TON Tuesday - Interactive Entertainment
November 24, 2009, 5:30-7:30 pm
hosted by bitHeads Inc.
1309 Carling Avenue
(entrance at east end of Westgate Shopping Centre)

Focus on Interactive Entertainment - Definition, Wikipedia - The phrase Interactive Entertainment also known as video games refers to the business of producing and distributing products and services, or the products and services, of which the entertainment value (or outcomes) can be influenced by users through direct feedback.  Come hear our distinguished speakers talk about interactive entertainment, their role in it, what it takes to run a successful business, and Ottawa’s strong play in this industry. Also, does it go beyond the definition as entertainment, and what value does it bring as a tool to life’s other endeavours including business influence, education and training?  Come join us for what should prove to be an interactive discussion!!

Scott Simpson, CEO & Co-founder, Playbrains - Scott is the co-founder and CEO of Playbrains, an emerging development studio in Ottawa, Canada. Playbrains released its first game title to critical acclaim on console and PC this summer and is dedicated to digitally-distributed fun, blurring the lines between downloadable and retail games. Scott is also the CEO of the award-winning services company bitHeads and is a member of the board of directors for ITAC and Interactive Ontario. Scott is a contributor and advisor to many of Ottawa’s tech start-up success stories.

Nick Iannitti - Director of Communications, Fuel Industries - Nick is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for evangelizing the Fuel Industries brand to media and to industry. An avid member of the digital community, he has written and researched extensively on the subject of social media, gaming and marketing, and the role of agencies and creative studios in the changing media landscape.Nick also manages Fuel’s social media services division-in this capacity, he has developed and implemented online strategies for a number of international brands, including HBO, Microsoft, Fox Home Entertainment, Ubisoft and others. Over the course of his career, Nick has worked as a PR specialist, advertising writer and strategist, and as manager of communications and development for a national non-profit organization.He has recently spoken at the CMA’s Digital Marketing and nextMEDIA conferences in Toronto, as well as at the 2009 Television Animation Conference on the subject of Branded Entertainment. Nick holds a degree in Mass Communications from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Kenton White, Adjunct Professor, Carleton University - Kenton has over 20 years experience in media and telecommunications. In the late 80’s, Kenton worked in Los Angeles on numerous feature films and television properties (some you may have even heard of!). Through the 90’s he made the transition to digital media and the internet age, working first for DARPA and later joining Nortel here in Ottawa. Most recently Kenton was the founder and CTO of DISTIL Interactive, an award winning creator of eLearning and serious games. Kenton has a PhD in Physics & Applied Mathematics from the University of Arizona.

Joshua Ostrowalker - Chief Technology Officer, Magmic Games - Joshua has worked on leading edge technology products since 1995. After completing a degree in Computer Science at Carleton University, he was one of the first members of the Java Research and Development team at Corel. Upon joining Beduin Communications in 1998, he developed a personal information manager as part of a suite of applications for Java-enabled devices. Joshua went on to work for Sun Microsystems after Sun acquired Beduin, and helped to build an XHTML Basic browser and MIDP 2.0. In his role as VP of Technology at Magmic Games, Joshua continues to drive innovation and growth in all areas of development.
<Click here for registration details>

What is Founders & Funders?

Founders & Funders is a social event aimed at bringing together the people that start the next big successful company with the people that fund these companies in their earliest stages. The event is social. It is not a pitch fest. It is not a DemoCamp. It is an opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs and funders in your local community. The goal is to help facilitate opportunities for people to meet, share and build relationships that will grow into the NEXT BIG THING.

Founders and Funders is dedicated:

• to helping Canadian entrepreneurs to meet each other;
• meet potential funders: angel, VC or other money sources;
• to have fun;
• and see how we can help each other create the NEXT BIG successful company.

How do I get involved?

The event is “by invitation only’ and is limited in terms of availability. If you would like to attend, please send Allan Isfan allan.isfan@favequest.com or Rick O’Connor rickoco@theottawanetwork.com a note and let them know who you are and why you should participate.

TAKE NOTICE that the annual meeting of members of THE OTTAWA NETWORK (the “Corporation”) will be held at Brookstreet Hotel, 525 Legget Drive, Kanata, Ontario on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:00 o’clock (Ottawa time) in the afternoon for the purpose of:

1. receiving and considering the financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, together with the auditors’ report thereon;
2. setting the number of seats on the board of directors for the coming year;
3. electing directors;
4. appointing auditors and authorizing the board of directors to fix their remuneration; and
5. transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Members who will not be attending the meeting are requested to date, sign and return the following ottawa-network-notice-of-agm-2009 proxy using the label provided for that purpose.

Members in good standing are invited to register here, attend, participate and vote at the meeting.

DATED:  November 11, 2009.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thomas J. Marlay, Secretary

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:00-7:00pm
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP 555 Legget Drive, Tower B, Suite 740, Kanata

Starting your Start-Up

Using Blogs & Social Media to Become an

Internet Star!

Gowlings is very pleased to host Starting Your Start-Up, The Ottawa Network monthly event stream that combines quality networking with practical advice and insights from industry leaders and subject matter experts.  Starting Your Start-Up focuses on the business basics that are the foundation for launching and building a successful start-up in these promising and challenging times including financing, team formation, business & product development, sales, and marketing.

Thomas Prowse, a Gowlings Partner, will moderate an informal session at the Gowlings Kanata Technology Law Office with Erin Blaskie, a serial entrepreneur.  Erin will share her story on how she has used blogs and other forms of social medial to build businesses by becoming an internet celebrity!

Erin Blaskie - Internet Marketing Strategist

When you think of passionate love affairs, it’s not often that you also think about Internet Marketing.  However, when you meet Erin Blaskie, you realize that those two things meld together in a way that just makes sense.

Erin Blaskie started her first company at the age of 21.  After launching BSETC, a professional outsourcing team, she joined forces with some of the top Internet Marketers to support, build, grow and sell some amazing companies.  To date, Erin and her team have serviced over 300 entrepreneurs in countless countries around the world. Five years and a few more businesses later, Erin has put her hands on every style of business out there.

Always one to figure out how things on the Internet work, she has made it her livelihood to experiment with the latest technologies, ideas and to even create concepts that didn’t exist before. As a multi-faceted entrepreneur, Erin has been featured in three print books; honoured as Office Arrow’s 2008 Runner-Up Business Woman of the Year; interviewed by countless gurus and media personalities; featured in major news outlets such as ABC and CBC; and asked to speak at both national and international events.

While this event is free for members of The Ottawa Network, we ask that you register online here.

Complimentary refreshments provided by Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP.