After six of the most enjoyable, educational, and rewarding years at O’Reilly, I went half-time last November to pursue one of those ideas that just wouldn’t leave me alone. That idea has since blossomed into an application (edging toward product-hood) and fledgling company. And so it’s time now to give it all the attention it deserves.
Leaving O’Reilly the company, however, doesn’t mean leaving the O’Reilly family. I’ve always said that if I wandered off at some point I’d still do ETech; and that’s precisely what I’ll be doing. I will be chairing the program of the 2007 edition of the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, as well as continuing to be part of the O’Reilly Radar. (I’ll blog more about the conference shortly; the ink on the call for participation just now drying.)
As I’m now spending the lion’s share of my time on my new company, we’ve added Brady Forrest and more recently Allison Randal to the Radar team to continue exploring new technologies and reaching out to interesting people and companies to bring them more clearly onto the O’Reilly Radar.
When I think of just what to say at this point, only one word comes to mind: Thanks. Thank you O’Reilly for making me feel at home from the moment I walked in. Thanks to all the O’Reillians who made me all the better for my stay, in particular my mentors Tim O’Reilly and Dale Dougherty and O’Reilly Radar co-conspirators. And thanks to all of you in the noosphere who’ve built and thought so much for me to explore and and learn.
Entrepreneurially yours, Rael