Congratulations WikiCity!
Published Tuesday October 27, 2009
World-Herald buys WikiCity social Web site
By Steve Jordon
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
The Omaha World-Herald Co. has purchased WikiCity, a community-based social Web site that serves as an online city guide, providing information on places, events and people in 22,000 U.S. towns.
Terry Kroeger, president and CEO of The World-Herald, said WikiCity founder Pat Lazure would continue as president of the operation and of World Interactive Group, a new subsidiary that will create new and innovative products.
Lazure is a native Omahan who spent seven years with First Data Corp. before founding WikiCity. Terms were not disclosed.
WikiCity (http://www.wikicity.com) has more than 13 million Web site pages and is one of the largest “wikis” in the world.
A wiki is an Internet Web site that is open to contributions by its readers.
Silicon Prairie News Features Halo Institute
Thanks to Danny Schreiber from SPN for the great story today on the Halo Institute! Check it out here.
Today’s Omaha World Herald Features Halo Institute!
Hi all – Halo is now publicly launched! Check out the article in today’s Omaha World Herald. Thanks to Christine Laue for taking the time to find out about us! Also, a big congratulations to Verdis Group on a successful launch party last night. That’s a huge milestone – way to go!
Next wave of entrepreneurs can benefit from “Halo” effect in Omaha
A “Halo” effect has been created behind the scenes in the Omaha business community. Nick Hudson and business partner Jim Esch have teamed up with the business school at Creighton University to start a non-profit that will nurture Nebraska’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The Halo Institute began as an idea last spring after Hudson, owner of four businesses himself, was inundated with requests for advice from fellow entrepreneurs. “There are so many talented, creative people in Omaha who have great ideas, and are trying to figure out how to take their businesses to the next level,” said Hudson. “I realized there was a need for a systematic approach to nurture entrepreneurialism.”
The Halo Institute is prepared to work with up to five start-ups every three to six months, providing approximately $20,000 of in-kind services and support to each entrepreneur – no strings attached. Entrepreneurs who work with the Halo Institute will be taken through a seven-step process to firm up their business case for early-stage investment and growth. Organizers refer to this as the Halo Process.
“There’s a gap in the market right now. Investors are ready to support Nebraska start-ups. Many great ideas come across their desks everyday but very few of them receive investment because they aren’t solid business cases or prototypes,” said Anne York, executive director of Creighton University’s entrepreneurship programs.
Bright individuals who are developing high-growth and high-impact businesses are perfect candidates for the Halo Institute. “We expect our businesses to be financially sound and to have a positive impact on people. That’s what we mean by high impact,” said Esch. View videos of businesses in the Halo Institute on YouTube.
Organizers say the Halo Institute is unique among business incubators because of its focus on human capital. The entrepreneur remains in complete control of his or her business, never being required to give up equity or cash to work with the Halo Institute.
Anthony Hendrickson, dean of Creighton’s business school said, “What really attracted us to the Halo Institute model was the focus on human capital. At the end of the day, business can’t move forward without the right people, in the right places, with the right ideas. Creighton is committed to fostering all of those good things within our business school, so it was a natural fit for us to take the lead in forming the Halo Institute.”
A management board of advisors oversees the Halo Process and selects businesses that best fit the Halo Institute criteria. Dr. Roger Fransecky, CEO of Apogee Group, leads the board of advisors. The board will rank candidate businesses on potential positive impact on people, feasibility, scalability, competitive differentiation and quality of management team. Aspiring entrepreneurs can visit click here to participate in the competitive application process.
Many established service providers have already offered the Halo Institute in-kind legal and financial advice. However, there is still a need for cash donations to keep the doors of the 9,500 square-foot facility, located at 1022 Leavenworth St., open for local entrepreneurs. Anyone wishing to help the Halo Institute can click on the following links to be a mentor, affliate or donor.
Meet Guru Instruments, LLC
Guru Instruments, LLC., provides cost-effective and innovative medical devices to enhance performance and comfort in the Laboratory and Surgical O.R. Sam Bhatia M.B.B.S., P.A. (ASCP), established a business grounded on revolutionary methodical principles in the aftermath of the 2008 U.S. economic collapse. Dr. Bhatia is dedicated to providing his consumers with quality products at the lowest price possible. Sam has made sure every product he manufactures optimally enhances patient care by the application of Biomedical Design, Manufacturing, and Sales of Instruments.
Meet Habitwise
Habitwise products take the hassle out of living healthy by creating healthy habits. What began as a simple weight loss tool discovered by a team of clinicians at the University of Nebraska Medial Center is now a full line of habit-inspiring programs for women, men and children in such areas as weight management, disease management, water intake, fitness and more. Whether you’re challenged with weight loss, nutrition, finding structure for your daily food choices or something else, Habitwise proves that small changes allow you to achieve big goals.
Meet Fluff Your Stuff
Fluff Your Stuff Interior Redesign is a full-service, affordable design franchise. For an average of just $1000 a room we have a system that can make your house look amazing and reflect your own personal style. We help women around the country have a second income through channeling their passion in interior design.
Fluff Your Stuff’s staff (say THAT fast five times!) can meet your needs. We have accredited interior designers, architects and decorators who love to make your dreams a reality for an amazing price.
Meet Verdis Group
Verdis Group helps organizations make True.Green. decisions. We focus on the five basic elements of sustainability – food, water, energy, transportation and stuff – to develop a Sustainability Greenprint that uniquely positions an organization to make choices that are good for profits, their people and the environment.
Meet WikiCity
WikiCity is a free wiki, and anyone can contribute. However, WikiCity further differentiates itself because it is designed to promote local community, commerce, tourism, and everyday life within the towns it serves – thus welcoming content that is typically not suited for Wikipedia. Founded in late 2008 by Pat Lazure and Rohit Keshwani, WikiCity provides unique local content on places, events, and people who would be of interest to those associated with any of its 22,000 U.S. towns. It serves these communities much like a local newspaper and business directory, yet using the same open source MediaWiki software that powers Wikipedia, any of its readers are allowed to contribute content. By providing town-specific content and other topical resources including local business listings, news, weather, and classified ads; WikiCity transforms people from content readers to content publishers; allowing local users to enhance their town’s pages by adding deep community content that interests them most.
Welcome to the Halo Institute
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Halo Institute. Today is our official debut to the public. We have been working behind the scenes for the past few months to nurture entrepreneurial talent in Omaha, but now we are ready for you to get involved. Please have a look around our website – whether you are a student, a seasoned business professional, or an aspiring entrepreneur, there is a role for you.
Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check our website often for updates on the dedicated, talented, and passionate entrepreneurs currently in the Halo Institute.