#alligatorzone

This post is written by guest-blogger Keshav K.  Keshav is ten years old, and he is in fifth grade. He takes Tae Kwon Do lessons. He loves books, yummy food, and movies. This is the fifth time he has attended an Alligator Zone™ program, and his first time ever, being a blogger.

           Shreeya, the program host, introduced Nick Kohut, the founder of Dash Robotics™. Nick studied animal and robot movements in college, which he found extremely interesting. His dream was to make robotics easy for young kids. In college, he and a friend made a robot that became very popular. This gave him an idea for the Kamigami™ robot. The robot is called Ka-migami™ because it takes an origami-like skill to build it. The robot even has infrared sensors! The consumers can build and program it themselves.

           The robot is pretty amazing. First, it is made to mimic real animal movements. It has a shell that makes it look like an animal too! Also, it can fall from any height and still survive with no damage. Unfortunately, if it lands on its back, it won’t be able to flip over by itself. Nick and his team are trying to fix that, along with trying to make it waterproof. There is also a plan to bring out a robot that can fly! A boy from the audience suggested that it could look like a dragon.

            Since the robot could be controlled using any iOS device, a young gentleman asked if the Kamigami™ robot could be operated using the video game controlling ring that the previous startup had presented, and Nick said that it was a very good idea and he would definitely consider it.

         Finally, he left with the audience buzzing. This was certainly a productive Alligator Zone™ session!

Hope to see you soon at another session of AlligatorZone.  Bookmark www.AlligatorZone.org for a calendar and to attend, follow updates at http://www.twitter.com/alligatorzone and like us on www.facebook.com/AlligatorZone.org.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

For your reading and viewing pleasure, here are links to previous articles about AlligatorZone, some of which also contain embedded videos:

Shake Shake Shake aahhhhhhh Earthquake!!! – Kid Blogger reports on Palo Alto’s AlligatorZone event

“AlligatorZone is a way of diffusing technology into our lives in a more thoughtful way.” says Sean Murphy

At the Sunnyvale AlligatorZone, Kids Show Startups How It’s Done.

Can AlligatorZone attain the status of Apple Pie?

Of Salesmen and Santa Claus - How the founders of KiteDesk and R&R Games enthralled kids and teens at AlligatorZone

Heard at AlligatorZone - “Can I break it?”

In AlligatorZone, less may be more.

AlligatorZone is actually a show-and-tell, by startup founders, done for a young audience.

Alligators in Philly?

Kids and families at AlligatorZone enjoy sneak-peek at pre-market products of local startups.

At AlligatorZone, It Was Obvious That Internet of Things (IoT) Is Really the Internet of Kids.

There’s No Script When A Founder Presents A Startup To Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone

It’s Okay to Show a Beta Version at AlligatorZone

Mountain View Public Library to host AlligatorZone, the free program where kids meet cool startups.

Startup Founders Describe Talking to Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone as ‘Amazing’, ‘Eye-Opening’

Startup Founder Gets “Golden Nugget That Actually Came From One of The Kids” at AlligatorZone in Silicon Valley

Media coverage in the community newspaper Osprey Observer

Why Alligator Zone, Why Tampa Bay Area

@AlligatorZone extends to Sunnyvale Public Library, California

Talking About Your Startup to Families and Kids at AlligatorZone: Be the Consummate Storyteller You Ought To Be

Fresh Perspectives Swamp Startup Founders in AlligatorZone

31 Tips for Founders of Startups Talking To Families and Kids at AlligatorZone

Entrepreneurs Experience Adrenalin Rush at AlligatorZone, Where Kids Meet Cool Startups

If Alligators Could Roar: Lessons from another AlligatorZone, where kids meet cool startups

