Making Deals in a Web 2.0 World

For many startups and companies on the way up, finding the next funding round or key executive often
consumes as much time as actually running the business. It's all about the network, and we're not
talking IPV6! To make deals in today's market you must cultivate relationships amongst VC's, peers,
partners and potential acquirers - in short, you've got to be in the right club. Does such a club
exist? We believe it does -- the International Business Development Network (IBDN.) IBDNetwork
is a media company at the intersection of business and technology whose conferences, research,
and online publications connect investors, executives, press, and tech innovators with first-hand
information about leading-edge technologies, emerging trends and markets, and the business
opportunities they offer. They create dynamic environments that combine practical knowledge
and direct interaction with key industry players. IBdNetwork is committed to getting the facts,
dispelling the hype, and making the connections that put new companies, trends, and business models
into context.

We recently interviewed Alison Murdock, President of IBDNetwork about a wide range of topics,
including collaborative technologies, their planned media company evolution, and why IBDN has been
so successful in attracting and retaining their network of VC's, analysts, bloggers, CEO's and senior
executives. The interview is excerpted here, for the full interview, please listen to the accompanying podcast .


CS: So understand that this is the place to be if you want to find a deal, make a deal or are
interested in learning about how to make a deal. Please  tell us what the IBD Network is.

Murdock: IBD is a resource for companies -- that is our mission. We're turning that mission very shortly
into a media company, but currently we offer our startup CEO's, VC's and corporate development executives
a place to go to learn about trends, companies and strategies that matter for the technology industry.
While we're Silicon Valley based, we also bring in people beyond our borders who want to learn about
how the valley works and how to take advantage of the resources here.

CS: The VC community is often viewed as an insular, closed environment -- you have to know
someone to get in. One of our observations during the last event that we attended was how
free and easy the conversation was between deal seekers and deal makers. What makes
that possible? In other words, what is the "Big Idea" that fosters this type of relationship
building via IBDNetwork?

Murdock: In 2003 when the market was weary of being depressed, post-dot-bomb, we actually shifted our
focus from corporate-only and did a roadshow of our own to the VC's with a pitch that became the Under
the Radar series: smartly done, quick pitches, focus on practical issues, and we wanted the VC's to weigh in.
And they did. Over the past couple of years we've forged very strong relationships where the VC's have
come to trust us and are willing to talk to our members about the trends that they see, and trust us
to be a resource and a pipeline to the right kinds of companies.

CS: What is the next IBDNetwork event?

Murdock: The next event is the Under the Rader Event - Consumer Technology: Why Web 2.0 Matters
on March 2nd.  The other events can be found on our website.

To hear the podcast or stream it to your mobile device (iPod) please click on this link.