What tongues are wagging about now:
Ø Rupert Murdoch to begin charging for content “The internet days as we know it are over”
Ø Kindle DX getting panned over the $495 sticker price
VC Gossip:
Ø Firms are waiting for cap calls based on the fiscal year of LPs. They are also basing fundraising cycles on the LPs fiscal years.
Ø In other news Bill Tai’s Mai Tai Maui entrepreneur offsite is this coming week and they’ll all be getting kite surfing lessons in addition to talking about the new, new things/entrepreneurial bonding.
Upcoming Events
Ø May 12, 2009: Technologizer’s Tweetup
Burlingame, CA
This Tweetup is also a good place to learn more about TWTRCON, the Twitter for business conference conceived by Technologizer founder Harry McCracken and organized by Modern Media.
Several Sparksters will be attending.
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/338554626
Ø May 12, 2009: Clean Tech Breakfast #2: ‘The Future Size of the Carbon Footprint’ Nixon Peabody – San Francisco, One Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
In a country where over $59 billion was spent in the first half of 2008 alone on carbon credits, the push to decrease carbon usage is growing. What are the up and coming technologies for tracking carbon footprints and carbon credit trading? Where’s the growth and how will legislation impact this burgeoning sector?
Ø May 12, 2009: Mergers and Acquisitions in China
WilmerHale, 1117 S.California Ave | Palo Alto
Mergers and Acquisitions in China: Legal and Communications Strategies to Navigate a Changing Landscap
This event, presented by WilmerHale and the Brunswick Group, will provide attendees with the opportunity to discuss the changing landscape for acquirers of Chinese companies in light of the new China Anti-Monopoly Law. Attendees will engage in an illuminating and practical analysis on the regulatory issues that foreign acquirers face as they invest in China as well as learn how individuals can anticipate these risks as they plan for and negotiate the acquisition of targets active in China.
http://www.wilmerhale.com/events/whEventsDetail.aspx?firmEvent=2956
Ø May 13, 2009: Women who Tech meetups in Atlanta, SF, DC and London
Ø May 13, 2009: Emerging Technology Forum: Up Close and Digital: The Rise of Electronic Medical Records
Universal, portable and interoperable digital health records have been a prized objective for more than two decades. And lately, Washington’s stimulus package has brought more attention to the goal with its plan to spend $20B to spur the adoption of electronic health records.
Trouble is the technology has been too expensive, cumbersome and difficult to maintain. To date, only a few of the largest healthcare providers have managed to make inroads with electronic healthcare records (EHR) among the 80% of physicians who are in smaller practices. Portable heath records (PHR) owned by the patient, has also been championed as a way to improve patient care, but haven’t lived up to expectations.
New approaches to PHR/EHR systems from innovative Silicon Valley startups are beginning to break down the traditional barriers to adoption. And new data infrastructure designs, provided by Google, Microsoft and industry consortium-founded Dossia are offering a viable alternative to data silos that have previously plagued healthcare information systems.
Join the Emerging Technology Forum (ETF) for a lively discussion with experts who will examine the new landscape of institutional and personal digital health records and probe many questions. Are new approaches creative enough to remove the economic and institutional barriers to adoption? Is Health IT on the verge of a new wave of companies and solutions? What’s the outlook for investors and entrepreneurs seeking to realize the vision of a universal health record providing patients with a lifetime of critical information?
Moderator:
Ken Rosen, Principal, Theory and Practice Consulting
Panelists:
Megan Mok, CEO, Peoplechart
Ryan Howard, CEO, Practice Fusion
Commentator:
Dr. Wally Buch, Venture Partner, Medventures and Member, Band of Angels
Ø May 14, 2009: Invite-only DEMO VC Breakfast
San Francisco, CA
Matt Marshall and Chris Shipley are inviting a very small group of market influencers and investors for a private breakfast.
DEMO is reshifting focus of their shows to become a more effective launch platform with regard to today’s economic environment and social media culture, and they’ve been pulling insiders from the Valley for a private breakfast.
