Ideas What happens when a recruiter has a few sleepless nights. Genotropic Organizations Interesting VC Young Guns Ask the Headhunter

Trends Since the late 1980's we have witnessed a lot of changes in the Boston computer, software and communications landscape. We saw the demise of the mini computer market, the rise of data communications, the growth of enterprise and client server applications once the LAN was in place, the build out of the internet and then the profusion of opportunity and excess built upon the Web. We lived through the inevitable downturn as the pendulum swung back in the other direction after overextending to the positive. Now as we come back to a more normal state, one thing has remained a constant, and that is the flow of ideas and energy of the entrepreneurs in the Boston area. Our key words for this year are Data and Mobility. The vast amount of data being created by RFID, video, audio and communications convergence, is driving opportunities in storage, compliance, search, security and real time monitoring. Smart phones and increasing mobile usage has spurred the creation of new marketing, advertising and entertainment applications as well as location based services such as search and direct selling. Moving into 2006, things are looking pretty good. Is it 1997 all over again? For candidates, full employment in our sector has brought wages back to normal and multiple offers can be found. Hiring start up companies can offer more challenging and rewarding opportunities than have been readily available in the recent past. There is a pent up demand for good new early stage companies, as the downturn has kept many people in stagnating positions for several years.