About

TECH cocktail started as a community building event founded in May 2006 by Frank Gruber and Eric Olson. It has since offered events and community-powered projects open to bloggers, technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs & professionals interested in technology in a number of communities.

Mission:
To amplify the technology signal in under served markets and have fun doing it.

Not every city has a sense of community seen in technology rich areas like Silicon Valley. TECH cocktail hopes to remedy the situation by creating a place for bloggers, technologists, entrepreneurs and other business professionals to meet, share ideas and have some fun. TECH cocktail is not exclusive to Chicago, and is open to the public in hopes people from around the globe will be able to participate. In the past TECH cocktail has hosted events in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Boulder and Boston.

TECH cocktail events are open to the public and can be blogged or podcast. A better recognized and connected tech community is possible through TECH cocktail.

Interested in sponsoring TECH cocktail? For additional details see the sponsorship information or contact us: cofounders [at] techcocktail [dot] com.

About the co-founders

ERIC OLSON (CV) is currently a student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he is pursuing an MBA with concentrations in economics, finance and strategic management. After business school Olson hopes to return to working in the fields of finance and economics. Prior to business school Olson was an early part of the FeedBurner team where he worked in a business development capacity through the acquisition of the company by Google in June 2007. Olson has also spent time as a venture capitalist and as an institutional investment analyst.  Outside of going to school and working Olson spends his time drumming, writing, reading and thinking about the “big questions” through the lenses of economics and physics.  Olson resides on the north side of Chicago with his fiancee, can be reached at: eric at techcocktail dot com and found in the blogosphere at Olsonomics.

FRANK GRUBER is known for his analysis on Web 2.0, social media and emerging technologies as he has offered his “somewhat frank” opinion for a number of publications including TechCrunch, Somewhat Frank, Read Write Web Network and TECH cocktail. Frank co-founded TECH cocktail focused on amplifying the technology signal in number of local communities through local events and news coverage. He is also co-founder of Shiny Heart Ventures which just launched Thankfulfor.com. Frank has been featured in a number of publications as an industry expert and speaks at conferences nationwide. Frank has developed product strategy for Aol & Tribune, among others. He consults businesses in social networking/media and entrepreneurship. Frank has been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, CNet, Wired, Chicago Sun-Times, TechCrunch, GigaOm and Read/Write Web, among others. Growing up in the Chicagoland area, Mr. Gruber received his Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from Northwestern University, and his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from Purdue University. Frank was named of the 100 DC Tech Titans by Washingtonian Magazine in May 2009. Frank Gruber can be contacted at: frank at techcocktail dot com or found in the blogosphere at SOMEWHAT FRANK.

TECH cocktail is owned and operated by TECH cocktail, LLC.