"There is still Gold in California"

Interview with Rory Moore, CEO, CommNexus, San Diego. Text: Alexander Mideljung

There are many reasons for Swedish companies to come to San Diego, California for E-days. “Organizations like Biocom and CommNexus are two compelling reasons for Swedish companies to come to San Diego,” says Rory Moore. Moore is the CEO of CommNexus, formerly the San Diego Telecom Council, a non-profit network of communication companies, defense companies, service providers, professional trade organizations and local government. “Today it’s ‘who knows who’ that really matters. It’s all about connections,” explains Moore.

“San Diego provides customers in a big market. We have both the connections and the money. We are basically a pipeline to success. CommNexus is a shortcut to San Diego companies and we are on first name basis with top Venture Capitalist. California is the IT portal to the world and to money,” says Moore.

When it comes to the wireless and telecom industries, Moore sees differences between the USA and Sweden. “Swedes have wireless in their DNA, and we don’t. When you have big carriers like Verizon and AT&T, and other cable giants such as Time Warne and Cox, they more or less own the market,” explains Moore. “The Swedish market is more open for new players and that makes Sweden very innovative when it comes to applications and new services,” adds Moore. “But the Swedish market is a small consumer market. California can for example provide a shortcut to Asia for inventions and services coming from Swedish Companies. The work pace and goal expectations are very high in California,” says Moore. “There is a reason for the Venture Capital saying, ‘You can never fire a CEO too soon,” adds Moore with a smile.

The purpose of E-days is to enable Swedish and American companies to come together for business matchmaking and conferences at an event that is designed to further international trade and commerce. “I think some of the Swedish companies may see E-days the wrong way. Instead of wondering who’ll meet with them in San Diego they have to commit first. They have come to E-days and present their product and company. We have the market connections and money to make it grow,” explains Moore. Of all the countries in the world he has visited, he likes Swedish people the best. “They are a nice, very helpful and willing people. They really struggle extra hard to communicate with visitors. That’s great for business,” says Moore. