Brian Blau

Brian Blau

Brian is a Research Director in Gartner's Consumer Technology and Markets group. He covers consumer social networks, social analytics, video games, mobile devices and OS's and the connected consumer.

Website: www.gartner.com
California, United States
Member since April 17, 2012
  • About
Education
1990 Univ. Central Florida , MS , Computer Science

I am a(n):

Reserach Director

If you're an entrepreneur or corporate innovator, why?

I want to invent something cool.

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

You have all the power in the world to create and invent, but its so hard to focus, build products, and then sell them.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs/innovators make?

Underestimate the amount of work it will take to turn your idea into a sustainable business.

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1. Timing is everything
2. Great startups build technologies that fill a need in ways that others haven't
3. Take the money; you will always have more ideas and desire to build companies

Full bio

Brian Blau is a research director in Gartner's Consumer Technology and Markets group. He covers consumer technologies and markets as they relate to social media, mobile devices and technology, the connected consumer, and consumer applications and services. He also covers areas such as user interfaces, computer graphics, video games, and software and application development. He has held diverse technical and leadership positions in the computer graphics and games industry. He has made significant contributions in the areas of technology-driven in-game advertising, developer-supported social networks, and visual simulation and animation tools. He also has extensive software development experience as a software development manager and developer advocate, as well as a startup founder and business manager. Brian was an early VRML pioneer and helped establish early network-based 3D tools and technologies. In addition, he has produced trade and technical conferences, including the Electronic Theater, and other major venues at the annual SIGGRAPH conferences. He also has judged art shows and film festivals, has been published, and likes to give industry talks.