Ignite Baltimore #5 came and went last Thursday (03/04/10) and we have to say: wow. Great crowd, great presentations, a lot of fun had by all. We like to think we did everything we could to make it that way, but it was the speakers and folks in the audience who sealed the deal. Baltimore came up strong. So, thanks to you first and foremost. We owe you one.

For those who couldn't make it out, our outstanding videographer Miles Needer has uploaded video of each talk to YouTube. You can watch them by clicking here.

Thanks are in order for our sponsors, without whom Ignite would literally not be possible. They're represented and linked on the right side of this page and we hope you'll give them a look. They're a huge part of this.

Christian from chesapeake/systems handled the A/V duties and likewise made us proud. Give him a high-five when you see him.

Event photography courtesy of Wild Blue Bug will be posted soon, so keep an eye here and on our Twitter feed for news.

Speaking of Twitter, you can get all the buzz from the community by clicking here. Even if you're not a Twitter user you can still see the live feed and click on the various links to get a sense of what people are saying.

What comes next? Ignite Baltimore 6 is on the way but we haven't finalized our plans just yet. When we do we'll announce it here and get the word out every way we can. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you have any thoughts, suggestions, or concerns please either leave a comment on this post or email us directly at info@ignitebaltimore.com.

Thanks again for your support, and we'll talk to you soon.

- Neal, Mike, Heather, & Patti

Great news: we have a date for Ignite Baltimore #6!

We'll return to the Walters on Thursday, September 30th for another evening of inspiring talks and impassioned conversation. Details on ticketing will be made available closer to the event date.

In the meantime, we've opened up the floor for speaking proposals. Please visit this link to submit your idea – we can't wait to read them. Proposals are due 8/29.

As always, questions can be directed to info@ignitebaltimore.com.

Thanks for your continued support.

- Mike, Heather, & Neal

PS - Stay tuned for a possible announcement regarding another Ignite-related event between now and #6. It's all hush-hush for now but we'll keep you posted!

Ignite #5 is sold-out, but we encourage you to join the waiting list as there are usually no-shows

If you had five minutes on stage, what would you say to Baltimore? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds?

On 3/4/10 at 6 pm, these speakers will answer that challenge! The event will be held at The Walters Art Museum at 600 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD.

• What Are You? - Jessica M. Wong
• The Power of Play: How High Fives and Hula Hoops Are Making a Difference in Baltimore - Jessica Kohnen Karaska
• Why I Don't Want Children (or, How My Uterus Became a Shriveled Walnut) - Heather Holland
• At What Cost? We all pay on the back end - Ted Gattino
• Hybridity: Remaking the (New) Musical Horizon in Baltimore - Brian Sacawa
• mHealth: Saving lives, one mobile phone at a time - James BonTempo
• The Malthusian Tower - Bill Mill
• Wolverine: A Canucklehead Crafting the American Myth of the Individual - Tom LoBianco
• Saving Opera One Voice at a Time - Brendan Cooke
• Business IS Theater - Peter Davis
• The World Is Smaller Than You Think - Ivan Gallegos
• Linked Gardens of Food - Adam Gross
• Teen Activism: Passionate About Things That Matter - Hannah Freedman
• Sculpture Project Baltimore 2011 - Cathy Byrd
• Living Beyond the End of the World - Ted Nunn
• Bushwacking - Stepping off the beaten path - Ellen Worthing

Tickets are $5 each and all proceeds benefit our Ignition Grant program. Doors open for cocktails and free heavy appetizers courtesy of our sponsors at 6 pm.

We are sold out but encourage you to join the waiting list.

If you have any questions please email info@ignitebaltimore.com.

Update:

Ttickets for Ignite Baltimore 5 will become available on February 1. We'll post a link here when they go on sale.

We love looking for ways to improve Ignite Baltimore and make it a positive, productive part of the Baltimore community. To that end we're excited today to announce the Ignition Grant, a $1500 grant to be awarded to one individual with a great idea for making this city a better place.

The award will be funded by the proceeds from another big announcement: Ignite will now have a $5 pre-registration charge. We knew we needed a way to streamline the admission process and make it easier on everyone. A small charge made the most sense, but we didn't want to stop there. We wanted that money to mean something. Thus, the Ignition Grant was born.

