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June 14, 2024
Prepared By Mohit Ravindra Kamble and Harshita Nimbal
Welcome to the BNT Extra Byte. It's the Third Edition and we hope you've been liking the bytes so far. We wouldn't want to have to reformat the blog --- ok Steve you can stop editing now.
Anyway, in this edition we'll be making a major announcement right at the top -- followed by some enjoyable scoops. Let's get started.
Professional Yet Playful: A Rebrand Long In The Making & A Dream Come True
It's Been A Long Voyage
Contributing Author: Steve Vilkas
When Jason and I were given the opportunity of a lifetime to assume ownership over BNT, it was like a dream come true. The loyalty and appreciation I'd come to feel towards this community had its roots in the sense of belonging it gave me. Month after month, no matter if I was doing really well or feeling extremely low --- BNT was there, a port in the storm and a light in the darkness which more often than not defines one's experience as a tech entrepreneur.
We don't talk about the darkness that much, and because of that we don't see the need for things that illuminate -- things which --- when it comes to BNT's rebrand and its new website, which we're pleased to present the world with today, were felt by and then transformed for me first and foremost by Nikita Saner.
Nikita, Nikethana N N and I spent countless hours ideating, imagining, and more than anything else seeking to understand how, what, why, and when we could bring new life to what was and, in some cases still is, seen as "before, back then, pre-pandemic, as it used to be". Nikita refused to go along with that and, like any true mavericks, Nikethana and her also refused to follow the manual if it meant compromising creativity and looking far beyond the box.
As I related to someone seeking context on the project: "Nikita has come to embody the website itself in a sense. When you think about user personas, there are many that we have formed, but since I've taken over as the leader of BNT in 2021, I've challenged myself to think of all the different types of people who probably want to be a part of BNT but haven't known how, where, or why they might fit in. She has helped with that, incidentally.
Indeed -- when I think about someone like Nikita, I see a person who is exploring, restlessly curious, and very much in love with the idea of technology serving a purpose that is not only useful but impactful. I see this also with everyone we've started working with who is a part of this project"
I would later say to Chris Requena, original Co-Founder of BNT: "I want to take a moment to acknowledge Nikita Saner, who unfortunately can't be here right now due to her commitments with her Co-op. Nikita was an instrumental part of this project from the very beginning. Her contributions have been invaluable, and I want to give her the recognition she deserves. I'm sure she'd love to connect with you when she returns."
Nikita had a lot to contend with -- this was a massive project, and she didn't just lay the foundations -- she made sure, even as she had to gradually step back and let the process take place, that what happened next with the introduction of Panth Shah, Sandhya Morla, and Herika Haresh Koshti would be alright. Panth, Sandhya, and Herika -- working with Nikethana, Shweta and I, found our way towards the final few phases of the first version.
Their hard work, their commitment to excellence, really shined.
We're far from finished (like with startups, like with any passionate, soulful, creative endeavour it is never over) and when I heard from Panth on the Thursday call: "Oh! Oh it's LIVE! :D" the first thing that came to mind was: "We did it. From the brainstorms that stretched into the night to the scrambles, the necessary setbacks, all of it, it's done."
As Nikita said:
"We Did It! Finally!!!? I can't even begin to describe how happy I am.I'm incredibly proud of each and every one of you. This website wouldn't be here without your amazing contributions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to help bring this vision to life, especially considering you all have busy lives outside of this project.I'm so proud of what we've accomplished together."
Next Friday we'll have the 1.1 update, followed by 1.5 in July. Yet, in the end -- without the people who believed in me and BNT and that making a new website was worth it...who believed that BNT deserved something new...we wouldn't be here. So thank you. Thank you all.
Conscious & Humane: Finding Alignment At The Intersection Of Tech, Education, and Human Development
ACADEMY WEE - World Educational Empowerment and BNT are currently exploring a partnership -- and we'd like to tell you about some of the great discussion that's been taking place between Michaela Kosmelova, Roser Mendez, and Shweta Agrawal along with Steve.
In keeping with BNT's historic tradition of making friends from near and far -- such as with The Startup Station, Irina Sychov's ANIMA Global, Sunny Shuoyang Zhang, PhD's Born Global Community and Maria Gorskikh's DREAM Venture Labs -- conversations that can lead to amazing outcomes are also the sorts of talks that, like trees, begin at the roots of respect and branch out extensively into the realms of building, sharing, and sustaining all as one.
