Old (and new) fashioned networking = great StartupCamp keynote.

Nothing matters more at an event like StartupCamp, Communications Edition (that myself and partner Phil Telio co-produce with TMC) than the crowd going home thinking…valuable time well spent.

This means putting together the most engaging, relevant and genuine (as in no pay-to-play) content possible for what amounts to a rather diverse audience. Even though the event is free to attend, those that do are ‘customers’ — so when it comes to things like finding the right keynote speaker, I try not lo leave any stone unturned.

Last year, for the inuagral edition of this StartupCamp that focuses on the comm industry, I searched high and low until finally the stars aligned and Jamie Siminoff - who had recently sold his company PhoneTag to Ditech Networks – agreed to take the podium. HIs off the cuff, less than politically correct style worked perfect and he was a hit by all accounts.

This year, the challenge was no different. Find someone who not only has the ‘done it’ as a startup leader but who gets what’s happening to the comm world. My natural networking instincts thankfully kicked and before I knew it Jeff Bonforte, currently CEO of Xobni, was pencilled in.

Here’s how it went down:

1. Skype chat Andy Abramson (who knows everybody). Chat because he may be in any time zone one any given day. Home is the road and vice versa for Andy.

2. Tell him I need someone fresh. Presto – five seconds later he suggests Jeff. I had heard of him, but frankly not more than that. A Google search later, and I was convinced he was ideal.

3. Now to get to Jeff. My best friend LinkedIn tells me that Marc Gingras – friend from Montreal and CEO of Tungle – is connected to him.

4. Email to Marc asking for an intro favor to Jeff.

5. Two days later, news from Jeff”s camp that they received notice from Marc and would be glad to do it.

Case close. Networking never fails.

Thanks to all who helped.

Tagged as: Andy Abramson, James Siminoff