We've broken down the details of this initiative into the FAQs below. Any question you might have will probably be answered there, but if not please don't hesitate to leave a comment or get in touch with us directly.

Thank you as always for being part of the Ignite community. We look forward to seeing you March 4.

What Is the Ignition Grant?
The Ignition Grant is one grant of $1500 that will be awarded at Ignite Baltimore #5 to the individual who submits the most innovative and feasible project concept for making Baltimore a better place to live and work. The $1500 must be used in less than 6 months, and the winner will be asked to present on the results at the following Ignite Baltimore.

Applications are due via email no later than February 10th, 2010.

What Is the Goal of the Ignition Grant?
The long term goal of this grant and contest is to support individuals who choose to take action as well as spark greater conversation about innovative and creative ways to address Baltimore City's social and economic challenges.

Who Can Apply For and Receive the Ignition Grant?
Anyone can apply, from any background, even those who do not live in Baltimore City, as long as they are applying as an individual and not on behalf of an organization. This grant is not to be used to either 1) continue an ongoing project or 2) jump-start a project at an existing organization.

How Do I Apply?
It's simple. First, click here to download the application. Read the guidelines and complete the form, then email it to heather@ignitebaltimore.com by February 10th. Make sure to get a ticket (ticket info coming soon) to the next Ignite Baltimore, as the grant will be awarded at Ignite Baltimore #5 and you will be called up to receive it.

 

Who Is Selecting the Winner of the Grant?
Staff from the Baltimore Community Foundation and the Enoch Pratt Free Library are working with the Ignite Baltimore team to select the winning proposal. The panel has extensive experience in grant-making and writing and all members are committed to the goal of the Ignition Grant.

How Will the Applications Be Judged?
Projects will be judged on the following 10 point scale:

 
• Innovation & Creativity: Project is new & offers an interesting approach to solving a problem. (4 points)
• Feasibility & Effective Use of Funds: Show that project will be completed in 6 months, and show a well-developed plan for spending of funds. (4 points)
• Sustainability: Show plan for project to continue on past 6 months. (1 point)
• Matching Resources or Funds: Show that others will be providing free goods or services to the project. (1 point)


 

How Do I Know if I have Won?
The winner will be announced on March 4th 2010, during Ignite Baltimore #5 at the Walters Art Museum. You must be in attendance to win, so be sure to grab a ticket when they become available.

 

Where Will the Money Come From to Pay For the Grant?
Pre-registration for Ignite Baltimore will now cost $5 to cut down on no-shows and ensure that everyone who wants to attend the event can do so. Every dollar raised through pre-registration goes straight to the Ignition Grant. All of our costs are covered by our generous sponsors, including the Walters Museum, who have donated their space and time..

What If the Event Raises More Than $1500?
If we bring in more money than expected we may choose to support multiple projects, give more money to the winning project, or donate the money directly to BmoreSmart. Whichever path we choose, every dollar raised goes to the Ignition Grant.

What If My Idea Doesn't Cost $1500? Can I Apply For Less?
Absolutely, please request only the amount you require. If we select a winner that requests less, we will reallocate the remaining funds to another project proposal, either now or in the future.

About a month ago, we created a survey designed to bring the Ignite Baltimore audience into our decision making process. We wanted to get a sense of what was working and what wasn't, and what we could do to improve before IB5 in March. Over 150 of you responded, and in doing so offered us a wealth of insight and information. We're quite grateful for that, and we want you to know that we're listening.

In looking through both the data and the written responses, certain key points emerged. We thought it would be a good idea to share them and let you know what's on our minds. Please note that this analysis doesn't account for every last critique or answer every single question. Rather, it's intended to summarize the issues that came up most often and seemed to have the most broad-based impact.

The new location at the Walters is a mixed bag. Some praised it, some spoke against it. On the whole the reaction is that it's OK. We recognize that it's not perfect, but we also think there are things we can do to make it better for the next go-round.

Specifically, the biggest problem we found was dissatisfaction with the Audio/Visual component of the presentations. Many folks remarked that they had trouble hearing and/or seeing at IB4. We're working with the Walters to improve this. Same goes for seating, the second biggest issue with the new location. We plan to make more seats available next time, although it's important to note that it won't be physically possible to have seats for every attendee.

Fixing the A/V and seating issues should go a long way to improving the impression of the Walters as a venue, but we'll continue to evaluate things based on what we see at IB5.