Ø May 14, 2009: Venture Connection Roundtable: Capitol Hill and Wall Street Come to the Valley: How to Grab a Piece of the Stimulus Bill’s $50 Billion Cleantech Pie
The Venture Connection Roundtable brings together premier venture capital firms, investment banks, strategic investors, companies and universities to discuss trends and hot issues. Featured speakers include Tom Jensen, Partner, Public Law & Policy Strategies, Washington D.C., Sonnenschein , David Ethridge, Managing Director, Head of Alternative Energy Group, Cowen & Company , Shez Bandukwala, Co-Chair, Greentech Investment Banking, ThinkEquity Partners, John Bergwell, Director of Project Finance, Chevron Energy Solutions and Sam Gabbita, Principal, Element Partners. The session is moderated by Victor Boyajian, National Chair, Sonnenschein Venture Technology Group.
Ø May 14, 2009: T-mobile Sidekick Launch party
Ø May 14, 2009: The Connected Home
Microsoft, Mountain View, CA
For those who made it to CES this year, you will have noticed this powerful trend: the PC, the TV, the Internet and the home are converging in a very real way. Real products launched into the market don’t just blur the lines between TV and PC, but in fact make it increasingly clear that any screen is just a screen, and the content will come from both broadcast, unicast, and from within the home.
Of course, screens and media are just a part of the Connected Home. Media sharing, photo display, home security, cameras, HVAC control, entry control, family organization and communication, are all becoming inextricably entwined. What does the Digitally Connected Home mean to your business, and where are the opportunities and threats? Our meeting will dive into the products, the ideas, the complicated web of service providers, and the great things we’ll see in the home of the future…a future which isn’t that far away.
Join us for a look at:
· Internet services and web content throughout the home
· Home Control
· Communications
· Devices, hardware, hubs, servers, terminals, frames, storage, screens…
· Security
· Networking solutions: Wi-Fi, HomePlug, Phoneline, etc.
· 3 screens, virtualization, and unified communications…
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=d027df7b-2546-49c7-a896-ff2fabf0d0da
Ø May 14, 2009: Social Media Marketing Panel w/ Charlene Li
Palo Alto, C
The social media groundswell is here, whether we like it or not, and it’s transforming the marketing profession. As marketers, we need a deep understanding of how these trends will change the way we interact with our customers and clients, and how to best leverage the change. Unlike many other experts in social media, Charlene Li is concerned with the big picture, what does this mean for business and marketing strategy and what objectives and strategies should be developed in order to take advantage of this transformation?
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=182524
Ø May 14: Paidcontent EconSM: Social Meets Mobile
Twitter. MySpace. Bebo. Yahoo! Verizon. Nokia. Nielsen Mobile. comScore. And more. They’ll all be at EconSM: Social Meets Mobile on May 14th in San Francisco.
For those who know it’s not enough to be social anymore—that you’ve to be mobile—join us for lively discussion on the business opportunities in the evolving mobile social space.
And be there as our keynoters and panelists answer the tough questions:
- What does social media mean in a mobile world?
- What mobile social tools and applications are gaining the most traction with users?
- Where are the success stories and revenue models?
- What types of mobile social firms are venture capitalists looking to invest in this year?
- What will it take for mobile advertising to hit its stride?
Ø May 15-16, 2009: TiEcon2009
Santa Clara, CA
TiE, is a premier organization for Entrepreneurs, Professionals, and VCs with the mission of fostering entrepreneurship (www.tiesv.org).
TiEcon (www.tiecon.org) is TiE’s flagship event and is considered the World’s largest conference of Entrepreneurs.
This year, TiEcon 2009’s theme is celebrating the BOLD Entrepreneur – the extraordinary person who thinks Big and Out of the box, Learns to adapt to changing conditions, and Dares to create his or her own future.
Keynote speakers include:
Reid Hoffman, CEO LinkedIn
Paul Maritz, CEO VMware
Brad Smith, CEO Intuit
Hans Morris, CEO Visa
Vivek Ranadive, CEO Tibco
New to TiEcon 2009 are
· Tie50: a showcase of the 50 hottest startups
· PowerConnect: an exclusive limited seating lunchtime networking event with VCs, speakers, sponsors, and industry luminaries
· Business Bootcamp: a series of business workshops tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs
Ø May 19-21, 2009: Where 2.0
San Jose, CA
Where 2.0 brings you the future of the geospatial industry. Now in its fifth year, the O’Reilly Where 2.0 Conference claims the space where developers building location-aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs looking for location apps, platforms, and hardware to give them a competitive edge. The importance and functionality of the geospatial web have matured—it’s not just maps anymore!
http://en.oreilly.com/where2009/
Ø May 19, 2009: Leadership in a Downturn Economy
Palo Alto, CA
We are living in a US economy where more than two million jobs were lost and where consumer spending has fallen more than 3% annually. Even worse, according to some CEOs, the economy has not been this badly off in the last 43 years.
