The NH High Tech Council Entrepreneur Forum is happening Oct. 15 at FIRST headquarters, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester from 5:20 p.m. to 8:30 pm. The cost for the event is $15 for Council members, $30 for non-members, and $10 for students. Individuals can register at NHHTC.org.
Each panel will hear presentations made by either Ric Pratte of Align Revenue of Manchester or Paul Bemis of Concord-based Applied Math Modeling, Inc.
Align Revenue is an interactive cloud-based marketing and sales tool that works like an interactive whiteboard for managing dialogues with potential customers. Applied Math Modeling designs and develops the CoolSim modeling software that simulates and predicts cooling and energy efficiency for data centers.
Panelists to advise the two companies were hand-selected from industry experts to provide feedback and expertise to the presenters. The panel paired with Align Revenue is composed of:
- Andy Piggot, Principal Architect, User Experience at Dyn: Over the past decade, Piggot has focused on developing software products servicing content management, e-commerce and email marketing enabling a wide range of brands to “get online” and quickly scale their businesses. Now at Dyn, he identifies and optimizes the systems in use, from marketing automation and customer relationship management through to data management and enterprise resource planning, to continue to enable the company’s aggressive global growth. He was awarded Young Entrepreneur of North East Wales in 2002, holds a B.S. in Computer Science & Software Engineering from Lancaster University and a National Diploma with Distinction in Information Technology Applications from West Cheshire College.
- Rick Ouellette, Founder of Lead2Revenue and SalesGoose: Ouellette is an entrepreneur who has earned the role of trusted advisor to business leaders ranging from privately-held small businesses to publicly-traded Fortune 100 companies. He holds a B.S. in Business Management from Plymouth State University and is a M.B.A. Candidate in Leadership at Franklin Pierce College. Bedford-based Lead2Revenue is a sales consultancy for early-stage, emerging and established companies. His most recently-founded company, SalesGoose, is a “stealth startup focused on solving the problem caused by the millions of prospecting calls and emails that happen every day.” Ouellette will also be in the spotlight at the Forum as the evening’s Sky Dive presenter, looking to the fellow panelists for advice and recommendations.
- David Salzberg, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management: Salzberg’s career includes more than 20 years of senior sales and marketing experience at companies ranging from Autodesk to small startup technology firms. Active in both financial and philanthropic circles, his specialties include financial services, industry marketing and product management, international sales and marketing, and marketing strategy. He serves on the Planned and Major Gift Advisory Committee of the Concord Hospital Trust, is a member of the Facilities Masterplan Taskforce for the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord, and is a sponsor of New Hampshire Jazz Presents. David also volunteers his time at the Friendly Kitchen, The Jewish Federation of New Hampshire and the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH.
The panel paired with Applied Math Modeling Inc. is composed of:
- Alain Hanover, Startup Mentor at MIT Venture Mentoring Service: With more than 30 years as a CEO, venture capitalist, angel investor, engineering manager, consultant, board member, and lecturer, Hanover advises early stage technology startups in strategy, financing and management at MIT Venture Mentoring Service. He is also a lecturer at Bentley University in the finance department. He holds a B.S from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a M.S. from Harvard, and co-founded CommonAngels, a leading Angel Investor group based in Boston. His past roles include CEO at InCert and Viewlogic, and Managing Director and CEO of Navigator Technology Ventures.
- Ian Howell, CEO of Newforma: Ian Howell has served as CEO of global software company Newforma since its inception. His leadership has helped establish the company as the industry’s leading provider of project information management software. He is an architect by training and has practiced professionally as a partner of the Buchon Group. He has also worked in various high tech company management roles, including Alias research, BlueLine Online and Autodesk’s AEC Market Group. He, along with Newforma colleagues, was recently awarded the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Council.
- Mike Tresh, Consulting Product Manager at Stratus: Tresh specializes in product development and marketing for technology companies, and is currently working on expanding software solutions into new markets. He has developed award-winning case studies, served as a subject matter expert and public speaker for several industries and worked to bring critical information to millions of people through leading publications such as The New York Times, Processor.com and Data Center Dynamics.
Each of the presenting companies receives 15 minutes to present its business plan and receive feedback from the panel of experts and the audience. The panel acts as venture advisors for an evening and provides potential solutions to challenges faced by entrepreneurial companies based on their own professional experiences and expertise.
Between the two presentations a “Sky Dive” is held, during which Pratte of SalesGoose will look for feedback on a specific challenge or opportunity his company is facing.
The Entrepreneur Forum Series Pass is here! Plan ahead and get a front row seat for the whole series. Dates are October 15, 2014, February 11, 2015, and May 20, 2014. Buy the new special EF Series Pass for $35 for all three events for members/$70 for not-yet-members. Regular pricing is $15 for one event for members/$30 for one event not-yet-members.
About the Council: The NH High Tech Council engages, connects, and supports member companies throughout New Hampshire. As the largest member-driven technology association in the state, the Council supports research, innovation, and economic and workforce development efforts that have helped New Hampshire become a national leader in entrepreneurship and business. For more information, visit NHHTC.org.
About the NHHTC Entrepreneur Forum: The Council holds three Entrepreneur Forums a year where attendees discover how to present a plan to potential investors or gain valuable feedback on specific topics. These events are designed to attract entrepreneurs who are developing a business idea or have an interest in the subject matter of the presenters, members of the financial and investment community, and students. The Forums are sponsored by Baker, Newman, Noyes; Bernstein Shur; Capital Regional Development Council; Dyn; Hayes Solloway; New Hampshire Business Review; and Ziftr.
