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

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.

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!

____

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.

Northeast Angel Summit & Cantor Colburn LLP / CCAT 2009 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit

These two entrepreneurial and networking summits take place the same day in New Haven - September 17th. 

Only accredited investors can register for the 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM Northeast Angel Summit event, network with fellow investors from multiple states, and assess opportunities. 

General registration is accepted for the Cantor Colburn LLP 2009 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit which follows from 3:00 - 7:30 PM,  featuring elevator pitches by Companies to Watch, awards, and poster fair, and great networking opportunities.

Early A.M. Innovation in Tolland, Connecticut

The March 12^th meeting of the Xcellr8 Innovation Cell featured Chris Fuselier presenting the Progeos go-to-market strategy and was followed by an engaging group discussion offering both suggestions and constructive criticism to improve the offering.  Chris has since engaged Eric Knight to help continue to develop the marketplace approach.

 

About Progeos, Inc. 
www.progeos.com

Chris Fuselier, CEO

Progeos is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Management Information Systems (MIS) technology company that provides:

• Municipal governments with integrated and inexpensive methods for storing and processing critical geographic (e.g. property maps) and management information (e.g. property owner records).

• Web-based software for land management (GIS based), property management (property look up, abutters’ lists ...), permit management (creation and tracking of permits), code management (code tracking and enforcement) and request management (processing and executing service requests).

• All services are fully integrated and can be accessed from any web connected computer.

 About the Connecticut Growth Network:
The Connecticut Growth Network is a discussion and action forum of statewide leaders, consisting of small peer-led, local networking groups or cells.
Learn more at:  http://ct.org/Growth_Network.asp

 

About The Xcellr8 Innovation Cell:  
Meeting monthly in Tolland, CT at Nerac.  Our mission is to stimulate collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurial activity between leaders and executives of the business and education communities. It’s an opportunity to participate and share thoughts and ideas on how we can best work together to stimulate growth, create innovation and spur economic activity. We feel it’s important to challenge the status quo, and construct a solid foundation for future growth by utilizing and developing talent that exists today in our region.

Connecticut Technology Council presents FuelCell Energy, Inc. with 2008 Innovation Excellence Award and Joan McDonald and Beth Alquist with Catapult Awards

(l-r)  Matthew Nemerson, Joan McDonald - State of CT, DECD, Frank Wolak - Fuel Cell Energy, Beth Alquist - Day Pitney.

The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) has presented its annual Innovation Excellence Award to member company FuelCell Energy, Inc. a  Danbury-based fuel cell company. The award was made at the Council’s Annual Meeting held at surgical device manufacturer Covidien in North Haven.  Scott Flora, from Covidien welcomed CTC to it's facility:

About the Awards:

2008 Innovation Excellence Award
The Innovation Excellence Award is now in its fifth year and is given to the CTC member which has displayed technology leadership in its industry vertical, grabbed increasing market share, and been recognized for innovation by its peer or trade groups and industry analysts. Previous year winners have been ATMI, Inc of Danbury, Pitney Bowes of Stamford, Open Solutions Inc of Glastonbury and Sonalysts, Inc of Waterford.   FuelCell Energy leads the way in the development and manufactdure of stationary fuel cell power plants for commercial and industrial applications. Their fuel cells provide ultra-clean power and are on the cutting edge of the energy market. Clients include Pepperidge Farm in Bloomfield with the largest fuel cell plant in the U.S., The Ford Motor Company and the U.S government. They are the acknowledged leader in stationary fuel cell technology and they have put the Connecticut fuel cell industry on the map. With five-hundred Connecticut employees in both Danbury and Torrington, FuelCell Energy is led by R. Daniel Brdar, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

2008 Public Policy Leader of the Year Award
Receiving the Council’s 2008 Public Policy Leader of the Year award was Joan McDonald, the Commissioner of the state Department of Community and Economic Development.  The award recognizes the individual who is providing leadership in support of the technology based set of economic development polices the Council believes are best for the state. Commissioner McDonald is a proponent of innovation, and is a supporter of groups working together to support entrepreneurs. She has been willing to back and endorse the role of non-governmental groups such as the Council in helping to achieve important State goals. 

2008 Volunteer of the Year
Also honored at the 2008 CTC Annual Meeting was Beth Alquist as its 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Beth is a partner at Day Pitney where she is currently the co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department and the past chair of both the Women Working Together and the firm's Diversity Committees. At CTC, Beth serves as Chair of its Woman of Innovation Planning Committee which she has led since 2006. She done a superb job of leading the 20 women who volunteer on this committee and helped build the event to 550+ attendee event that it is today.
Learn more About Women of Innovation

About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to “connect people, ideas and opportunities to the global technology and innovation community.” CTC provides members with business assistance and specialized programs, in addition to promoting and supporting public policies that position Connecticut to have a globally recognized “culture of innovation” that helps attract great ideas and entrepreneurs to in turn develop new jobs and wealth for the state.

