Girls In Tech

With the economy taking such a beating in 2008, it’s difficult to look forward to a bright, robust 2009. We are still going to be dealing with the dust settling from 2008 and there will be more setbacks, jobs lost, and a down economy. However, there are a few trends that could really pay off in the coming year.

Netbooks -

Laptops in the past couple of years have been out-selling desktops. Particularly mini notebook computers have been selling very well. More than 11 million were sold worldwide and that is up from only one million a year ago. What makes netbooks appealing is that they are a stripped down laptop, no DVD drive and a lot less processing power, not to mention their price which is usually around $300. 

‘Head in the Clouds’ - Cloud Computing

Cloud services and computing is not new, but we will probably see these services and companies really take off this year. A great example of a cloud service is photo-sharing sites. It’s really any service that allows the consumer to store data or information anywhere but their computer or mobile phone. Also, software-as-a-service companies are based on this model as well. It’s about paying-as-you-go instead of financing a big software purchase. As Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com says, “The capital crunch of 2009 will put a spotlight on the advantages of cloud computing, less risk, no capital expenditure, predictable operating expenses and fast results. I believe that will translate to greater adoption for both cloud computing applications and platforms.”

Virtualization + Saving $ = Green

Similar to cloud computing, “virtualization” really cuts down the costs associated with operating machines, like servers. It helps companies run multiple applications and systems on a single piece of hardware. This allows the company to get more out of that piece of hardware, to cut costs by not having to buy more servers, which leads to being more environmentally friendly. 

You, Me, Wii!

Gaming systems like the Nintendo’s Wii have really given life to the console space of the gaming industry. Regardless that money will be tight for consumers, they will still be spending money on games and gadgets for the Wii. Also, like the netbooks, handheld systems like Nintendo’s DS will also probably do quite well. 

Finally, as bad as it may get in the coming year, consumers will never give up their broadband connections. People will probably give up their cable TV channels over their high-speed Internet connections. Especially with sites such as Hulu.com, it’s a nice, free, alternative to cable. 

Source -

*http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/15/technology/mehta_predictions.fortune/

*Accenture

Like many other Americans, I was recently laid off. With so much spare time on my hands, I found myself attending more networking events to help build my network and discover new job leads. It’s always been difficult for me, as I’m sure it is with many others, to go up to strangers and start a conversation or make small talk. But whether you’re unemployed or not, networking is a great way to build relationships and make new friends.

Susan RoAne, also known as “The Mingling Maven” is a best-selling author and speaker on networking. I had the pleasure of attending one of her presentations a year ago and learning some of her tricks and tips to networking. While some are common sense, I thought it would be a good refresher to review some of the tips she offers. Reviewing these tips before attending networking events has been instrumental in helping me to make great connections and new friends during my job search.

Pointers from Susan:

• Prepare a 7-9 second self-introduction….keyed to the event you are attending
• Read …. A local newspaper, a national newspaper, appropriate professional journals for conversational contributions.
• EXTEND a firm, web to web handshake as a greeting.
• Don’t save nanoseconds. Take the time for the pleasantries.
• Good things do NOT come to those who wait … they come to those who INITIATE.
• We must earn our referrals and leads.
• The Banquet of BANTER is a potluck … everyone has to bring something to share.
• Small Talk is important…it leads to big talk, big business and best friends.

In addition to these tips, Susan has some great Frequently Asked Questions on her website that explain things such as, what happens when you arrive at an event and everyone is in groups talking? How can I get into a conversation?

Here are a few of my own pointers on networking:

• Don’t be afraid to go to an event by yourself. When you go with people you know, you tend to stick close to them and close yourself off from the crowd. If you do go with someone you know, be sure to separate from each other and network with new people.
• Go beyond the typical “what do you do?” question when talking with someone you meet. Try asking how they ended up in their line of work. It’s always interesting to hear how people end up where they are. Another great question is where the person is from. I live in the San Francisco area and often find that people moved there from other areas. It’s a great way to find out more about the person on a more personal level.
• Don’t walk around double fisted. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been at an event where I’ve been caught with a plate of food in one hand and a drink in the other (double fisted) while someone is offering to shake my hand. Always remember to keep one hand free. Find a table or somewhere to rest your plate/drink if your hands are full. This will make you more approachable.

Are there any special tips and tricks that you like to use while networking? Please share in the comments!

Source: www.SusanRoAne.com

The rumor is startups are running out of cash without clear resolutions or plans to keep their businesses in operation. True dat the economy is terribly shaken. True dat we are seeing high levels unemployment rate and slow retail spending. Yet is it true that the human spirit can be this easily disheveled and broken? I firmly believe not. If there are 101 ways to skin a cat, there must be a 101 and more ways to keep you and your business afloat. Here are a few ideas that I’ve used effectively in opening doors for Mavin Digital, Inc. and Girls in Tech:

• Be a star networker. As a social media enthusiast and community leader for Girls in Tech many may have noticed that I am not at all the events. This is true and there is a reason for that. Not all the networking events showcase the people I want to meet to grow my entrepreneur portfolio. I follow a self-imposed networking system vs. using the “butterfly” technique that could land me all over social media jungle. A few networking tips: 1) screen the guest list (when you can). Make sure the people who matter to growing your business are present. 2) when possible research your target contact so you have something interesting to say when you finally are face-to-face with him or her. 3) use linkedin, facebook and twitter to find new contacts. 4) when appropriate always extend a one-on-one coffee or lunch meetup.
• Be specific about your value proposition. Engage your prospects quickly on the value proposition and differentiation of your brand. What sets you apart from the competition?
• Reposition offerings as solutions. Clients are not interested in purchasing contracts for the complete platform or your current service offerings? That’s okay. Reposition your offerings to make it a better fit for your client’s needs during the tough economy.
• Invest. Who wants to invest in this economy? Invest in accounts that continue to spend conservatively by offering value added services and rates without sacrificing quality and integrity. This is specially effective when you are in pursuit of projects with budgets waiting to be spent for 2009.
• Create partnerships. People who work at startups usually wear 10 different hats. Sometimes business development falls on the wayside when things get too busy. One way to curtail probable lost opportunities is through alliances and partnerships with other startups and more established organizations.
• It is a numbers game. The more business development opportunities you open and tap into the more likelihood of gaining new accounts and prospects.

In our next How To segment I’ll talk about my preparations for Laura Allen’s marathon business development challenge.

~ jessica valenzuela

After watching the stock market today, you can’t help but to feel a bit of panic. Although, it did recover quite a bit towards the end of the closing bell, regardless this year-to-date the market has dropped almost 40%. 

Silicon Valley has never been a place to throw in the towel. Although VC firms like Sequoia Capital are ’sounding the alarm’ for what could be the worst economic downturn in years. However, when we think back to the 2000 dot com crash, not the same situation, but it certainly applies, what occurred was a reality check and it helped weed out the not-so-smart ideas and that was good. Years after 9/11, technology start-ups and innovations from existing companies like Apple helped pull the country back to life. 

So, when all the news across Silicon Valley is that VC investment is falling off, investment money drying up, is this really the case? Not necessarily. You see, the cost of starting up a tech company has dropped tremendously. Whereas a few years ago it might have taken $1 million to launch a company, now it may cost $100,000. It will be easier for wealthy individuals, angel investors to fund companies. 

Obviously, the country needs to make sure there is money to build new technologies and start companies. Yes, we do need $700 billion to make sure the economy is functioning. However, that’s about now, how about our future? A very small portion of that money could go a long way in creating breakthroughs and companies to renew the country. David Ewing Duncan, contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio, wrote a great article regarding this matter - Investing In Our Future - and that’s what we need to do.