Caroline Collective » paul

C2 Creative Presents Curt Gambetta

paul — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:34:32 +0000

Curt Gambetta, designer and architect, will host this week’ edition of the C2 Creative Speaker Series, “Curt’s Petcha Kucha: A Montage of Ideas.” Curt will present in a free form style various aspects of his work from the politics of waste to concrete vernacular architecture. ¬†Not following a theme, and only focusing for a snapshot’s moment on any particular component, Curt hopes to give the audience a good impression of how he processes information and associates ideas.

The brief presentation will be followed by a 30 minute, interactive Q&A.

The C2 Creative Speaker Series is a weekly event held at Caroline Collective where alternating business and creative speakers have liberty to lay out their ideas in an interactive format. The series is free and open to the public. C2 Creative is a nonprofit organization and relies on the goodwill and financial support of our community.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Happy Hour Follow Up and “What Houston Needs”

paul — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:56:23 +0000

First off, we would like to say a giant thanks to all those that made the Impromptu Happy Hour happen last week. In particular, Marc Nathan of StartupHouston.com and the Houston Technology Center and Aziz Gilani of DFJ Mercury really pushed the event into reality. Thanks, guys.

We would also like to point out the “teaching moment” the event created before it passes. It seems our gathering of like-minded individuals spurred a bit of debate (started here, going here, here, and here) on the Houston tech blogosphere about “What Houston Needs” to become a premier startup city like Austin, Boston, or San Francisco. To us, this is a prime example of the value of coworking.

Before we can even begin to debate how to move Houston forward as a “startup city,” first everyone must be in the same room. Coworking provides that.

In a little over a year here, we have seen the proof that working together is working smarter. Every one of our members can point to a time when he or she got a little help from a coworking neighbor with an idea, production, or network. (Just this week Stephen Freeman showed us a thing or two about fixing a fritzed shredder!)

So next time you feel like you’re running against a wall creatively, or need someone off which to bounce ideas, or even need a break from working solitary, drop by for some of that magic coworking juice. You might even find yourself involved with Houston’s next hottest startup, and then maybe we can put this debate to rest.

So what do we think Houston really needs? More coworking, of course.

This is also a great lead-in to this week’s C2 Creative talk given by Anjuan Simmons. Anjuan will provide yet another perspective on what Houston needs to regain its place as the tech center that launched WordPress, Compaq, and BMC Software. Attend this talk to further the conversation started last week with the entrepreneur and startup community of Houston.

Caroline Opens Intern Search

paul — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:05:21 +0000

Looking for the sweetest internship in Houston? Look no further, compadre. Houston’s premier coworking space has your back.

Caroline Collective is officially opening up the search for our Fall Intern today. The Internship is an opportunity for interested students to gain hands-on experience in business administration, community building, social media and event promotion. You’ll work directly with the Caroline founders, members, and community friends to advance the coworking movement in Houston.

This means everything from day-to-day facilities work, drafting communications, pitching our services, and contributing to strategy meetings.

To apply, simply send your resume and cover letter to carolinecollective@gmail.com. To read more about the internship, visit the Internship Page.

C2 Creative Presents Anjuan Simmons

paul — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:34:33 +0000

This week Anjuan Simmons will present this week’s C2 Creative talk, business edition: “Restoring ‘Tech Cred’ to Houston,” a presentation of why Houston is not included on lists of technology elite cities, Houston’s strong science and research credentials, and ways to promote Houston’s technology bona fides.

Anjuan Simmons is a business executive who specializes in helping companies synchronize their information technology and business strategies. Currently a Texas A&M MBA student, Anjuan has a decade of experience as a technology consultant. Anjuan lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife and their three children. He is a frequent updater to his Facebook Profile and his Twitter Feed.

The C2 Creative Speaker Series is a weekly event held at Caroline Collective where alternating business and creative speakers have liberty to lay out their ideas in an interactive format. The series is free and open to the public. C2 Creative is a nonprofit organization and relies on the goodwill and financial support of our community.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Ad Hoc Meet the VC’s Happy Hour

paul — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:00:35 +0000

When was the last time you got together with the who’s who of the Houston entrepreneurial class? ¬†Caroline Collective, the Houston Technology Center, and StartupHouston.com are hosting an impromptu happy hour this Thursday at 7pm, right here on Caroline Street.

