BLOGGY

During March 19-21 2008, Kellogg students, a professor and a director from career center visited founders, early members, CEOs and/or managements from startups, incubators and venture capitals in Silicon Valley to hear some insight, mindset or real-world tips on entrepreneurial activities . I was one of the leaders of the trek this time too.

Firms we visited:

• Linden Lab (aka. Second Life, http://www.lindenlab.com/)
• Plug and Play (incubator, http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/)
• Globespan Capital Partners (venture capital, http://www.globespancapital.com/)
• WidgetBox (web 2.0 start up, http://www.widgetbox.com/)
• Vuze (Open Entertainment Platform startup, http://www.vuze.com/app)
• LinkedIn (Social Rolodex - middle stage startup, http://www.linkedin.com/)
• Ooyala (Video syndication and monetalization solution - startup, http://www.ooyala.com/)
• TerraPass (Clean Tech startup, http://www.terrapass.com/)
• Breathe Technologies (Healthcare startup, http://www.breathetechnologies.com/)
• Global Catalyst Partners (venture capital, http://www.gc-partners.com/)
• AdMob (mobile advertisement startup, http://www.admob.com/)

All the discussions have been so fruitful and I appreciate all the companies who kindly hosted our visit and spent time with us! 

Today is an anniversary for me. It has been exactly 11 years since I  moved to the US for the first time. Back in 1997, March 19th when I was still enjoying my 20s, I had a farewell party called “Oggy FINAL” in Ebisu, Tokyo to drink with lots of friends, co-workers in Japan and then I flew to San Jose on the next day. I worked in Silicon Valley from March 20th 1997 through September 2002 for 5.5 years as a software engineer, technical analyst and planner. I fully enjoyed my first US life like outdoor activities, sports, wine tasting, home parties… I was also inspired and affected by the Silicon Valley events/cultures including the dot com booms and even the recessions during the period. I moved back to Tokyo for 2002-2007 but I have returned to the US (Midwest) now.  

Well, amazingly it’s the 11th time already. Time flies and life is short!

I have participated in a wireless indusry war game competition as a member of the Kellogg team against other MBA schools and… our team won! 

Here are related articles.

• Kellogg News: (http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/whatsnew/student-wargamewin.htm)
• Network World: (http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/030608-wireless-internet-war-game.html)  
• Press Release by Fuld: (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080306/neth092.html?.v=33)
• Blog article by Joyce Gioia-Herman: (http://www.keyboard-culture-future-workforce-trends.com/2008/03/war_games_observed.html)

This has been an excellent learning experience for me in a lot of ways.

I am/was taking the classes as follows: 

Fall 2007

• Leadership in Organizations (Uzzi) 
• Business Strategy (Hubbard)
• Marketing Management (Hennessy)
• Factory Physics I (Iravani)
• Accounting for Manufacturing Management (Balachandran)

Winter 2008

• Finance I (Kondo)
• Factory Physics II (Watson)
• Microeconomic Analysis (Loeper)
• Understanding hte Media and its Content (Smith)

Names in the parenthesis show professor.