If you weren’t able to be at the Tech Leadership Conference on May 1 and have heard enough about what a great event you missed, you can now get at least part of the experience through online videos of all the plenary sessions at Waterloo Tech TV.

On the site are the keynote addresses by:

• Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail and the forthcoming FREE, as well as the editor of WIRED magazine.
• Chris Sacca, former head of special initiatives at Google who is now a blogger and investor (in Twitter, among others, as he discusses here)
• Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster and now the founder and CEO of Eons, a social networking site for the baby boom generation

There is also video of the panel discussion, moderated by Mark Evans and featuring the three keynote speakers and well-known Canadian VC and blogger Rick Segal (whose firm is one of the managers of the new BlackBerry Partners Fund).

Ok, so let me start by saying that I have a bias but I’m not biased.  Now I feel better

People often discuss the role of big companies in the commercialization of ideas outside of their market niche.  Or the right relationship that needs to be brokered between parent companies and startups.  From my perspective, the establishment of the Blackberry Partners Fund is the most significant contribution that can be made.   

It’s smart — and here’s why.   

It addresses the right transaction point and the pain point we all know exists - the shortage of venture capital.  It focuses on key areas where growth offers greatest opportunity (mobile and 2.0) — and is not platform specific.  This is leadership of the highest order. The BlackBerry Partners Fund will enable more startups in the mobile space and because it’s device-agnostic, it will turn smart ideas into great companies, and advance the mobile industry as a whole.  

More capital means more companies. And more companies will add to Waterloo/ Ontario/
Canada’s momentum in the global technology industry.

- Iain

Communitech’s  2008 Tech leadership Conference happened May 1, and since that time, the incredible kudos haven’t stopped rolling in. We finally pulled off the kind of gathering that makes a self-professed geek wanna cry. Our most successful conference *ever*, here’s some of what people are saying about their experience at the conference:

Quotable Quotes

“Never before have I seen so much mental horsepower and raw in the trenches experience on one stage. The panel, for which I believe Communitech plans to have a video stream available shortly, was a true highlight. Again, major kudos to Communitech for pulling this remarkable event together. It is a real step forward for the Waterloo startup scene.” http://randalljhoward.com/2008/05/06/tech-leadership-redux/

“Silicon Valley just isn’t churning out the new ideas like it used to. All the new ideas are coming out of places like Waterloo Region.” Chris Sacca

“Probably the best and definitely the most stimulating conference I’ve attended in 10 years. I would rate it a 12 out of 10.” Brad

“Thoroughly enjoyed the event, and certainly gained some insight into the industry.” Brandon

“I had a great time at the event today and thoroughly enjoyed the amazing array of keynote speakers!” Mike

“Wow - what a great conference. The speakers were so engaging, I was truly inspired, and the panel was phenomenal, it was almost like watching a presidential debate between the conservative VC guy and granola Google values.”  Jennifer

Blogs

“I could probably write a short book on how …[Chris Sacca’s]… presentation really opened my eyes. All in all the conference was a good experience. I’d recommend it if you can make it out next year.” http://chriscoit.wordpress.com

“ The keynotes by Chris, Chris, and Jeff were great as was the panel discussion. I really wanted to see that conversation played out.” http://www.thusenth.ca/

Twitters

“Every keynote at TLC was better than anything at Web 2.0 Expo”.

“A+ speakers and exhibiters today at Waterloo’s Tech Leadership Conference. Thanks Communitech.”

“Jeff Taylor (founder of Monster.com) rocked the closing keynote @ TLC”