We support initiative. We support entrepreneurship. We support leadership. That is why we are so fond of our speaker, Sylvain Cottong. Throughout his career, he has founded and co-founded several businesses which he has successfully managed ever since. If there is anyone who has figured out how to best combine culture, society, economics and technology, that would be our speaker. Add Internet and intensive networking to that and his career formula is looking quite brilliant, doesn’t it?

He masters innovation management, service design, user experience design, new marketing, knowledge management, social technologies & the future of work and is currently living and working in Luxembourg (www.strategybuilders.eu) and Berlin (www.nectarism.de).

Do you really know your customers and users and connect with them? How do you handle the digital transformation? These are equations that our speaker really knows how to solve.

Sylvain managed to make time to answer our questions:

1.In high school, you were…

The schools were: Ichec http://www.ichec.be/  & UCL http://www.uclouvain.be/en-espo.html

2. What should we be ready for at DevWorld?

Connect , exchange & create as much as possible: the new value is in the networks and knowledge flows.

3. Why people shouldn’t miss your presentation at DevWorld?

Because I’m going to tell them somethimg about the current major trends in IT and it’s importance in service innovation & economic value creation.

4. If there’s one thing we should know about you, that would be…

…that I am a very curious mind and like free & creative thinking.

5.  How do you like to spend your free time?

Playing music, going to concerts & exhibitions, having interesting discussions with interesting people on any imaginable topics…

6. Do you take along any IT gadgets when you travel?

iPhone 4S & HTC Android phone, Mac Book Pro 15″ & Mac Book Air 11″ (double backup )

If you are considering the possibility of someday founding your own business, you might want to know people who have succeeded on several occasions to do so. Sylvain Cottong is one of those people and guess what? He is coming at DevWorld!

A week before DevWorld, we are still “scouting” for extra information about our speakers. A few days ago, we contacted Stefan Szakal, founder and CEO of X3 company. “I have founded X3 Studios in 2001, initially as a one-man show, but then, starting 2002, my little home office turned into an independent entity. By 2008, X3 meant 22 people – all highly specialized professionals, impressive client list and an even more impressive award and recognition portfolio. Starting 2009, the development arm of X3 has been officially consolidated as an independent company, Space Rabbit, where I retain an advisory and partnership role.”

Stefan answerd our 6-q interview in a smart and “less is more” manner. You will fully understand this, as soon as you read his answers:

1. In high school, you were…
Rocker, activist, bastard.

2. What should we be ready for at DevWorld?
Pretty people.

3. Why people shouldn’t miss your presentation at DevWorld?
Pretty pictures.

4. If there’s one thing we should know about you, that would be…
I’m the one with the pretty pictures.

5. How do you like to spend your free time?
What free time?

6. Do you take along any IT gadgets when you travel?
Of course, the only way to travel.

Adding the fact that Stefan graduated from the University of Tampa, Florida, USA with a double specialization (mass-media and publicity) and that he has also been working for 2 years as Web Designer at Innovative Technologies in the United States, it can be easily concluded that the participants of DevWorld are going to enjoy every single one of the “pictures” that he is planning to share with them. So…make sure you are in the room!

Our next speaker is a real asset; if not, why would we have invited him at DevWorld?! Mihai Cristian Petrescu is currently working at Appscend, also known as The Mobile Experience Igniter.

As a passionate about technology and electronics, the first bases for Mihai were web development and web design. Shortly after came C++, smartphones, the iPhone, then Java and the desire to program for mobile devices.

After some projects came a chance he always dreamt of: making a name in this constantly evolving and improving environment as an Android Developer with the mission to port an outstanding mobile infrastructure called Appscend, available for iOS devices, to Android devices.

Mobile development is one of the best things that could have happened so far in Mihai’s carrer, who is looking forward on improving and perfecting his skills, proving himself and also adding some other mobile platforms to his programming skillset.

