ThinkTEC technology conference draws statewide interest

When the Charleston Metro Chamber’s Center for Technological Innovation held its first conference a year ago, it dubbed “ThinkTec” the No. 1 technology event in the Lowcountry.

Now that it has one conference under its belt, CTI – now known entirely as ThinkTec – has set its sights a bit loftier.

“During our first year ThinkTec was the premier technology event in the region,” said Phil Owens, the chamber’s director of business development. “This year we’re going to be the premier technology event in the state.”

Last year’s event drew interest not only from the region but from around the state, including Columbia and the Upstate – even some folks from out of the state.

This year’s conference, which runs on Thursday and Friday, is no different.

Is the statewide appeal a surprise? Not entirely, said ThinkTec’s director Lisa Ryan.

“People were waiting for something like this,” she said. “They were looking for something to latch onto.”

That includes people who lived in the area, then moved away because the technology-related jobs weren’t available but are looking to come back.

“They’re always calling me asking what the technology climate is like,” Ryan said.

It’s key to note, however, that interest in the conference and in ThinkTec in general has picked up locally, too.

Earlier this month, more than 50 people attended a ThinkTec Advisory Board meeting – most of them were actual members of the advisory board, prompting many to wonder in awe at the board’s size.

The attendance is important to ThinkTec, which is trying to build a local network of technology companies.

“We’re glad to have that kind of interest. It’s really about community and networks. That’s ThinkTec’s biggest asset.”

Ryan and other ThinkTec officials believe this year’s conference will be much better than last year’s version.

At least it’s bigger.

This year’s conference is two days as opposed to one and has an entire day geared toward raising capital.

Last year’s conference drew 300 people, and Ryan expects this year’s conference to draw at least that many.

The first day will focus on fund-raising, a big issue in the state since a lack of available capital has long been identified as a major hurdle for budding technology firms here.

That could be changing.

“There’s growing momentum in the capital community,” Ryan said. The purpose of the first day is to “harness that momentum,” Ryan said, by connecting firms with investors willing to put dollars into good ideas.

The Capital Forum will bring together various investor groups, including the South Carolina Investors Network, which will hold its quarterly meeting that day, the Coastal Venture Investment Forum, Charleston Angel Partnership and others.

Six chosen companies will present their business summary to the investors in the morning.

The day will also include networking opportunities and a panel discussion, “Investing as a Team Sport,” with John Hagerty of Nel-son Mullins Riley & Scarborough and Bill

The second day will have a broader perspective. The morning’s programs will focus on “what’s next,” a look at upcoming technology according to top-level executives in various areas.

Presenters will include technology futurist Rick Throckmorton of Virginia-based consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton; Fran Dramis, chief information officer at BellSouth Corp.; and Phil Lader, attorney for Nelson Mullins and former ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The afternoon sessions will be the conference’s “Geek Camp,” with four breakout sessions covering customer focus, innovation, business vision and strategic management.

The evening’s session is titled the “Vision for the Future,” which will show how technology affects the community.

Mark Lang of the Ben Franklin Center at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania will close the session with the program titled “Connecting the Community: Creating Fire in the Belly.”

Owens said that’s what happened in Austin, Texas. Not long ago, a few members of the statewide Technology Transition Team went to Austin and asked officials there how that community was able to turn around and build a local technology industry.

“The key is, you have a few people with fire in the belly who go out to make that happen,” Owens said.

Is that happening here? ThinkTec officials think so, and they cite the local participation in their organization as an indicator of the desire for a Lowcountry technology industry.

A lot of that interest grew out of last year’s event.

“Last year’s experience really propelled the entire program,” Ryan said. “Now the entire state is interested in having this type of event.”