Do you remember Flash and Dreamweaver? The keynote speaker will be Marc Canter, the founder of Macromedia, the graphics and web development software company that, relatively recently, was acquired by Adobe.  Although the purchase of Macromedia should have left Marc set for life, and able to sit on the beach all day drinking mai tais, he has a new passion: building digital cities. This 30 year software development guru and tech entrepreneur, is now the CEO of Digital City Mechanics.

Michelle Messina Silicon Valley comes to Jamaica

Also featured on the agenda will be Michelle Messina, Vice-President of International Business Development of the Silicon Valley-based Guidewire Group, which… provides startups, their supporters, and those who do business with them with the tools, data, networks and programs they need to discover, monitor, benchmark, compare, and promote early-stage companies…

These international guests will complement a powerful crop of young tech entrepreneurs from across the region who are making their mark at home and further afield.  For the most part, they will be sharing their experience, for example, how they became successful, along with discussing the various funding options that are available.

What is Caribbean BETA ?
It’s the first of its kind, one day  Tech Entrepreneurship conference that’s about driving startup businesses, jobs and innovation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. It will be on Friday, November 25th 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. See Conference Agenda for details.

It’s about the business of spawning successful Caribbean Tech Startups.

It’s the event where the smartest Caribbean minds in technology around the world, come to show and tell what they’re doing to change the world, to learn from experts, be inspired and get connected to talent, funding and opportunities.

It brings together the industry pioneers and fresh faces, thought leaders and technology giants from Caribbean and around the world. The event will include inspiring keynotes and workshops, refreshing panels and a BETA PitchFest contest with focus on hot sectors like mobile/web apps, social networking, multimedia content and gaming.

The First Kingston for 2011, is this Thursday, Janaury 27th at the Jamaica Pegasus at 6:30pm. The main feature will be “SHOW ME THE MONEY” will be an interactive panel-led discussion  on How Jamaican and Caribbean technology/internet entrepreneurs can develop profitable business models for their ideas and startups. We have 3 guest panelists and a couple in audience guests to share their journey, success stories and insight at the first Kingston BETA of 2011, Thursday January 27th, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus.

While Kingston BETA remains free, we ask that you register and join the community HERE. Be generous share with your friends and colleagues.

The Panelists are: O’Neal Campbell- Discountsja.com ( Jamaica’s Groupon.com), Alex Morrissey Songwrita/Jamaicansmusic.com and Marc Gayle- Compversions.com.

Call for Startups: We have our usual Startups Contest. Have a new venture, website, startup that’s about to pop or is already launched and you want to share it with the Caribbean Web Community. EMail ingrid@connectimass.com or Text 1 876 864 2440.

About Kingston BETA: Kingston BETA is the event, community and resource for Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurs that’s focused on educating, better connecting and celebrating the Jamaican and Caribbean tech community.Over the last 3 years old, we’ve hosted 25 events that 1000 people attended and has seen over 40 Jamaican and Caribbean technology/internet/mobile startups pitch their businesses.  A better informed, recognized and connected tech community is emerging because of  Kingston BETA.

Follow the three Rs of networking—radar, recall and reward. You have to put yourself out on your new contact’s radar within a week of connecting. So within a week you send an e-mail and say, “It was so nice to see you at….” Next is recall. Remember what they said to you. You should never be so focused on what you have to say that you forget to listen. At some point, they are going to say something personal and you need to remember it. Next comes reward. You have to give them something, nothing to do with your business, just a nice gesture. So if you write, “I remember you talked of your love of sushi restaurants. I am attaching a link to a cool Web site that features all sushi restaurants opening up in your area.” By doing this, at the very least you will get a response, and at the very most, you win yourself a brand-new network connection. Always follow the three Rs. More