Connecticut Technology Council

Connecticut and the Future of Broadband: What to think about Net Neutrality, Bridging the Digital Divide and Are we ready for the “Exaflood"?

We need to make sure Connecticut is prepared to build the IT infrastructure needed for growth.  In the 1860s, Connecticut led the nation in railroad development, in the 1930s we helped create the first parkway system and in 1950s we led again with the Connecticut Turnpike…are we positioned to lead with the information superhighways? And are we building enough lanes (bandwidth)?

 

The Exaflood is the term, coined by Bret Swanson, to describe the exponential growth of the coming “flood” of demand for bandwidth – a need for new infrastructure unprecedented by any technology adoption in history. Based on wireless and wired demand for video, connection speed and new applications, the ability to supply bandwidth and at what cost may become the economic development incentive or barrier that divides the winners and losers of the next growth cycle.

 

The Connecticut Technology Council and its many partners hosted the broadband symposium on 11/13/2009 to help the region understand the Exaflood and develop strategies to be sure we continue our history of infrastructure leadership to secure investment, economic growth and wealth creation. At the event, we discussed questions about the demand side, social implications of and technical and financial needs of a Bandwidth Intensive future on the Internet and Connecticut.  Our sincere hope is to continue the conversation  - interested?  Join our LinkedIn group:  Connecticut Broadband.

 

Thanks to all participants, including nationally recognized broadband expert and recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed writer, Bret Swanson and panelists, Jeff Blodgett, CCR, Vice President of Research, CERC , Curtis Hill, Director, Concepts for Adaptive Learning and Rich Mavrogeanes, President/CEO at Discover Video Inc.   And thanks to all attendees who brought their questions and concerns, and we hope, left charged to make sure Connecticut is prepared for the Exaflood:  

Chalkstone Strategies, LLC, CERC, IBM, Advanced Decisions Inc., Connecticut Technology Council, Discover Video, Inc., Paetec, Center for Global Innovation, Digysol, Town of Manchester, Advanced Corporate Networking, Wiggin and Dana, AT&T, University of Hartford, NSI, Studio B/Visual Communication, Branison Group, Cronus Partners LLC, Westbury Group LLC, thatsocialnetworkingthing

State Weighs Tax-Credit Plan To Aid Startups - from Courant.com

State Weighs Tax-Credit Plan To Aid Startups -- Courant.com

A new state plan — endorsed this week by Gov. M. Jodi Rell — would give tax credits to "angel investors. This plan has Liddy Karter doing a jig and has reinvigorated CT's investment community. 

Flashback: See also testimony by Matthew Nemerson, President of the Connecticut Technology Council Speaking on February 17, 2009 to the Commerce Committee – Raised Bill No. 883 

Connecticut Needs To Plan, Support A New Economy -- themorningcall.com

Connecticut Needs To Plan, Support A New Economy -- themorningcall.com

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Connecticut's Fastest Growing Tech Companies

The Connecticut Technology Council and the accounting firm UHY LLP feted the 40 fastest growing technology companies in Connecticut last night at the Chevrolet Theater in Wallingford. The list of winning companies, which included well known brands and public companies such as Priceline.com and Amphenol Corporation, also included companies gaining global prominence in their technology markets; for example, FuelCell Energy and Defibtech.  The list is made up primarily of privately held companies, but does include twelve public companies.

The Tech Top 40 Award Winning companies are grouped into six technology verticals: Software, IT Services, Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, New Media/Internet/Telecom and Energy Environmental Technologies. Geographically the companies are fairly evenly distributed across the state.

Over 300 attendees attended the Wallingford event. The event was also webcast using a VBrick video appliance thanks to Rich Mavrogeanes, CEO of Discover Video. VBrick Systems is one of the 2009 winners. We had great press coverage including, a TV spot from Fox61, featuring interviews of several winning company CEOs.

