1 Million Cups Preview: John Chamberlin Discusses Techtoberfest
by October 5, 2015 12:04 pm 226 views
With the launch of Techtober, technology investor John Chamberlin will speak Oct. 7 at 1 Million Cups about Techtober and the events slated for the month of October and November.
Chamberlin is a giant in computer technology in Arkansas. He is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Computing and works with several tech based companies as a consultant or board member.
His career in computer science reaches back to the 1970’s and includes work in poultries, banking, consulting and investing in technology. He holds degrees from Michigan State, MIT, and the U.S. Army Finance School.
He is the founder of financial tech giant Arkansas Systems, which later merged with Euronet’s worldwide operations. His company revolutionized bank ATM systems. Chamberlin is a technology investor and serves on the investment committee of the Fund for Arkansas’s Future.
1 Million Cups Little Rock programming starts at 9 a.m. at the The Venture Center, located at 107 E. Markham in downtown Little Rock catty-corner from the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. It’s easy to participate: just show up, drink coffee, ask questions and network for an hour.
Talk Business & Politics’ Todd Jones caught up with Chamberlin to ask a few questions ahead of Wednesday’s event.
TB&P: How responsive has the community been to Techtober?
Chamberlin: Very. People are doing their own things with Techtober and I hear about it later. I have had good responses from people of varied ages and stages, from both enterprise and entrepreneurial traditions, and from around the state.
TB&P: Have you already seen improvements that can be made for next year, and, if so, what are they?
Chamberlin: Yes, there will be an opportunity for involvement of more people, more events in more places, and at least a little planning. We can think about what we want this part of life in Arkansas to become.
TB&P: What do you hope to communicate to freshly caffeinated entrepreneurs at 1 Million Cups?
Chamberlin: We are all part of an exciting thing. Arkansas has a deep heritage in technology and a booming present with so many people building new parts of the tech ecosystem. The future can be amazing.