AcademyWee emphasizes conscious learning and knowledge sharing, focusing on human-centric and purpose-driven education. This aligns well with BNT's values of inclusion, inspiration, education, and empowerment. It has a distinctly global outlook brings diverse perspectives and insights, enriching the collaboration and fostering innovative solutions that can benefit BNT's community.
MTLC's Innovation UnConference Unveiled Once More
As many know, our friends at Mass Technology Leadership Council and their coalition partners kicked off another Innovation UnConference today.
Unlike traditional conferences with pre-set agendas, the UnConference format allows attendees to shape the event's direction, fostering organic, participant-driven conversations.
In next week's BNT Extra Byte, we'll provide a thrilling recap - including key takeaways and special insights -- since Jason and Shweta were on the scene. You won't want to miss it.
Attending the UnConference and wanting to take your ideas beyond its wonders? Consider embarking on a Tech Walk with Sara Fraim and friends.
Founder Spotlight - Alisha D. Overton
“Even though I live in Chicago and my startup is in Chicago, what BNT has done is embraced me, which is really wonderful. Being around and watching different events from BNT has been really inspiring because everyone is forward-thinking and ready to innovate, which is so inspiring for a founder, especially a solo founder like myself. I actually have a special update for AO Planner coming out this Monday, which I'm really excited about. We need all the community that we can get. So, having the community of BNT has been really helpful." -- Alisha D. Overton, Founder & CEO of The AO Planner Company
The BNT Marketing Team spoke recently with Alisha Overton -- a Chicago-based founder and an amazing human, seen below standing next to the famous Venture Lane | Startup Hub bell speaking with Marsh Sutherland -- the same Marsh who came up with the concept of and has since stewarded Precision Pitch Practice -- a program Alisha has enthusiastically been a part of from the very beginning.
The individual behind the venture is a fascinating figure -- someone who loves to be organized and, even more than that, someone who wants to see others stressing less and getting more done without burning out in the process. The pain relief Alisha brings to a world that's working on a little bit of everything all the time is simple, elegant, and in every sense a product that unifies something classic with an innovative solution: The AO Planner Company.
The AO Planner is The Ultimate Fillable Multi-Use Planner, and Alisha has spent a long time bringing it to a state of satisfaction --- for now of course, she's always tinkering on something new. Speaking with Mohit Kamble about the in's and outs, we revisited some of the basics that new readers might benefit from becoming aware of:
The AO Planner incorporates smartpen technology, allowing users to take notes that can be easily shared and accessed digitally. This feature aims to simplify the process of transcribing and distributing meeting notes.
Unlike other planners, the AO Planner includes dedicated spaces for meetings, brainstorming, and DIY projects. It is designed to provide a comprehensive organizational tool that eliminates the need for multiple notebooks and applications.
Here's what's different:
Come Monday, Alisha will be sharing a very special update right here on Linkedin. You won't want to miss out. For now -- Alisha: Thank you for being such a wonderful member of our community.
Fresh Talent, Infinite Potential: Welcoming BNT's Rising Stars
The BNT crew continues to grow with two stellar additions this week - Devansh Hukmani and Hajira Kauser.
We are excited to welcome Devansh, a recent graduate with a Master's in Analytics from Northeastern University, to our Data Strategy team. Devansh brings a powerful blend of technical and engineering prowess, with expertise in R, Python, SQL, and mechanical engineering principles. He's previously worked at Amazon, and we feel he will be a force multiplier along with Rohith, Pranjali, and Aravindh.
We'd also like to welcome Hajira Kauser as BNT's first anchor for all our upcoming events. Hajira is a natural on stage and we've honoured that she's joined ours. Currently pursuing a Master's in Corporate and Organizational Communications at Northeastern University, Hajira brings valuable journalism, public policy, and leadership experience.
Interesting Events....
Boston Founders Forum June Event -- a Fireside Chat With Paul English
In Closing...
Thank you for joining us in this edition of the BNT Extra Byte. We hope you enjoyed yourselves. Stay tuned for more updates and insights -- and have a great weekend.
See you next Friday!
Administrative Professional | Founder + CEO, The AO Planner Company
8 个月Bad WiFi could not stop the train!