Jeff Bennett's Blog

This year marks the tenth year for the Nantucket Conference, which brings together leading technologists, entrepreneurs and investors each May.   The goal has been to create a forum regarding innovation in the New England region.  I can think of noone better to organize this for 2009 than Scott Kirsner who has been tracking and bringing to life New England Innovation in his work with The Boston Globe and his blog Innovation Economy.  Scott is bringing together a noted list of New Englanders for this years Nantucket Conference agenda.  No one can afford to be isolationist in these times and so Scott has expanded the participants beyond our region.  This is great and will enhance the conference this year and its reputation going forward.

The list of entrepreneurs participating will be headlined by Robert Keane, CEO of VistaPrint, (a real New England success story!) and Scott Durschlag, CEO of Skype.  Other entrepreneurs and executives participating will be Jeff Anderson, CEO of QuickHit; Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO of Boston Power; Andy Palmer of Vertica Systems, CloudSwitch and ByLedge; Aron Ain, CEO of Kronos; Jana Eggers, CEO of Spreadshirt; Christopher Stone, President & CEO of SiCortex; Christopher Zannietos, CEO of Courion; Brett Close, CEO of 38 Studios; Ian Davis, President & Mad Scientist of Rocker Games; Patrick Rafter, President of Intrastand; Bill Davis, President & CEO of Ze-gen; Mike Clary, Founder & CEO of GMZ Energy; Paul Ricci, CEO of Nuance; Rodney Brooks, Chairman & CTO of  Heartland Robotics; and others.

There are many investors who will also be participating.  Bob Metcalfe, the foudner of 3com and Managing Partner of Polaris Ventures will be on hand.  Bob will be joined by Michael Greely of FlyBridge Capital; John Landry of Lead Dog Ventures; Paul Ciriello of Fairhaven Captial; Brad Feld of Foundry Group;  Josh Koppelman of First Round Capital; Tim Rowe of New Atlantic Ventures; Fergal Mullen Highland Capital; Jim Matheson of Flagship Ventures; and more.

Scott has assembled a great group of participants.  The Nantucket Conference has always been well attended and despite the economic slowdown demand remains high for this event again this year.  There a few slots open though if you are interested.