This guest-blog post is by Anisha G., a 5th grader in California. Anisha likes to play basketball and music.  Anisha stepped up to serve her community as an AlligatorZone Ambassador at Palo Alto’s Rinconada Library, Palo Alto, California.  ‘AlligatorZone Ambassadors’ is a new initiative aimed at seeking greater community-engagement by youth through celebration of local entrepreneurship and innovation at an AlligatorZone, the program where kids meet cool startups.  AlligatorZone is a series of family-friendly startup events, aimed mainly at youth aged 7 to 17, held in various cities in close cooperation with local public libraries.  The startups featured were Zizmos (zizmos.com) and Corinth Classroom (ecorinth.com).  For more information on AlligatorZone, visit AlligatorZone.org.  This blog post has been edited only for accuracy of names but has been posted in its original form to preserve the authenticity of a 10-year old’s original work.

                                                                 September 26, 2015

Hi,

My name is Anisha, Iam 10 yr old and goes to  elementary school. I like to play basketball and music. I am writing this blog for Alligator zone hope you all will enjoy.

Shake Shake Shake aahhhhhhh Earthquake!!! The word “Earthquake” shakes us all. Well, till now I didn’t know that we could get earthquake warning before earthquake comes. Thanks to our speaker Dr.Battalgazi of tonight who created an app, which warns us before hand, so we can prepare for it.   It was 7:00pm on Friday evening in Palo Alto Library and the room was full of excitement, lights and people. The presenters were really excited to share their experiences and they came all the way from San Francisco.      Moderater, Sanya started the evening by introducing the program host, Malini to the stage to speak about the presenters. Malini gave us a little introduction about presenters. First speaker Dr.Battalgazi was the CEO of Zizmos who came on stage and shared with us the information about earth quake warning mobile app. Zizmos app is a cloud connected network that provides early warning and high resolution shake maps for urban areas. Logistician Karan asked a very good question from the speaker about putting the pipelines under ocean to get warning system in ocean during the travel. Than speaker explained that we didn’t necessarily put wires in the ocean because the wire could peel off and marine animals can get electric shock. We can find more details about Zizmos app on their website.( http://www.zizmos.com/) . Also from time to time Photojournalist Dhriti was capturing some wonderful moments for us .

@OndrejHomola1 and @MarkAndersen from Corinth on stage at @alligatorzone in a bit! pic.twitter.com/YebAhWbASR

— Corinth Education (@corinth_reality)

September 26, 2015

The next speaker was the founder and CEO from Corinth      Classroom introduced by Malini the program host. Corinth classrooms create 3-D models to show the kids. When they were presenting they told us how they printed the models with the 3D printing machines, lots of schools and colleges are using this software to teach the kids the 3D views like cells of a leaf and much more in all the different subjects.

   Someone from the audience asked “how much money it took for all this,” he answered, “Well It is hard to answer this question, but it took lots of motivation and hard work to encourage the teachers, students, and parents.For more information on Corinth classroom please refer to their website (http://www.ecorinth.com/classroom-lite)

Thanks kids from @SiliconGlades @alligatorzone for delighting Friday! @OndrejHomola1 @MarkAndersen #CorinthClassroom pic.twitter.com/yNBf6MZpkP

— Corinth Education (@corinth_reality)

September 29, 2015

At the end all the youth of the alligator zone ambassadors stood up in the front of the room and everyone applauded for them for their hard work and efforts. Video Journalist Adil also took video interview of presenters in the end, and Logistician Karan and scribe Arif helped librarian in making arrangements for presenters. I would like to thanks to Palo Alto Library who helped to make this event successful. And special thanks to Alligator zone who gave me such a wonderful opportunity to work as a blogger.

Thanks, Anisha

Hope to see you soon at another session of AlligatorZone.  Check out the running calendar at http://AlligatorZone.eventbrite.com.

Bookmark www.AlligatorZone.org, follow updates at http://www.twitter.com/alligatorzone and like us on www.facebook.com/AlligatorZone.org.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

For your reading and viewing pleasure, here are links to previous articles about AlligatorZone, some of which also contain embedded videos:

“AlligatorZone is a way of diffusing technology into our lives in a more thoughtful way.” says Sean Murphy

At the Sunnyvale AlligatorZone, Kids Show Startups How It’s Done.

