TiE is about networking and making the connections you need to fund an idea, move your company forward, and keep up with the latest in technology developments, trends and innovation.
TiECon 2006 was definitely about networking. Whether grabbing a Starbucks coffee between sessions and having one of the friendly security staff ask if I’d check the status of his Bob Hope bid on eBay to seeing pals from previous events and reconnecting with TiE mentees – you could feel the creative energy of over 3,000 entrepreneurs under one roof.
But networking is also about making and keeping connections after an event. A trackback from one of my earlier posts on TiECon 2006 placed VC Ratings blog on my radar screen.
Another cool blog, Startupline, building on one of my posts on decision-making networks posted an insightful article about the differences between taking risks as a corporate and startup entrepreneur.
Exhibit booths and tables were rich with opportunities for forming contacts from non-profit organizations such as Ekal Vidyalaya (One Teacher School), SD Forum, German American Business Association (GABA), and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) where one of my alliance partners Design2Market was shooting video footage.