The French Trade office and FACCSF present 

Valley Talk: Make It or Break It - Preparing Your Startup for Fast Growth

There comes a time in a companies early history where they need to grow and they need to grow fast.  Calculating and executing on business milestones during this fast growth stage can make or break a company.  Beyond a great product start ups need healthy business strategies, strong partnerships, good marketing and a whole lot of luck.  Join us on a one day event to speak to editors, entreprenuers and potential partners that help your company leap forward to long term success.  Hosted by the French Embassy as part of their French Tech Tour this day will see a host of key executives from Microsoft, Google and Palm, to VC, investors and the journalists that cover them. 

Hosted by Microsoft

Full Program Schedule 

8:15 a.m.     Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:45 a.m.     Welcome Introduction

Dan'l Lewin, Microsoft, Corporate Vice President, Strategic and Emerging Business Development; Aymeril Hoang, French Trade Office

8:55 a.m.     Keynote

Eric Benhamou, CEO of Benhamou Global Ventures & Chairman of 3COM

Panelist guests: Carla Thompson, Senior Analyst, Guidewire Group; Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune Senior Writer, Fortune; Rafe Needleman, Editor, Webware/CNET

Moderator: Jeff Clavier, Founder & Managing Partner, SoftTechVC

10:20 a.m.    Six French Startups Demo

11:00 a.m.    Coffee Break 

11:15 a.m.    Five French Startups Demo 

11:45 a.m.    Success with Large Companies

Panelist guests: Dan'l Lewin, Microsoft, Corporate Vice President, Strategic and Emerging Business Development; Damien Henault, Director, Strategy & Corporate Development, HP; Erik Stuart, Director, Corporate Development, eBay; Hans van Rietschote, Director, Corporate Development, Symantec; Amin Zoufonoun, Principal, Corporate Development, Google

Moderator: Dominique Piotet, CEO & Editor-in-chief, L'atelier US-BNP Paribas 

12:45 p.m.    Closing Remarks 

1 p.m.           Networking Lunch