 

The evening’s biggest announcement came at the end of the awards program when Alexion Pharmaceuticals was named Connecticut’s fastest growing technology company in 2009. Its revenue grew at the impressive rate of 17,371 percent over the last four years. The Cheshire company has achieved a significant market presence with its Soliris®, a product approved for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a rare, but progressive and life-threatening disease characterized by the excessive destruction of red blood cells.

The Council also announced the six companies whose revenue put them at the top in their technology category:

Advanced Manufacturing: Bolt Technology, makes equipment used in offshore seismic exploration for oil and gas.

Energy/Environmental Technologies: Clean Diesel Technologies, provides sustainable solutions to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and lower the carbon intensity of on- and off-road engine applications. These solutions are in commercial use worldwide, helping manufacturers comply with more strict regulatory emissions and air quality standards. Repeat winner from 2008!

Life Sciences: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, A biopharmaceutical company working to develop and deliver life-changing drug therapies for patients with serious medical conditions. Its successful first drug candidate, Soliris, was delivered to the American and European markets in 2007. Repeat winner from 2008!

  

New Media/Internet/Telecom Technologies: M2 Media Group, designs and operates innovative magazine marketing and loyalty programs in partnership with top consumer brands and the world’s largest magazine publishers.

  

IT Services, Fandotech,  provides data center facilities and managed network services.

Software, L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc., The company, which only arrived in Stamford in 2006, has become the premier global identity management provider.

 

For profiles on the fastest growing tech companies in Connecticut, visit, http://ct.org/TT40_2009_Winners.asp 

The 2009 UHY LLP Tech Top 40 Companies are:

 

Company:	Industry category:	City:	Website:
Adeptra, Inc.	Software	Norwalk	www.adeptra.com
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	Life Sciences	Cheshire	www.alxn.com
Amphenol Corporation	Advanced Manufacturing	Wallingford	www.amphenol.com
APS Technology, Inc	Advanced Manufacturing	Wallingford	www.aps-tech.com
Bio-Med Devices, Inc.	Life Sciences	Guilford	www.biomeddevices.com
Bolt Technology Corp.	Advanced Manufacturing	Norwalk	www.bolt-technology.com
CAS Medical Systems, Inc.	Life Sciences	Branford	www.casmed.com
Cervalis LLC	IT Services	Shelton	www.cervalis.com
Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.	Energy/ Environmental Technologies	Stamford	www.cdti.com
COCC	IT Services	Avon	www.cocc.com
Defibtech, LLC	Life Sciences	Guilford	www.defibtech.com
eNR Services, Inc.	Software	Norwalk	www.enr-corp.com
Evolution Benefits, Inc.	Software	Avon	www.evolutionbenefits.com
FuelCell Energy, Inc.	Energy/ Environmental Technologies	Danbury	www.fuelcellenergy.com
Fuss & O'Neill Technologies, LLC d/b/a Fandotech	IT Services	Manchester	www.fandotech.com
Higher One	Software	New Haven	www.higherone.com
INNCOM International Inc.	Energy/ Environmental Technologies	Niantic	www.inncom.com
JobTarget, LLC	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	New London	www.jobtarget.com
L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc.	Software	Stamford	www.l1id.com/
M2 Media Group	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Stamford	www.m2mediagroup.com
MResult Corporation	IT Services	New London	www.mresult.com
ON Site Gas Systems, Inc.	Advanced Manufacturing	Newington	onsitegas.com
Open Solutions Inc.	Software	Glastonbury	www.opensolutions-it.com
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc.	Software	Greenwich	www.passur.com
Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co	Life Sciences	Danbury	www.penwest.com
Perimeter eSecurity	IT Services	Milford	www.perimeterusa.com
Post-n-Track Corporation	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Wethersfield	www.post-n-track.com
Priceline.com, Inc.	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Norwalk	www.priceline.com
Protegrity USA, Inc	Software	Stamford	www.protegrity.com
Proton Energy Systems, Inc	Energy/ Environmental Technologies	Wallingford	www.protonenergy.com
SAI Systems International, Inc.	IT Services	Shelton	www.saisystems.com
Tangoe, Inc.	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Orange	www.tangoe.com
Terra Technology	Software	Norwalk	www.terratechnology.com
Thermodynetics, Inc.	Advanced Manufacturing	Windsor	www.thermodynetics.com
TicketNetwork	Software	Vernon	www.ticketnetwork.com
TopCoder, Inc.	Software	Glastonbury	www.topcoder.com
TRC Companies, Inc.	Energy/ Environmental Technologies	Windsor	www.trcsolutions.com
Triple Point Technology	Software	Westport	www.tpt.com
VBrick Systems, Inc.	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Wallingford	www.vbrick.com
Webloyalty.com	New Media/ Internet/ Telecom	Norwalk	www.webloyalty.com