The registration/waiting list process is a little bit too confusing.

We've already developed a plan to simplify this and hopefully make it easier on everybody. Stay tuned for full details.

There's a strong backlash against advertising and/or marketing from the stage. This came up time and again, and we totally agree. Ignite talks should be about ideas, not about promoting an individual agenda. We'll be making an extra effort in advance of IB5 to weed out any talks that lean in this direction.

The quality of the presentations is iffy at times. Giving a presentation at Ignite is not an easy thing. It's a high-pressure format and we hope that the audience can show some understanding if a speaker stumbles here or there. That said, we want to put on an engaging show. To that end we plan to offer rehearsal opportunities in the future, and also make more advice, tips, and coaching available to speakers in advance of the big night.

We received plenty of feedback that isn't directly accounted for above. Some of it was very specific, some of it very general. We've listened to it all and we're thankful for everyone who took the time to offer it. If you have a comment or concern that's important but isn't addressed here, get in touch with us or leave a comment below.

Thanks as always for being a part of the Ignite Baltimore community. We're stoked about seeing you all again in March.

With Ignite Baltimore #4 in the books, we wanted to take a moment to express our thanks to all of the speakers, to our sponsors, and to everyone who attended. We had a great time and hope you did as well.

If you missed it, the date for IB5 has been set at March 4, 2010. We'll once again be at the Walters. More news as it becomes available.

In the meantime, here's a nice wrap-up of IB4 from Renee Lemley's GrayMatter Minute blog. Photos have also been posted to our Flickr page, courtesy of wildbluebug.com.

Thanks again for helping make Ignite one of Baltimore's most exciting events. And if you're not doing so already, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @ignitebaltimore.

If you're planning on attending Ignite Baltimore #4 on October 22, one of the voices you'll hear is that of Braddock Spear (see the full speaker list here). He'll be speaking on the topic of sustainable seafood, and as far as we know his talk will be a first. Not just because of the subject, but because his business -- Sustainable Seafood Solutions -- is a direct result of his experience at IB1.

We asked Braddock to jot down a few words about his Ignite experience and he was kind enough to oblige. So here, in his words, is one of the coolest Ignite Baltimore success stories we've heard yet.

***

I had no idea what I was getting into going to Ignite Baltimore #1. I went alone with minimal expectations. The format sounded almost gimmicky. But I ended up being blown away! The topics covered and perspectives offered were so relevant to issues our society faces today. The talks triggered ideas about how I could be a better person, make my community better, and make more money. I had trouble sleeping that night because my brain wouldn’t shut off.

The networking time during Ignite events might seem forced and uncomfortable, but that’s where the good stuff happens. Most people there had a perspective and skills that I’m not usually exposed to. Sometimes the most unusual pairings of people can lead to the greatest synergy. At Ignite Baltimore #1, I connected with a communications and marketing specialist, Muphen Whitney, who’s become a friend and business partner. She’s motivated me to explore opportunities for starting a company. While I haven’t found a sustainable business model yet, it’s been fun trying and will happen at some point.

The decision to apply to speak seemed like a natural next step. Being up on stage would further expose me to the benefits Ignite events have to offer. Now that I've been accepted to speak, I hope people get excited about my topic and share their ideas with me. And, who knows, maybe I'll find more people to partner with.

***

Ignite Baltimore is nothing without its community. Through three events we've witnessed an amazing process of people coming together, exchanging ideas, and turning words into deeds. We know that Braddock's story is one of many, and if you've got one of your own we want to hear about it. Click here to drop us a line and tell us about your experience. We'll share the best stories here as Ignite Baltimore continues to grow and thrive.

If you had five minutes on stage, what would you say to Baltimore? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds?

On 10/22/09 at 6 pm, the following speakers will answer this challenge. The event will be held at The Walters Art Museum at 600 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD.

