Boston Entrepreneurs Network

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Get Going! Launching Your Successful Company

Meeting Overview:

Learn what it takes to launch your idea into a successful company from those who have done it. Three entrepreneurs will discuss how they stepped out on their own and the successes they had in launching and developing their companies. Our first meeting of the Fall session will focus on actions taken by the entrepreneur in the early days - planning, organizing and launching which to a successful venture. If you are thinking of starting a business or if you have already launched, learn some of the tips and traps from those who has already done it.

Panel:

Eric Giler is CEO of WiTricity, founded in 2007 to commercialize an exciting new technology for wireless electricity (www.WiTricity.com ). Mass Technology Leadership Council named WiTricity “Emerging Innovative Company of 2009” and Mass High Tech named Eric an “All-Star of New England Innovation Economy”. Prior to WiTricity, Eric was CEO of Groove Mobile, a provider of mobile music commerce platforms, from April 2006 until its acquisition by Live Mobile, Inc. in March 2008. Eric was the founder and CEO of Brooktrout Inc., a provider of telecom software and hardware platforms, from 1984 until its acquisition by EAS Group, Inc. in October 2005. Under his leadership, Brooktrout grew to over $150M in annual revenue, and had a successful IPO in 1992. Eric is also an investor with Common Angels and serves on the boards of directors of SoundBite Communications and Muse Research, and on the National Board of Directors of the American Electronics Association (AeA). In addition, he has served on the board of the Massachusetts Telecommunications Council since its founding, most recently as Chairman. He is the author of eight patents. Eric holds a BS degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Martin Clifford is CEO of Sittercity, a company whose web site matches parents with local babysitters, nannies, dog walkers, senior care providers and tutors, with over a million caregiver profiles nationwide (www.sittercity.com ) Martin is also a venture partner with Point Judith Capital, focused on internet, digital media and clean-tech companies. He also founded Soflow Inc which operates a social Q&A platform spanning interests from environment to politics and beyond. Previously he was a co-founder at uDate.com, Inc., where he worked as Executive Vice President and COO. uDate.com, Inc., was sold to Interactive Corp in March 2003. Martin is a serial entrepreneur starting his first company CML-Environmental in 1988 to assist UK companies operating in the US with remedial efforts and environmental best practice. Martin sold CML in 1993 and joined Williams PLC (formerly Williams Holdings PLC, the UK’s leading industrial conglomerate) as Group Environment Manager- later progressing to a series of senior commercial roles within Williams operating divisions. Martin was educated in the United Kingdom and holds a B. Eng from the University of Portsmouth and an MBA from the Open University.

William Rodriguez, MD, is co-founder and CEO of Daktari Diagnostics, a company focused on the most pressing challenges in global health, developing simple, accurate, and affordable products that deliver critical diagnostic information to clinicians and patients across the globe (www.daktaridx.com ). Bill is a specialist in global health, and in 2001, he established a research program on global AIDS policy and the use of appropriate diagnostics at Harvard Medical School. Bill became the Chief Medical Officer of the William J. Clinton Foundation, where he assisted the South African government with the development of its national HIV treatment program. He remained at the Clinton Foundation through 2007, where he worked with the major diagnostics companies, governments, and local clinics to build the market for the available HIV, TB and malaria diagnostic systems, bringing essential tests to places where they had not previously been accessible. Bill has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and an advisor to more than a dozen national governments. He is a graduate of Brown University and the Yale University School of Medicine.

Moderator:

Robert Adelson, our moderator, is a business attorney and partner at Engel & Schultz LLP, a small Boston law firm (www.engelschultz.com ), skilled in the representation of startup companies pre-funding as they launch operations. Rob began his legal career as an associate at major New York law firms Dewey Ballantine and later Weil Gotshal & Manges, before returning home to Boston in 1985 where he has since been a partner in small and medium sized firms before joining his present firm in 2004. Rob’s clients are (1) early stage companies, (2) independent consultants, (3) senior executives and key employees, and (4) family businesses. His main practice areas are: Business formation and finance; Commercial contracts, licensing, alliances; Executive employment, stock, options and severance; Trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets; M&A. He is a frequent speaker and author of articles published by Boston Business Journal, Mass High Tech, Family Business Magazine, Genetic Engineering News, Culpepper Letter and others. Rob is Chairman of IEEE Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network and Board member of 128 Innovation Capital Group. He holds degrees from Boston University, B.A., summa cum laude, Northwestern University (Chicago), J.D., Law Review, and New York University, LL.M. in Taxation.

Boston ENET meetings are free for our members and $20 for non-members.

5:15 PM Pre-meeting Dinner
Bertucci's Restaurant
475 Winter St., (exit 27B off Route 128), Waltham, MA ("pay-your-own-way")

7:00 - 9:30 PM Meeting Presentation
Meeting at Foley Hoag Emerging Enterprise Center, 1000 Winter Street, North Entrance, 4th Floor, Waltham, MA.

Click here for directions.

No reservations are necessary for either the meeting or dinner.