Can AlligatorZone attain the status of Apple Pie?

Of Salesmen and Santa Claus - How the founders of KiteDesk and R&R Games enthralled kids and teens at AlligatorZone

Heard at AlligatorZone - “Can I break it?”

In AlligatorZone, less may be more.

AlligatorZone is actually a show-and-tell, by startup founders, done for a young audience.

Alligators in Philly?

Kids and families at AlligatorZone enjoy sneak-peek at pre-market products of local startups.

At AlligatorZone, It Was Obvious That Internet of Things (IoT) Is Really the Internet of Kids.

There’s No Script When A Founder Presents A Startup To Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone

It’s Okay to Show a Beta Version at AlligatorZone

Mountain View Public Library to host AlligatorZone, the free program where kids meet cool startups.

Startup Founders Describe Talking to Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone as ‘Amazing’, ‘Eye-Opening’

Startup Founder Gets “Golden Nugget That Actually Came From One of The Kids” at AlligatorZone in Silicon Valley

Media coverage in the community newspaper Osprey Observer

Why Alligator Zone, Why Tampa Bay Area

@AlligatorZone extends to Sunnyvale Public Library, California

Talking About Your Startup to Families and Kids at AlligatorZone: Be the Consummate Storyteller You Ought To Be

Fresh Perspectives Swamp Startup Founders in AlligatorZone

31 Tips for Founders of Startups Talking To Families and Kids at AlligatorZone

Entrepreneurs Experience Adrenalin Rush at AlligatorZone, Where Kids Meet Cool Startups

If Alligators Could Roar: Lessons from another AlligatorZone, where kids meet cool startups

                                                                                 Tampa Bay, July 21, 2015

Today I had the privilege of being interviewed about AlligatorZone by City of Tampa Councilwoman Lisa Montelione, who represents District 7, for a television series of the Tampa Bay Community Network, a community TV station. 

Picture credit: VRS

Having interviewed many guests on camera with no preparation, including for a live TV program that I used to produce for another community TV station, I didn’t realize how difficult it is to be the person being interviewed.  There were things I wished I could have said before the camera stopped rolling.  There were unfinished thoughts.  There was a call for action I wanted to mention and, finally managed to squeeze in at the end - but we don’t know if it will make the editor’s cut.  On the bright side, there was nothing I said that I later wished I could have said differently or better.  This article is about the unfinished thoughts from the studio interview, especially those about our dreams and aspirations for AlligatorZone.  Here are notes (in bold) from this morning, taken as I gathered my thoughts before I went to the studio.  

AlligatorZone is a product show-and tell by entrepreneurs in one’s local area.

Pictured above: @pantelligent (at AlligatorZone in Mountain View, California)

Pictured above: @lubotics (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

Pictured above: @ugot2play (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

Pictured above: @padgoround (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

Pictured above: @grabitinc (at AlligatorZone in Santa Clara, California)

It is a way for entrepreneurs to force themselves to learn to use simple language in explaining what they do.

Pictured above: @bioscanr (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida) 

Pictured above: @biobots (at AlligatorZone in Wayne, Pennsylvania)

I’ve been told that there’s something magical that happens in AlligatorZone.  I think that is because kids are innately makers.  They like to tinker around and discover the world around them.  And I think entrepreneurs are kids at heart.  When you put the two of them together in a room, there is this refreshing honesty in the conversation that ensues.  We have stayed away from video-recording the actual AlligatorZone session, as we are still trying to figure out the best way to retain that magic without losing those heart-warming moments. 

Pictured above: ScrapOnSpot (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

Kids at AlligatorZone ask entrepreneurs existential questions.  They want to know why an entrepreneur is doing what she or he is doing.  It makes the entrepreneurs really rethink their raison d'être and, figure out how to express it in simple words.

