We’re about to find the Class of 2016 at Chicago Tech Academy

Three years ago we created the Chicago Tech Academy as a charter high school for urban kids, to foster technology and entrepreneurial aptitude in kids that much needed the outreach.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the progress that this school has made… in part because of more than 100 local tech entrepreneurs and executives that have gotten involved as mentors and supporters, hosting field trips and sponsoring internships.

I hope you’ll join us next Thursday, February 23, at 5:30pm at the Westin to witness the student lottery for our next freshman class… more than 2,000 KIDS HAVE APPLIED!  The word has spread about the success of this school.

It’s a dramatic and bitter sweet night, as hundreds of families wait to hear their name called for one of only 150 spots in the Class of 2016. And while there’s some sadness for the kids we turn away, the night is fun and exciting, and I’m sure you’ll be inspired.

If you’ve heard about our efforts with this new school, next Thursday is a great way for you to learn more.  If you haven’t yet heard about our special project, take a few minutes and watch the video at http://vimeo.com/20955401 … We made this video following last year’s student lottery.

Please RSVP http://ita.cx/ChiTechAcademyRSVP for next Thursday, or drop me an email if you would like to discuss getting your or your company involved with Chicago Tech Academy.

 

Featured Posts

Earliest of TechNexus collaborators, OK Labs has been acquired by General Dynamics

Steve Subar launched and grew Open Kernel Labs from within Chicago's TechNexus incubator over the past five years, becoming only the second of what has now been more than 170 young companies to grow in the ecosystem. While growing at TechNexus, Steve led OK Labs to more than 50 employees, through millions of dollars in capital raises, and now to a successful exit to General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $32 billion aerospace and defense company.
Grab a copy of this week's Forbes magazine for JJ Colao's great story about Chicago Tech Academy. It's fitting recognition for the school during a week the nation celebrates teachers:

Forbes is out with their list of Top Incubators and Accelerators in America, and it includes TechNexus. When we opened this facility five years ago, we did everything we could to avoid being called an incubator. The...

I’m 40, so my wide-eyed optimism has crow’s feet at its edges

Debuting my new Forbes column today; from my first contribution:
Am I getting too old for this entrepreneur’s game, maybe too cynical? Has my risk tolerance receded with my hairline? Have I become a midlife cliché after 25 years of being the youngest, most impassioned guy in the room? Screw all that. Everything is prelude. I’ve built some good organizations, but there’s still a really great company (or two or three) in me. I’ve know...

Chi Tech Academy featured in Inc Magazine

Nice write up by Christina DesMarais in Inc Magazine about Chicago Tech Academy:
If you think the next generation of start-up founders will hail from Stanford, Harvard, or some other university cranking out MBAs, you might want to expand your thinking. There’s a 3-year-old inner-city high school in Chicago—filled mostly with poor African American youth—grooming students who know how to think, act, and speak like entrepreneurs....

Twitter @terryhowerton...

Meanwhile, back @technexus the @microsoft happy hour is just kicking off! http://t.co/V3xMUVQr


October 9th, 2012

Back to UIUC for @ITAbuzz Fall Challenge, 150 comp sci students taking our algorithm test to prove they’re best… http://t.co/UnBCGTGo


October 9th, 2012

Played two tough football games this morning, now a jet plane to DC for an overnight, and back to big agenda for… http://t.co/dRFqggjZ


October 6th, 2012

Welcome to @technexus! RT: @CNT_tweets: Saturday morning at the #ReinvintingChi hackathon- we’re getting busy http://t.co/QRdwDxIz


October 6th, 2012

RT @TechNexus: CNT hosting a Urban Sustainability Hackathon all weekend at TechNexus. Happy to have you guys!!! @CNT_tweets #reinventchi


October 5th, 2012

My most anticipated movie in a long time… http://t.co/QnDzs5bY


October 4th, 2012

Big picture: this should sharpen Obama and creates opportunity for clarity over the next few weeks.


October 3rd, 2012

My takeaway line of the night was Romney saying he has five sons, and he’s used to people saying something… http://t.co/uk8OqaaG


October 3rd, 2012

I can’t believe I’m looking forward to Biden as a backstop to the bullshit.


October 3rd, 2012

Romney completely owned the optics and perception of this debate tonight, and Obama played it way too safe. I… http://t.co/VR4vj1fV


October 3rd, 2012

Tweets of recent interest...

Asterisk

© Terry Howerton

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Plaxo Feedburner