Providing innovators with a place to connect with the media, influential bloggers, the marketplace and each other.
Thursday September 17 had a lot of the Massachusetts Innovation sector running from one event to another. When you show up at an event already wearing a name tag, you know it’s been a busy (and exciting day.) It seems that the Innovation crowd has awakened from its summer doldrums and is heating up even as we anticipate cooler weather. If you weren’t able to get out yesterday, here’s some of what you missed and here’s some cool new stuff coming.
“Massachusetts, It’s all here” campaign
Akamai played host to the launch party (or revival) for the campaign touting Massachusetts as the best place to Grow, Work, Live, Play & Study. A collaborative effort brought forth a website and marketing campaign to promote Massachusetts as a globally competitive, innovative, dynamic and diverse state. While some might quibble with the use of a slogan originally launched in 2003 as a touchstone for an innovation-oriented campaign, the green-flavored idea of re-using and refreshing what already exists, and the ability to tie-in and leverage the state’s tourism campaign using the same slogan is a good one. (Sometimes innovation is the intelligent use of existing resources.)
A gung-ho group of speakers:
During the Q&A period came one of the more interesting suggestions of the event, in a “Don’t forget the little guy” moment, Jean Horstman, CEO of ICE (InnerCity Entrepreneurs) reacted to the introduction of Mass Challenge with a challenge of her own. “How about a growth competition for established businesses?” (Start-ups and technology are all well and good but there are lots of established businesses out there who, with a little support could be growing and hiring.) (MassInno comment, “Hear, hear.”)
Also nice to see big mentions and links to VentureFizz, a one-stop shop for everything innovation-flavored in Massachusetts. Great events calendar and job listings, among other useful info!
During the Q&A, we heard again from Bialecki, “High tech can not be the single face of entrepreneurship here in Massachusetts.” (MassInno comment again, “Hear, hear.”)
Ignite Boston
Ignite events previously have been held in packed bars which is great for networking but not so great for presenting. This time, Fidelity opened up their terrific facility (four big screens, comfy chairs, full-on tech, nice) for the event. Heavily attended by those in gov, the presentations are quick affairs (5 minutes, 20 slides advanced automatically), a fact made hilarious fun of by the keynote speaker, Glenn Ezra, who made urban planning fun and informative. Book him now before he’s a YouTube viral hit and you can’t afford him.
The swanky venue unfortunately contributed to the only criticism I saw of the event — networking wasn’t emphasized as much as at previous Ignite events because everyone got so comfy and there wasn’t the usual jockeying for position to strain to see the slides. (A note to other event organizers — it is impossible to make everyone happy.)
High Tech Sector Branding Initiative. The process so far…from our friends at Innovate MassTech
On January 27, Governor Deval Patrick challenged the region’s IT/digital sector to create a collaborative approach to improve its global competitiveness. On June 10 an extended dialogue began with thought leaders and sector stakeholders to embrace the challenge of expanding the region’s innovative capacity and sector preeminence.
Over the summer key thinkers from the Governors Organizing Committee like Steve Vintor from Google, Paul Grogan from the Boston Foundation, Emily Nagle Green from the Yankee Group, and Secretary Greg Bialecki, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, have shared their insights about the sector on Innovate MassTech, industry councils have been engaged to collaborate and participate in the process, and now we need to hear from the broader community.
How can you help? Participate in a tweet chat today from 1-2 (Friday, September 18): What defines the future of the technology and innovation sector of MA and New England? (#MATechIn) Add your comments to the feedback pages that have been created for this project. View the videos — do you agree?
