RALEIGH – The wolves howl as you enter the posh North Carolina State University Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center, and once inside Monday night hundreds of people turning out for the latest Triangle Startup Social had many reasons to let loose a few howls themselves.
For example, Andy Roth of startup NeuroPlus. He and Isabel Marrero., the firm’s intern, were sharing with all who would listen the big news: First deliveries of the company’s headsets.
Roth was exhausted but exuberant as he talked about delivering more than 600 – the first made for clients. After raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign, NeuroPlus is heading toward potential success.
“NeuroPlus utilizes innovative neurofeedback technology to help you practice focus and concentration,” Andy’s website notes. “You’ll wear a wireless headset that measures your brainwaves while playing a training game that challenges you to focus. For example, you might need to concentrate really hard to race a dragon or fly a hoverbike.”
Well over 200 people turned out for the Social, which was put on by jobs platform Big Top and WRAL TechWire. And many of those went upstairs to see the Next Generation Television demo put on by WRAL TV, NBC Universal, the National Association of Broadcasters and other industry partners.
Laran Singh and Rajesh Kanamarlapudi took time out to discuss the new tech with The Skinny and gave it a thumbs up.
A roaring flame courtesy of natural gas certainly added warmth to the venue. Lacey Hendrix of Beard and Lady, left, and Laura Wyker of Wyker Design, chose that spot — not too close, though – for their conversation.
But there was much more to see and to talk about than Next Gen TV. For example …
Best dressed of the evening had to be San Weaver in his brilliant red suit. He and Meg Grant were talking about “Homework Homie” and their hopes to fare well in the NCSU startup event Lulu eGames.
Can we assume he isn’t a Duke student? He laughed.
Note the NCSU bow tie.
But for the most part the Social was a time to mix, trade business cards or emails or Facebook info.
Among the proudest at the event had to be David Cardarelli, who runs NCSU’s Garage for startups. “I’m DC,” he says by way of introduction. And then he talks about NCSU’s Entrepreneurship Initiative.
Then there are those who attend to spread the word about what they do, such as photographer Kevin Siefert.
Or a true startup to tout – Nathan Levin notes with a chuckle his potential venture’s name on the ID tag was really something that just came to mind as he registered to attend.
A reunion, of sorts, too, was on display.
Veteran Triangle investor and crowdfunding advocate Mark Easley was on hand along with his son, Mark Easley. Jr., who works for Texas Instruments.
Did you know TI has a presence of some 30 sales people in the Triangle?
Then there were multiple business introductions.
Dorothy Bedor, president of Trade Show Manager, was introduced by The Skinny to Molly Demarest, who runs Big Top. They had much to discuss.
As for the venue itself, a view from the balcony captures the ballroom appeal. Impressive.
Startup Social will return in March. Hope to see you there.