Microsoft Visit – Day 2…Wilde Rover, Wilde Rover

March 18, 2010

Today began with meeting David Harnett, general manager at Microsoft responsible for their internal incubation projects (taking interesting assets from R&D, building out the team, cross organizational resources etc.). David is founder of Microsoft’s IP Ventures initiative, which was successful in spinning out assets to form six companies, one of which I met last night called InishTech based in Dublin, Ireland. For additional information on David’s role at IP Ventures, please refer to my earlier blog entitled “Is invention set to become the next software”.

I enjoyed spending some time with David to better understand Microsoft’s challenges and business growth strategies for spinning out its prized jewels of invention. This is definitely a tight balancing act and I am confident that David is the right man to get the job done.

During lunch, I had an opportunity to meet with Steve Holt, director of strategy and M&A for Microsoft Business Division, which spans information worker technologies including Office and SharePoint, Exchange and unified communications and Dynamics products. Steve works for Amy Hood, corporate vice president and chief financial officer for Microsoft Business Division. Steve discussed some of the opportunities and challenges of transforming their products and development to agile development methods and the cloud (Azure). I think this is an exciting time for this group as they sort things out and continue to secure Office and SharePoint platforms in the cloud.

After lunch, I had an opportunity to meet with Marc Brown, managing director of Microsoft corporate development. Marc and I have known each other for a number of years and he is instrumental in helping the business divisions conduct market opportunity analysis, financial due diligence and acquisitions. Marc and I discussed the perception of Microsoft in the market related to their lack of innovation, draining the brain trust, attracting good talent, and the challenges associated. Needless to say, this is not an easy task in such a large organization. I recall in the early 90’s that it was much easier to keep everyone in the same boat, rowing in the same direction. Is Microsoft feeling the pain of not having Bill there full time?

The last event of the day was held at Wilde Rover Irish Pub in Kirkland. InishTech sponsored a party and I had an opportunity to meet with their founders, Aiden Gallagher, CEO and John O’Sullivan, head of Engineering. Joining me was my long time friend and work colleague, Cliff Reeves, general manager of Microsoft’s strategic and emerging business team.

InishTech is a Microsoft IP Ventures spin-off based in Dublin, Ireland. They are an emerging growth company that provides software licensing and protection (SLP) services that enables independent software vendors (ISVs) to adopt flexible licensing terms for their customers. I agreed to spend some time with Aiden and John on the phone next week to discuss their venture capital financing needs.  

All in all, another great day with lots of Guinness and spending time with friends and business associates.

Key Account Director

Marc Barry is an experienced sales leader in the Enterprise Technology Industry including Software, Cloud and Consulting. Currently, he is the Key Account Director at <a href="http://www.oracle.com">Oracle</a>. He was previously a Venture Partner at OpenView.