Pictured above: @wazinit (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

I have seen entrepreneurs do a double-take and start rethinking their messaging, their strategy, their tactics and approach to critical matters such as privacy, their business model and their distribution model.

Pictured above: @mentorem (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

From a child’s perspective, they learn about problem solving.  They get to meet someone right in their neighborhood, who is using cool technologies that they may have seen in movies or on a TV show, and see how it could be used to solve problems and make the world a better place.

Pictured above: @lubotics (at AlligatorZone in South Tampa, Florida)

For the parents and grownups in the audience, they get to live the thrill of the entrepreneur’s creative journey, even if vicariously for the hour.  They also get to meet with other like-minded families who invest time and energies into bringing their kids and teens to the library.  We see these joyful gatherings of the community at the end of every session of AlligatorZone.

Pictured above @GrabitInc (at AlligatorZone in Santa Clara, California)

Our dream for AlligatorZone is three-fold. 

1. Go To (Every) Town with AlligatorZone:

We are developing a model for AlligatorZone to be taken to any public library that is willing to embrace the program as a family event with entrepreneurship education and entertainment as a goal.  That means the spark of innovation has a fighting chance to ignite every curious child’s mind in any small town, in every nook of the world where children can gather safely to learn and have fun.  We are piloting a teen leadership program working closely with Radnor Memorial Library in Wayne, Pennsylvania as the first step towards realizing this vision.  Stay tuned for details.

2. AlligatorZone Becomes Business As Usual:

We would like to see AlligatorZone become a necessary refueling stop for every startup founder and entrepreneur who has just bolted out of the gates.  The product has to have been launched for it to be in AlligatorZone.  It is not a place for testing out ideas.  It is where you would show an actual product or an offering and have an honest conversation.  However, for startups to make this a part of their business process requires a shift in culture.  Often startup founders think they are doing the kids a favor by showing up at AlligatorZone.  It is mostly the opposite.  Similarly, we hear of investors who tell startup founders to imagine presenting to 3rd graders.  Guess what?  At AlligatorZone, they don’t have to pretend - they can actually present to kids aged 7 and older, and even their accompanying families. They get to present their offerings to a broader audience.  Making such an audience a priority requires another shift in culture, where AlligatorZone becomes part of a startup’s pitch-practice, and preparation for a product-launch or a road-show to raise capital.  A startup founder in Silicon Valley, Vinit Patil of SKUE.CO (formerly Pricerie before it pivoted) blogged about his experience at AlligatorZone.  It was titled: The toughest audience to pitch?  It’s not VC’s.

Pictured above @skueco (at AlligatorZone in Palo Alto, California)

3. As American As Apple Pie AlligatorZone

It would be nice to see AlligatorZone enter pop-culture.  We would like to see AlligatorZone become the catalyst for local inspiration that is accessible to youth, and for local entrepreneurs to stay approachable by young people.  This requires a shift in culture among the leadership in industry.  It is the best investment they can make for their future.  These kids are their future consumers, their future employees, and the future caretakers of our planet.  Our vision for AlligatorZone is to make such alternate experiential learning environments a part of pop-culture.  AlligatorZone ought to become like Apple Pie.

Pictured above: @braigolabs (at AlligatorZone in Palo Alto, California)

The video is expected to be ready in a few weeks.  There was a green screen so who knows if the interview will show the backdrop of one of AlligatorZone’s many locations where libraries have warmly welcomed and supported our endeavors, or if it will be held against the backdrop of the stars in the sky, representing the many stars that we hope to see surfacing in the years to come from among the several kids and teens participating in AlligatorZone in a neighborhood library.

Many thanks to Sean Murphy of skmurphy.com for interviewing me for a podcast, which served as a great dry-run for this TV interview!  Watch this blog for a transcript of that podcast. 

