Last night, attended a couple of networking events..

Entrepreneurs Gathering in Santa Clara

http://www.vctaskforce.com/vcevent/vcevent_2005_11_08.html

A VC panel heard pitches for startups seeking funding. These proposals ranged from less than $0.5M to $3M - including areas from laundry service to nanotechnology.

They included:
- Matt Fix, Intel Capital
- Cindy Padnos, Outlook Ventures

- John Steuart, Claremont Creek Ventures

- Prashant Shah, Hummer Winblad

These panelists agreed that their contact networks were located primarily in East Bay. Similarly, while they were primarily looking for early stage investments (with Intel admitting that they tended towards B-stage); all of them were more focused on their familiarity with tech startups.

After hearing a pitch & some Q&A, each panelist gave their rating like an olympic judge - something along the lines of a score of 1 = no, thanks; 2 = not my area; 3 = so-so; 4 = let's talk more later; 5 = let's meet ASAP

Most teams had business plans, prototypes or in some cases revenue. Right now, I see my biggest challenge is building a team - getting other to buy into my ideas.



I tried to leave early enough from this event to catch an IBI Global event in Los Altos, but managed only to catch the tail end & wrapup.

http://www.ibiglobal.com

This group offers education & networking opportunities for folks interested in getting business ideas off the ground or even taking existing ones to the next level. Some noted faculty members include Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Still, I was warmly received & welcomed, catching up a bit with my friend Kevin Keithley, who has started to host a learning event called the Millionaire's Market Game.

If you like Cashflow 101, (based on Rich Dad, Poor Dad,) this takes things to the next level. The founder, Clinton Swaine, believes in the concept of engaging emotions & stress to simulate tue pressures faced in "real life" situations.


Slowly building contacts & continuing to clarify the path to my Personal Treasure (The Alchemist, Paul Coelho).. meanwhile, refining my business plans.