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TiEcon plans to go 'back to basics'

Som Chivukula

Last year they proudly discussed Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century.

This year, they are Back to Basics.

Maybe with the economic downturn and failure of dotcoms in recent months, it was inevitable. Still Entrepreneurship: Back to Basics will be the theme of TiEcon 2001, the flagship event of The IndUS Entrepreneurs, on June 23, 24 in Santa Clara, California.

"We have been discussing TiEcon for the last year," noted Bakul Joshi, a former TiE monthly event chairperson and TiE charter member.

"The change in circumstances also helps," he said about the 2001 theme. "It particularly helps in examining revenue models and business practices."

The American economy has been declining for a while, but one thing has not changed. TiE has lined-up an A-list of keynote speakers: John Chambers, CEO and president of Cisco Systems; Carly Fiorina, CEO, president and chairman of Hewlett-Packard; and Vivek Ranadive, founder, chairman and CEO of TIBCO Software.

"TiEcon has become a premier event in the Valley and it attracts people of every origin," Joshi said. The keynote speakers's success stories made them prime candidates to speak at the convention, he added.

Last year, TiE's keynotes were delivered by Jim Clark, co-founder of Netscape Communications; Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande, founder of Sycamore Networks; and business Professor Amar Bhide. Nearly 2,000 people attended the event.

Joshi says TiEcon is more than just listening to high-achievers. "The event is for education, finding inspiration, network and share ideas," he noted.

New seminars tracks include examining new opportunities in technology and re-inventing a business during uncertain economic times.

"Part of the education of an entrepreneur is to go through the short cycle (of business) as well as the long," Joshi said.

The confirmed list of speakers is equally as impressive as the keynotes: University of California at Berkeley business school dean Laura Tyson; former CEO of VeriFone Hatim Tyabji; Keynote Systems CEO Umang Gupta; Arzoo CEO Sabeer Bhatia and University of Michigan at Ann Arbor business Professor C K Prahalad.

TiE will also showcase 100 most promising companies, one of the most exciting aspects of the conference. Nearly 3,000 -people are expected to attend TiEcon 2001. The new venues will be the Westin Santa Clara and the nearby Convention Center to accommodate the attendees.

To register, visit www.tie.org

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