Hope to see you soon at another session of AlligatorZone.  Check out the running calendar at http://AlligatorZone.eventbrite.com.

Bookmark www.AlligatorZone.org, follow updates at http://www.twitter.com/alligatorzone and like us on www.facebook.com/AlligatorZone.org.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

For your reading and viewing pleasure, here are links to previous articles about AlligatorZone, some of which also contain embedded videos:

Of Salesmen and Santa Claus - How the founders of KiteDesk and R&R Games enthralled kids and teens at AlligatorZone

Heard at AlligatorZone - “Can I break it?”

In AlligatorZone, less may be more.

AlligatorZone is actually a show-and-tell, by startup founders, done for a young audience.

Alligators in Philly?

Kids and families at AlligatorZone enjoy sneak-peek at pre-market products of local startups.

At AlligatorZone, It Was Obvious That Internet of Things (IoT) Is Really the Internet of Kids.

There’s No Script When A Founder Presents A Startup To Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone

It’s Okay to Show a Beta Version at AlligatorZone

Mountain View Public Library to host AlligatorZone, the free program where kids meet cool startups.

Startup Founders Describe Talking to Kids and Teens at AlligatorZone as ‘Amazing’, ‘Eye-Opening’

Startup Founder Gets “Golden Nugget That Actually Came From One of The Kids” at AlligatorZone in Silicon Valley

Media coverage in the community newspaper Osprey Observer

Why Alligator Zone, Why Tampa Bay Area

@AlligatorZone extends to Sunnyvale Public Library, California

Talking About Your Startup to Families and Kids at AlligatorZone: Be the Consummate Storyteller You Ought To Be

Fresh Perspectives Swamp Startup Founders in AlligatorZone

31 Tips for Founders of Startups Talking To Families and Kids at AlligatorZone

Entrepreneurs Experience Adrenalin Rush at AlligatorZone, Where Kids Meet Cool Startups

If Alligators Could Roar: Lessons from another AlligatorZone, where kids meet cool startups

AlligatorZone is one of several impact-programs being designed at SiliconGlades.  If you know of startups that would make for interesting presenters to an audience of kids, teens and families, please send your suggestion to events [at] siliconglades [dot] com, or direct-message at @siliconglades

As we prepare for the 3rd session of AlligatorZone on August 9, 2014 at the Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico, Florida, we want to share the exciting ambiance at the AlligatorZone session.  We want to share some lessons learned, and some changes we are considering to the format as we fine-tune it further. 

Let’s start off with some videos of the founders sharing their thoughts on the experience soon after the session concluded.

Here are some pictures of the event.

The AlligatorZone is held in a public library.  In the picture below the Innovation Studio is just starting to have visitors.  It’s a nice feeling to see familiar faces.  Repeat visitors in the audience indicates we are doing something right, providing something valuable to the audience.

It’s 10 a.m. on the Saturday of AlligatorZone.  We walk in to find some people already seated and all the startup entrepreneurs already present.  The show is scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m.  In the picture above, the presenting startups are testing their connections for the big screen.  We are thinking of doing away with the screen and the ubiquitous slide show, that we believe are impeding more free wheeling conversations between the startups and the kids in the audience.  The big screen is probably a distraction in this case. 

By the time the session began, it was a packed house. 

Here’s another view of the packed room.

More families joined us later because they had to drive an hour to get to the AlligatorZone.  See the kid in crutches? 

No kidding!  These kids mean business!

Laura Doyle from the Hillsborough County Library Cooperative kindly shared comments from the audience members, gathered in the comment cards.  Read the excerpts below, edited for relevance.

"I feel like this is a pretty efficient way to spread the word about new businesses and I feel like this is very helpful for the presenters."

"It was very interesting to learn about local entrepreneurs."

"Better than I expected!

"It was useful."

"Very educational. Excellent for adults and children."

Suggestion: “Give more time for questions.”

