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With our seventh Chicago event happening tonight Frank and I felt that announcing a couple of big things we have been working on made sense.

The first of our announcements relates to our new website. The new site has taken about a month to get together and it is a significant step forward for TECH cocktail’s web presence and the user experience on our site.

The new site most notably looks like a website, as opposed to a blog, but it is still powered by WordPress. The media around TECH cocktail’s past and present is now broken into separate pages (i.e. video, photos, etc.) and we also have separate pages for jobs, past demos and much more. Check it out and let us know what you think.

This new site will allow us to scale further and it provides a better place for our other announcement…

Frank and I will be putting on a one day conference on Thursday May 29 at Loyola University’s Water Tower Campus (Kasbeer Hall to be exact). We felt that a conference was the next logical step we needed to take to continue with our mission of getting Chicago noticed on a national stage and bringing the community here together.

There are only room for about 200 folks at this first conference so you should register as soon as you can. We already have a ton of great speakers lined up including Mike Domek (CEO TicketsNow/Aquired by Ticketmaster), Dick Costolo (CEO FeedBurner/Acquired by Google), Jason Fried (Founder 37signals), Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library/Wine Library TV) and Adrian Holovaty (Founder EveryBlock/Creator Django).

It should be a great day and we’ll be closing it out with TECH cocktail Chicago 8 (same time, same place as always).

Big things are happening at TECH cocktail and Frank and I are very excited for the rest fo 2008 and beyond. Thanks again to all of you for all of your support. We couldn’t do it without you. Onward!

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It seems like only yesterday Frank and I were hanging out on Wacker Drive eating some potbelly sandwiches and dreaming up what would become known as TECH cocktail. Now, about two years later we are starting to see our idea blossom into something we never would have expected in our wildest dreams.

However, with all of that blossoming comes a lot more work. Frank and I were on the verge of getting addicted on caffeine due to our efforts to avoid sleep. Avoiding sleep, it seemed, was the only way we could continue to grow TECH cocktail both in Chicago and outside of Chicago to other towns and cities that are asking for an event. Let me tell you, the whole “sleep when you’re dead thing” is pretty much bull. Turns out you need sleep to function. Who knew?

After being perpetually tired for a while Frank and I began to discuss how we could continue taking TECH cocktail to the next level while still holding down full time gigs and sleeping at night. At that point in time we were introduced to the folks over at DEMO by our friends at Sun Microsystems. We then started talking to DEMO about their goals, beliefs and values and it seemed like there was a partnership opportunity there. We just had to find it (my specialty!).

For the past couple of months we have been working with the DEMO folks to see what a possible partnership would look like and we have finally emerged with our pilot event, TECH cocktail Boulder, which will be held on March 6 (RSVP here – can’t wait for my first trip to Colorado and to see all my Boulder based friends!).

DEMO brings a full-time experienced event planning staff to the table which is a huge help to us. Their staff will help us with event logistics and even with selling sponsorships (although Frank and I will still sell them directly as well) which takes a huge weight off of us.

With this weight lifted we are now free to continue to push TECH cocktail to the next level while, of course, maintaining its’ grassroots base and feel. After all TECH cocktail is all about the people and the communities in which it operates. We’re just here to amplify the technology signal in underserved markets and have fun doing it!

That said I want to extend a thank you to all of you who have helped Frank and I to make TECH cocktail into what it is today. There are a lot of people out there that really stepped up to help us and we owe you all big time. You know who you are.

Also, thank you to all of the TECH cocktail attendees – aka TECH cocktailers – who have supported us over the past couple of years and who really make the events what they are.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of our sponsors past and present who foot the bill for everything we do. As we say in Massachusetts – you guys are wicked awesome!

We have some more big ideas planned for 2008 so stay tuned to TECHcocktail.com to be the first to know about what we’re cooking up.

Oh, one more thing, our events rely on the support of top notch sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring one of more of our events please contact us at cofounders [at] techcocktail [dot] com.

Onward!

Current Press for the DEMO Partnership & TECH cocktail Boulder:

Somewhat Frank: TECH cocktail Boulder Colorado

Bub.blicio.us: TECH cocktail Aligns with DEMO, Introduces Colorado Event

ColoradoStartups.com: TECH cocktail Boulder

Learn to Duck: The Story of the Rocky Robot Roosters or the Boulder TECH cocktail

Andrew Hyde: TECH cocktail Boulder or Andrew’s Birthday Bash

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It’s that time again!  I’m happy to announce that TECH cocktail Chicago 7 will take place on Thursday, February 21 at, you guessed it, John Barleycorn’s in Wrigleyville.  The event should be a lot of fun as always and I hope you all can make it.

If you are interested in demoing and/or sponsoring the event please let me know (eric [at] techcocktail.com).

Click here to RSVP

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TECH cocktail Chicago 6 went well this past Thursday and, I have to say, it was nice to be back in Chicago. Things are happening in that city. Watch out Silicon Valley! One of my favorite stories of the night was how a couple days prior to the event some long time friends finally received funding for their business.

Mike and Matt, the founders of Chicago based GrubHub, received $1.1mm in funding led by Origin Ventures to continue expanding their burgeoning empire. What made the story hit even closer to home was that there were significant ties from GrubHub and Origin Ventures to TECH cocktail.

GrubHub actually demoed at the second TECH cocktail event at the Gramercy in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago and Origin Ventures has been a long time sponsor of TECH cocktail. I am going to go with the story that both parties first met at TECH cocktail but I have yet to corroborate that.

As if that story wasn’t enough we had another great evening with over 500 people in attendance and some great sponsors and demoers. Since they foot the giant bill I think thanking the sponsors is now in order.

