WRAL TechWire

CHAPEL HILL — If there was any doubt that the climate for entrepreneurs has changed drastically over the past two years, it was erased once and for all at the Springboard: Southeast 2002 event on Friday. Talk about finally getting equal time. An estimated 250 people showed up to see presentations from senior female executives representing 16 companies across the Southeast. And they saw some good ones. One company creating much of the buzz was not a tech-focused company. RAGGS LLC out of Charlotte is an entertainment firm. Some things didn’t change. We’re far beyond the point where any...

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part conversation with the new head of Trinity Convergence. RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Salim Bhatia is well aware of the perils posed by offering technology solutions and opportunities to markets that either aren’t quite ready or are changed by regulatory forces. That is one of the major reasons why the co-founder of Broadband Technologies (which changed its name to Pliant and went bankrupt after his exit) sees a bright future for Trinity Convergence. “It’s always about customers and making sure that you are solving are a particular problem that the customers...

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part conversation with Salim Bhatia, the entrepreneur from MindLever and Broadband who is taking on a new job. RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — About dawn, a writer received the press release announcing Salim Bhatia’s selection as the new chairman and chief executive officer of Trinity Convergence, and immediately called Bhatia’s home. Bhatia was already on the way to the office. “That’s the life of an entrepreneur,” Bhatia said with a laugh in a phone interview at a more civilized time later Thursday morning. Bhatia is back where he wants to be —...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Oh what a relief it will be to fly non-stop to Silicon Valley. At least that’s what Triangle travelers for high-tech firms were saying Tuesday on the news that American will offer non-stop service to and from RDU International and San Jose, beginning in March. Monica Doss, who runs the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, says the connection means much to RTP entrepreneurs and executives physically, mentally and financially. “When the good times return and the money begins to flow, we have to be able to get on a plane and go to the West Coast,...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Some entrepreneurial companies see opportunity even in the midst of scandal. Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations, for example. The detective outfit that has been around since 1850 and made life miserable for Wild West outlaws is ready to corral corporate outlaws as part of the Fed’s belated crackdown on Wall Street crooks. The CI group is based out of Charlotte and bills itself as “The global leader in security consulting, investigations and business risk services”. Pinkerton announced Monday plans for an “AlertLine” service that corporate employees can contact to tip off investigators about possible abuse. To...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — The implosion of the telecom industry, which is pummeling Nortel, WorldCom, SpectraSite and so many other firms, apparently isn’t affecting every company. In fact, one is even hiring. Telesyn, which is based at NCSU’s Centennial Campus, says it will be hiring between 15 and 20 new workers before the end of the year as part of a planned expansion. The company, which is part of Allied Telesyn of Japan, also is acquiring more space in the Venture III building. Telesyn focuses on Ethernet and network solutions. It was founded in October of last year when...

Editor’s note: Rick Smith is a former contributor to Spectator, writes for Metro Magazine, and worked for seven years as a senior editor at The News & Observer. RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — The Spectator didn’t die this week. For what it’s worth, the weekly, which was among the first in the world to embrace the Internet for global reach, died years ago. The final officialissue of Spectator Magazine hit newsstands Wednesday. That’s too bad for Triangle area readers who are losing another source for news other than The News & Observer and The Herald Sun. The Independent bought out...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Tough times and tight venture capital simply can’t scare off some entrepreneurs. In fact, some — such as Harvey Singh — keep coming back for more. Singh is hoping to go three-for-three as an entrepreneur with the launch of NavoWave. .He co-founded MindLever in 1999 and launched Empower all the way back in 1993 when times were better. But he sees opportunity — and need. “Business processes need to move in zero time,” Singh says. “The whole knowledge management industry is in transition.” Singh launched NavoWave (as in new wave) in July and opened an...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — The running joke at recent venture events has been: pony tails and business plans on napkins are out; suits and PowerPoint are in. But is the joke really on the entrepreneurial community and investors? Get this headline in USA Today this morning: “Entrepreneurial spirit suffering” Get this headline from Bloomberg: “Bear Stearns Tells Employees Dress Up — Dot-Com Boom Is Over” Might there be a link between the two? Is a return to stifling neckties and well groomed hair helping to snuff out the entrepreneurial spirit? After all, the return of talking heads wearing $400...