He says about himself that he is a tech addict and believes that constant evolution and improvement are essential in becoming a professional. We agree with him and invite you to read the interview:

1. In highschool, you were…

…a very friendly, techy, nerdy, sporty and trendy guy.

2. What should we be ready for at DevWorld?

A walkthrough in how we can embrace a great mobile infrastructure which helps us deploy an unlimited number of apps with richful content, great user interface and also keeps up with our customers at the same time. All of these can be done with very little effort. Catchy, isn’t it?

3. Why people shouldn’t miss your presentation at DevWorld?

People who want to be productive, efficient, fast and don’t want to waste their time by writing hundreds if not thousands of code lines when they could just as easily write as much as 10-20 lines and get the same results. Especially if they choose to deploy an application on more than one platform.

4. If there’s one thing we should know about you, that would be…

That I’m very passionate about the things I do and love so get ready for a treat if you also love gadgets, tech and software development.

5. How do you like to spend your free time?

Going out with friends, doing sports, listening to music and getting up-to-date with all sorts of techy stuff. Let’s not forget about software and sometimes hardware modding.

6. Do you take along any IT gadgets when you travel?

Of course! I always take my smartphone, sometimes my laptop and in the near future my long awaited Transformer tablet.

Mihai has a number of secrets that he is going to share with the participants and we are already very curious and very interested in what they are all about. It looks like our event’s agenda is going to get more and more interesting!

 After having introduced Patrick Bosteels to you a few days ago, we thought of making a habit of challenging our speakers to answer a set of questions, in their own particular way. This allows you to make an idea about their personalities and their preferences and, in addition to that, about the issues that they are going to present and discuss at DevWorld.

Therefore, our today’s speaker is Andrei Savu, Whirr PMC Member at The Apache Software Foundation and Software Engineer at Cloudsoftcorp.com . Andrei is a master in data infrastructure and is determined to demonstrate just how useful Cloud Computing & Apache Hadoop are. To sum up Andrei’s personality, we use one of his favourite quotes: ”When I am delivering my very best, then that is when I feel successful.” Andrei’s wide experience and knowledge place him among the specialists you will want to see. Here is the outcome of the interview:

DevWorld was first created in order to offer the most interested in IT the chance to meet and discuss about the forward motions of technology. Therefore, the aim of the event is to provide the favorable context for sharing the latest technologies, apps and identifying the most innovative projects in web programming, in an interactive approach. The 3 main tracks that will guide the event are Web Programming Language for the Desktop, Frameworks/CMS and Mobile Platforms.

What is more, the 2012 edition of DevWorld launches a new opportunity. It is well known: companies, entrepreneurs and sponsors are always interested in spotting the most skilled. From that point of view, it is essential to get in touch with the ones that are most interested in your clever projects and your bold ideas.

For that reason, we came up with “My Idea”: DevWorld gives you the chance to present your idea/project in front of an audience of IT experts. You are given 5 minutes to briefly, and at the same time, wisely expose your idea in order to convince the jury. You can win hardware prizes and even have your idea financed by one of the sponsors.

This sure sounds like a rare opportunity: all you need is skill and courage. If you believe you own the two, take the first step in boosting your career – registrate by filling in the form! You will have to give us your name and contact information and a summary of you idea and then, thoroughly prepare for the final presentation that will win you the great prize at DevWorld.

You can register your idea here: MY IDEA

We are keeping our fingers crossed for you and we can’t wait to see you succeed!

Therefore, we thought of making it easier for you! DevWorld’s 3^rd edition is being held at Ramada Hotel&Suites Bucharest North. The hotel is located in the French Neighborhood, which makes it possible for guests to arrive here in a 20-minute car ride from the center of the city.

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If you are planning to arrive at the hotel by common means of transportation, there is a series of options for doing that. The nearest subway station is Aurel Vlaicu, but it is necessary to take the bus (112, 301) or the tramway (5) afterwords in order to reach the destination. Other bus lines with stations very near the hotel are 261 and 335. If you are not a fan of crowded transportation, you can always take a walk from Aurel Vlaicu subway station to the hotel, as long as the spring season makes its way to the city.

