Mary Panttaja

We attended the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs Launch: Silicon Valley yesterday. It was very interesting and helpful. They showcased the top 30 startups from 170 applicants. Besides the wide variety of business concepts and models of the most attractive of the presentations—which is an interesting thing in itself—it was quite interesting to note how wide the disparity was between these, the top 15% hand-selected out of the larger pool.

And they differed in quality along quite a set of variables:

• Strength and quality of the underlying technology innovation
• Power and diversity of the underlying financial model
• Innovative leverage of existing markets
• Presentation skills and ability to communicate

It surprised me that there wasn’t more depth in the group at this level, though this is just one place that such companies can showcase their work. It was a great event though and I really got a sense of the kind of topics that are getting attention.

And for me, after being holed up in my country hermitage writing for years, a little practice in working a room again. Never my best suit, but not impossible to revive I see.

We did run into two of our former associates who are now entrepreneurs in their own right. Very cool to see them and reconnect.

Jim is posting on this event as well at jim.panttaja.com.