The launch of something exciting and new. Many in our community have spent grandiose efforts to dismiss, denigrate, and deny the urge of promise that is wearable glass technology. We as a group have stepped up to say that it is inevitable humanity will integrate with technology for the betterment or detriment of society. We have decided to push Glass to be about this “betterment”. The Stained Glass initiative is spearheaded by Redg Snodgrass (Alcatel-Lucent, Skout, kind of like the AquaMan of tech). “Stained Glass Labs originated out of a conversation I had with Chris Saad (Echo) around how humanity isn’t meant to look down to connect with technology, and ignore the world around them. Instead we’re meant to look up and be enhanced by what we’ve created.” At that moment we came to the conclusion that it is our responsibility as established entrepreneurs to support the new generation in this currently negative environment. We all remember when the Apple App Store launched back in 2008, and the promise that an entire world would be changed by technology even amidst the negativity. Steve Jobs made it his responsibility to keep the world optimistic during that time. Glass is potentially an even fuller promise of how good technology can enhance the human potential of the everyday person. This group has chosen to not just stand aside and be silent, but to be a voice and hopefully a business barometer for this next generation of technologically minded entrepreneurs. Stained Glass Labs, as the group has called itself, is a nod to the history of how stained glass was first used only by wealthy Romans in their villas and palaces in the first century A.D. At this time stained glass was considered a domestic luxury rather than an artistic medium.* It wasn’t until the monks took it to the common people that it became a universal medium for good. We seek to do the same with Glass technology today. We are doing this by establishing an incubator, and a community to allow developers and Glass-focused startups to do rapid innovation, and be nurtured by some of the best, brightest, and human-centric serial entrepreneurs and investors. We’ve chosen to build this global group of people who have been successful entrepreneurs from all sides of the industry to be a sounding board and helping hand to these amazing technologists who are banging out “the next big step in the technological evolution of humankind.” Glass has the potential to affect so many parts of our lives. We saw what worked in the mobile and startup worlds and believe it is the right time to build an ecosystem for this next wave. If you’re a startup, entrepreneur, or developer that’s jack about this space, we want to help you. Starting today we’re accepting applications. Please visit www.stainedglasslabs.com and apply. Who Are The Mentors? Alex Muse: HAUL, ShopSavvy, Fancast Amber Case / Cyborganthropology, GeoLoqi, Esri Andrew J Scott / Rummble, Taploid Ashwin Navin / Bit Torrent Beverly Jackson / The Recording Academy Brady Forrest / PCh Accelerator & Ignite Brett Murray / Apple, Nokia Brian Zisk / SFMusicTech Charles Hudson / SoftTech VC Chris Heuer / SMC, Deloitte, Adhocnium Chris Saad / Echo Chris Tolles / Topix David Mathews / NeWaer Efren Toscano / TechZulu Eliane Fiolet / Ubergizmo Greg Gopman / AngelHack Harald Neidhardt / Smaato, MLOVE Jacob Mullins / Shasta Ventures, Exitround Jason Collins / Alcatel-Lucent Jahan Khanna / SideCar Jay Nath / CIO SFGOV Manish Chandra / Kaboodle, Poshmark Nick Chadwick / BrightCover, Gaikai Rick Witham / Nokia Tero Sarkkinen / Rightware Tamer Hassanein / Zong, Rising Tide Fund Reza Kazemipour / ClearStone Ventures, Oris4 Richard Titus / Octavian Ventures, Prompt.ly Raj Singh / Skyfire, Tempo.AI Edouard Tabet / Trulia, Zetrip Andy Mcloughlin / Huddle Chris Hughes / Debbie Landa / Dealmaker Media, Grow Labs Demir Gjokaj / Montaj Fergus Hurley / Focal Labs, Radum Oone Julie Mossler / Groupon, Waze Lea Bajc / NorthZone Ventures Melissa Rowley / CNN, Cisco *http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/arthistory/StainedGlass/history.cfm
