So, this is good bye...

TEDxEdges has been an important part of my life since 2009, when I applied and got what would become the first TEDx license in Portugal (and one of the first in Europe) organizing the first TEDxEdges in Lisbon. I was not alone in this journey, I had a group of great co-organizers, Artur Arsénio (the first believer), Rui Ribeiro and Pedro Rocha Vieira, not to speak of our great super-positive volunteers.

This year we have resubmitted an application for what would have been TEDxEdges 2012.

Last Good-Friday I received an email from TEDx team, stating that our application was rejected due to what TED.com considers to be violations of the TEDx rules in the last edition.

I regret this decision and I think it doesn’t attest to the effort of the dozens of volunteers that have been involved with TEDxEdges since its inception. I also believe that TEDx brand was always highly considered and never alienated or put down in anyway on TEDxEdges, au contraire.

In the past years since I’ve started organizing TEDx my life changed, for the better and thus, I am very thankful to TED for allowing me to organize TEDxEdges, in 2009 in Lisbon, in 2010 in Portimão, and 2011 back to Lisbon – I’ve lost track to the hundreds of new people I’ve met, and of equal importance the connection to TEDx communities in Portugal, but also elsewhere, especially in Brazil, and Spain – I have also encouraged organizers to set up TEDx events in places like Portugal, Chinese Universities and connected to organizers in Tunisia after the jasmine revolution. I am also very proud of all TEDxEdges events, and its impact in creating a new mindset, new friendships, new endeavors, even political aspirations – not so uncommonly people that I don’t know personally would tell me that they have come to a TEDxEdges event and how that has impacted their lives – as an organizer that is my highest achievement.

When we decided to organize the first TEDxEdges in 2009, we believed it was important to have a forum to inspire but also to discuss Portuguese policies towards a more developed country, concerning topics on Design, Technology and Science – based on that vision, I’ve come to cofound Beta-i to promote a more innovative and entrepreneurial society.

That said I would like to let you know that TEDxEdges will not be organized nor this year nor in the future. The TEDxEdges website, blog, Facebook and twitter will be kept alive for the next weeks and after that they will be shut down (don’t worry TEDxEdges talks on video will be kept on Youtube and other media).

I also believe that there is a widespread network of TEDx in most of the country – some of them really good and very well organized. TEDx is a concept both fascinating and incredibly powerful engine of inspiration thus I hope it keeps its strength in our country, maturing but also allowing new organizers: schools, teachers, students, politicians – that will serve enormous good in keeping our minds dreaming of a better society.

For my side, I will be available to help anyone that intends to organize a TEDx (maybe not to commit the same errors that I did). I will keep working within Beta-i to create more inspiring events and continue my after TEDx life.

I would like to thank to all of you friends, TEDxEdges fans and speakers for your help and support along these years, look after yourselves, love your life, develop your community, hugs and greetings from,

André Marquet

@amarquet

Work on a start-up: Beta-i is searching for a Events Projects Manager!

Job opening for Events Project Manager for Beta-i

Is this you?

• Are you passionate about entrepreneurship, startups, conferences?
• Do you have a background in economics, management, marketing or engineering?
• Are you methodical, self-driven, independent?
• Do you have experience in organizing events?
• Are you confident in managing people?
• Do you have commercial skills to sell sponsorships and close deals?
• Are you pro-active, collaborative, doer, positive thinker, and a change maker?
• If so, then Beta-i wants you!

About the Beta-i Association (http://beta-i.pt)

Beta-i Association is a non-profit organization focused on the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation. We’re an independent, grassroots, collaborative, informal and passionate organization made of multidisciplinary and dynamic associates. Our aim is to contribute to a stronger culture and entrepreneurial ecosystem and to help startups grow and succeed. We base our activity in two main areas: events and acceleration programs. We’re responsible for events like Beta-Talk, TEDxEdges, Silicon Valley comes to Lisbon and SandBox Global Summit, and for accelerations programs like, Startup Weekend, Beta-Start (http://beta-start.com). We’re supported by various other organizations, and partner with a vast network of associates and volunteers.

