Tag Archives: Launch Pad

I ♥ Reposting

Posted on March 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

I want more submissions for Launch Pad so I am straight up reposting this from the Enterprise 2.0 blog. Know an enterprise 2.0 or social business vendor that likes free publicity and speaking on stages at conferences? Keep reading . . .

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Taking a moment to celebrate and recognize the innovation taking place within the Enterprise 2.0 marketplace is important, but rather simple. Doing it in three minutes is indubitably more challenging .

Launch Pad is a fun, free contest that awards vendors in the collaboration space with an opportunity to present live at the Enterprise 2.0 Conference. The competition is not limited to startups – all companies are encouraged to participate. The only requirement is that you showcase something new.

What do you mean by new?

We want to hear about a new product, a new partnership, a new feature — anything your company is proud to boast about in 2011. The announcement doesn’t need to take place live at the event (although we like that too); if it’s happened within the calendar year, it counts.

Sounds easy enough. How do I enter?

Craft 140 perfect characters and Twitter pitch to #e2conflp before April 11, 2011. That’s it.

Suspiciously simple – what gives?

Granted, there are a couple more hoops to jump through. The Jury will select the 8 best submissions, and those 8 companies will create 3 minute videos. After the community votes on the vids, the 4 with the most votes go on to demo live at Enterprise 2.0 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA on June 22, 2011.

Anything else I should know?

Full rules and key dates are all explained on the site. We’re switching things up slightly this year and adding a new twist to the contest: Launch Pad is officially on a diet and shaving down main stage demo time to three minutes a piece.

Jeez.

Yeah, sorry about that. Please remember to include the hashtag: #e2conflp (so we know you want to enter), and if you have any questions, just holler at me. Look forward to seeing your submissions!

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TL;DR Tweet to #e2conflp before April 11 to enter to win demo time at Enterprise 2.0 Boston.

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The UN of Launch Pad

Posted on June 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Sometimes I really dig my job.

A couple weeks back at Enterprise 2.0 Boston, I chaired the Launch Pad program. This was my third time coordinating this contest and the process is getting a little smoother and I’m feeling more confident each time I have another experience under my belt.

Regardless of any on-stage brain farts I exhibit or how many times I say “um,” the satisfaction gleamed from seeing this contest from start to finish always comes down to the people I have the opportunity to work with.

This year the Final Four came from across the globe. Alex Moore of Baydin came from Melrose, MA. Tilman Eberle flew in from Zurich. Leonardo Varella-Cid joined us from Lisbon. And lastly, Daniel Kim from MindQuilt hopped a plane  from Germany into Boston. These four gentleman were incredibly enthusiastic about their 5 minute keynote demo, and it was great to see them form bonds over the shared Launch Pad experience from the moment we did our first sound check walk through.

Weeks later there are still emails flying back and forth with invitations extended to host their fellow finalists in their native country. It feels awesome to play a role in uniting them. And a big thank you to these four for making my job way more fun.

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Return of the Dino

Posted on April 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

I served as the Chairperson for the Launch Pad contest at Cloud Connect back in March 2010 in Santa Clara. Our Final Four had a chance to demo live on the keynote – check the vid!

Ellen – I’m soooo sorry I called you Gary. I really have no excuse – please accept my apology?

Also fun to note that apparently my favorite word is “um.” Really need to get that Toastmasters class on the calendar.

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Push Ups, Dinos & Launch Pad: Take II

Posted on March 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

I’m the Cloud Connect Launch Pad Chairperson, and the competition is coming to a head quite soon. I have multiple competing emotions when it comes down to the main event. Working towards a moment in time – only to have that time arrive upon you rather suddenly – has a way of snapping you into focus and scaring the crap out of you.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to presenting this contest on Wednesday. March 17, 2010 on the keynote stage at Cloud Connect down at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

The contest began on Twitter. All developers, large and small, were invited to enter their application. There was no entry fee.  We opened our doors with a simple bar for entry – Tweeting to the Cloud Connect Launch Pad Twitter handle #cc_lp.

With the help of my Jurors, we vetted the submissions and narrowed them down to our favorite 8. We then asked the Cloud Connect community to vote on their favorite tool, and the Final Four earned their right to present on the main stage, as well as earn other cool prizes.

The last Launch Pad contest I chaired was at the Enterprise 2.0 Conference in San Francisco in November 2009. To prepare before getting up to present, I did push ups backstage with my buddy Justin to relieve some of the nervous tension that built up in my body. Hopefully it won’t come down to that this time…

And I’m bring the dino back.

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Eek. Public Speaking

Posted on October 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

e2-09sf_160x600-imspeaking20 I am equal parts excited and nervous to be  moderating the Enterprise 2.0 Launch Pad contest on November 4, 2009 at Enterprise 2.0 San Francisco.

This competition allows companies the opportunity to present their innovative application (either in development and about to launch, or recently launched). All entrants will receive visibility E2 Launch Pad site, and four finalists will be invited to present their applications live on the keynote stage to the Enterprise 2.0 Conference audience.

OurRound 1 Twitter pitch saw submissions from across the globe, explaining in 140 characters or less why they deserve to be considered. The E2 team whittled down the entrants to 8 quarter-finalists who are crafting 3 minute videos for the E2 community to vote upon. The winner receives not only the fame and the glory, but the chance to present live on the Enterprise 2.0 SF keynote stage.

Wishing I’d gone ahead and done that Toastmasters course right now. One month countdown to stage fright…

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