Leading venture capitalist Mike Hirshland will host this session focused on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for those online video startups and the investors backing them. With investments in companies including Heavy.com, JibJab, Automattic (Wordpress), Black Arrow, World Championship Sports Network and Turbine Entertainment, both Mike and Polaris have been one of the most active VCs in the online video sector. Based on this experience, Mike will examine the more important market trends and how they might impact investment in the category. In addition, the session will include video blog posts in which leading executive, innovators and commentators offer their perspectives. This interactive session will be sure to both inform and entertain the Video on the Net community.

Mike Hirshland is a general partner in our Boston office. Mike joined Polaris in May 1999. He focuses on information technology, internet, and digital media.
Mike's blog is www.vcmike.wordpress.com.

Experience:
Mike came to Polaris from Intel's Corporate Business Development Group. Before becoming a technology investor, Mike served as counsel to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, where he conceived and supervised the Senate's hearings on "Competition, Innovation and Public Policy in the Digital Age." In this capacity, Mike spent over a year working closely with a significant number of prominent hi-tech CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and technology visionaries. Before joining the committee, Mike practiced with the law firm Williams & Connolly, and clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy at the U.S. Supreme Court and The Hon. J. Michael Luttig on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to his legal career, Mike was a strategy consultant with Bain & Company.

Boards:
Mike represents Polaris as a Director on the boards of Automattic, BlackArrow, Heavy.com, Q1Labs, Turbine Entertainment, and World Championship Sports Network. He formerly served as Chairman of Ucentric Systems, which was acquired by Motorola. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Venture Capital Association.

Education:
Mike received his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. He earned his AB in history from Harvard College where he played defensive end on the Crimson's 1987 Ivy League Champion varsity football squad.