DCWEEK 2011

[Gold/Patron Badges and a la carte conference passes have access to this event]

Call for Applications (SUBMIT HERE) to Present during DC Week at TechBUZZ

Are you an up & coming tech company trying to launch your idea or looking to connect with investors?  Then don’t miss the chance to present at TechBUZZ - the region's premier seed-stage pitch event.  MAVA’s TechBUZZ is specifically designed to connect innovative pre-revenue companies with angel and qualified investors looking to invest.  Selected companies will be given four (4) minutes to present to a room of leading investors and advisors eager to help you launch your idea.

TechBUZZ (as a part of DC Week)
November 10, 2011

Tentative Schedule

8:00 am                Coffee & check-in

8:30 am                Pitching Post with Investors

9:00 am                Welcome & Keynote Kick-Off

9:30 am                Company pitches (1-15)

10:30 am              Break & Pitching Post with Investors

11:00 am              Company Pitches (16-30)

12:15 pm              Wrap-up and close

Who is eligible to present?

Seed-stage startups who are actively developing their concepts; testing their beta or prototype products and services; and pursing a path toward market entry.

Preferred industries include:

Mobile & Web Applications

Clean Technology

Education

Digital Media

Cloud Technology

Data Storage Management

Software/SaaS solutions

eCommerce

Social Media

Applications close October 31.  Selected companies will be notified the week of November 4.

Click here to apply.  www.mava.org/TechBUZZ11

The next generation of APIs will change the very nature of the web and how people use it.  In the last 3 years APIs from have radically redefined how people interact with information, applications and brands.  This is just the beginning: current APIs only tap a small part of what is possible.    This session will explore the emerging next generation of APIs, and the new cutting edge applications that are possible.  We'll also take a look into the near future and highlight some exciting areas of innovation and growth, and the ramifications for everyone who uses the internet.
 

Inclusive Design through Data sponsored by Brighter Planet: This panel will discuss how the collection, interpretation and distribution of data create more incluse, responsive and efficient services, cities and businesses.

When social media partnerships between two brands are announced, we typically only learn about very high-level details in a press release. But, for the brands involved, the announcement is the last stage after many assessments and negotiations that occurred prior to this point. Which brand approached the other? How were the potential benefits weighed by both parties? What benchmarks are used to measure success? How was this opportunity valued against others? This panel will answer these questions from leading experts who will provide "behind the scenes" details, anecdotes, and lessons learned that will inform and inspire your next steps when pursuing and evaluating social media partnerships.

Developers have a wealth of services to choose from when building applications today.  Join this session to hear about the variety of options, today’s trends and examples of what innovative developers are doing with API’s.

Is it true that if you can’t measure it, it’s not worth doing? Can you measure social media promotions, communications and influence? As long as organizations put hard dollars towards social media, attention will be focused on measuring the outcome. The need to better understand the value and application of web analytics data and social media measurement is critical for companies that want to compete online.

To what extent does social media conversation have an impact on the race for a GOP presidential candidate and the major issues discussed going into the 2012 elections? This panel will examine the role online intelligence can play in campaigns, from predicting election outcomes to gathering campaign insights from an increasing volume of conversation. Panelists will discuss findings from an ongoing study using a public affairs focused “Buzzmark”  to examine the correlation between social data, poll data and those who take office.

PANELISTS:                                                                                                                         

• JP Freire, Senior Communications Strategist, New Media Strategies
• Kristen Soltis, Director of Policy Research, The Winston Group
• Eli Kaplan, Rising Tide Interactive
• Mindy Finn, Twitter

Spectrum is the wireless equivalent of oxygen. It is the finite amount of radio waves that connect people and devices via mobile broadband. Everything from digital textbooks to connected laptops to cell phones to tablets use spectrum. As we increasingly rely on mobile connectivity throughout our society, demand for spectrum is increasing exponentially. The government controls how this precious and finite resource is used. We aim to discuss the various approaches to solving our nation’s spectrum problems, in order to make more spectrum available keep pace with consumer demand and promote continued investment and innovation in the mobile space.

We have 2 talks in this session...

10:00am Ruha Devanesan:

As new and disruptive models emerge in the Western music industry (North America and Europe), adapting to the shift in music consumption to digital, these models can and should open doors to musicians in developing countries, typically viewed as a sort of 'raw material' in the production chain of old music models, to take charge of their music and be the creators, publicists and distributors of their own music to a global audience.

PeaceTones works in the space between old and new music models to bridge the knowledge and access gaps that we see standing between talented musicians in developing countries and the full potential they can reach with their music by using tools such as social media and direct-to-fan fundraising and distribution platforms.

10:30am Jonathan Gosier

Jonathan will discuss “The 5 Most Disruptive Innovations I’ve Seen” - it discusses industries and concepts which are rapidly changing in the wake of new technology. 

