As a Volunteer Program Manager, working to fund entrepreneurs in the technology space, I saw great value in IEEE N3XT in Toronto, 2015. I attended in hopes of meeting aspiring entrepreneurs, successful company founders, and venture capitalists involved in the technology space.  Along with gaining insights into the funding principles of this space, these conversations gave me an opportunity to discover best practices of successful start-up ventures.

N3XT Attendees and Aspiring Entrepreneurs

The primarily young attendees at IEEE N3XT had an exuberant energy, brimming with enthusiasm over ideas for new products and services, and the new companies proposed to embody and promote those new ideas. Every presentation was informative, yet succinct, wasting no time in telling the audience what they needed to know in order to find success. Each presentation demonstrated important factors of entrepreneurship, such as the fact that budding entrepreneurs need to know how to run their company and understand its structure regardless of how good their product or idea may be.  A good idea needs a good company to bring it to fruition, and events like N3XT can help entrepreneurs understand this before diving in and promoting their business.

Venture Capitalists

The venture capitalists at the event were forthright in articulating what they are looking for in start-up enterprises before making an investment, and it was great fun listening to the “Founder Bootcamp” start-up pitches by aspiring young entrepreneurs and seeing how they were received.

N3XT Networking

One of the very best reasons for anyone contemplating attending IEEE N3XT this year is that it provides a great networking opportunity.  IEEE N3XT gives people a chance to meet and connect with many promising young entrepreneurs in the technology space.  When engaging in these conversations, you can really feel their energy and passion for what they do, and it is inspiring to even the most seasoned of entrepreneurs and engineers.

The IEEE Staff has put together an excellent program.  I am certainly looking forward to attending the next IEEE N3XT event in Austin, Texas on September 17, 2016.