Twitter, Google and LinkedIn founders talk business
26 Nov 09
Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford, now in its ninth year, attracted some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs to the Said Business School. Speakers included Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter; Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn; Ram Shriram, founding board member of Google; and Bob Goodson, co-founder of Younoodle.
The forum explored the big issues and future directions of innovation and entrepreneurship in a mix of master-classes, tutorials, panel debates and networking events. Participating in the event were academics, researchers, students, alumni and the wider business community.
The evening panel discussion, chaired by Frances Cairncross Rector of Exeter College asked ‘After social networks, what is next?’
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and investor in Facebook and LinkedIn, suggested that the development stage of the internet was over. He asked, ‘Are we at the end of innovation of social networking? And is social networking the last innovation of the internet?’
Reid HoffmanI actually think we are just beginning to see how people launch the eventualities of social networks into their life.
Biz Stone responded by saying that Twitter was not a social network but an information network, adding, ‘and here I believe in the trend of openness. Using an open technology, creating an open platform, and being more transparent that is where we are heading.’
Meanwhile Oxford alumnus and founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, dismissed any talk of social networking being in its final stages declaring, ‘I actually think we are just beginning to see how people launch the eventualities of social networks into their life.’
As well as panel sessions focusing on the future of social networks, there were discussions about clean energy innovation and the experiences of Oxford entrepreneurs in the Valley, with Mike Malone, Silicon Insider columnist from ABCNews.com, revealing the latest news and developments.
Oxford alumni who attended to pass on their advice to the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs included Reid Hoffman, who studied for a Master’s degree in Philosophy, and Dave Rosenheim, an MBA alumnus and CEO of Jambase, an online information source for live music.
Entrepreneurs benefit from the support network provided at the Said Business School, particularly from the Oxford Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.