 

 

This year’s sponsors include CNA Insurance, the law firm of Pullman & Comley, Oracle Corporation, Webster Bank, Connecticut Innovations, McLaughlin, DelVecchio & Casey, Robert Half Technology and Wellstone Insurance and media sponsors: Hartford Business Journal, Business New Haven, Fairfield County Business Journal.

Innovation Matters - Economic Development is now a serious business

Matthew Nemerson's new post on his Innovation Matters blog focuses on Economic Development challenges in the state of Connecticut.  He tells us that "what we can do is think of economic development as an apolitical social good that must be mastered to maintain our way of life and the benefits that we take for granted."   Read the full article at: http://ct.typepad.com/innovation_matters/2009/10/economic-development-is-now-a-serious-business.html

Why go to the cloud?

The October 2009 meeting of the XCellR8 Innovation Cell featured a presentation from Hariharan (Hari) Kuppuraj, and MJ from Cloud Daddy that provided a great overview of cloud computing and the characteristic applications that benefit from execution in a cloud environment.  Best of all, they did it all in just 6 slides, in concert with a very spirited and engaging discussion.  Here are some take aways from the discussion:

Why go to the cloud?   Scalability, Low Cost, Accessibility

• Scalable infrastructure with a resource on demand platform
• Inexpensive storage solution with power of CDN technology
• Reliable, enterprise class infrastructure
• Lower cost with no hardward to manage or devices to configure
• Pay only for resources you actually use

Who should look to the cloud?

• Startups - this is a low cost, clean infrastructure
• Small Businesses - this can grow as the business grows
• Entertainment companies - with high scalability and quick launch, this is a great temporary system
• Enterprise level - this is a cheap and quick development environment

What about security?   

• It is possible to have a "private cloud" with dedicated firewalls.  Medical Industry is moving to CDN, and just as any server can be set up to be HIPA / Insurance compliant. 

Thanks to MJ and Hari , www.clouddaddy.com  and thanks too, to Kevin Bouley at Nerac in Tolland, the consummate host and incomparable leader of the group!

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What is next for the XCellR8 Innovation Cell?  Visit CTC's Calendar
Next month, Nov. 12, Matt Billard will share an idea he has for a new business, describing the opportunity he’s identified, the business environment (need) and model he’s proposing to address it.  He’s seeking input, candid comments, reaction and guidance from the group.

In December we will learn of a proposed new Google app under consideration from Mark Mian at V-Teams.

What is the Connecticut Growth Network?
With groups meeting across Connecticut, the CTC Connecticut Growth Network is a discussion and action forum of statewide leaders, consisting of small peer-led, local networking groups or cells.  Each local cell is comprised of technology executives, entrepreneurs, investors and professional service providers with an interest in discussing the issues affecting Connecticut’s technology future. Local cells also introduce groups of tech leaders for the purpose of possible business collaboration, development and assistance. The Connecticut Growth Network was established by the Connecticut Technology Council in 2004.

The Growth Network, at its best, connects companies, entrepreneurs, investors or dealmakers and creates an involved community of concerned leaders in the technology industry.

Once a month, over breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Local Cell Leaders convene five to fifteen friends or colleagues to discuss a specific issue -- an important issue facing their companies, communities, or the State.