The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce named neuroscientist Vivienne Ming, co-founder of Socos, biochemist Jill Fuss, founder of CinderBio, and computer game pioneer Will Wright, founder of Stupid Fun Club, winners of this year’s Visionary Awards. “Running a business is hard. Running a business in Berkeley can be even harder at times,” said Berkeley Chamber CEO […]
Will Wright
Posted inBerkeleyside, Business, Video
In case you missed it: Startup Berkeley Forum highlights
https://youtu.be/tYtenu8QQcU Last month, Berkeleyside held its second Local Business Forum, concentrating on “Startup Berkeley” — the strengths and weaknesses of the city for startups. If you weren’t able to attend, or if you just want a quick refresher on the evening, we’ve condensed the two hours into a little more than six minutes of highlights […]
Posted inBusiness
Startup Forum: What does it take to make it in Berkeley?
What makes a city a magnet for startups? Why do entrepreneurs and financiers flock to the South Bay even though there are so few good places to eat there? Does Berkeley want to be Silicon Valley anyway? (You can guess the answer to that one.) Maybe Berkeley is just not hip enough to attract young […]
Posted inBerkeleyside, Events
Startup Berkeley: does the past guide a city’s future?
For several decades, Berkeley — and the East Bay more generally — has looked longingly at the vibrant enterprise and job creation on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. Why can’t Silicon Valley spread its secret sauce across the Bay? After all, Berkeley has two great research institutions — UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab […]
Posted inEvents
New arrival from Brooklyn joins Startup Berkeley panel
Kalimah Priforce describes himself as “a madman on a mission”. Through his startup Qeyno Labs, Priforce works with local partners and schools to bring technology-enabled career discovery into under-served classrooms, using game-like rewards and mentorship from real-life professionals. Priforce will be joining the panel at Berkeleyside’s Local Business Forum on March 5th to discuss his experience moving […]
Posted inEvents
Announcing: Berkeleyside Local Business Forum 2012 ‘Startup Berkeley’, Monday March 5, 7-9 pm
Berkeleyside is thrilled to announce that on Monday March 5th we will be hosting the Berkeleyside Local Business Forum 2012: Startup Berkeley. The Forum’s focus will be the strengths, and weaknesses, of the city of Berkeley for startups. What does it take to turn an idea into a successful business, how can one nurture innovation, and what […]
Posted inFire
Will Wright: Inspired to make The Sims after losing a home
Editor’s note: This story was first published in 2011. We’re resharing it on Oct. 20, 2021, the 30th anniversary of the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm. Will Wright’s home was one of the first to burn in the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm. His quick thinking in fleeing without delay probably saved his life, and that of his first wife and […]