Commercial Opportunities at the Technological Frontier: Building a Company Around New Internet Technologies

Tags: Content/IP

The Internet bubble is burst, but there are still exciting commercial opportunities for Internet startup companies. Take, for example, Vonage, which in just its fourth year of existence, captured the leadership position in providing voice over Internet telephone service and received $200 million in its latest round of financing, bringing the total investment in the company to $408 million. Closer to home, Webroot Software, the leading provider of anti-spyware software, just completed a $108 million financing.

The role of start-up companies in the Internet environment is readily understandable. Most of the most successful Internet technologies have emerged from outside established companies-ranging from Web-based email (Hotmail) to instant messaging (ICQ) to online auctions (Ebay) to search technology (Google). Once successful, many startups quickly develop relationships with established companies either through strategic partnerships or mergers. Unfortunately, the road from understanding technological possibility to commercial success, as many dot-bombs made painfully clear, is often difficult.

This conference will explore the technological dynamics of how the Internet is enabling a new class of services to take root. In particular, what some are calling “Internet-enabled services” promises an array of information products and communication services that will transform our economy and society. Increasingly, consumers will use the Internet for delivering information without even necessarily realizing that they are accessing the Internet. The technologies and products that will make an Internet-centric environment part of our daily lives are just being built and, in many cases, start-up companies like Vonage and Webroot Software are taking the lead. In addition to discussing the emerging technological environment and business opportunities, we will evaluate how startups need to position themselves, protect against legal and business risks, and relate to established companies.


Sessions

Welcome and Overview
  • Paul Jerde
    Executive Director, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship
The Technological Opportunity Created by Internet-Enabled Services
  • Vab Goel
    Venture Partner, Norwest Venture Partners
  • Roger Koenig
    Founder and CEO, Carrier Access
  • Mike Rouleau
    Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, tw telecom
  • Jeff Tench
    Senior Vice President, Wholesale Softswitch Services, Level 3
The Legal and Business Challenges of Protecting a Technology Startup
  • Bob Allison
    Senior Vice President, Daniels & Associates
  • Tim Connor
    Partner, Sequel Venture Partners
  • Andy Hartman
    Partner, Cooley Godward
  • Dominic Lloyd
    Partner, Holme, Roberts & Owen
Break

Dealing with Established Providers
  • Rich Grange
    CEO, New Global Telecom
  • Stephen Meer
    Co-Founder and Chief Technology Office, Intrado
  • Bill Mooz
    Senior Fellow, Silicon Flatirons
  • Lee Reichert
    Partner, Kamlet Reichert, LLP
Keynote Address
  • Dave Moll
    CEO, Webroot Software

Know What’s Next