workforce development Archives - StartupsSanAntonio.com

Rackspace Co-Founder Launches Jobward App For Job Seekers

12Oct

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Rackspace Co-Founder Launches Jobward App For Job Seekers

The demand for talent is real, yet the hiring process isn't nearly as efficient and effective as it needs to be. That challenge to make job hunting easier for qualified candidates is what has been keeping Rackspace co-founder Dirk Elmendorf busy in building Jobward, a new startup for job seekers.Working alongside his brother and long-time collaborator Brett Elmendorf, Natalie Karney, and Drew Hicks, the co-founders seek to help job applicants match their resume to a job posting. The team's research and app-building have taken about two years, as their earlier iteration last fall didn't quite fit the bill.The founders announced Jobward's official launch during a San Antonio Startup Week panel."I had the idea originally when unemployment was at about 4%, before the pandemic," Dir...

Cyber Warrior Network Creates Cyber Esports League to Fill Jobs

23Jul

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

Cyber Warrior Network Creates Cyber Esports League to Fill Jobs

A new cyber esports league will be hosting the Cyber Esports Tournament at this year's DEF CON, thanks to a startup founder with a vision for closing the cybersecurity workforce gap.Players in the world's first cyber warfare esports league will validate their cybersecurity skills and get matched to fill real-world cybersecurity jobs at the annual DEF CON, a hacker convention that starts this year on August 5, immediately following Black Hat in Las Vegas. Players finishing in first place will win $1,000. To register, click here.U.S. Air Force veteran Nigel LeBlanc launched Cyber Warrior Network (CWN) in 2015 after he realized transitioning military members needed help connecting with civilian employers looking for cyber experts. LeBlanc and his startup team created the highl...

Port San Antonio Board Approves ASM Global as Operator for New Innovation Center

26Feb

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

Port San Antonio Board Approves ASM Global as Operator for New Innovation Center

Port San Antonio announced venue management company ASM Global as the operator for the Port's planned innovation center after board members approved plans in a meeting on Wednesday, according to Port officials.ASM Global is a venue management and services company with a global portfolio of more than 300 of the world's most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibit centers, such as the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. ASM will be responsible for the management and booking of the Port's innovation center, as well as for the food and beverages in the center's food hall.Port San Antonio will retain full ownership, paying ASM a monthly fee.The Port's re-development agreement with American Triple I Partners, an infrastructure private equity firm focused on transportatio...

CyberWraith Video Game New Way to Close Cybersecurity Workforce Gap

17Oct

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

CyberWraith Video Game New Way to Close Cybersecurity Workforce Gap

The cybersecurity labor crunch is projected to hit 3.5 million unfilled jobs by 2021. Yet, possessing certifications is not enough for those on the front lines of cybersecurity. Contributing to the workforce gap is the challenge in identifying the skills and experience candidates need for these jobs.One San Antonio entrepreneur is looking to solve this problem by proposing a new, immersive video game called CyberWraith as the solution.U.S. Air Force veteran Nigel LeBlanc launched the Cyber Warrior Network (CWN) in 2015 after he realized transitioning military members needed help connecting with civilian employers looking for cyber experts. He saw the need to upend the cybersecurity applicant tracking system, which he called a “glorified keyword match between the job listing and can...

Active Capital-Led $1.5M Funding, Workforce Grant Fuels Growth for FunnelAI

27Mar

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

Active Capital-Led $1.5M Funding, Workforce Grant Fuels Growth for FunnelAI

FunnelAI announced Wednesday it received a $1.5 million seed round led by Active Capital. The investment included funding from the Geekdom Fund, Europe-based retail and consumer investor True, and angel investors from San Antonio and Houston.Chief executive Sridhar Kamma co-founded FunnelAI with his sister Sujatha Kamma, who serves as chief operations officer. Suman Poluri is the third co-founder, joining FunnelAI to lead the coding team.Founded in 2017, the marketing and sales startup created a software platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to find online indications of intent for businesses looking for customer prospects. RealCo accelerator and micro venture capital fund co-founder Michael Girdley helped bring the company from Austin to San Antonio, where it continues i...

New Cyber, IT Training for Military Launches in San Antonio

25May

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

New Cyber, IT Training for Military Launches in San Antonio

San Antonio has gained another cybersecurity and information technology (IT) training program for military members. The Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA) program opened in March at the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Campus located at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). The training is designed to provide service members the critical technology skills required for high paying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers before transitioning to civilian life.The class capacity for each MSSA program is 25 to 30 students in each cohort. Microsoft has launched 14 MSSA programs nationally including in San Antonio and expects to graduate approximately 1,000 students annually across all locations once at full capacity. Students may select one 18-week program or two ni...

Nonprofit SAMSOC Opens Cyber Range, Training Lab at Port San Antonio

20Apr

By Iris GonzalezNo Comments

Articles, Featured

Nonprofit SAMSOC Opens Cyber Range, Training Lab at Port San Antonio

Cybersecurity professionals new to the field become experienced by honing their skills, finding vulnerabilities and defending against massive cyber-attacks. Companies and software startups also need to test tools and apps in a realistic but virtual environment to see how well they work and make adjustments before going to market. The place for these activities ideally is not within a company’s active computer system, but at a cyber range—a controlled virtual environment where “white hats” or cyber professionals in training can practice their skills or test their product in a simulated, robust computer infrastructure.Port San Antonio is now home to a new cyber range that operates as part of a collaborative nonprofit organization called SAMSOC or the San Antonio Multidiscipline Security ...