· What steps are business leaders in the Silicon Valley taking to make sure that their enterprises not only don’t go under, but also thrive in these harsh times?
· Do they encourage worst-case scenario thinking or suggest a continued feeling of optimism – after all, every recession has an end?
· Is there a new reality that companies have to face and do they have to reset their priorities accordingly?
· Is it time to invent new products or technologies, or do you improve what worked in the past?
Panelists:
· Jean-Louis Gassee, Partner, Allegis Capital
· Victoria Livschitz, CEO, Grid Dynamics
· Vish Mishra, Venture Director, Clearstone Venture Partners
· Bettina Jetter, Founder, Mindjet
Moderator:
Tom Chaffin, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Ø May 21, 2009: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Change their Business Model
Menlo Park, CA
In this Strategy Series, we’ll discuss: Timing is Everything, dissecting the risks and trigger points for staying the course vs. switching business models.
Change is Good, the entrepreneur’s playbook for switching strategy without losing your customers…and your focus. Talking to the People, communicating the change to your peeps – from press to investors and board members to customers.
Ø May 21, 2009: What’s New and Exciting in Clean and Green?
Mountain View, CA
Do you know what clean tech companies need from consultants? Do you understand how to position your business for this market segment? Are you wondering how to get clients in this important and fast-growing industry?
The explosive growth in clean tech has created abundant opportunities for companies and consultants. In this roundtable discussion, WIC members will hear directly from a panel of clean tech companies about their product offerings and their approach to the market, and gain an understanding of how they can engage in this exciting new market sector.
Consultant Kathleen Gilligan of EcoStrategy Group will moderate a panel of executives from clean tech companies discussing their product offerings and their approach to the market.
Key Learning Points
This moderated panel will give you insight into:
· What constitutes a “green” company
· Which segments of the market are growing fastest
· What clean tech companies need to be successful
· The issues that emerging clean tech companies face
Ø May 21, 2009: BIGs Life Science – Financing and Exit strategies for Medical Device Startups in an Uncertain
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Internet start-ups and medical device companies have something in common. They often begin the same way—with a great idea and venture funding. The biggest challenge now seem seems to be how to develop practical financing and exit strategies that will enable capable entrepreneurs to attract the venture capital required for rapid growth.
Ø May 21, 2009: Morgenthaler Venture Partners,
Menlo Park, CA
Whether we’re in a recession or not, making dough ‘aint easy.
A startup with any hopes of long-term survival needs continuous evolution in their market focus, and a strategic plan for discovering new opportunities to grow revenue.
While undying commitment to a single market may be wise for seed-stage companies, eventually all startups with hopes of long-term survival need to modify or broaden their focus.
In this Strategy Series we’ll hear from some of tech’s most interesting startups on how they found the golden ticket in new markets – from leveraging existing assets to market entry via acquisition.
At what stage in a company’s lifecycle should it consider new markets?
What’s the trigger point that your company is ready to expand? What’s the quickest way to expand into new markets? What can backfire? What does new market expansion mean for your employees, investors, and board members? How can you keep everyone motivated and focused?
Speakers:
Karl Mehta, Founder & CEO, Playspan
Rebecca Lynn, Principal, Morgenthaler Ventures
Ro Choy, Chief Revenue Officer, RockYou
Munjal Shah, CEO, Like.com
Moderator:
Manish Chandra, CEO, Kaboodle
Ø May 28, 2009: Global Venture Investments- Opportunities and Challenges
Palo Alto, CA
The global picture of financial power and centricity has fundamentally changed. Capital markets have become increasingly global and interdependent, with the world’s foreign direct investment (FDI) ?ows running at over US$1.8 trillion in 2007 (over three times the level in 2003) and foreign investors owning over 25% of global equities. And climate change concerns challenge how businesses operate and how investors perceive business opportunities.
Recent McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) research highlights several trends that look set to continue during the years ahead, long after the present bout of market turbulence has ended:
• the continued growth and deepening of global capital markets as investors pour more money into equities, debt securities, bank deposits, and other assets around the world
• the soaring growth of financial markets in emerging economies and the growing ties between financial markets in developed and developing countries
• the growing financial clout of the eurozone countries and the significance of the euro
Ø May 28, 2009: Global Venture Investments- Opportunities and Challenges
Palo Alto, CA
The global picture of financial power and centricity has fundamentally changed. Capital markets have become increasingly global and interdependent, with the world’s foreign direct investment (FDI) ?ows running at over US$1.8 trillion in 2007 (over three times the level in 2003) and foreign investors owning over 25% of global equities. And climate change concerns challenge how businesses operate and how investors perceive business opportunities.
