San Jose Could Get High Speed Rail This Decade

The California High Speed Rail Authority has been getting a lot of flack for the proposed first phase of the HSR system that will one day connect all major cities in California. They are planning on building the least expensive (and least controversial) portion of the track first which would would essentially connect Fresno and Bakersfield, giving it the nickname "the train to nowhere." Now, they are saying that before revenue service begins, they will extend the tracks either to San Jose OR south to Palmdale or San Fernando Valley.

If the San Jose route is chosen, that means that we could have access to the fastest rail system in the country this decade. A 250-mile trip between Downtown San Jose and Bakersfield would take just 1 hour and 49 minutes. There would also be a second Santa Clara County station in Gilroy. For more info, click here.

Global Social Benefit Incubator 2011

I know quite a few entrepreneurs read this blog and I just wanted to quickly plug an event going on next month at Santa Clara University centering around social/philanthropic entrepreneurship. All of the details are below!

Register Today! GSBI 2011!

Please join Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society for a day of business plan summary presentations by the 2011 Global Social Benefit Incubator entrepreneurs from around the world. Products and services developed by the 2011 class include: biogas-powered milk coolers for Ugandan farmers; microfranchise training and employment opportunities for slum youth in Kenya; probiotics to improve health in Mexico; solar-powered chicken and egg production in Haiti; and women-created fashion and furniture from recycled garbage in the Philippines.  Agenda Thursday, August 18, 2011  Mayer Theatre, Performing Arts Complex,  Santa Clara University  Continental Breakfast 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.   Morning Business Plan Summary Presentations 8:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. (Clean Energy sector presentations) Lunch 12:25 p.m. - 1:25 p.m. Afternoon Business Plan Summary Presentations 1:25 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Register Today! GSBI Class of 2011 Federico Maria Grati : Agroils SRL – Smart Oil, Ghana, www.agroils.com Lesley Silverthorn : Angaza Design, East Africa, www.angazadesign.com Salinee Tavaranan : Border Green Energy Team, Thailand / Burma, www.bget.org Henry Osadolor : Centre for Community Development - Nutrition On Your Doorstep, Nigeria Hakeem Adebola Lawal : Design Peak - My Cola Light, Nigeria, www.designpeak.dk Ola Abraham : EastWind Laboratories, Nigeria Slavka Macakova : ETP Slovakia – Centre for Sustainable Development, Slovakia, www.etp.sk Shawn Frayne : Haddock Invention LLC, Guatemala, www.haddockinvention.com Guirlaine Celius : Haiti Community Development Inc., Haiti Jeroen Verschelling : Kamworks Ltd. – MoonLight, Cambodia, www.kamworks.com Maria Springer : iSmart Ben Lyon : Kopo Kopo Inc., Global, www.kopokopo.com Julian Cuevas : Kurago Biotek, Mexico, www.kuragobiotek.com Mark Joaquin Ruiz : MicroVentures Inc. – Hapinoy, Philippines, www.hapinoy.com Piyush Jaju : Punam Energy Private Ltd. – ONergy, India, www.onergy.in Therese Clarence Fernandez-Ruiz : Rags2Riches, Inc., Philippines, www.rags2riches.ph Katherine Lucey : Solar Sister, Uganda, www.solarsister.org William Kisaalita : Thermogenn, Uganda Sebastian Ernesto Africano : Trees, Water & People, Haiti, www.treeswaterpeople.org Jessica Mayberry : Video Volunteers, India, www.videovolunteers.org

About the Global Social Benefit Incubator The GSBI empowers socially-minded entrepreneurs to build economically sustainable organizations and to solve problems for people living in poverty around the world. The signature program of the Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University, this capacity and skill-building program combines online and in-residence exercises with training and mentoring from academic leaders and Silicon Valley executives over an intensive eight-month period. Entrepreneurs graduate from the program with practical and strategic business tools to allow their companies to “scale”, meaning they increase revenue faster than expenses.   More Information About the Center for Science, Technology, and Society The mission of the Center for Science, Technology, and Society (CSTS) is to promote the use of science and technology to benefit underserved communities worldwide, primarily by working with socially-minded entrepreneurs.  The CSTS implements its mission through its signature program, the Global Social Benefit Incubator, its partnership with The Tech Museum in The Tech Awards program, Frugal Innovation, social capital services, and its numerous educational and public engagement activities. Through these programs, the Center has worked with nearly 1,000 social enterprises affording the Center unique insights into leading business models and innovations for the developing world and emerging markets. More Information

AXIS Bans Smoking

AXIS residents voted to officially become a NON-SMOKING building. This goes so far as to include even outdoor balconies and patios. I think this is a good move and will create a healthier and more family-friendly environment for residents and guests. Hopefully The 88 and City Heights will follow suit.

Sunflower Coming to San Jose

There has been a lot of retail news lately. It seems like we'll soon be filling up a lot of empty storefronts.

Sunflower Farmers Market is coming to what used to be an OSH in South San Jose (1130 Branham). The store should open in Q3 2012, creating 100 jobs.

Cavium Returns to San Jose

Cavium is a networking company that started in 2000 in three small office rooms in San Jose. As they grew they moved to Santa Clara and then Mountain View. Now they're coming back to San Jose and are taking over 113,831 sqft on North First Street. Forbes recently named this company one of the top 5 fastest growing technology companies in the US. This could be a very big win for the city if they continue to expand and bring more jobs to San Jose.  For more info, check out the print edition of the San Jose business journal (pages 1 and 24).

San Jose Made Event This Weekend!

Come support local vendors and clothiers at the SJMADE event this weekend in San Jose's midtown district! The past couple events were a huge success, so let's keep fueling the flame for quality local products.

Photolog: Nigel Who? Fashion Show

I happened to stumble upon this event and thought this should be a fun night out.  I figured with a brand name such as Nigel Who? the designs must be as interesting.  I’m no male fashionista (I would like to consider myself Geek Chic but that’s probably pushing it.  By the way is there a word for male fashionista?) but I like what I saw.

Ronnie Bogle’s, the designer of Nigel Who?, 2011 Summer Collection made use of cooling colors and fabrics.  Not only that but a lot of the designs had a sense of flow, movement and bounce.  Below are examples of pillowy bouncy dresses.

But the summer isn’t just about showing lots of skin.  There are also wonderful free flowing full dresses that would look great when a warm summer wind went by.

The range of designs is very diverse but they all stuck with the main principles.

 

 The event itself had a great turnout.  Even the kids were enjoying themselves.

To read more about Ronnie Bogle you can head over and read the article on the Content.

To see more designs head over to our Facebook T2L site.

Mad Science Bike Party Tomorrow

The latest Bike Party--which is Science themed--is coming tomorrow between 6pm-10pm.  It kicks off at Cannery Park (401 E. Taylor Street) and features food trucks, a raffle, local clothing vendors, and even a performance by SJ Taiko! More info can be found right over here.