Mass Innovation Nights is basically a "science fair for grown-ups," said event organizer Roberta Carlton.
The inaugural Mass Innovation Nights was held last night at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation.
The event gave 10 Massachusetts companies, both large and small, the opportunity to show off their new products to about 200 people. Carlton, a museum trustee, said she was expecting to lure only small businesses to the event, however, she said large companies such as IBM/Lotus chose to take part.
Among those that showed off their products last night were both bio-tech and green technology companies, a business that makes a software program for musicians and a company that makes innovation software.
In the midst of a tough economy, Carlton said Mass Innovation Nights would be an easy way to connect potential buyers to sellers.
Also, she said the event would serve as a networking opportunity, helping connect job hunters with a number of recruiters that will be on hand.
"This is kind of 'let's help everybody out here,"' Carlton said.
Carlton said to promote the event, she relied on social media to do the trick.
First, Carlton created www.MassInnovationNights.com.
However, she's used social networking Web sites like Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook to get the word out.
Similarly, while those who attended the event were let in free of charge, they were asked to tell others about the products they saw through a post on their personal blog, a "tweet" through Twitter, a mention on their Facebook page, or -the old-fashioned way - by just talking to friends.
"This has got a lot of different aspects to it," Carlton said.
For those who missed last night's event, there will be plenty more opportunities. Mass Innovation Nights will be held the second Wednesday of every month at the museum until the end of the year. The next event is May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