• Betsy Gordon Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America
• Braddock Spear Sustainable Seafood is Everyone's Business
• Janet Felsten Think global; Map local. Green MapMaking in Baltimore
• Jennifer Cohen Fired...Four Times
• Cheryl Taragin Baltimore Moments That Made A Difference
• Julie Benoit Focusing Attention
• Ryan Boddy Brewing: the Synthesis of Creativity and Analysis
• Matt Kaiser What to do if you're being investigated by the federal goverment.
• Shodekeh Conversation Without Words
• Jason Slanga The Basics of Zombie Survival or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Shoot the Brain
• Adam Borden Drink More: The Case for Legalizing Direct Wine Shipping in MD
• Mary Spiro NanoBioTechnology 101: What it is and what it could do for you
• Randy M. Sovich, LEED AP Baltimore 2010: View from 1984
• Helen Glazer Clouds InFormation
• Steven Mandzik Solving our pollution and obesity problems together
• Adam Meister How to live a fun-filled successful life in Baltimore without a "real job"
• Tracy Gosson The Fear of Fear

Tickets are free, but space is limited. Audience members who have RSVP'd will be admitted exclusively until 6:45 pm, at which point the event opens to the waiting list and the general public. There will also be plenty of time to network with other professionals and make new connections, and free food will be offered.

There are less than 100 tickets left to reserve, so please RSVP soon before the waiting list starts.

If you think you might want to give speaking at Ignite Baltimore a try, here's your chance.

The call for proposals for Ignite Baltimore #4 is live. Click here to fill out our online form and submit your idea.

What are we looking for? That depends entirely on you.

Browse the "Speakers" tab to the left and you'll see that we've had talks on a wide range of topics, from business to technology, from culture to the environment. Our primary goal is to assemble a program of topics that exposes the audience to new ideas and gets them talking. The only limitation is the imaginations of those who choose to accept the "5 Minutes, 20 Slides" challenge.

If you think you've got what it takes, you probably do. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Ignite Baltimore #4 will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the Walters Art Gallery on North Charles Street

We're excited to announce that videos of every talk from Ignite #3 have been posted at YouTube: click here to watch them all.

You'll notice that the quality is exceptional, and for that we want to thank our friends at Hype-Online (also on Twitter) for their exceptional work in not only shooting these but getting them prepped and uploaded. We couldn't have done it without them.

Plans are already in full swing for Ignite #4 in October. Thanks to everyone for your continued interest and support.

Ignite Baltimore #3 is in the books, and we couldn't be happier with the way it went. Our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and hosts at the the Windup Space treated the crowd to a fine night of intelligent, stimulating conversation – on stage and off.

If you missed it (or if you just want to relive it through the eyes of those who were there), you can read all of the Twitter posts with the #ib3 hashtag. Recaps have been posted by @gsmoore and by @vees. Finally, check out this great look at the regional Ignite scene, courtesy of @usegraymatter.

We'll be posting pictures and videos soon.

Make sure you're following @ignitebaltimore for thoughts from the bunker and news about Ignite #4, which will be held at the Walters Art Gallery on October 22, 2009.

Thanks to our sponsors for helping keep this thing going, and to all of the volunteers who help it run smoothly. If you'd like to add your name to the pool, please get in touch.

To everyone who spoke and everyone who showed up to listen, thank you. Ignite is your event and we hope it's everything you expect it to be.

Ignite Baltimore #3 is almost here!

On Thursday, June 25th, 16 of the Baltimore area's most interesting minds will take the stage at the Windup Space to answer the "5 minutes, 20 slides" challenge. Ignite 1 and 2 were both amazing successes, and we anticipate more of the same from #3.

Click here for a full list of speakers and topics.

In advance of the evening, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Doors open at 6, speakers start at 7.

If You Have a Ticket: We will be admitting pre-registered attendees until 6:45 pm, so plan to arrive before then.

If You Don't Have a Ticket: The first thing you'll need to do is get on the waiting list, if you haven't already. You can do that online at this link, or you can sign up for the list at the door.

We'll begin admitting waiting list folks after 6:45. We can't guarantee that you'll get in, but the odds are very good. At Ignite 1 and 2 we were able to admit everybody.

The Venue: Ignite will be held at The Windup Space, located at 12 W. North Avenue in Baltimore. A map and directions can be found at this link (which will take you to Google Maps).

In addition to the speakers, there will be free pizza and plenty of opportunities for networking and conversation. We recommend you come armed with both business cards and your latest and greatest thoughts and ideas.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Here's who's speaking at Ignite Baltimore #3 on 6/25/09. Pre-registration is sold-out but you can still get on the waiting list.

If you had five minutes on stage, what would you say to Baltimore? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds?

