Bay-area entrepreneurs to speak at UH forum

By John Duchemin
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i business school has convinced several Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to speak at a free public lecture next month, the latest in a small but growing list of Bay-area executives who are sharing their knowledge with UH students and the local tech community.

Jean Louis Gassee, Jamie Shennan and Charlie Bass will speak at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the University of Hawai'i School of Architecture auditorium.

Gassee is former technology head for Apple Computer Inc. and chief executive of Computer Access Technology Corp. Shennan, a venture capitalist, is a general partner at Trinity Ventures and board member of Starbucks and Jamba Juice. Bass, a longtime entrepreneur who co-founded company Ungermann-Bass, is chairman of handheld computer plug-in accessory maker Socket Communications, and holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from UH.

Also speaking will be part-time Hawai'i residents Barry Weinman, managing director of Bay-area venture firm Allegis Capital, and John C. Dean, chairman of Silicon Valley Bank.

The panel is part of the Kipapa Lecture Series, a free event held monthly by the UH College of Business Administration.

The series' inaugural event last fall drew Guy Kawasaki, a former top Apple executive and founder of Garage Technology Ventures, who later agreed to return to Hawai'i to hold a "bootcamp" training session for local entrepreneurs.

RSVP by Feb. 8 to 956-8780, or ttaira@cba.hawaii.edu.