BURLINGTON, MA, June 1, 2003—Over 750 professionals and entrepreneurs attended the northeast’s premier entrepreneurship conference, TiECON 2003, TiE-Boston’s fifth annual flagship conference. Themed “Spring to Innovation,” the conference featured Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as one of the five keynote speakers. The other keynote speakers, all authorities in their own fields, included “mind, body and medicine” guru Deepak Chopra, Staples Founder and Chairman Tom Stemberg, Clayton Christensen, Prof., Harvard Business School, and author of "Innovator's Dilemma" and Gerald Cohen, Senior Economist and Director, Merrill Lynch.

The Indus Entrepreneurs-Boston (TiE-Boston), the local chapter of the world’s largest network of entrepreneurs and professionals of South Asian origin, announced that TiECON 2003, held on May 29-31 at the Sheraton Colonial Center in Wakefield, Mass was one of their most successful conferences ever. Packed with over 60 powerful speakers, 800 attendees, 17 engaging sessions, a job fair and several networking sessions, the conference attendance and enthusiasm exceeded all expectations.

At the opening keynote, serial entrepreneur Tom Stemberg shared his keys to success and advised that entrepreneurs should never play by the rules and that they should break the rules again and again. “Turn adversity into opportunities. Dream the dream!” he said. Gov. Mitt Romney gave a powerful commentary on entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and his plans to rejuvenate the economy by encouraging new businesses. He further emphasized the key role that people attending the conference play in nurturing the spirit of innovation in this area.

Clay Christensen who began his speech discussing the mundane steel industry, held the audience enthralled with an articulation of core business strategies relevant to any industry. Gerald Cohen, Chief Economist at Merrill Lynch, shared his optimism and insights about the economy. Concluding “the fabulous five” keynotes was Dr. Deepak Chopra, who provided his inspirational and insightful words on innovation and what goes into the making of a good leader. He ended by saying that Innovation is inherent in the universe and entrepreneurs should seek that innovation.

“This year’s conference was built around a very timely theme of Spring to Innovation,” said Gautam Prakash, President of TiE-Boston, and Co-Chairman of TiECON 2003’s organizing committee. “To emerge with strength from the current economic downturn, businesses need to find new and creative ways to effectively utilize the opportunities that lie ahead. TiECON 2003 was aimed at providing those insights.”

Ravi Agarwal, Co-Chair of the TiECON organizing committee, and founder and President of Argus Care, added: "TiECON this year was 50 percent larger and more ambitious than any of our prior conferences. We increased the number of sessions to 17 this year from just 13 last year. We also extended the conference to two-and-a-half days from our typical day-and-a half in the past. To make the conference more interactive, we added a greater variety of formats such as panels, case studies, and workshops than ever before, all of which were very well received.

TiECON 2003 covered a broad range of topics, from "Social Entrepreneurship" to "Networking for Success" to "Non-Venture Capital Funded Businesses,” and a more in-depth “VC One-on-One” with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Other topics included wireless, web services, nanotechnology, data networking, bioinformatics, entertainment and media, leadership, negotiations, strategic alliances, intellectual property, and building a winning team, among others.

All the sessions were very well attended and the networking sessions were also packed with conference attendees. Many of the attendees thanked TiE-Boston for its efforts to foster entrepreneurship and help entrepreneurs succeed. Archan Basu, a TiE-Boston member and founder of LifeHarbor, said: “TiE-Boston provided the role models for my own leadership style. After hearing the elder generation of TiE entrepreneurs retell their stories, I grew to appreciate the sheer hard work, focus, and tenacity that went into their success. Company building is a complex and delicate exercise, and no other Boston area group knows or teaches it better than the veterans of TiE-Boston. Their lessons proved critical to the steady development of LifeHarbor through the tumultuous markets of 2000-2003."

The success of TiE-Boston has also attracted the region’s top venture capital, financial services, consulting and law firms and other service providers as sponsors of TiE-Boston and TiECON. Added TiE-Boston President Prakash: “Despite today’s tough economic climate, the popularity of TiECON in the Northeast has generated increased interest in sponsorships.” The conference ended on Saturday May 31st on a very positive note with a heartwarming vote of thanks to all the sponsors, attendees, TiE-Boston members, organizers and volunteers who helped make this conference a grand success.

TiECON 2003 Sponsors:
TiECON 2003 was sponsored by well-known venture capital firms, banks, law, accounting and consulting firms. TiECON 2003 sponsors included: Merrill Lynch, British Midlands, Hale and Dorr LLP, Polaris Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, Battery Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, Matrix Partners, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Commonwealth Capital, Leader Bank, Northbridge Venture Partners, Advent International, Silicon Valley Bank and Sullivan & Worcester LLP.

About TiE-Boston
TiE-Boston, which was founded in 1997 with a mission to foster and support entrepreneurship in New England region, is the second largest and the most active chapter of the global network of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). The TiE concept was born when a handful of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with roots in the Indian subcontinent met by chance in 1992. Out of that meeting came the idea of an organization that would bring together high achievers of Indus heritage and South Asian origin to leverage professional experience and contacts. Today, TiE has more than three dozens chapters, with about 800 charter members and 8,000 members worldwide. For more information about TiE-Boston please visit www.tie-boston

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