The Ultimate Corporate Entrepreneur

TiECon 2006 Wrap-up and 2007 Wish List

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.   

Judy Estrin & TiECon 2006: Getting Back to Her Roots

Judy Estrin has been around the garden a few times, but can still tell you about the flowers she smelled along the way. Named three times to Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 most powerful women in American business, she’s a rich source of savvy know-how.

As someone who sits on the boards of directors for the likes of The Walt Disney Company and The Federal Express Corporation, her advice to those just starting out is to think about the Board they build as entrepreneurs.

Established entrepreneurs considering joining a board, “If you don’t have incredible trust in the CEO don’t go there – it’s not the Board’s job to manage the company, it’s the CEO’s job.”

What does it take to survive and thrive as an entrepreneur in today’s marketplace?

“Strong vision, persistence, and adaptability are needed – marketing does matter, focus matters – balance the stubbornness and passion with flexibility, otherwise you’ll miss the mark.”

Estrin spoke about technology innovation and what she sees as two major types:

• Breakthrough innovation – big ideas that drive real industry change
• Incremental innovation – enterprise change

Although she believes both are needed, Estrin feels that breakthrough innovation is most at risk in Silicon Valley now with too much focus on incremental innovation.

“During the bubble people didn’t innovate big breakthroughs because they were moving too fast. After the bubble the Valley became risk averse, but we must get back to the big breakthroughs.”

Challenges to Innovation

Estrin’s keynote provided a movable feast of practical experience for entrepreneurs lucky enough to have grabbed morning coffee and been in the audience for day two of TiECon 2006.

TiECon 2006: Schwarzenegger's Possible Mission

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sure knows how to work a room.

Introduced on stage by serial entrepreneur and TiECon strategist, Vani Kola, Governor Schwarzenegger quipped “It’s great being here. I’m not having an accent today!”

Sharing his own immigrant story and dreams at the age of fourteen, the Governor eventually became a body building champion, movie actor, and governor. “This could only happen in the US and only in California.”

But what would a politician be if he (or she) didn’t use the podium to get a political message across?

Improving California’s Infrastructure

Emphasizing the need to improve California’s infrastructure was welcome news for anyone who has driven down, around, and over the choked freeways of California, in general, and Silicon Valley, in particular.

“Road systems hinder the loading and shipment of goods due to our broken infrastructure. If we can move people and goods around faster – that’s economic power.” 

Possibilities

Invited to answer a few questions in a more informal “fireside chat” with a panel of distinguished TiE members, Governor Schwarzenegger looked around at the men seated on stage and noted, “Where are all the women?”, only to have one of the members quickly remind him that Vani Kola had introduced him to the podium [listen to my interview with Vani]. 

Geopolitics to Green Tech

Over three thousand attendees flowed into the Santa Clara Convention Center for day one of TiECon 2006. The opening keynotes set the tone for this year’s “disruption and convergence” theme.

Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General United Nations stressed to the packed room of technocrats that the Internet, by itself, cannot solve everything. Creating marginalized societies lacking the education to enjoy enriched lives impacts us all. “The point of life is to be enriched by life.”

The need for artists, writers, and innovators to find new ways of solving today’s problems begins with having the freedom to create. Driving home the point, Dr. Tharoor emphasized that true convergence will happen when we learn to live in harmony with other identities. Global problems have no passports. “We all live downstream from water pollution.”

Enter John Doerr, General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers whose relationship with TiE spans 15 years and has been described by Cisco’s CEO, John Chambers, as the “Single best venture capitalist in the world.”

Describing the role of a venture capitalist as one that finds and funds risktakers, Doerr shared his thoughts with Michael Malone on opportunities for entrepreneurs. He sees biology as the next big broad deal, particularly when applying innovation to energy – green tech – that leads to sustainable economies.

“If India and China develop at the rate of the US we will choke the planet—we must innovate.”

TiE 2006 Conference: Entrepreneurs Unlimited

My introduction to TiE (Talent, Ideas, and Enterprise) was in 2002 when my strategic marketing partner, Cheryl Downing, noticed an available speaker slot for an upcoming dinner workshop on negotiations.

I had a wonderful opportunity to present to TiE members in November 2002 and April 2003, while also working directly with a number of talented leaders and industry movers and shakers. Dr. Prasad Kaipa and Murrali Rangarajan were instrumental in helping me build the right relationships over time where, eventually, I supported the not-for-profit’s emerging mentorship program. 

TiECon 2006 is one of the best networking events in Silicon Valley. Held this year at the Santa Clara Convention Center on May 12–13 the conference typically draws thousands of local and international attendees. I’m excited to be blogging live at this year’s event.

I had an opportunity this past week to speak with Vani Kola, Managing Director, India, New Enterprise Associates-IndoUS Ventures, LLC. 

Our 25-minute conversation [MP3 download 6MB] covered a wide range of topics from general information about what participants can expect at this year’s exciting, speaker-rich TiECon event "Disruption and Convergence – Entrepreneurs Unlimited" to survival tips on managing the clash of entrepreneurial styles and bureaucracy in corporate acquisitions to how emerging entrepreneurs can prepare for opportunities.