"Awesome! Keep the entrepreneurial stuff coming!"

Based on the feedback in the videos and the comments from members of the audience, we are thinking of limiting each session to 2 presenters as was originally planned.  The third presenter was supposed to be on standby in our original plan.  Limiting it to 2 presenters might allow for more one-on-one time between audience members and the entrepreneurs.  We may need to revisit where the speakers stand and how they audience is seated.  The learning continues.  Thank you to everyone for their support - the library officials, the parents and families, the startups, the kids, and the media.  Look for coverage about AlligatorZone in the upcoming issue of The Bloomingdale Gazette.  

If you know any startups that would be cool to present to kids, please let us know with an email sent to events [at] siliconglades [dot] com.  We have started to sign up entrepreneurs to present based on their availability, since we have started planning for regular sessions of AlligatorZone.

One more thing.  After a couple of changes, we think we have distilled what AlligatorZone is all about in its new tagline: Where Kids Meet Cool Startups!

For your convenience, here are links to previous articles about AlligatorZone

Media coverage in the community newspaper Osprey Observer

Why Alligator Zone, Why Tampa Bay Area

@AlligatorZone extends to Sunnyvale Public Library, California

Talking About Your Startup to Families and Kids at AlligatorZone: Be the Consummate Storyteller You Ought To Be

Fresh Perspectives Swamp Startup Founders in AlligatorZone

31 Tips for Founders of Startups Talking To Families and Kids at AlligatorZone

Last weekend we released several tweets with tips on what startup founders could do or expect, and get the most out of a shot at talking to parents and kids at an AlligatorZone.  These are based on observations and lessons learned in our inaugural session last month.  There's an incredible amount of learning going on as we start running AlligatorZone sessions.  Our goal is to develop a set of guidelines and best practices as we continue down this path of bringing startups in front of families and kids for a community interaction of symbiotic enjoyment and benefit.  Here's a listing of the recent flurry of tweets.

Expect surprises. Last session a 6th grader asks "What analytics do you capture?"

Linger for 1on1 chats post-session & get more ideas

Talk little, then ask crowd for ideas and #listen

It's a chance to nudge a #mom to be a #mompreneur

It's an opportunity to inspire a kid or teenager

You're seen as a contributor to the local economy

Silly dance video > Showing mugshot slide

Wouldn't hurt to offer families a tour of your lab

Relax, Smile. Audience is out to help, not judge you

Yr next employee/intern/distributor maybe in audience

Traits that help -- humility, vulnerability, patience

Present to be likeable & the community reciprocates

Don't assume kids/teens learned tech concept in school

When kids/teens ask questions, repeat for all to hear

Avoid words 'business model'; say Here's how I make $

Between real demo and deck, prefer demo

Between demo & product, prefer audience trying product

It's teaching time; show kids how you solve a problem

Learn frm NYC street performers near EllisIslandFerry

If it's physical product, bring samples

Kids, teens are your future consumers; they're always right!

Practice in front of kids, not mirror.

Explainer videos can't convey #founder's passion

When audience gives ideas, ask if they'd like to be kept posted

When #teens in audience suggest a new market, consider hiring them as #interns

Kids seeking dad's iphone means you stopped #storytelling

Slideshow can't replace power of conversation

If kids get it, #angel #investors will.

Avoid saying "raised #seed money" or explain.

Avoid responding to kid's question with another question.

Avoid words like #ideation.

Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/AlligatorZone for the latest.  Bookmark and sign up at http://AlligatorZone.eventbrite.com to reserve spots and to learn of new startups in your neighborhood.  If you wish to suggest a startup, send an email to events at siliconglades dot com.

With a small splash, last Saturday morning, AlligatorZone got started in an elegant library that recently underwent a multi-million dollar expansion, tucked away in a beautiful neighborhood in Valrico, Florida, about 30 minutes east of downtown Tampa Bay.  Here is a pictorial report on the first ever AlligatorZone.

