October 10th – 11th in Downtown Providence, the Business Innovation Factory is holding its third annual conference – the BIF-3 Collaborative Innovation Summit. They’ve really outdone themselves this year. Among the event’s amazing collection of “Storytellers,” there are some major Alpha Geeks, including:

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• Walt Mossberg, Technology Editor, The Wall Street Journal, and co-founder of AllThingsD (BIF-3’s host!)
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• Mark Cuban, billionaire serial tech entrepreneur
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• Jason Fried, 37Signals CEO & Co-Founder
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• Steven Johnson, Ghost Map author and co-creator of
  outside.in
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• Richard Saul Wurman, information architecture pioneer & founder of the TED Conference
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In effort to make sure that Providence’s talented geeks can fully participate in the BIF-3 Summit on October 10-11, 2007, the Business Innovation Factory is offering five scholarships to the Summit that cuts the registration fee in half (from $1,000 to $500). This includes both days of programming, snacks and lunches, materials, and a reception with the storytellers.

More at www.businessinnovationfactory.com/bif-3

Geeks that wish to apply for a scholarship should contact Melissa Withers at mwithers [aatttt] riedc.com or 401.278.9134.

Providence Geek John Duksta is among a group of local hackers that has formed the RI chapter of DEFCON aptly named DC401. In their words:

DC401 is the local Defcon Group for Rhode Island. DC401 is a gathering for folks interested in the alternate applications of modern technology, referred to properly as ‘hacking’. DC401 is not intended to compete with any other computer group, such as Providence Geeks, 2600 or Linux User Groups, but rather to provide yet another gathering place for the discussion of technology and security topics. DC401 meetings are open to anyone, regardless of their skill, age, job, gender, etc. DC401 is here to help you learn new things, meet new people, mentor others in areas you may be strong in, and provide some cohesion within the hacker culture and its members. For more information, visit http://dc401.org

The clock is counting down to the Sept. 4th deadline, so get your applications in now for the Rhode Island Innovation Awards. Brought to us by the RIEDC, PBN, and the Tech Collective, the awards “honor individuals and organizations that are making innovation central to their activities or have gone beyond the call of duty to help others innovate.” And I know that geek individuals and organizations/businesses in particular are encouraged to apply.

The winners will be honored Sept. 20th at Tech Laureates Night.

Contact Melissa Withers at mwithers at RIEDC dotcom to apply. Good luck!