Please join us on April 13, 2011, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm for a Silicon Vikings evening focusing on the needs of Nordic companies in transitioning to Silicon Valley, and the services, training and preparation which ought to be offered by incubators in the Nordic region to prepare start-ups for the journey.

University based business incubators are needed to facilitate commercialization for university developed technology as well as to give entrepreneurs hands-on practical training. What practical training do they need? What is the feed back loop? What regular program of "show and tell" sessions will ensure that entrepreneurs get feedback early and often. While an incubator cannot duplicate or replace an entire ecosystem, learning to interact with the other players in the entrepreneurial startup ecosystem is a key driver -- how is this to be done? Where and when does the tech transfer office get involved? How do the incubators prepare the startup for the challenges and opportunities of Silicon Valley?

Silicon Vikings has gathered a distinguished panel to debate these topics and offer observations and suggestions. The audience will include the heads of Innovationsbron, SIVA, Aalto Venture Garage and many other University affiliated incubators from the Nordic Region in the Valley to attend the National Business Incubator Association Conference in San Jose April 10-13.

Panelists:

• Alfredo Coppola, Co-Founder, US Market Access Center
• Nicolai Wadström, Co-Founder, BootStrapLabs and serial entrepreneur
• Dr. David Nordfors, Co-Founder, Stanford University - Center for Innovation and Communication [Project Director of late 90's Project: A Network of Multi-Cultural Technological Incubators in Sweden]
• Michel Wendell, General Partner, Nexit Ventures

The evening will be a fund raiser for Silicon Vikings, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank and SNR Denton. Recommended $20 contribution.

To sign-up to attend you must sign-up on this page. Seating is limited so sign up early.