Chief Librarian Margaret Rials, of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC.org) welcomes members of the community to the first ever AlligatorZone, as the first presenting entrepreneur Jess Rasemont of RasemontGardens.com, (what we describe as an organic-garden-as-a-service company) prepares for her presentation in the background.

About alligators and grass, rather AlligatorZone and Grassroots.

AlligatorZone is just another step in a fascinating journey of programming brought to the public library in a grassroots fashion - based on the need felt by the community.  First, there was the CoderDojo Tampa Bay Area which launched back in May 2013 with the help of selfless volunteers from the programming community to nurture the next generation of developers; the program grew within a year from one library location to 6 locations in 3 counties, serving about 300 parents every other week.  Effectively, each month 12 classes are held to teach kids to code.  The positive economic impact of this program will be experienced by the community within 5 to 10 years as these kids become teenagers and young contributors to the economy of the area.  It is the only educational program that we know of, where a parent sits alongside the child, sometimes even learning with the child.

With AlligatorZone, it was the community of entrepreneurs who have a genuine need for getting fresh perspectives from members of the community about their business - both, risks and opportunities that the entrepreneurs usually miss because they are too preoccupied with their original vision and mission, and dare not stray from.  However, as the presenting startups at the inaugural AlligatorZone realized, members of the audience provided them with suggestions on target markets whose needs they hadn’t considered, suggestions on advertising avenues they hadn’t considered, and some in the audience asked questions that helped the entrepreneurs rethink how they communicated their value proposition, their business model and their pricing models to the common member of the public.

How the Community Gathered Around the Entrepreneurs.

AlligatorZone’s debut session in Valrico, Florida featured three entrepreneurs, and the audience consisted of moms, dads, grandparents, teachers, working professionals from the fields of finance and marketing, teenagers, elementary school kids and other entrepreneurs.  Yes, an investor also showed up, listened and left impressed.

An engaged audience of members of the community hear out Jess Rasemont as she describes RasemontGarden.com.

Each startup received various forms of feedback and suggestions, even offers for help to promote their service through resources where the audience members enjoyed access.  Jess Rasemont is seen here talking to an audience member.

Pat Bhava of PikMyKid.com prepares to show an animated video to members of the community gathered at AlligatorZone on June 14, 2014 at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico, Florida.

PikMyKid.com founders Pat and Chitra continue to obtain feedback from school teacher Lorien Mattiacci who was a member of the audience, and had driven close to an hour to be at AlligatorZone.

Travis Russi talked about StuffHub, his app for selling/buying through trusted personal contacts.

Travis Russ, creator of StuffHub chats after the AlligatorZone session with Alfred Urena, a technology marketing professional, who also volunteers as the lead mentor at New Tampa Regional Public Library CoderDojo teaching kids to code.

Birds and Alligators, of course

Here are some tweets from AlligatorZone that could give you a feel for the session.

Thanks to the incredible support of @TampaHillsLib team from behind the scenes with @alligatorzone @HillsboroughFL pic.twitter.com/8OyGDRZkgS

— AlligatorZone (@alligatorzone)

June 16, 2014

#teens in audience at @alligatorzone debut session offered valuable tips to #startups @tamphillslib @HillsboroughFL pic.twitter.com/yOwIsDM7cf

— SiliconGlades (@SiliconGlades)

June 15, 2014

The Fringe Benefits For Startups in the AlligatorZone

Among the unplanned benefits of presenting a startup at AlligatorZone turned out to be the visibility they enjoyed in the media and in web searches.  Pat Bhava of PikMyKid.com pointed us to the organic search results that were an outcome of their startup’s participation, by sending us this link: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pikmykid&start=30

Alexandra Booth kindly took the time to write the story of AlligatorZone in the community newspaper Osprey Observer which we believe reaches 30,000 households in the vicinity of the library.

Building Best Practices for AlligatorZone