Recent McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) research highlights several trends that look set to
continue during the years ahead, long after the present bout of market turbulence has ended:
• the continued growth and deepening of global capital markets as investors pour more money into equities, debt securities, bank deposits, and other assets around the world
• the soaring growth of financial markets in emerging economies and the growing ties between financial markets in developed and developing countries
• the growing financial clout of the eurozone countries and the significance of the euro
Ø May 31, 2009: Grid Alternatives: Plug In to Grid!
Mountain View, CA
An exclusive afternoon party to learn about plug-in vehicles, checkout high-end sports cars like Tesla, futuristic prototypes displayed by Stanford and PG&E, hybrid conversions, motorcycles, scooters, neighborhood electric vehicles and much more.
http://www.gridalternatives.org/plugin
Ø May 31, 2009: TWTRCON SF
San Francisco, C
TWTRCON SF 09 is the first conference entirely focused on Twitter as a business platform: how to use Twitter to reach and engage customers, influence opinions and activate markets.
Ø June 3, 2009: Hands On Bay Area: Venture Out
Venture Out, is a half-day of volunteering with 300+ participants including leading social media entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investors organized by Hands On Bay Area. As you know this downturn in the economy is one of the worst we’ve seen in our lifetimes. We as entrepreneurs, investors and leaders in our community are in a unique position to make a difference. This event will provide a opportunity for you and your company to give back to the community in a time when our community needs it most, network with technology entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and angel investors, and start or continue building a philanthropic corporate culture. For more information, check out http://www.handsonbayarea.org. (A $75 donation for each participant will cover the cost of supplies and logistics and also support addition volunteer programs.)
Ø June 7-16, 2009: Geeks on a Plane
Dave McClure hosted event in which all tech innovators and investors are flying from Silicon Valley/SF to Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai for a week.
Organizers are looking for sponsors.
Ø June 9, 2009: SFbeta 3.4: Summer Flings
San Francisco, CA
So summer’s back and that means SFbeta is ready to bust the doors open and flow into the streets; or we will if we get another rocking turn out like last time. We’re bringing together hundreds of people from every rung of the tech and startup world – founders and executives, investors and advertisers, marketers and developers – and creating innumerable connections along the way. We’re still looking for a few folks to demo at the event, too.
http://sfbeta3p4.eventbrite.com
Ø June 14-18, 2009: Semantic Technology Conference 2009
Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA
SemTech 2009 represents virtually the entire spectrum of business, government and consumer activity taking place within the emerging field of semantic technologies. It is the most extensive event ever assembled on the topic, featuring:
170 Speakers from all corners of the Semantic community
Over 220 Hours of Instructional Content
135 Sessions spanning 20 Subject Tracks
30 Use Cases
In-Depth Technical and Product Tutorials
Major Industry Announcements
Late Breaking Vendor and Start-Up News
User Groups Meetings
Industry Tracks Devoted to:
Advertising & Marketing
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Government & Military
Publishing & Media
The current program is available here: http://semtech2009.com/ataglance/.
Ø June 16-17, 2009: 140 Characters Conference.
New York City, NY
This is an event that started out with the core focus of exploring “the effects of twitter on: Celebrity, The Media, Advertising and Politics” and has evolved into a worldwide gathering which will be covering the emerging twitter ecosystem. This is shaping up into a landmark event and if you are interested in the effects of twitter on your business now and in the future, please consider registering and joining me at the 140 Characters Conference.
Ø June 23, 2009: Social Gaming Summit
San Jose, CA
Social Gaming Summit is a one day event focused on the intersection of games and the social web. This year we’ll focus on helping developers build, monetize, and grow their social games. We’re bringing together the leaders in free-to-play games, social networking, and payments infrastructure for a full day of panels and talks. We’ll have executives from Zynga, Playdom, Playfish, Serious Business, Offerpal, Super Rewards, PayPal, Zong, Challenge Games, Kongregate, Xiaonei, hi5, MySpace, Facebook, and other leading companies in the social gaming space.
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