Whatever way of transportation you choose, we are looking forward to meeting you at DevWorld and to run the special event we are preparing for you!

Later on, Bobby Voicu was the moderator of a special talkshow entitled “The confrontation of the developers – Programmers vs Designers”, where the guests – Ovidiu Boc, Marius Deak, Alex Lapusan, Mircea Scarlatescu and Stefan Szakal – exposed their points of view.

DevWorld 2009.

The organizers of the event stated that the objective was to bring together the people behind the online projects and to offer them an opportunity to meet and exchange information and experience, while participants could benefit from this encounter, as well.

The 2^nd edition of DevWorld was held at Ibis Hotel (The Palace of Parliament) on the 28^th of October 2010. Back then, the hot issues were the upcoming changes that would, at that time, challenge the programmers.

The event started with a number of presentations on the newest technologies, trends and innovations, held by key specialists. Cloud Computing was the topic that speakers such as Petru Jucovschi (Microsoft Romania) and Ovidiu Achim (SOA/Middleware Team Leader, Oracle Romania) based their presentations on. The following workshops focused on development using Java, PHP,  Ruby and .Net . Marius Hanganu (Managing Partner, Tremend Software Consulting), Marian Simpetru (Managing Partner, esolutions), Andrei Maxim (software developer Seesmic Inc.), Andrei Bocan (Consultant) and Alexandru Baciu (Sales Consultant SOA&ECM, Oracle Romania) honored the invitation, as well.

We are looking forward to meet you at the 3^rd edition of DevWorld, as we have put up a great event! All the information you need is here and if you need an extra argument, you can find it here.

It is known that the IT is one of the most dynamic domains and therefore, adaptating to continuous innovations is essential to such an extent, that it is the very expression of performance. There is always something new to find out about and it is necessary to get in touch with the best resources so that you receive the necessary information concerning the newest devices and concepts, business models and web programming projects.

The idea was that we combine lectures and interactivity in form of presentations, live demos, debates, case studies and tutorials that concentrate on 3 main domains, so that each participant will feel free to choose his favourite(s) and upgrade his knowledge: Web Programming Languages for Desktop, Frameworks/CMS and Mobile Platforms.

Everybody agrees with one thing that Francis Bacon pointed out more than 400 years ago: “knowledge is power”. From this point of view, DevWorld provides the stakeholders of the IT industry with the occasion to meet and analyse the most successful breakthroughs that set up the ever-changing premises and trends in their areas of interest, while share and interchange information.

As entities with substantial investments in businesses involving programming skills, companies are always in the seek of brilliant professionals. DevWorld is offering young professionals and entrepreneurs the opportunity to find themselves near the investors and companies that need their skills and their vision. From this point of view, if you stand up, you are very likely to meet your future employer at DevWorld 2012.

Join DevWorld and partake in an event that will only result in win-win outcomes!

DevWorld  will take place on the 22^nd and 23^rd of March 2012 at Ramada Hotel&Suites Bucharest North. During the two-day event, highly rated developers, entrepreneurs, experts and key note speakers, along with the leaders of the communities of programmers and of the IT industry, will be discussing and analyzing issues regarding 3 major fields: Web programming languages for Desktop, Framework/CMS and Mobile platforms.

We invite you to take part in this experience of sharing the changes and innovations that the IT field undergoes at present, by purchasing an entry ticket that will assure you a place in the 2 general sessions and 5 workshops that we have prepared for you. The cost of the entry ticket is 90€, but Early Bird grants you a 20€ discount: if you purchase your ticket before the 5^th of March, the ticket is worth 70€.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and visit www.devworld.ro to find out who our speakers are and all the latest news. Stay in touch and you can win invitations to the event, as we will be launching spontaneous contests and quizzes and reward you with free acces.