Tag Archives: Innovation

Brewing Ideas for the Future

Experiencing collective in-person events has always been the catalyst of the Beer and Napkins Community. One of our last live events was in January 2020, presciently titled The VUCA Sessions: Navigating and Embracing Chaos; little did we know of the things we were to experience in the last few years. Of course, we pivoted and adapted to technology like many other communities. Our intimate VUCA group discussions help us thrive amidst such an isolating dynamic. This adaption and evolution of the use of emerging approaches to enhance our experiences will be ongoing. However, the spirit of camaraderie, the clinking of mugs, the tactile exercise of scribbling on a napkin will not be forgotten and permeates everything we do. AI is an exciting metaphor for using technology to support the creative spirit. Artificial Intelligence will continue to infuse in all we do. For example, a friend of mine, Dave Gray, introduced me to MidJourney AI, where AI-generated art is produced with descriptive words and phrases. As an artist, we can either adopt or reject creatively. I have adopted and used this to support my artistic endeavors (See AI art produced with sketching in pubs as some keywords). The same thought can be applied to Beer and Napkins, using technology to enhance the community experience. We are excited about the possibilities.

As we move onward, the Beer and Napkins community will continue to brew ideas for the Future, virtually or in person. We will leverage our third places, technology, and talent network to support idea development within our community and beyond.

Phil McCreight, Founder

Beer and Napkins Supports Furman University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Scholarships available for their new GVL Starts Entrepreneurship Program

Beer and Napkins is excited to be supporting Furman University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship GVL Starts. For a program overview, please visit  https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/programs/gvl-starts/  or for more information, contact [email protected]

The Institute will give a 50% scholarship to the first 5 who apply (so it would only be $149). Just enter “50% Beer and Napkins Scholarship” in question 18/last question of the application. For application, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVLSTARTS 

Y2MAKE: Creating our Future Through Advanced Manufacturing

ManTech-2016-Eventbrite-Logo

Y Manufacturing?

We are in the midst of a manufacturing renaissance, especially in the Southeast. The Upstate has a seasoned workforce, however with the increase of new technologies and approaches to manufacturing including additive and robotics, the requisite skills needed in science and engineering have also increased. How do improve this knowledge gap? How do we get more interested in manufacturing especially the Y and Z generations? How do we tap into the large number of engineers in SC to help?

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MESHSC: News Impacting the Future of Health & Medicine

ThankMESHSCcommunitys to Dr. David Orr for sharing his insights on direction of Medtech and Biotech Tuesday at Brewery 85.  He was gracious to share a sample of recent news articles on the topic to get your creative juices going. Stay tuned to future MESHSC talks and meetups that are focused on this continually evolving field.

How Your Gut Affects Your Bones(Scientific American)

Cancer Took His Wife. Now He’s CEO Of One Of The Most Audacious Cancer Startups In Years (Forbes)

Automated empathy allows doctors to check on patients daily (CNN)

Novartis signs Aetna, Cigna for pay-for-performance drug deal (MobiHealth News)

New Ways Into the Brain’s ‘Music Room’(NY Times)

Halo claims to make you jump higher, think faster, remember longer (Newsweek)

We Have the Technology to Destroy All Zika Mosquitoes (MIT Tech Review)

Software Measures Heartbeats in Video Recordings (MedGadget)

The Digitalization of Prosthetics Is Transforming How Wounded Service Members and Veterans Recover (Singularity Hub)

Give Up Your Data to Cure Disease (NY Times)

The Mycobiome (The Scientist)

World’s First Wireless, Continuous, Fully Disposable Pulse Oximeter (MDTMag)

The chips are down for Moore’s law(Nature)

Miniature Microsocope will ID Cancer Cells in Real Time (MNT)

A Gadget for Spotting Fake Viagra, and Other Counterfeit Pills (MIT Tech Review)

Mattel acquires baby health wearable maker Sproutling (MobiHealth News)