I'm happy to announce that I've agreed to pitch in as a TechStars Mentor for
their new Cloud accelerator program.
For those of you unfamiliar with TechStars, it's the #1 startup accelerator
in the world. Not to mention one of the most selective – although thousands
of companies apply each year, they only take about ten companies per program.
This gives them a selection rate lower than most Ivy League schools, so you
have to be among the best of the best to be in TechStar.
TechStars Cloud is a vertically-focused accelerator that funds companies
focused exclusively on cloud computing and cloud infrastructure. For me, the
more exciting aspect of the TechStars Cloud program is that it's
specifically targeting cloud infrastructure startups exclusively. Yes,
something I have a bit of experience with.
What do you get? How's $100k cash sound? Oh did I mention it's provided b... (more)
Yesterday John Foley at InformationWeek wrote a post about how cloud
computing is becoming more global as businesses in other parts of the world
are discovering the cloud. Like most of Foley's articles, it was very
insightful and did make me stop and think. But in someways I think he's
missing the point of globalized cloud computing.
It's not about one endless global cloud, one with no defined borders or
geography, but instead it's about the localization of cloud computing within
these new and emerging regions around globe. It's about the opportunity that
flexible and efficient d... (more)
Cloud Interoperability Magazine on Ulitzer
As we end 2009 and prepare for the next decade there seems to be a nagging
question, a question that I have to say, I frequently answer without any
concrete proof. A question that seems to be becoming more important then
ever. The question is simple yet profound in its implications as a global
citizen, is cloud computing actually environmentally friendly?
First, I will admit, I am among the group of cloud advocates who routinely
claim that cloud computing is green, I say this without any proof or evidence
to support my statement. I make t... (more)
I was recently looking at Google's trends & insights tool and noticed
something very interesting has happened over the last month or so. For the
first time the term "cloud computing" has surpassed "virtualization" in terms
of search popularity. What is all the more interesting is it took cloud
computing a little over a year and half compared to nearly 5 years for
virtualization to see the same level of search volumes. Astounding growth to
say the least.
For those unfamiliar with Google Trends, it's a service that analyzes a
portion of Google web searches to compute how many searc... (more)
(May 7, 2009) - I've just spend the last two days in Washington DC in
conversations with various US government officials regarding the
opportunities for cloud computing within the federal government. During these
conversations it has become very clear that the topic of "Cloud Computing" is
front and center within the various departmental IT strategies going forward.
All the more interesting is that the term is being mandated from the highest
levels including the new federal CIO Vivek Kundra who indicated cloud
computing was one of the biggest revolutions technology has seen in a ... (more)