Does the Irish Software Association deliver value?
This post is in response to Joe Drumgoole’s post: “Is the Irish Software Association worth the price?” and on the ISA 2006 Annual conference
If you’re serious about scaling your business, then today’s ISA Annual Conference, was most definitely worth the price.
So is E800 worth the investment in becoming a member of the ISA?
From today’s event and on ISA brochure, the ISA represents the growing software business. So its not about where you are now, its about where you are going.
I thoroughly enjoyed the half-day event in the Dublin today.
Following Minister Michael Martin’s kick-off the programme started with analysts/investors views of the marketplace. We heard from Andy Malik of Lehman Brothers, Eric Hjerpe of Athlas Venture and ex-Siebel senior VP, Melinda Ballou from IDC and Sean Foley from Microsoft.
These were very practical presentations of what works and whats in flavour. We got great information on business and revenue models. (More on this at some other time)
By 11am, I was already overloaded with valuable information and with 5 more speakers to go. But what followed were 5 real Irish technology business leaders who have delivered great international business success. Fergus Gloster, Senior VP Salesforce.com, Garry Moroney, ex-Similarity Systems CEO, Pat Brazil ex Eontec/Siebel, Sean Melly CEO eTel and Peter Conlon CEO Xsil.
The conference and the structure flowed with themes presented by the analysts/investors being supported and compounded by real examples from the technology business leaders.
This was a real “Get Off Your Ass” event.
I’m a soon-to-be member of ISA, again.
Congratulations to Bernadette Cullinane, ISA Chair, and the ISA team behind todays event.
It does need to be discussed whether ISA is a national organisation and if it is assisting new business owner/managers or just experienced business people.
Regional industry organisations, like IT@Cork, should work with ISA in the regions to jointly drive the international growth and leadership agendas.
Oh one other point, I thought the Microsoft presentation was completely out of place in the conference. Interest presentation but it was a Microsoft sales pitch.
Hi Donagh,
The presentations were competent and the presenters where knowledgable, but I didn’t hear anything new at this conference.
To be brutally honest both the recent InterTrade Ireland Private Equity Conference and the the EI Web 2.0 conference were better and more useful. As the premier event of the ISA it left a lot to be desired.
Joe.
Hi Joe,
The speakers painted a clear picture of what it takes to scale a technology company with viewpoints from the VC/Analyst community and from people who have done and are doing it.
I heard good things about the Private Equity Conference but it could hardly be compared to a Web 2.0 event.
Donagh