Video: TECH cocktail Accepts CityLIGHTS Award (A Somewhat Frank Take)
April 6, 2008
– Re-syndicated from SOMEWHAT FRANK —
The Illinois I.T. Association CityLIGHTS 2008 Awards Gala took place in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, April 3, 2008. The event was held at Union Station which you might recognize from the epic scene from the movie The Untouchables where Kevin Costner saves a baby carriage while also shooting up the Al Capone gangsters on its marble steps. While we did not save any babies, TECH cocktail was nominated for the CityLIGHTS Award for its positive impact in connecting the Illinois technology community. I am please to report, that TECH cocktail took home the hardware. I was deeply humbled by winning the award as it serves as validation that all the long hours and hard work is truly helping to sculpt a better connected local technology community while helping to amplify that same community to the world.
Eric and I were both unprepared for winning the award as we were up against some stiff competition. But we one of our supporters was able to capture the moment on video and I have used for the episode 19 of the video podcast SOMEWHAT FRANK TV. I have included the video below for your viewing pleasure. Thank you to everyone that has supported TECH cocktail over the past two years. We could not have done what we have without your support - thank you. Also we not done with what we have started as we look to continue to work to help the local technology communities and startups. If you have not already you should be sure to sign up for the TECH cocktail CONFERENCE on May 29th in Chicago as it should be a great event to further help anyone in business with taking a "no nonsense" approach. Use the promo code: techcocktailers to save $25 on your ticket. Sign up today.
Check out the photos from the 2008 CityLIGHTS event as well as the video below as TECH cocktail is awarded the 2008 CityLIGHTS Award.
TECH cocktail takes home the 2008 ITA CityLIGHTS Award: Eric’s Take
April 4, 2008
—— Re-posted from Olson’s Observations ——
Wow. Twelve hours later I still don’t really know what to say. For people who know me well they know that says something (yeah, I talk a lot).
Frank and and I were nominated for the Illinois I.T. Association CityLIGHTS award along with some truly incredible people last night (my friend Brad Spirrison and super angel Bob Geras among them) who all deserved the award as much if not more than we did. Winning this award is a huge honor and incredibly humbling. I can’t stress that enough. I was simply stunned we took it home.
As I said in my short speech last night TECH cocktail has really been a story of community. Frank and I look at ourselves as facilitators but the tech community here in Chicago is where the magic is and always was. We just brought it into the light.
Another key point to note is that the tech community here will grow much faster if we all work together. Every chance we get we help other events, startups and people because we need an ecosystem. Other organizations, the ITA being one of them, feel the same way and always try to help others. Bottom line: we need to work together. TECH cocktail certainly can’t do it alone (nor has it - we’ve had a lot of help in the last two years) and it will be much more powerful as part of a larger whole.
I am excited for the future of Illinois technology and for the Midwest overall. I think we’re heading into a new age where we can become the technology center we deserve to be. Do we want to be Silicon Valley? No, I don’t think we do. We want to solve real problems with solid technologies in order to create real revenues and long term sustainable value. This isn’t to say that Silicon Valley doesn’t do that as well but I do think that we tend to escape some of the irrational exuberance that is prevalent in the Valley and that should be looked at as a strength not a weakness.
Here’s to the future. Onward!
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Frank should be posting his take along with some video we shot at the event last night later on today. Have a great weekend everyone!
TECH cocktail Is A Finalist For An ITA CityLIGHTS Award
April 3, 2008
We are pleased and humbled that TECH cocktail and Eric Olson and I were selected as finalists for a Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Award given to an individual that has made a significant impact on the Illinois technology community. The list of finalists include:
* Eric Olson and Frank Gruber, founders, TECH cocktail
* Ron and Jeff Galowich, co-Founders, Initiate Systems
* Bob Geras, president, LaSalle Investments
* Brian Knudson, CEO, NogginLabs, Inc.
* Brad Spirrison, president, MidwestBusiness.com
We appreciate the support and recognition as it serves as validation that our mission is being served. We would not be up for the award if it were not for the local Chicago community rallying around us as we strive towards our mission of better connecting and amplifying the technology signal of the local community. We plan to continue executing our mission with the upcoming TECH cocktail CONFERENCE which you can sign up for now, and other local TECH cocktail mixer events including our next event in DC April 24th. Thank you for your support. Cheers!
TECH cocktail Boulder 1 Video
March 8, 2008
TECH cocktail Boulder last Thursday was a lot of fun and I got a chance to capture some of it on video for the latest installment of SOMEWHAT FRANK TV. Each demoer at TECH cocktail Boudler got a chance to chat with me about their product. You can watch the TECH cocktail Boulder 1 video below.
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Eric’s Next Gig: DFJ Portage Ventures
March 3, 2008
I am joining up with DFJ Portage as an Associate. After looking at a number of great opportunities this one just stood out to me for a host of reasons. I elaborate on those reasons on my blog so please check out my post for more. I am really looking forward to working with some top notch entrepreneurs in Chicago and the Midwest in the coming months and years and I ask all of you to remember to send folks my way if they are seeking funding. Onward!