Position Summary

The Events Project Manager (EPM) is responsible for coordinating the production & operations of all main Beta-i events. The EPM will report to the Boar of Beta-i and to the chair of each event, in articulation with the strategic task force and team of volunteers. The main event are Beta-Talk, TEDxEdges and Silicon Valley comes to Lisbon, but will also give support to minor events related to Beta-i acceleration programs like Startup Weekend, Beta-Start and MassChallenge Europe.

Job Opening for Events Project Manager for Beta-i

View more documents from Andre Marquet

Carta de André Marquet para 2012

Foto: Alicia Sully

No outro dia dei por mim a ver a definição mais ou menos antropológica da palavra amizade na wikipédia, pensei que teria imensas entradas sobre primatologia, e fiquei surpreendido que apesar de de todo o hype do facebook, de "amigar" este e aquele, e de "desamigar" aquele outro, a palavra amizade tivesse uma entrada enciclopédica tão pequena. A definição de Dicionário é esta, a palavra amizade vem do latim vulgar de amicitas, e refere-se a 1. Afeição recíproca entre dois entes., 2. Boas relações.

É talvez na substancia da definição 1. e na manutenção da 2. que gostava de partilhar convosco alguns pensamentos em relação ao ano que está a passar, afinal de contas, foi o meu 30º ano de vida neste planeta - um ano que trouxe algumas novidades tanto do ponto de vida pessoal como profissional, e até dos muitos eventos deste mundo em mudança que pudemos presenciar.

Recorri por isso à funcionalidade da "Timeline" do Facebook, para recordar alguns momentos que para mim tiveram mais relevância este ano:

O Balanço do Ano de 2011

· Em Janeiro 2011, fui ao falar ao Ignite (link) dos “10 mitos do TGV”, numa altura em que o país estava na eminência do pedido de ajuda à troika mas se preparava ainda para avançar em alta velocidade para essa obra, entretanto refreada mas, ao que parece, ainda não totalmente esquecida – um tópico para irmos acompanhando ao longo deste próximo ano.

· Em Abril, fui à conferência Switch, no Porto, falar da revolução na Tunisia, que levou à queda da tirania de Ben Ali, e ao surgimento da chamada “Primavera Arabe”, outra questão longe de terminada, agora que muitos governos pró-islamitas começam a tomar forma nos países do Magreb, com consequência ainda totalmente não previstas para aquela região.

· Em Julho estive de férias na Europa de Leste, e fiquei sobretudo impressionado com a Hungria que desde 2004 anda a seguir a receita do FMI e onde aproveitei para comentar no blog Cousas Liberaes (link), e em Agosto estive no Tavira, Algarve - uma das jóias da nossa coroa por enquanto preservada do FMI (e olhem que aos Gregos já lhes propuseram venderem as ilhas...)

· Foi também um ano em que conheci várias das pessoas envolvidas no projecto do TEDxEdges 2011, uma equipa fantástica que pôs de pé a terceira edição do TEDx em 1 de Outubro de 2011, hoje a progredir nas suas carreiras e a desenvolverem novos desafios - a todos desejo que em 2012 voltemos a cooperar.

· E no final do mês de Outubro, com um Outono muito solarengo, depois de uma experiência na Huawei, empresa chinesa que já é um dos líderes mundiais no sector da telecomunicações, decidi abraçar outros projectos com os quais me identificava mais e contribuir ainda mais activamente na Beta-i.

Curiosamente, talvez um dos aspectos mais importantes desta crise tem sido revelado pela maior proximidade entre as pessoas, nunca como este ano recebi tantos e-postais de Natal, nem senti uma aproximação tão genuína - talvez um re-centramento no que é verdadeiramente importante depois da ilusão dos últimos anos.... quem sabe.