Be part of the Houston startup community that gets to meet and greet with some of Texas’ best Venture Capital Firms from Austin, Dallas and Houston’s own DFJ Mercury.¬† Expect drinks in the form of St. Arnold‚Äôs beer. So drop by for good conversation and a dash of old fashioned networking with startups, techies, and investors.

What: Happy Hour for Houston Startups
When: 7pm Thursday, July 30
Where: Caroline Collective, 4820 Caroline St; Directions here.
Who: Investors, entrepreneurs, and the technology-oriented business community
Bring: Business cards and conversation

See you there!

Photo Credit: Paul Stamatiou

Information Superhighway: Down South Edition

paul — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:30:32 +0000

Caroline Collective with ROFLCon, Schipul the Web Marketing Company, and St. Arnold’s Brewery proudly present Information Superhighway: The Down South Edition, a Houston tech meetup.

Information Superhighway is the new Houston gathering for hackers, activists, artists, designers, nonprofits, startups, academics and general geekery to meet, hang out, and connect with one another.

There is no agenda, no presentations, and no speed networking at the Information Superhighway. There will be beverages, food, ideas and cool people. Best of all, the price is free.

First started in Boston, the Information Superhighway meetup has since spread to San Fransico and now Houston. If you are interested in following the meetup’s organizer, Rachel Mercer, on Twitter, you can find her @infosuperhiway.

Featured Guests and Organizations:

Dallas Baker, Freed Advertising
Ed Schipul, The Schipul Web Marketing Company
Matthew Wettergreen & Ned Dodington, Caroline Collective
Katie Laird, Houston Dr. Sketchy
Javier Fadul, Culture Pilot
Tony Medrano, Pecha Kucha Houston
Brian Block, Pierpont Communications

Check out the Facebook event, the Yahoo event, and mark your calendar.

C2 Creative Presents Elliot Cole

paul — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:40:32 +0000

Having worked variously as a freelance web designer, piano teacher, composer, operations manager (right here at Caroline), and most recently as the musical arranger for Main Street Theater’s production of the children’s musical “Ps and Qs: The ABCs of Manners,” Elliot Cooper Cole will present this week’s installment of the C2 Creative Speaker Series.

Elliot will discuss “Musical Gardening,” the creative and oft-times frustrating process of producing fruit out of the mind’s fertile seeds.

C2 Creative is a nonprofit organization housed at Caroline Collective aimed at providing productive resources for good ideas in Houston.¬† The C2 Creative Speaker Series alternates between creative and business topics weekly. ¬†As always, the Series is free and begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Tontons Release Party

paul — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:04 +0000

If you haven’t heard, the Tontons are one of Houston’s best Indie Bands. And we’re helping them throw a swinging CD release party this weekend at Caroline. There will be food, beverages, and of course, lots of music. Starts at 6 p.m. and runs til “late.”

You can RSVP to the Facebook event page here.

Check out the Ton Tons:
http://www.thetontons.com/

…and the rest of the Featured Artists:

Little Joe Washington
http://littlejoewashington.com/

Fat Tony
http://www.myspace.com/fattonyrap

Giant Princess
http://www.myspace.com/giantprincess

C2 Creative Presents Grace Rodriguez

paul — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Websites are SO 1.0. As the internet has evolved, communicating with audiences online has developed into a truly interactive format: Social Media. Through a variety of new Web 2.0 tools – such as blogs, microblogs, and social networking sites – Social Media allows individuals and businesses share, listen, and respond to the world around them and to each other. At the next C2 Speaker Series, Grace Rodriguez of AYN Brand will lead an interactive discussion on the basics of Social Media, how it affects you and your business or organization, and how you can use it to build your brand and connect with people in meaningful, effective ways.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Free, all welcome.

C2 Creative Presents Grace Rodriguez

paul — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:44:02 +0000

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Free, all welcome.

Photo Credit: Marc Brubaker