TECH cocktail In Chicago Sun Times
November 13, 2007
TECH cocktail co-founder Eric Olson was quoted yesterday in an article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Brad Spirrison in saying:
“Chicago has a big advantage as a technology center in that it is outside the hype (of Silicon Valley). This separation allows companies in Chicago to focus on building their businesses rather than on other distractions.”
Eric is right and that is why we have been hosting TECH cocktail events for over a year and a half now. We want to help better connect and amplify the signal of the technology community in places like Chicago - and we have some fun doing it. See you in a few days at another TECH cocktail! 
Blog World Expo In Vegas Baby! Vegas!
October 1, 2007
Eric Olson and I (Frank Gruber), TECH cocktail co-founders, are headed to Blog World New Media Expo in Vegas November 7 - 9. Eric and I are both speaking at the conference.
If you are interested in heading to Vegas to the Blog World Expo too we can save you 15% off your conference registration by using the promo code (valid thru Oct. 30): TCVIP
Let us know if you are are heading to Vegas and swing by our speaking sessions at the conference. It should be a lot of fun!
TECH cocktail Photos Bump With Animoto
August 21, 2007
I recently discovered a new application called Animoto that converts photos into a short length video. I pulled in some previous TECH cocktail photos and created this video which highlights some of the events, fast cars and bling that makes up a TECH cocktail. Ok, ok, I am just kidding about the fast cars and bling but Animoto did bring the TECH cocktail photos to life. Check out the video titled TECH cocktail Bumps & Blings (below).
TECH cocktail Chicago 5: Thank YOU
July 13, 2007
TECH cocktail turned one year old this week and to celebrate we hosted our fifth TECH cocktail in Chicago (6th overall). Thank you to the close to 600 guests that came out to TECH cocktail last night at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville. It was a sea of green as guests all tried to win some great prizes from SingleHop. Eric Olson and I are extremely pleased with the way the local tech scene has come out of the woodwork in Chicago to support TECH cocktail. It has been wonderful getting to know so many people over the past year as we have some fun together connecting to amplify the technology signal in the Windy City.
Thank you to our sponsors who we could not do this event without. They include SingleHop, LinkedIn, Digital Bootcamp, Saper Law Office, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, MK Capital, Origin Ventures, Chicago Micro, Fave Media, LiquidTalk.
We had demos of a few products which included myAOL (a product I hold dear to my heart), PollEverywhere, My Open Bar, Braintree Financial, Humanized & Fave Media.
Special thanks to Paulette, Laura and the staff at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville for helping keep this event running smoothly. Most notably, thank YOU, our loyal TECH cocktailers for all your support in helping connect and spotlight the solid tech and entrepreneurial community in Chicago.
If you are interested in sponsoring or demoing at the next TECH cocktail please let us know. Thanks again for coming to the TECH cocktail 1 year Anniversary event!
TECH cocktail Chicago 5 photos can be found in the Flickr widget below. Though this is our sixth event overall (5 in Chicago and 1 in DC) please tag your Flickr photos: techcocktail5 . Check out SingleHop’s TECH cocktail 5 photos as well.
Created with Paul’s flickrSLiDR.
TECH cocktail Chicago #5 - The One Year Anniversary
June 27, 2007
Wow - I can’t believe it was a year ago when Frank and I first put on this event. It was a crazy idea to be sure since we had no idea how many people would come or if people would get any value from it but a year later with four events in Chicago under our belts and one in D.C. (and one on the way in Boston) I can safely say TECH cocktail has turned into everything we hoped for and much much more.
The Chicago tech scene has also sprung to life it seems over the past year. Now we’ve got great events in town like Chicago Beta and Web Ascent along with staples like BarCamp (which we were fortunate enough to be part of this time around via a donation we made to the cause). We’ve got company’s springing up all around us. Some companies are even being sold to the big guys and the big guys are continuing to add to their presence in Chicago.
It has also been a big year for both Frank and I with the the move over to AOL and the sale of FeedBurner to Google respectively.
It has been fantastic to get to know all of you over the past year and to work with a lot of you and I am definitely looking forward to another great year. That said, what better way to kick things off than to start with another TECH cocktail. The TECH cocktail 1 year Anniversary event!
This is the official announcement and we’re hoping to let all attend who want to come this time. In any case please RSVP as soon as you can so Frank and I can get an accurate headcount. Here are the details:
Date: Thursday, July, 12th 2007
Time: 6:30pm - 9pm
Place: John Barleycorn’s in Wrigleyville (3524 N. Clark Street) Upstairs
RSVP: Click Here
Details: Drinks are free yet again as is admission
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Oh - one more thing. Frank threw together this nifty badge for all of you that would like to add it to your blogs. The URL for the image is: http://www.ericjohnolson.com/images/i-enjoy-techcocktail-chicago-5-badge.png : I would suggest linking it to TECHcocktail.com or the RSVP page at http://techcocktail-year1.eventbrite.com/
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