415TECH Forum

This February launches the 415TECH Forum, a major new 415TECH feature to address key developments with the Internet, IT marketplace.

This one hour forum will take place from 7:30 to 8:30 pm from the main stage of the San Francisco Design Center.

The 415TECH Forum is pleased to present three distinguished panelist with extensive industry experience: Bill Reichert, President and Director of Garage.com, Gina Smith, CEO of the New Internet Computer Company and Michael Tchong, CEO and Editor of ICONOCAST. Rebecca Eisenberg, commentator for CBS MarketWatch will moderate the panel.

Our Forum Topic: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Today's Internet Economy

Our forum panelist will discuss the current challenges in today's global and local Internet economy, highlighting the best short and long term opportunities in the technology sector with the goal of giving inspiration to those who are working hard to build their businesses.

Rebecca Lynn Eisenberg, Moderator
Commentator, Industry Analyst and Ecast Executive

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/
commentary_desc.htx?source=htx/http2_mw

Rebecca writes the NouveauGeek column for CBS.MarketWatch.com, a regular commentary on thorny Internet issues and business practices. In addition to her column at CBS MarketWatch, Rebecca is a frequent contributor to other publications. She holds degrees in psychology and decision sciences from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard University. She is currently Vice President of New Markets for Ecast Inc., the network entertainment company.

Gina Smith, Panelist
CEO and co-founder of The New Internet Computer Company

http://www.thinknic.com

As CEO and co-founder of The New Internet Computer Company (NIC), Gina Smith is one of the best-known young voices in computer and Internet technology today. Her goal with NIC, a Larry Ellison-funded company, is to bring inexpensive, reliable and easy-to-use Internet computers to mainstream America.

Founded in January 2000, the New Internet Computer is headquartered in San Francisco. The New Internet Computer Company and it's NIC Internet appliance bring fast, affordable and functional Internet access to consumers, schools and business without the cost or complexity of a PC. Starting at $199. the NIC offers plug and play email and Internet access. The NIC uses the Linux operating system with a Netscape interface and supports multimedia websites via Java, Real Player, Flash and other plug-ins. It includes a 56K modem and built-in Ethernet circuitry to attach it to a Local Area Network (LAN), DSL or cable modem connection using almost any ISP.

An accomplished speaker and media personality, Smith is known to millions of Americans for her extensive journalistic work on TV, radio and in newspapers and magazines. For years, she was ABC News' Technology Correspondent, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline and 20/20. Since 1992, she hosted two nationally-syndicated radio talk shows (ABC's Connected with Gina Smith and On Computers with Gina Smith), where she gave hands on computer buying, repair and upgrade advice to callers every week. And more than 10 million Americans know her from her nationally syndicated newspaper column, Ask Gina. Most recently, she hosted CNET News.Com, a technology investing show on CNBC. Over the years, Gina has penned regular columns for such diverse publications as Glamour, The Red Herring and Popular Science.

William M. Reichert, Panelist
President of Garage.com

http://www.garage.com

Bill Reichert is President of Garage.com, which is one of the leading venture capital investment banks in the U.S., having funded over 60 companies since its start less than two years ago, raising over $200 million for these companies from angel, corporate and venture capital investors through its broker/dealer subsidiary, Garage.com Securities, Inc.

Garage.com provides the most efficient and effective means for entrepreneurs to refine and build their companies in order to secure the best investors. Garage.com also produces "Bootcamp for Startups" conferences to help train entrepreneurs who are building high technology or life sciences businesses. In the conference's intensive, high-energy sessions, experts provide advice on important startup issues including fundraising, business development, recruiting, and marketing. Since 1999, Garage.com has hosted eleven Bootcamps in seven different cities drawing a total of over 8,000 attendees Garage.com is headquartered in Palo Alto with offices in Boston, Seattle, Austin, London and Tel Aviv.

Michael Tchong, Panelist
CEO, Editor and Founder of ICONOCAST

http://www.iconocast.com

A well-known commentator on the Internet industry, Michael Tchong is the CEO, editor and founder of ICONOCAST. Michael's 20 years of advertising, publishing and software development experience has earned him a unique perspective and insight into the vision of the Internet.

Founded in 1997 ICONOCAST is the Internet marketing industry's preferred resource for facts, figures, trends, analysis and insider information. ICONOCAST's award-winning e-mail blast attracts a loyal audience of 50,000 senior-level marketing executives, reaching advertising and public relations agencies, analysts, market research firms, marketing vendors, ad supported sites, e-merchants, marketing consultants, traditional media, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. ICONOCAST also publishes ICONOMAP, the Ultimate Internet Reference Guide, with nearly 1,000 key stats in a handy fold-out "street map" format.