Jonathan Gosier is a designer, software developer, lover of data science and the co-founder of metaLayer.com which aims to change how you analyze content by offering products for atomizing and visualizing data. From 2009 to 2011 he served as Director of Product for SwiftRiver at Ushahidi working on an open-source platform for drawing insight from real-time communication during crisis events. The SwiftRiver project was awarded the 2011 Knight News Challenge award for its potential to improve the data journalism and news gathering process.

In 2009 Jon spoke at TED in Oxford, UK about his company Appfrica and one of their projects which connected rural African villages with the internet through a call center and light infrastructure. The service, in collaboration with non-profit OpenMind, was called QuestionBox and allowed people with no access to the internet to ask questions and get timely, vetted answers. Jon is also the organizer of the annual Apps4Africa competition which encourages African software developers to develop solutions to local problems. In addition to TED, Jon has been invited to present at the Economist's Ideas Economy, Google Zeitgeist and Personal Democracy Forum. Links to articles about his work, presentation slides and video of passed events Jon has spoken at can be found at his blog GosDot.com

As the digital landscape continues to shift towards a more humanized experience, attention is becoming the new currency. The old model was about campaigns.  The new model is driven by fueling meaningful conversations and curating relevant content. Join David as he provides a roadmap for the future path of the digital journey.

Designing for mobile audiences across smartphones, tablets and other devices, requires a different approach - one that understands mobile behaviors, interactions and the variety of devices on the market. See how the product and design experts behind today’s apps are approaching this challenge.

Open Data can release the power of government into the hands of the people, but will also present new challenges as we develop standards to share and and system to manipulate this data. The Open Government Initiative can look to existing data formats, such as XBLR and KML (and the toolstacks that support them), to see how to proceed. Learn what open source communities have done to foster effective open data strategies at the federal level, and explore the opportunities and possibilities that open technologies can create to build platforms for heightened citizen engagement. Join Phase2 Technology,  Development Seed, Sunlight Foundation, and USAID as they discuss the real impact of technology for making Open Data accessible and usable.

There's an interesting new trend we're seeing, as a number of startups are focusing their efforts on improving society in some way. Whether it's the core focus of their business or a byproduct, startups are making an effort to positively impact the world around us. Join this exciting group of startups as they discuss this trend and why they've chosed their own particular company missions.

Building the World We Want: Technology, Activism & Civic Infrastructure

As next generation, tech-savvy social movements around the world have erupted in recent years, many are wondering about its impact on American civic engagement. With U.S. demographics and economic patterns mirroring those of the nation's involved in the Arab Spring, some are predicting  that the next wave of dramatic social change and participation may happen right here at home. But what will that look like? How is the next generation of social change agents already re-imagining civic engagement? And what role does technology, digital media and innovation play in that process? 

Come by the lobby of the Spectrum Theater (venue for the entire Venture Track) and meet with Founder Corps members to get advice, mentorship, and feedback on your startup, company, or idea.  Check out http://foundercorps.org/ for more information on the organization, and don't miss this opportunity to meet with experienced technology entrepreneurs!

With mobile devices becoming our first point of contact with the Internet, marketing to reach your audience faces new challenges. Come learn about new and innovative approaches to mobile marketing.

Great design is, more often than not, a team sport. In DCWeek's 'Creative Direction' Panel, we'll meet some of the most accomplished creative directors in the game, and learn about the trials and tribulations that go into creating successful work.  Featuring Jill Spaeth of Citizen Creative, Zach Goodwin of iStrategyLabs, David Robinson of AOL, and Mike Macadaan of UrbanDig.

This session is part of the New Ventures track at the DCWEEK Core Conference. A variety of speakers will give brief overviews of the various resources available for entrepreneurs across the region. Even if you're an experienced entrepreneur, you don't want to miss this as there will most certainly be some new options you didn't know about. 

In recent months the world has seen how rapidly news can travel across social media channels - and the impact it can have. Access to the tools has changed reporting and news delivery. What are the implications for reporters and news outlets in today's world? What are it's global impacts and what responsibilities do organizations have when news travels faster than fact checkers? Join this all-star panel for a fascinating conversation about media in this global and digital age.

Immediately following the "Entrepreneurial Resources" session, hear from Tech Cocktail, Fortify.vc & the Washington Business Journal on their own research and perspectives around early stage investment and insights into the state of launching ventures in the DC region and beyond -- followed by the "Getting Funded" panel at 2pm.  There will be some time for "open mic" - so get ready to share in a rapid fire open mic format who you are, what you're working on, and how much funding you're looking for (if any).

Turning Online Connections into Real World Action

How is mobile being effectively used in marketing campaigns today? What's possible in the future? Join us for a panel discussion with practitioners from Brands, Agency and tech companies who are innovating in this space.

Native apps vs web apps that is the question. How does HTML5 play into an application development strategy? Who’s using what, why, when and how? This session will dive deep into emerging web/mobile standards that affect developers, designers, entrepreneurs and brands of all kinds.

Getting funded may seem like an impossible task. Learn about your options, how to approach funding and ask the experts your biggest funding questions.

