Thanks for the response. You are correct, I missed the presentations due to my wandering around downtown Waltham looking for the museum. I arrived there as the final presentation was completing and most attendees were already upstairs.

I think being in Waltham naturally gives your event a different crowd, and obviously those that choose to live in Waltham versus Boston will bring a slightly different perspective/personality. It’s hard to quantify a “vibe,” but it just felt like a more serious and professional crowd than I’m used to. I don’t think anyone was “unwelcoming” per se, but the nature of conversations did seem different.

Again, I don’t think this is a bad thing; I just feel that with all the other options for young entrepreneurs in the city, there are a lot of other events better suited for us (see the last list in my entry, “6 Lists of 12 for MIT’s Startup Bootcamp”). I will be keeping my eye on your site for interesting startups to be presenting and from time to time may make the trip out.

-Jason

The museum is an absolute bear to find — and it isn’t a strategy to keep out the riff-raff. The signage is small, the address obscure and GPS tends to bring people to an unmarked back door down a scary alley. Been an issue the more than 25 years the museum has been there — would you believe it was actually worse in the past? It’s probably why the museum is not well known. So sorry you got lost — unfortunately, you weren’t alone.

That’s one reason we put multiple links on our site to the museum’s site and their good directions. We also have links on the website and in the newsletter to a downloadable PDF for parking in Waltham (also an issue for the non-commuter rail riders.) I guess I need to put more of them on the site. We did get one suggestion which we are going to jump on — to put the directions and parking links right in the RSVP (thanks Jonathan!)

Meanwhile, the young entrepreneurs comment is one I am puzzled by — I thought we were a pretty friendly group. It sounds as if you might have missed the presentation portion of the evening (downstairs in the amphitheater.) Also, by the time you arrived, we may have all moved upstairs into the ballroom. Maybe that contributes to the impression.

We try to be as far ranging as we can be with the products being launched at Mass Innovation Nights. The only criteria is a shipping product. We’ve had large (IBM, Intuit Labs, Invention Machines), small (1-2 man projects), web-apps, enterprise software, devices, even a popsicle drip catcher, and last, night, The BackCare Trainer.

The Experts Corner was new last night — we’ll try it again next with a slightly different model. We’re always trying new stuff and really encourage the feedback. Thanks again.