Berryhill. Want to learn how you can prepare yourself for Board service? Better yet, are you ready to take a seat at the table? RSVP here today and learn more.

 

Reference

JUMPTHRU (2012). Where are the women on tech company boards? Retrieved from  http://http://www.mytechletter.com/techh/tech-board-directors-women/

As a preamble to the 12/12/12 12:00 noon event to encourage more diversity on boards, the Women on Boards group is taking the conversation to the Twitterverse today at 10:00 am MT (12:00 noon ET).

Joining the conversation is easy - just log on to Twitter at 10:00 am and follow or post to the conversation using #1212WOB

A sample of conversation topics include:

Why should consumers care about board consumption?

Is being on a board good for your career? What's it take to get appointed?

How can women better position themselves to serve?

Listen in on an important conversation today at 10:00 am MT and don't forget to to RSVP for the event on 12/12/12 at 12:00 noon at Berryhill. Trust us, you'll be glad you did.

 

Girls in Tech Boise is proud to be a part of an important conversation encouraging gender diversity on US corporate boards. The conversation takes place nationally on 12/12/12 at 12 noon.

In Boise, join the conversation at Berryhill (121 N. 9th St., Boise) on 12/12/12 at 12 noon.

Learn why board diversity matters, the skills needed and how to become a board member from

Eileen Langan Barber, Director & Co-founder, Keynetics
Lesley Slaton McNorton, Senior Manager, Global Marketing, Hewlett-Packard, executive on loan to the National Action Committee for Minorities in Engineering
Mark Solon, Managing Partner, Highway 12 Ventures

It's an important conversation for consumers, shareholders, employees and community leaders; take a seat at the table and RSVP today.

For additional information, or questions, please contact Kelli at kelli(at)idelawstrategy.com. Thanks to Britt Ide and Kelli Soll of Ide Law & Strategy for bringing the conversation to Boise.

Note: The event is part of 2020 Women On Boards, a 501c3 organization. Part of your registration fee ($20) for the luncheon will be considered a donation to 2020 Women on Boards and is tax deductible as allowed by law.

Girls in Tech Boise will join the women of Go Lead Idaho for a Post Election Social Hour on Tuesday, November 13th from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at The Brickyard (downtown Boise, 601 W. Main St.).

You may recall that we were scheduled to have an educational session this month. We have decided to hold off on that so that we can join in and celebrate the success of those fearless women that ran for office this year. The newly elected and re-elected women official have been invited to attend. Show your support and find out how you can get more involved by joining us on Tuesday night.

Please note: This is a no-host cocktail reception.

We hope to see you there!
 

Attention Techies of All Ages!

The TechJobs Portal is now live. A project spearheaded by the Boise Valley Economic Partnership's entrepreneurial roundtables with Idaho tech companies and entrepreneurial support organizations and jointly endorsed and championed by the Idaho Technology Council and the Idaho Department of Labor, the TechJobs Portal provides information on jobs in the Boise Valley and the state. From the TechJobs Portal, you can search for tech jobs, find out information on the tech sector and link to other job related resources. 

If you know of companies looking to hire, encourage them to post their jobs to the site. If you know of people looking for opportunities in the tech sector, encourage them to search the site. You can even add the TechJobs badge to your site. You'll see the badge on our homepage in the right hand column.

The job aggregation site is the first step in a multi-pronged approach to showcase the Boise Valley's talent and companies. Read the press release here.

If you love books and reading, check out and support The Game of Books, the new project from Booklamp.org's Aaron Stanton on Kickstarter.

Designed to support and encourage the discovery of books, Stanton has dubbed it 'Magic:The Gathering for Reading'. Readers use technology and gamify the reading experience, discovering new authors, titles, series, genres, etc earning badges and points along the way. We'd tell you more, but the write-up on Kickstarter is so better than any editing or explaining we could do.

There are 45 more days to go to help them reach their goal. Check out the Kickstarter offering here.

Even if you don't contribute to the project, its great to check in our one of our favorite local companies and entrepreneurs and see what they are up to.

Kickstand's Speed Dating 2012 hits the stage November 7th. From 5:00 to 7:30 pm, companies will have the opportunity to practice their pitches, get feedback and maybe, just maybe earn some money ($1,000).

The speed date works like this:

• You (the entrepreneur or company rep) get 5 minutes to pitch your business as though you were pitching to a potential investor
• You get 5 minutes of feedback from the 'judge' (investors and area business leaders) 
• Move to the next judge

This activity repeats throughout the night (up to 10 judges). The top 3 selected by the judges will present at the Kickstand pre-TechCocktail event on November 8th. The audience will get to vote for the winner in real time.

If you are interested or want to learn more, contact Miguel at lantz(at)ctcweb.net. Applications are due soon (October 25th). There is no cost to participate.