The WNY Technology Blog

June 27th was our first BTEC conference presented as a collaboration between infoTech Niagara and Buffalo Homecoming.

BTEC gave 20 local IT CEO’s the opportunity to talk about their organizations, their needs and why they’re in WNY.  What we were hoping to accomplish is to create an event where we can highlight WNY’s most progressive IT companies both to a local audience as well as over the internet.

Presenting companies included:

• As It Is, Inc.
• Chakra Communications
• clevermethod
• Full Circle Studios
• IBC Digital
• i-Evolve
• Integral Information Systems
• JR Visuals
• Liazon
• MTM Interactive
• Noobis
• Shatter IT
• Student Voice
• Studio LLC
• Synacor
• Synergy
• The Above Network

Admittedly there were some technical glitches with the online streaming (you have to love technology!) but we reached over 200 people viewing in the morning session in addition to the live audience.

We are already looking at having BTEC become a twice per year event with the next one tentatively being held around Thanksgiving.  We will be changing the format a bit as we learn from our first BTEC event.

I really think that BTEC can be a vehicle to help grow the tech sector here in WNY.  We want to highlight WNY as a friendly place for tech companies to do business and grow.  That means attracting startups, established businesses as well as more venture capital.

We have numerous advantages in this area for tech companies.  It’s time they learn about Buffalo and what we have to offer!

We welcome any ideas that you may have to help us grow and promote WNY’s tech sector.  Comment here with ideas or contact me directly at jross@infotechniagara.org.