Tech luminaries, IT executives, entrepreneurs, international journalists, venture capitalists and seed funders are gathering in Malta for the Red Herring 100 Europe Conference today and tomorrow, which will discuss the latest IT products and technology.
Red Herring is a US magazine and website that focuses on taking new technologies to market and on the business of funding. It also sponsors a number of conferences designed to bring venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and technologists together.
Jennifer Hicks from Ink Communications summed it up: "Red Herring's 100 Europe Conference brings together the global resources of the technology world-capital, entreprenueurs, thought leaders and free thinkers."
Participants will be treated to panel discussions on topics ranging from Cleantech (a term used to describe knowledge-based products or services that improve operational performance, productivity or efficiency while reducing costs) to critical mass (communitive growth) and how to achieve it (north of the $10 million mark). Such a discussion is vital considering the minimal growth of Maltese technological enterprises.
A panel aimed at entrepreneurs will be discussing the exit strategies to raise the qualitative standard of an organisation and the role of Europe in Asia vis-a-vis capital investment.
A round table discussion on Israel's market scenario and what Europe could learn from it will also feature during the conference.
The debate at the forefront will include the infamous acquisition talks of Yahoo! by Microsoft and the possible effect on Google's market share.
Maltese entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to interact and connect with agenda setters from across the globe to achieve the desired funds, strike partnerships, set off companies and gain insights into what constitutes an opportunity in the sector that Red Herring represents so well.
For a country devoid of a proper angel/venture culture, such an event is not to be missed. If Malta is really serious about getting itself on the technology map, it needs to build a culture of not just innovation but also capital injection in innovative products and solutions.
Government representatives, the private sector and all interested bodies are being urged to take part in this event which will undoubtedly give a boost to all those who are involved in the IT sector.
Mr Magri is a talent acquisition and business development consultant.