 

Connecticut Technology Council Seeks Nominees for Fifth Annual Women of Innovation Awards Program

Nomination Deadline is November 7, 2008

Awards Program Honors Women Leaders in Technology, Science and Engineering

(HARTFORD, Conn. September 15, 2008) – Do you know a women whose outstanding work in science, technology or engineering should be recognized? The Women of Innovation Planning Committee of the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) is seeking candidates from throughout Connecticut for its Fifth Annual Women of Innovation awards program, which recognizes women – both those in the workforce and students – who are innovators, role models and leaders in their fields.

Award recipients in eight categories will be recognized during the 2009 Women of Innovation Awards Dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on January 29, 2009.

Nominees may be researchers, educators, managers, business owners or service providers in technology, science or engineering, and may work in fields including biotech, pharmaceuticals, telecom, software, computer hardware, electronics, alternative energy nanotech, medical devices, IT, networks, communications and robotics. These women should exhibit the energy that powers a company or institution and should be hard working, entrepreneurial, motivated to excel and inspirational to others.

“This program honors women who have successfully navigated the challenges of being a leader in their field," said Kristin Muschett, President and CEO of HABCO, Inc. and recipient of the Small Business Innovation and Leadership award in 2008. "While every story is unique, each of these women had a vision of success and mapped out their own path to get there. Even though glass ceilings and barriers for women are being challenged every day, we still need to share these stories as inspiration and encouragement to our daughters and other women pursuing their own careers."
In addition to honoring women’s amazing achievements in technology, science and engineering, this awards program celebrates their status as esteemed role models,” added Beth Alquist, chair of the planning committee for the Women of Innovation awards program. “These are women whom both their peers and women, in general, admire and respect, and they are an inspiration for the innovators and leaders in the future.”

High school, undergraduate or graduate students who are excelling as young inventors, are academically proficient in a science of technology curriculum or have experienced an extraordinary and unique accomplishment in technology are also eligible for the awards.
“Our past winners inspire other women to become involved,” said Matthew Nemerson, President and CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council. “The program provides the invaluable opportunity to find camaderie and a professional network of other women who strive for excellence. Each year, the number of applicants grows.”

To submit a nomination or view the full list of criteria for the Women of Innovation Awards, visit the CTC’s Web site, www.ct.org. or contact Mike Scricca at (860) 289-0878 x 334 or mscricca@ct.org with questions regarding the program or nomination guidelines.

The deadline for nominations is November 7, 2008

About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to “connect people, ideas and opportunities to the global technology and innovation community.” CTC provides members with business assistance and specialized programs, in addition to promoting and supporting public policies that position Connecticut to have a globally recognized “culture of innovation” that helps attract great ideas and entrepreneurs to develop new jobs and wealth for the state.

CTC now accepting nominations for the UHY LLP Tech Top 40

Connecticut Technology Council to Recognize Fast Growing Technology Companies
Announces UHY LPP Tech Top 40

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (June 16, 2008) – The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) will launch a new awards program in partnership with accounting firm UHY, Inc this November which will honor the 40 fastest growing technology companies in Connecticut. This awards program will recognize companies on the basis of revenue growth over four years, with a first year revenue requirement of $50,000. Companies will have to have minimum revenues of $3 Million in the fourth year.

“As an entrepreneur, I know the great value this state-wide recognition can have for any company, said CTC Chairman, David Reisner, the CEO of the Nano Group. The Council will spotlight companies in technology verticals that reflect the Connecticut technology community. They will be judged based on their growth inn their own categories.

The Tech Top 40 will focus on exciting tech companies that are growing rapidly, are capturing market share and are led by a savvy, creative and aggressive management team. The winners will not always be household names, but at the same time will represent the State’s leaders in job and wealth creation.

The event that will honor these technology companies will be at the Chevrolet Theater on November 6 and also feature a technology showcase featuring the winning companies. The showcase will be in the form of a “poster fair” that allows attendees to meet the companies and their management team. The combined evening of networking and exhibiting will culminate in a brief announcement of the top winner in each of the technology categories.

The event’s title sponsor, UHY LLP, is the twelfth largest accounting firm in the U.S. It will certify this year’s winners. Other lead sponsors of the event include Webster Bank and Oracle and the law firm of Pullman & Comley, LLC.

The Tech Top 40 continues a tradition of honoring the state’s fastest growing companies on the basis of revenue growth. Deloitte’s Connecticut Technology Fast 50 will now be a tri-state event that will combine fast growing companies from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Meanwhile, The Connecticut Technology Council event will focus exclusively on Connecticut companies drawing from a robust group of eligible companies and employing a different set of criteria.

Companies can apply online at www.ct.org.

About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to “connect people, ideas and opportunities to the global technology and innovation community.” CTC provides members with business assistance and specialized programs, in addition to promoting and supporting public policies that position Connecticut to have a globally recognized “culture of innovation” that helps attract great ideas and entrepreneurs to in turn develop new jobs and wealth for the state.
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CONTACT:                      
Michael Scricca
Connecticut Technology Council
(860) 289-0878 x334

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