Investing in RFID Preconference

RFID
Journal LIVE! 2006 featured several pre-conference seminars that provided
in-depth RFID information on a specific aspect of RFID. Attendees could choose
to participate in one of these prior to the opening of the main conference
program.
Investors have heard a lot of hype about RFID, yet the reality is that some
companies that soon will earn investors a high return on investment are starting
to emerge and stake out market-leading positions. At the RFID Investor Forum
preconference, experts provided an overview of the technology involved, the
growth of the RFID industry and metrics for evaluating possible investments.
Then, leading private companies in this burgeoning industry made presentations
about the opportunities they see for success.
The page below contains links to most of the presentations given throughout
the preconference, posted in PDF format with the presenters' permission.
Please note that not all speakers have opted to have us post their presentations.
Therefore, we ask that you please respect the presenters' copyrights and
not use any material without permission.
To download a PDF, click on the underlined presentation
title or speaker name in red. As more presentations become available in the
future, we will add them to this list. File sizes are provided in parentheses..
monday, may 1
PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINARS
General Session: RFID Basics
New to RFID? Here's your opportunity to gain a basic introduction to the
fundamentals of RFID. The differences between the various classes of tags
will be explained, including active and passive systems. The need for additional
IT systems to build upon RFID in real-world applications will be highlighted.
The session also includes a very brief overview of the EPCglobal Network,
the future of ISO standards, ETSI reader regulations and the latest standardization
efforts worldwide. Finally, the relationship between different standards
in the area of RFID and EPC, including the latest EPC generation 2 standard,
will be presented.
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
The Pace of RFID Adoption
Investors will make money from backing RFID companies only if the overall
industry succeeds. Despite mandates from such major forces as Wal-Mart,
Target and the U.S. Department of Defense, some pundits scoff at the notion
that most manufacturers, logistics companies and retailers will adopt RFID
soon. Yet others say the industry is growing even faster than earlier predictions.
How big is the market today and what's the outlook for the next five years?
Panelists:
Mike Liard, Dir., RFID Research Program, Venture Development Corp.
Erik Michielsen, Dir., RFID and Ubiquitous Networks, ABI Research
Karthik Nagarajan, Program Mgr., Security & RFID, Frost & Sullivan
Moderator: Jonathan Collins, European Editor, RFID Journal
1:15 pm
Picking Winners in a Crowded Field
The number of RFID startups has grown significantly in the last couple of
years, making it difficult to pick potential winners from losers. How should
investors measure a company's chances for success? What are the metrics
to look at when making a decision on where to invest in both private and
public companies? What are the most promising opportunities and niches
in the overall market?
Panelists:
Patrick Ennis, Managing Director, Arch Venture Partners
Terrence Rock, General Partner, CenterPoint Ventures
Ed
Schneider (398KB), General Partner, Quan Ventures
Moderator: Erik Michielsen, Dir., RFID and
Ubiquitous Networks, ABI Research
2:00 pm
Private Company Showcase—Software Startups
CEOs of some of the top privately held RFID companies, selected by the editors
of RFID Journal, introduce themselves, their unique technology, their business
plans and their outlook for the future.
Panelists:
Jon
Golovin (726KB), Chief Executive Officer, T3Ci
Eric
Peters (750KB), CEO & Co-founder, TrueDemand Software
Marc
Osofsky (581KB), VP, Mktg. & Product Mgmt., OATSystems
Ashley
Stephenson (1.2MB), Chief Executive
Officer, Reva Systems
Moderator: Ed Schneider, General Partner, Quan Ventures
3:15 pm
Private Company Showcase—Innovators
Some recent startups are introducing radical new technology that could have
a significant impact on the industry. CEOs of four of these companies describe
their advances, their operations and their plans for market success.
Panelists:
William
Colleran (2.3MB), President and CEO, Impinj
Olavi
Meriläinen (1.5MB), CEO, Wisteq
Martin
Swerdlow (910KB), Chief Exec., Integrated Product Intelligence
Chris
Walker (1.5MB), Director of Imaging Technology, Preco Industries
Moderator:
Ed
Schneider, General Partner, Quan Ventures
4:15 pm