D.C. Co-working Site District I/O to Close

As reported in the Washington Business Journal.

Vote for Ignition:CC's Food Menu

What types of food should Ignition:CC offer?

1. pre-packaged items (i.e.; chips, popcorn, bakery goods, etc.)
2. hot & cold deli-style sandwiches
3. pizza
4. soups
5. grilled items (i.e.; hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.)
6. microwaveable nosh (i.e.; breaded fish sticks, chicken fingers, etc.)
7. some combination of items 1-6 (please specify)
8. all of the above
9. none of the above.

Enter your suggestions below or vote on Facebook

MD Techspace Start Up Announces Immediate Job Openings

Ignition Cyber Club has immediate openings for 30 associates to develop a location near College Park, Maryland.  Teleworkers, gamers, software developers, students, social media pros, and event planners are encouraged to apply. 

All Ignition:CC associates:

• work their own hours
• may choose to be compensated in cash or services in-kind
• receive equity shares in the venture.

E-mail ignitioncc@gmail.com for details and information on how to register.  Employment will be determined on a first-come basis.   

Congress, FCC Proposals to Auction Broadcasting Spectrum Threaten Wireless Broadband Deployment

Wall Street Journal columnist Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. writes on gov't proposals to redeploy spectrum are likely to set off a lobbying war between broadcasters and mobile telco operators; "Wireless War Without End".

'Urban' Incubator Launched for DMV Start-Ups

Perceiving a demand for business support services among Gen-Y entrepreneurs in the Washington metropolitan area, a club promoter duo have created an open incubator for local start-ups.  Dane Matthews and Keith Bentley, Jr. founded Cool Worldwide as a compliment to their promotions business after determining many of their entrepreneurial-minded peers stood to benefit by pooling their individual resources toward various business expenses.  By lowering individual costs for certain services, the incubator can improve its member businesses chances for long-term success.


Matthews and Bentley launched Cool Worldwide in December '11, offering a menu of non-industry specific fee-based business services, including strategic planning and financial consulting, to entrepreneurs regardless of their stage of operation.  The incubator has partnered with React Radio Network on hosting a series of free monthly business mixers open to the general public beginning 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 26 at Babe's Sports Bar & Grille in Silver Spring.  Cool Worldwide is waiving incubator registration fees for businesses with a 1 hour sponsorship of the AMPLIFY DC! local music project.

Ignition:CC Announces Opportunites for Students,Techies, Gamers

Ignition Cyber Club announces opportunities for D.C.-area students, gamers, mobile app & video game developers, techies, and IT pros.  Develop Ignition:CC locations for use in education, business, or leisure to close the Digital Divide in your community.  Ideal for networking, software R&D, and events.  Students from area colleges and universities with an interest in technology, media, or business are strongly encouraged to apply, but all persons are welcome.  Temporary part-time to permanent part-time positions available. 


For an application and invitation to the organizational mixer, send an e-mail with your full name and contact information to ignitioncc@gmail.com.

The Second D.C.Community Broadband Summit

Washington, D.C.'s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) hosted its second community broadband summit, October 27th, at the Deanwood Recreation Center and Library.  The event was a town hall-style meeting where OCTO's Bryan Sivak announced the city's receipt of Federal broadband stimulus dollars, and Dr. Jonathan Guevarra, CEO of D.C. Community College, discussed the school's role in closing the city's digital divide.  Sivak outlined the city gov't's strategy for increasing residents' access to broadband & technology by forging partnerships with the private sector. 


The summit began with Sivak's keynote address, followed by the introduction of representatives from non-profit organizations addressing some aspect of universal broadband access in the District, including One Economy.  One Economy is a NPO focused on increasing digital literacy and broadband adoption in underserved communities.  The most personally intriguing of the featured guests was a neighborhood wi-fi network venture underway in the Bloomindale section of Northeast D.C..  The network -- which utilizes a 'mesh' design of low-powered access points served by the city's fiber optic network -- is based in the Big Bear Cafe and provides free wi-fi Internet access to Bloomingdale residents within range of an access point.  The venture is financed by contributions from neighborhood residents and businesses.


The summit recessed for us to meet in small groups for discussion.  Each group consisted of public- and private-sector entrepreneurs, citizens, and activists.  In my group, talk centered on affordable access to broadband and PCs, digital literacy, and adoption.  There were three seniors from Ward 7 who each cited the costs of residential broadband service as a huge obstacle to improving their daily lives.  As I recall, two of them had taken classes on using PCs and the Internet and were quite familiar with several features and sites, including e-banking and YouTube.  They all spoke openly and passionately about having the ability to use video conferencing and shop online. 


When the summit re-convened in the rec center's multi-purpose room, Dr. Guevarra spoke about how technology can influence the way we work, play, and live, and the importance for those of us in the tech sector to consider human and social factors in our ventures.  I believe many of us get so caught up with inventing or innovating a magic bullet that we lose sight of simple things we can do that have value to people.  While Ignition:CC was created with this principle in mind, it was reassuring to see Sivak and OCTO drive the point home by engaging the community as partners rather than consumers.