Guest Blog: "Another Seminar? What's in it for me?

By Marco Bertolin of VINVOX

I am excited to be involved in the regions current chapter of innovation growth.  However, there’s also a fair share of ups, downs, success and challenges.  So why was I pleased to learn that Tech South East was hosting a series of workshops focussing on the challenges companies face when bringing new products to main stream markets?  Could I not just get the book?

As a member of a start-up company, the chance to learn from others with deep experience in building companies was timely.  I did not just attend one seminar, but three seminars that have provided valuable insights which, in turn, influenced strategic decision here at VINVOX. 

Here are some of my thoughts.

Peter Evans is an Advisor with the MaRS Venture Services group.  A guy with a ton of experience working in early-stage venture-backed technology start-ups and publicly-traded companies in the software, Internet services, online media and telecom sectors.  Peter’s workshop offered a new approach on how to capitalize on untapped markets, or Blue Oceans. It also focused on how to create a superior buying experience for our customers by eliminating barriers during the purchase phase.  The added bonus for me and VINVOX was the opportunity to spend quality one-on-one time with Peter following the workshop.

A real “wow” experience for me was the opportunity to participate in a half-day workshop with Geoffrey Moore, author of “Crossing the Chasm”.  A morning with a master; a dive into the ideologies presented in “Chasm”.  This workshop was particularly helpful to us at VINVOX since we’re currently entering the technology adoption cycle.  The relevance of the real life examples and personal insights provided by Mr. Moore made this a truly valuable presentation!

The Moore workshop was nicely complemented by a session delivered by Frank Robinson. 

The Moore workshop was about understanding the “chasm” and your company’s fit in the market cycle.  Frank Robinson’s SyncDev workshop was a practical approach to both product and customer development ... effective strategies to get across the “chasm”.  The tools that Mr. Robinson provided will be instrumental in properly managing VINVOX resources and maximizing the success of our product launch.

Local companies need access to innovative and experienced business minds.  This access is invaluable to the future success and growth of the tech community in our area, and our province.  Tech South East’s seminars have been proven resources for VINVOX.  Not only have I found something is in it for me, but I believe that any organization -- regardless of size, industry or maturity -- would benefit greatly from attending these seminars.  Tech South East is definitely providing a valuable service by putting on these top quality events and I hope you will join me in finding out what is in it for you! 

Marco Bertolin

Director of Marketing

VINVOX