ProductCamp Aims to Shape the Future of Product Development

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ProductCamp Aims to Shape the Future of Product Development

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A group of local product management thought leaders has announced Austin’s first ProductCamp.  The inaugural “unconference” will take place Saturday, June 14, 2008 at St. Edward’s University Professional Education Center.

Product managers, marketing professionals, and technology innovators participating in the interactive forum will explore emerging issues in product management and work to improve the way companies conceive, develop, and market products.

“Product management is key to successful products and ventures but in many cases poorly understood and executed,” said Kim Hughes, Director of Communications at Austin Ventures.  “We are excited to sponsor ProductCamp Austin. Participants will share ideas on how best to understand and fulfill market needs, leading to satisfied customers and profitable businesses.”

Austin Ventures, Pragmatic Marketing, Seilevel, the Austin Product Management and Marketing Forum, the Association of International Product Marketing and Management, St. Edward’s University Professional Education Center, and NetStreams are sponsoring the event.

ProductCamp is modeled after BarCamp, informal conferences in which programmers meet to share ideas about technologies, tools, and practices.  ProductCamp organizers have set up a "wiki" (interactive web site) where participants may sign up and volunteer to present or lead sessions. The event is free to participants.

ProductCamp Austin highlights include:
 • Participant-led panels and breakout sessions.
 • Workshops on such topics as prioritizing features, connecting with customers, and working with outsourced engineering.
 • A focus on understanding customers and markets rather than merely on technology capabilities and “nice-to-have” features.
 • Cross-pollination of ideas by some of Austin’s leading product management minds.

ProductCamp is a participant-driven “unconference” where professionals can network with, learn from, and teach one another in a collaborative environment. For more information and to sign up, see barcamp.org/ProductCampAustin.