• You too can drink better tea! - Amanda Schwarz
• That's Ugly! 20 Steps to a More Beautiful Web - Patti Chan
• On-line Media in Baltimore - J.M. Giordano
• Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto for Growth - Stephen Goodman
• Urban trees: Aggression, asthma and aesthetics - Anne Draddy
• Dorkbot Baltimore! - Joe Reinsel
• The Case for Being a Generalist - Matt Castner
• What's the Meaning of Life... - Plato Hieronimus
• How Improv can save your life & save your soul! - Roy Taff
• One Sandbox: Share Your Crayons - Steve Kozak
• Eureka! The Archimedes Palimpsest - Will Noel
• Sustainable Seafood is Everyone’s Business - Braddock Spear
• Who cares about your personal brand? - Bryan Liles
• Open Source Community Organizing - Daniel Schiavone
• The Capitalist Redemption - Jim Kucher
• Selective Listening - Debra Rubino
• No One Cares About Your Crappy Web App - Peter Corbett

On June 25th at 6 pm, these speakers will answer this challenge at Ignite Baltimore #3. The event will be held at The Windup Space at 12 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD, in the Station North Arts District.

Tickets are free, but space is limited. Audience members who have RSVP'd will be admitted exclusively until 6:45 pm, at which point the event opens to the waiting list and the general public.

There will also be plenty of time to network with other professionals and make new connections, and free pizza will be offered.

Ticket registration is now open for Ignite Baltimore #3 taking place on 6/25/09. Tickets have been selling out quickly, so RSVP soon....

If you had five minutes on stage, what would you say to Baltimore? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds?

On June 25th at 6 pm, 16 artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and philosophers will answer this challenge at Ignite Baltimore #3. The event will be held at The Windup Space at 12 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD, in the Station North Arts District.

Tickets are free, but space is limited. Audience members who have RSVP'd will be admitted exclusively until 6:45 pm, at which point the event opens to the general public.

There will also be plenty of time to network with other professionals and make new connections, and free pizza will be offered.

Thanks to Todd Marks of Mindgrub for recording, editing, and posting the video from Ignite Baltimore #2! Check out the following pages to see the video!

• Introduction to Coworking
• Running Start
• The Silver (Green) Lining
• Business Lessons I Learned Growing Up in the DIY/Punk Culture
• Caleb Stine's 10 Favorite Albums
• Perfecting the Union
• Art Can Save the World
• Not Listed in "25 under 25": Succeeding in the corporate world for the rest of us
• A Little Bit of Productivity for a Great Bit of Happiness
• The Monkeyfish Within Us
• Monkeys, Magic Forces and Evil
• I Survived My First Year as a Web 2.0 Company
• Mobile Goes Social

We also have photos of the night taken by Kirsten Beckerman.

We are seeking proposals for Ignite Baltimore #3, taking place on 6/25/09. We want the event to feature as many diverse topics as possible so we welcome topics of all kinds, not just technical topics. Check out our speaker directory for some examples.

Proposals are due 4/24/09. Submit your proposal today!

Ignite #2 was a great success, despite technical difficulties at the beginning. Thanks for coming out and being cool! Stay tuned for videos, photos, and more!

In the meantime, as promised, here's Caleb Stine's ten favorite albums:

• Skaggs and Rice - Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice
• XO - Elliott Smith
• Rearview Mirror - Townes Van Zandt
• GP/Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
• Songs For a Blue Guitar - The Red House Painters
• Joshua Tree - U2
• One Night Stand - Sam Cooke
• Sister Lovers/Third - Big Star
• Mountain Music of Kentucky - Various Artists, Smithsonian
• Slow Train Comin' - Bob Dylan

You can watch the live webcast at RADARREDUX. Otherwise, here’s how to make sure you can gain entry to the event:

If You Have a Ticket

Please plan to arrive at The Windup Space by 6:30 pm. We will only be honoring RSVPs until 6:45 pm, after which time we’ll open the doors to the public.

If You Don’t Have a Ticket

Don’t worry, there’s still a good chance you can get in. Some people RSVP but don’t show up (because it’s a free event, after all). Plan to arrive around 6 pm and we’ll put your name on a waiting list. Then you can head over to Joe Squared pizza, or down Charles Street to one of the hang-out spots, and plan to come back by 6:45 pm.