O Ano de 2012.

Penso que dificilmente se pode considerar 2012, como o Stunde Null português mas, o futuro é sempre indeterminável. Se há coisa que a história nos ensina é que os acontecimentos são imprevisíveis... bastará recoradarmo-nos como começou este século. No entanto não queria deixar-vos sem terminar com algumas notas optimistas, até porque em 2012, a Beta-i está a preparar uma série de projectos com vista a promover ainda com mais dinamismo, o tão necessário empreendedorismo qualificado, através da ajuda à criação de start-ups, e da organização de eventos de classe mundial, a começar já nos dias 20, 21, e 22 de Janeiro pelo Sandbox Global Summit 2012 co-organizado em parceria com a Beta-i que conduziu a candidatura vencedora da cidade de Lisboa à organização deste evento e que reuniu na nossa cidade cerca de 200 jovens de todo o mundo - e onde há juventude, há pelo menos muita animação como se pode testemunhar em inúmeros blog posts !

Fica aqui uma recordação do TEDxEdges deste ano para nos inspirar para 2012, a brilhante talk do General Luis Valença Pinto, sem dúvida uma cabeça jovem!... e outra com a energia contagiante do Miguel Gonçalves no TEDxYouth de Braga.

Um forte abraço a todos,

André Marquet

Co-Fundador da Beta-i

Dezembro, 2011

Bye bye TEDxEdges 2011

We had a day wonderful day, full of ideas! TEDxEdges was a successful event where business men and women, entrepreneurs and young people had come together to generate a real TEDx environment. On the other hand, every speaker inspired us with out-of-the-box solutions, ideas and simple talks about regular day events. Thank you all for being here at Fundação Champalimaud, this super futuristic venue, near to Tagus River in Lisbon.

All the best,

TEDxEdges Team

It's official, TEDxEdges is going on!

09:15 sharp, Drª Leonor Beleza opened  TEDxEdges 2011. After this introduction about Fundação Champalimad and its fantastic mission, André Marquet, our Curator, gave all people the welcome inspiring message.

Thanks to all being here with us, from home or at the venue. We hope you all have a great day!

Charanga will be one of the TEDxEdges musical moments!

Charanga is Francisco Gedeão, Alberto Baltazar and Quim Ezequiel. They met at the 14th Freixo-de-Espada-à-Cinta’s Folk Band Festival. Alberto had got His hands on an amazing music making machine and thought Francisco was the right one to share it with. While they were trying it out, Quim was passing by with his bagpipes. Uncontrollably drawn by the music making machine’s sounds, he ended up in an underground room, away from criticism, with two strangers triping over the creative process. They’ve been playing together ever since, spreading their gospel of trans-timming prophecies.

Getting all people connected with TEDxEdges, from home and in the venue!

TEDx from home...

Sold out?! We're happy to say.... because you fans are all special, FCCN and TEDxEdges will be providing live streaming from Fundação Champalimaud. Access our TEDxEdges Facebook page and get into the Edge experience! But we really want you to interact WITH and IN the Event! So how about we give you the opportunity to walking around on the venue, talking to people on the coffee breaks, etc., directly from your place?! Feel free to do a Skype call to one of our Magabots, some kind robots made by our friends from Artica! You will be able to control them from your PC and meet everyone you like! Have a try! Call the skype-user "artica.cc"!

...and TEDx in the venue!

If you are one of the lucky guys with a ticket for TEDxEdges 2011, how about telling your friends, live, on Saturday what you're experiencing at the venue? :)

We'll have WIFI access on all the venue and encourage you to be an awesome TEDxEdges reporter (Wifi: 'FC_Guest' / User: 'tedxedges' / Password: 'lisbon')! 

Tweetts here, photos there, creative pick-up lines by messenger-pigeon.... everything is valid!!

See you all TOMORROW! Live with us this experience!