Connecting the Dots: A Journey of Appreciation and a Call to Action

I have a confession to make: I never imagined that 12 years of organizing events where IT and telco meet would lead to this moment. As we stand just 10 days away from our second CPaaS Acceleration Summit in Amsterdam, I find myself reflecting on the journey that brought us (and especially me) here. It’s been a path filled with challenges, opportunities, and, most importantly, incredible people who have influenced and shaped what the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance has become today.

The Beginnings: Cloud Communications Alliance and Cavell

My journey in this alliance/event space began with the Cloud Communications Alliance. During my three years there, I had the privilege of working alongside Joe Marion and Clark Peterson, tripling the number of members. Their vision and leadership were crucial as we organized events that brought together key players in the industry. Those early years were formative, laying the groundwork for everything that was to come.

At the same time as my work with the Cloud Communications Alliance, I also partnered with Cavell Group (now simply Cavell) to organize Hosted VoIP Events. Working closely with Matt Townend and Dom Black was an enriching experience. They taught me invaluable lessons about the cloud comms space, events, content and programming. Their insights and dedication helped shape my own vision of what a perfect event should be. Together, we focused on the rapidly evolving world of hosted voice services, creating a platform that brought industry leaders together to share insights and ideas.

The Collaborations: Alan Quayle (TADSummit/TADHack) and Mehdi Medjaoui (APIdays)

After my time with CCA and Cavell, I pivoted a bit to the tech side, collaborating with Alan Quayle at TADSummit and co-organizing a number of TADHack events that were deeply rooted in the developer community. Alan’s focus on developers over commercial interests made for a unique but challenging dynamic. His expertise and perspective helped me appreciate the importance of catering to specialized audiences, yet also highlighted the difficulty of blending different communities.

I also partnered with APIdays, a platform built from scratch by Mehdi Medjaoui. Mehdi was a great partner and friend, and at APIdays Telco we attempted to blend the developer focus of APIdays with more commercial telco elements. Unfortunately, after two successful Amsterdam events our attempt to create a joint venture combining events with consultancy had a sad ending – but still the experience was invaluable. Mehdi’s passion and commitment to his vision taught me a lot about the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to one’s goals.

These collaborations reinforced the realization that while existing platforms have their strengths, my vision of a community where diverse elements truly integrate was still out there waiting to be fully realized.

The CPaaS Realization

As the years went on, CPaaS enablers began to trigger something in me. I saw a significant opportunity for Telcos—particularly the legacy MNOs that had been somewhat overshadowed by over-the-top solutions—to reclaim their place in the communications world. This realization led to the formation of the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance. We planned our first event for early 2020 at Mobile World in Barcelona, but, like many others, we had to cancel it a week before due to COVID-19.

During the pandemic, I briefly pivoted to organizing online events like the Smartcom Summits. These virtual gatherings were a learning experience, particularly in the art of online presentations and scheduling. Working with Charles Groenhuizen, a seasoned journalist and TV show host, offered a unique perspective that added depth to our events. Even though we were navigating uncharted territory, the experience was invaluable.

The Birth of the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance

Then, in what feels like no time at all, Kevin Nethercott and I sat down and started sketching out what would truly become the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance. Kevin’s experience with CPaaS enablement technology at Telestax, a company that sadly no longer exists, was instrumental in shaping our vision. Together, we thought through business models, membership tiers, the right mix of online and offline activities and the outreach needed to build a strong community.

In February 2023, we signed up our first paying member. Fast forward to today, and we have bootstrapped to 100 members, including all the major CPaaS providers as well as large tier-one operators and smaller CSPs plus a wide range of technology companies, UCaaS and CCaaS providers, analysts and industry experts. This rapid growth is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared belief in the future of our industry. It also marks the realization of a long-held vision—creating a community that goes beyond just events, where IT, telco, tech, and commerce truly blend.

A Nod to Jeff Pulver, VON and VON: Evolution

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jeff Pulver, who joined our story about a year ago. Jeff is the original founder and organizer of the VON (Voice over Network) events, which, around the turn of the century, were in many ways the foundation of the whole telco/IT integration and cloud communications as we know it today. We’ve worked together on several occasions, speaking at each other’s events and sharing insights. While our focuses and audiences may differ, the mutual respect and camaraderie remain strong.

In an industry as vast as ours, it’s reassuring to know that even when paths diverge, the connections we’ve made endure, and that as platforms and event organizers we can continue to work together and help eachother as well as the larger community.

Looking Ahead: CASA24 and Beyond

And now, here we are, just 10 days away from CASA24, our flagship event. As I look back at the past 12 years, I see a journey of learning, adaptation, and growth. But more than that, I see the beginning of something bigger—a movement. The CPaaS Acceleration Alliance isn’t just about hosting events; it’s about bringing together an ecosystem of CSPs, CPaaS providers and enablers, and experts, and fostering an environment where innovation can thrive.

These past 2 years, we’ve been incredibly productive, thanks in no small part to the contributions of our partners, Robert Galop and Gert-Jan Huizer. Together, we’ve built something that goes beyond just talking about technology. Our focus is on the go-to-market strategies and business success that will drive the industry forward.

A Call to Action

So, as we prepare for CASA24, I invite you all to join us. Be part of this movement. Whether you’re a Telco, a CPaaS provider, an analyst, or simply someone who believes in the power of collaboration, there’s a place for you here. We still have some tickets available, and I’d love to see you there. Let’s connect the dots together, and build the future of communications.