Meet the Industry Experts

TiEcon 2006 once again promises two action-packed days of learning, networking, and partnering. The theme this year is “Disruption and Convergence: Entrepreneurship Unlimited.” The emphasis is on exploring the business environment, and issues facing industry and entrepreneurs today. Keynotes, panel discussions, and case studies will focus on various business areas including networking, semiconductors, software, storage, security, Internet, hospitality, wireless, and life sciences. TiE has also lined up eminent speakers like Howard Dean, Shashi Tharoor, Vijay Mallya, John Doerr, Judy Estrin, Jane Wales, T.J. Rogers, and noted filmmaker David Lynch.The conference will feature two new events: the Entrepreneur’s Bazaar and the Distinguished Speaker Series. The Bazaar will provide unique opportunities for entrepreneurs to schedule one-on-one time with industry experts from the venture capital, legal, finance, and other professions. Industry expert and conference convener, Vani Kola, comments on this new program, “TiE, in its spirit of enabling access, has facilitated this forum through which entrepreneurs meet VCs on a first-come-first-serve basis. It is their shot at making important connections.”

The Distinguished Speaker Series will draw upon the expertise of CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, and CMOs, who will share insights from their personal experiences. Some of these speakers include Tom Berquist of Ingres Corp., Sanjay Jha of Qualcomm, David Seibel of Insight Partners, and Aliza Peleg of SAP Labs. An expanded exhibit floor will showcase emerging as well as established companies.

The closing celebrations of TiEcon 2006 will feature a Global Bazaar offering a feast for the senses in the form of food, dance, and music from around the world. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed by dinner, where attendees can mingle with friends and take their pick of cuisine from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. After dinner, dancers led by two talented choreographers, Margaret Jenkins and Tanushree Shankar, will perform. This dance will be a preview of their performance in San Francisco on May 17. A musical performance by double-violin virtuoso Gingger and percussionist Sivamani will follow. The entertainment will continue with dancing on live music by DJ Salim.

TiE stands for Talent, Ideas and Enterprise. The organization has more than 40 chapters in nine countries. It endeavors to cultivate and nurture entrepreneurship and free-market economies everywhere, as it sees this to be the single most powerful instrument of prosperity.

About TiE’s annual conference, Kola sums up, “TiEcon is simply the best value there is for an entrepreneur. It gets better every year, offers more value. Each year the endorsement from attendees is phenomenal!” —Smita Garg

May 12 and 13, Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara. $245 general, $215 members. (408) 567-0700 x 237. www.tiecon.org

…………………………………………………………………….

Keynote speakers at TiEcon 2006:

From left: Howard Dean, Shashi Tharoor, Vijay Mallya, John Doerr, Judy Estrin, Jane Wales, T.J. Rogers, and David Lynch