Chris Shipley

CHRIS SHIPLEY

http://www.guidewiregroup.com

DEMO

Networth: $9.6 million

The woman with the “MIDAS TOUCH”

Link:

Fortune Small Business Magazine placed Chris on its “Top 10 Minds in Small Business,” and the San Jose Business Journal named her a “Woman of Distinction.” She has often been cited as a leading influencer by Marketing Computers magazine. Chris has covered personal technology since 1984 and has worked as a writer and editor for a variety of technology and consumer media. She is currently working on a book on the social impact of technology-driven change.

I’ve been very fortunate to be engaged with DEMO as a demonstrator, first, then attendee, and now executive producer for the last 13 years. I’ll be passing that last role to Matt Marshall, founder of VentureBeat later this year, but am doing so after a long and good tenure working with companies of all sizes to help them launch their products.

Always, the very best part of organizing DEMO has been engaging with so many entrepreneurs at such a critical time in their company’s life: just as they are to introduce their first product. DEMO isn’t a passive platform; instead, the entire organization actively engages with companies to promote their success. That care and support of entrepreneurs is something that I hope will be my continuing legacy for DEMO.

The Americas remain the richest consumer of information technology in the Western world. While the US is a tremendously competitive market, it is also one rife with opportunity.