To expect you to add social purpose to your business just because it’s a good thing to do is foolish. Whether you're running your own company or contributing to one, you have a bottom line and other obligations to meet. But doing good is a business strategy, not merely a moral argument or trend.

In this session we'll talk about how your company--no matter its sector, size or budget--can profit from integrating a social mission, where to begin, and how to track social and financial return on investment. You'll hear from entrepreneurs who have built the lifestyle sustainability brands sweetgreen and Holstee, and from practitioners working at the intersections of social responsibility, entrepreneurship and new media. 

Don't go "good" just because you've heard you should. Without truly understanding what a social mission and how it should shape your business decisions, you will be forfeiting potential value. 

The challenges faced by traditional media companies has forced many brands to rethink business as usual. From moving operations online to building apps and testing new models, hear from people who have worked with some of the biggest names in media companies as they talk about media in a digital world.

The most challenging time for a startup isn’t necessarily starting up - it’s getting to the next level. Listen to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs talk about the challenges and their solutions to getting beyond early-stage.

Join Andrew Ray, Stephanie Hay, Michelle Madhok and David Steinberg as they talk about what it took to get from being just an idea to a thriving business.

One of the areas we've seen the greatest adoption of the Web and Mobile Apps is in the food and restaurant industry. Starting with the success of OpenTable, we've continued to see huge numbers of food bloggers, foodie applications, inventive restaurant websites and innovative approaches to marketing and engagement. This session will take a look at how the industry has embraced digital mediums and media and what it means to various components of the industry.

Good design is not about pretty pictures - it's about solving problems, making products and websites easy to use and driving users down the right path. Avoiding user-frustration can be a challenging when balancing the needs of the business as well as advertising, technology limitations, browser issues, etc. See how this group of talented designers and product developers tackles that challenge.

Join this lively group of entrepreneurs and social good experts as they discuss strategies for marketing social good ventures.

The way we make payments and manage money has rapidly changed, allowing consumers and businesses more flexibility and opportunity. Join this session to hear from the experts about the current landscape of mobile payment systems, how they can be used by individuals, businesses and more - and the evolution of this space. The team brings experience from Paypal, Dwolla, FeeFighters and other payment systems. 

Ambrose Co-CEO Greg Slamowitz will discuss techniques for leading a growing company. Learn about aligning human capital, developing corporate culture, embracing change, among other managerial and leadership techniques for start-ups and small businesses. Greg has presented for entrepreneurs and CXOs at well-known venture, entrepreneurship, and technology associations. For a glimpse of a business team that is aligned, empowered, and on fire, click here to view Ambrose’s Community Video. 

Founded in 1997, Ambrose provides an outsourced human resources, payroll and benefits solution tailored to the needs of technology and sophisticated start-up companies.  The company provides a suite of products and services supported by dedicated HR Associate and Specialist teams. Ambrose’s core purpose is to enable small businesses to focus on their own core activities. 

If you have a badge and are coming to this session, please also register here.

NOTE:

Ambrose will provide a credit to any new client that attended DCWEEK.  This offer will extend through the end of 2011.

• $1,000 (businesses with 20 or more employees)
• $500 (businesses with less than 20 employees)

This session is part of the Social Good track of the DCWEEK Core Conference. Join an experienced group of product and community leaders as they discuss a variety of tools that can be leveraged as part of your strategy to activate social good, whether you are a for-profit or non-profit company.

From Tetris to Angry Birds, mobile games are the most popular apps used by smartphone owners today. How are mobile games effecting game design in general and the industry - and what does the evolution of mobile gaming look like?

Panel includes:

• Ben Walsh
• Greg Trefry
• Rachel Meskin
• Nathan Maton
• Limor Schafman

Today's music industry is changing rapidly for musicians and music fans thanks to the digital revolution and sophisticated user-friendly technologies. In this session, we'll be meeting a group of creators and industry players who are using technology to change the music landscape. What innovative techno-centric projects are DC-based Bluebrain working on, and how are they getting the word out to their fans? What challenges do musicians in developing countries face, and how is Peacetones helping them join the digital music revolution?  How does digital music collection agency SoundExchange ensure artists are paid? Join us for a fascinating peek into the ways technology is revolutionizing the music industry, both in the US and around the world.

Soon, nearly 1 billion people on the planet will own a smartphone (or two). This immediate access to the Internet and the network effect of online social connections has already shown seismic changes in how people discover and share information. The Arab Spring riots are just one example, and only the tip of the iceberg. When the "here and now" is passe, and "five minutes ago" is too late, policymakers around the world must rethink strategies so that they can lead the conversation, not just react. Join representatives from Politico, Atlantic Media Company, U.S. Department of Labor, USAID, and the House of Representatives to discuss how mobile communications trends are changing the way they govern and reach constituents.

Join us for this closing session in the Spectrum Theater with Andrew Warner from Mixergy as he interviews the founder of Dwolla, Ben Milne!