<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hello All,<div><br></div><div>I am new to this list, and I am grateful to Harrison Owen for introducing me.</div><div><br></div><div>I am not a conference organizer by background, and everything I know about Open Space Technology, I learned from Kaliya Hamlin.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm high-tech entrepreneur. I started <a href="http://www.avid.com">Avid</a> Technology, Inc. and also <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5878cp">Wildfire Communications</a> </div><div><br></div><div>Now I'm very involved in working to charge the entrepreneurial scene here in the Boston area, working through an organization called the Mass Technology Leadership Council, <a href="http://www.masstlc.org">MassTLC</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>When we were trying to come up with a new approach to our annual (but rather moribund) investor conference, it was then that I got introduced to Kaliya, and that we changed to an unconference format.</div><div><br></div><div>The result is the <a href="http://web.me.com/masstlcwebmaster/MassTLC_2009/Welcome.html">MassTLC Innovation 2009 unConference</a>. This <a href="http://billwarner.posterous.com/building-a-conference-on-four-words-how-can-i">blog post</a> gives some background, and <a href="http://billwarner.posterous.com/why-is-there-a-flying-car-on-my-front-lawn-ho">this one</a> shows photos (Including the <a href="http://billwarner.posterous.com/the-flying-car-at-masstlc-unconference-part-i">flying car</a>) from the event.</div><div><br></div><div>This is our second year, and the response has been amazing. Check out the <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=masstlc">Twitter traffic</a> from our recent event. </div><div><br></div><div>I only first spoke with Harrison today, but we got into it rather quickly. He challenged me on one design element of the conference, and I'd like to put it to the list for your thoughts.</div><div><br></div><div>Here goes:</div><div><br></div><div>Our event is actually a mini-unconference inside of a larger unconference. The smaller one is aimed at making real, personal connections between volunteer experts and entrepreneurs that need their help. This is where we veer somewhat from the self-organizing principal.</div><div><br></div><div>First, I recruit experts to volunteer two hours of their time at the conference to meet with entrepreneurs one on one. Everyone says yes. So the great thing is, I start with a wonderful list of experts who are ready to help the entrepreneurs. Here is this year's list: <a href="http://web.me.com/masstlcwebmaster/MassTLC_2009/Experts.html">http://web.me.com/masstlcwebmaster/MassTLC_2009/Experts.html</a> Now, it takes a lot of work to do the recruiting and prepare the list. But this work pays off in making connections with experts, and in getting them into the mindset of being there to help.</div><div><br></div><div>With this list in place, we recruit entrepreneurs. They apply to be sponsored, and to get a lower registration price, along with two one-on-ones and a small table meeting. Here is the invite: <a href="http://web.me.com/masstlcwebmaster/MassTLC_2009/Entrepreneurs.html">http://web.me.com/masstlcwebmaster/MassTLC_2009/Entrepreneurs.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Then we go through the list of entrepreneurs. We end up picking about half. We had 70 this year. Okay, I know, that's not open-space like. But it does mean that we have a strong crop of entrepreneurs, and the experts really feel like they were able to help. Without the selection process, we'd have, for example, marketing consultants rather than entrepreneurs taking valuable slots with the experts.</div><div><br></div><div>On the morning of the event, the experts post their one-on-one slots. This makes them committed to helping, and committed to time slot. Everyone took it seriously, and the small meetings between expert and entrepreneurs was the "roots" of our unconference "tree."</div><div><br></div><div>From those roots, an amazing event sprung up. But boy, the prep work is big. It took me, and others, all of August and September, working full time.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm totally gratified by the results, and I'm ready to do the same next year. However, Harrison's challenge to me got me thinking. Can we get the same results or better next year with much less up-front work? If so, our families would be thrilled. I look forward to your comments.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></body></html>*
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