Thank you to the TECH cocktail Chicago 6 sponsors which included Centro, Carepages, Athena, Optimus Solutions, SingleHop, ChicagoMicro, myAOL, Interactive Mediums, Saper Law, Fiodan Corp., SitterCity, NUDirection Consulting, MK Capital, Origin Ventures, SeatQuest, Accounting Services Provider: Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C. and Preferred Legal Services Provider: Hinshaw & Culbertson.

Now, on to the demoers:

42 Friends, LLC – Facebook app creations like “Growing Gifts“, “Goals” and more
Cappex – a safe and effective tool for finding the right college for you
Dawdle – buy and sell new and used video games, systems and accessories
VMDirect – video email system
PropertizeMe.com – online property management system
SeatQuest – online ticket search engine that virtually shows you your seats
Songza – online music search engine and player created by Humanized
ViewPoints.com – personalized online review system
Waves.TV – create a Web TV channel and broadcast online in a matter of seconds

There are definitely some great companies in that list. Check them out when you have a chance.

Lastly, make sure to check out the photos from TECH cocktail 6 and add TECH cocktail as a contact on Flickr. A big thanks to Rachelle Bowden for being the official TECH cocktail 6 photographer. If you had your picture taken in front of our sweet backdrop go check out Rachelle’s site to find it and make sure to thank her for making you look so good.

Since it is so close to Thanksgiving I feel it is only apropriate to end with some notes on what I am thankful for.

Things are happening in Chicago and, even though Frank and I are living outside the city now, I am still very grateful to be a part of it all. Chicago is where I cut my teeth in technology so it will always be a special place to me (who knows – I may be back…) and staying involved in what is happening there is very important to me.

I am also lucky enough to have a lot of great friends in Chicago tech who are some of the best and brightest entrepreneurial and tech minds around.

Lastly, I am thankful for the all the love and support TECH cocktail has received from the community. Without all of you the event doesn’t happen.

Chicago is a great place to build a company and it is only getting better. Keep up the great work everyone!

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Just a quick note: Frank and I announced TECH cocktail Chicago 6 today over on the official TECH cocktail blog. We’re both coming into town for the weekend and looking forward to seeing everyone. Let it never be said that we have forgotten our technology roots. Here are the details:

Venue: John Barleycorn Wrigleyville (Map)
Time: 6:30pm -9pm
Date: Thursday, November 15th
Cost: FREE

RSVP HERE

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Now that was a party. I would estimate that the vast majority of the 500+ people who RSVPed came out which is great for any event but seeing that this was the first Boston TECH cocktail it was even more of an accomplishment.

Of course we all know quality not quantity is key and the folks that came to TECH cocktail Boston were all top quality. I think just about every Boston area start-up had at least one of their team present and most of the top VCs came out to show their support as well.

Of course none of this success would have been possible without the top notch TECH cocktail Boston crew. In no particular order here are the guys you need to thank for last night:

Peter Glyman – Geezeo

Shawn Ward – Geezeo

Jay Meattle – Compete.com

Brian Balfour – ZoomInfo

Those guys also helped to raise the money that paid for all the drinks and food and believe me when I say that the tab wasn’t cheap! A huge thanks is due for our sponsors:

Compete.com

Geezeo

ZoomInfo

North Bridge Venture Partners

As always we had some really sweet demos going on around the room. We really appreciated Geezeo, Compete.com, ZoomInfo, Party Resume, Viveo and Fafarazzi for coming out and showing off that they have been working on. If you’re interested in demoing at TECH cocktail Boston 2 please shoot me a note (eric [at] ericjohnolson.com).

I’d also like to thank Vroop, makers of the Liveboard, for coming out and auctioning off two Liveboards. All the proceeds from the auction went to the Jimmy Fund to help with the flight against cancer.

We’re almost there – only a few more thanks to go!

Thanks to Greg from Blue Sky Factory for the killer hollywood-style backdrop near the sign-in table.

Last but certainly not least I just want to thank everyone that came out to the event as you all make it what it is. We purposely go light on structure in order to keep the room flowing but that means things only work well when the crowd moves around on their own and engages new folks which you all did very well.

Please check out the photos and subscribe to the TECH cocktail Boston feed to be updated on future events, job openenings in the community and other events happening around Boston as we work to get another event together for you.

Thanks again guys! I couldn’t have dreamed of a better homecoming.

Additional TECH cocktail Boston coverage:

TECH cocktail Boston a Wicked Success
TECH cocktail Boston: Thanks & Wrap-Up
Tech Cocktail Boston Rocked
Tech Networking Nirvana on Lansdowne Street
Do You KNOW TECH Cocktail?
Tech Cocktail Offered…Cocktails
Techcocktail Boston at Tequila Rain
Boston’s First Tech Cocktail

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We haven’t fully nailed down the details for TECH cocktail Boston yet but I thought it would be good to start spreading the word. Here’s the info we have so far:

Date: Thursday, September 6th
Time: 6:30pm – 9pm
Venue: Tequila Rain on Landsdowne Street (right behind my beloved Fenway)

We’re hoping to have everything locked down soon and the RSVP list up on the TECH cocktail site as well so stay tuned and make sure to block the time off on your calendar.

Also, I just want to thank our Boston sponsors in advance. We’ll have their logos up on the TECH cocktail site soon but in the meantime here’s the list:

Compete.com

Geezeo.com

ZoomInfo.com

Northbridge Venture Partners

Without them TECH cocktail Boston would not be possible.

This event is definitely going to be wicked awesome and I am very excited to bring TC back home. Hope to see you there!

Photo Credit: Eric Hill via Flickr