Seminar Title: From Engineer to Entrepreneur

Abstract:
How does an engineer go about starting a company? What should you do before you
graduate to prepare for life as an entrepreneur? Do you need a Business degree along with your ECE degree? Where can you go in the Tech community to get advice or help with developing a business plan? Jim Stratigos will recount his experience as an entrepreneur and founder of four start-ups since he graduated from Tech. He will provide humorous and frightening examples of the things entrepreneurs go through to help you decide if the world of a start-up is right for you.

Speaker Bio:
Jim Stratigos, is founder and CEO of Cognosos Inc., and president of Broadband Strategies. He is an active angel investor, mentor and advisor to a variety of early-stage technology companies. He brings more than 35 years of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur and industry leader. At Broadband Strategies, Jim has advised private companies and venture capital firms in the telecom, wireless, semiconductor and energy industries.

Jim’s career includes CEO, executive management, marketing, and engineering positions in semiconductor, wireless and satellite technology companies, including Cognosos, Sytheros Communications, Jacket Micro Devices, Echostar, Media4 AT&T, Tridom, Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola. He has been a founder or CEO of five technology companies and was directly involved in raising more than $75 million in venture capital.

Jim is active in the Atlanta high tech community and is a founding member of Atlanta Technology Angels, an Atlanta-based, early stage investment group. He also serves on the advisory boards of several portfolio companies and is past chairman of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Jim earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974, and a master's degree in electrical engineering, also from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1980. Jim is a member of the IEEE, the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Advisory Board and a member of the Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.