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wednesday, june 4
6:00 to 10:00 pm
hyatt regency reston (click for directions)

If you missed the big IGNITION event, boy oh boy, was it a barn burner! Almost 1600 people registered, some of the region's biggest tech names on the stage, and, all in all, it was one of the most inspirational evenings we've had since Netpreneur was started some six years ago. The message for everyone with an entrepreneurial spirit was summed up by Raul Fernandez. "Get off the sidelines. Get in the game. If you fall down, get back up." It was also a night of memories, including reflection on how dramatically conditions have improved since the days when "Washington, DC entrepreneur" was considered an oxymoron.

How did we get this far? According to John Sidgmore, "We've grown so much over the past years because there have been so many people here helping each other." The Netpreneur network has been one road for entrepreneurs to help each other, and it will continue now as a grassroots community effort, but that wasn't the only kind of helping that was discussed. As Mario Morino noted, the panelists weren't just technology and business pioneers, they are also leaders in a new wave of philanthropy in the region, reaching areas ranging from healthcare, to education, to helping kids from low-income families. The call was made for others to join in those efforts, and more and more entrepreneurs are doing so as they reach the point when they can give something back.

And there was one more major theme for the evening-- giving thanks to everyone who has been a part of the Netpreneur community over the years, whether as a contributor or volunteer, or anyone who ever attended an event, subscribed to a list, or visited the website. If you missed that thank you last night, let us repeat it. From the entire Netpreneur team, thanks for your interest and support over the years, and keep the fires burning as Netpreneur enters its newest stage.