Event Recap: Twin Tech II

It felt like Deja Vu from a decade ago when Mario Marino’s Netpreneur events were alive and well. However, the crowd seemed to lean more toward urban savvy than suburban hip last week when the second installment of Twin Tech II came together at Avenue, a three story club in the emerging hot spot area of DC’s Chinatown. The event was organized by Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and Peter Corbett of iStrategyLabs.

The old-guard government technology firms (a stable lot) primarily from Northern Virginia came together once again with the emerging social-media sect. The first gathering was a little over 400 (not too shabby) but this time the crowd was over 1,200 (very impressive). Sure free drinks sponsored by over 40 sponsors may have been an incentive but people were really there to meet and greet. The energy has not been like this since the dot-boom days.

What a mix: There were Grays, Boomers, X-ers, Millennials, VCs, bloggers, PR consultants, Technologists, Bankers, Real Estate Brokers, Lawyers, probably even a social media Spook or two (who knows). It was a very interesting and engaging group that is bringing new energy to the tech and communications scene in the region.

Sohale Razmjou, director of business development at Leverpoint, a Reston, VA based software company and Elizabeth Shea, President/CEO of SpeakerBox Communications in McLean were one of the many that crossed the Potomac for the schmoozefest.

Old friends came together, new friends were made, deals were formed and at least one company was formally launched. BrandClik officially launched their next-generation in-text advertising. Check them out at www.brandclik.com Yes, it is true that SpeakerBox was behind the launch but, what a great venue.

So what’s in store for future Twin Tech events? Art Swift, director of communications for NVTC, was overheard commenting that Fed-X field could be a future destination given the draw from the last two events.

- Post by Paul Duning and photos courtesy of David Kidd