Post by Sarah Milstein & Eric Ries, co-hosts for The Lean Startup Conference
We’ve found more than half the speakers for The Lean
Startup Conference, and we’re pretty excited about them. Ranging
from Ben Horowitz, Mitch Kapor, Laura Klein and Cheryl Contee to entrepreneurs you
probably don’t know but who have valuable stories to share, this year’s
speakers—and mentors like Tim O'Reilly and Erin McKean—will help you become a more successful entrepreneur.
We’re now seeking a few more speakers for the conference, December 8 –
12 in San Francisco, and we’ve opened a new round of our call for proposals. As we’ve laid out in
the application form, we’re looking for talks that answer questions our
attendees ask frequently, and we’re actively interested in people who aren’t
regulars on the speaking circuit but who do have relevant experiences and advice to share.
If you think that might be you, we encourage you to click over and consider
applying. The deadline is September 3.
In other news, we’re pleased to announce that
we’re now making the conference accessible to more people by offering onsite
childcare. For years, The Lean Startup Conference has provided not only unique talks and
opportunities to meet mutually useful entrepreneurs,
we’ve also made a point of creating a respectful,
energetic and professional environment for you. Offering
onsite childcare is a way of leveling up that commitment. If you’re a parent,
that means you can join us in San Francisco this December, and you can:
- Focus on learning. Instead of worrying that you’ll be late to pick up your kids from daycare, you can concentrate on the conference speakers and opportunities to meet other relevant (adult) attendees.
- Turn the conference into a family vacation. Develop your professional life and nurture your family life at the same time. You won’t miss sessions to coordinate childcare or if you have a co-parent who needs to work while in town.
- Know your kids are safe, entertained and nearby. We’re contracting with reputable childcare providers who know how show kids a great time.
We're not the first conference do offer onsite
childcare. The AERO Conference, BlogHer and Mozilla Festival have been out ahead
on this option. But it’s not yet common at conferences, and we want to help change
that. Here's the FAQ for childcare at The Lean Startup Conference:
How does onsite
childcare work? You can
choose half-day or full-day childcare on the main conference days of December
10 and 11, for children 3 months and up. We’re designating space at The
Fairmont San Francisco for this. Of course, The Fairmont is the conference
venue, too, so you can stop in to say hi during breaks or at lunch. We’ll also
provide a quiet space for nursing moms.
Who will care for my kids? We've
contracted experienced childcare professionals who are recommended, screened to
work with children, certified in CPR and First Aid, and uniformed. Your
children will participate in kid-tested activities that are age-appropriate,
stimulating, and of course, fun. Lunch and snacks are part of the deal.
How much does it cost? 5 hours or less: $100 per child. 5-9 hours: $180 per child.
How do I register for
childcare? When you sign up for the conference, our registration page also
gives you childcare options. To arrange for both days of childcare, select two
tickets for the half- or full-day option. After you register, we'll follow up
with you for additional information regarding your child.
Questions, including more than one kiddo or how
to register for childcare on the workshop days of December 9 or 12? Email
Executive Producer Melissa
Tinitigan.
We hope to see you—and your family—in December!
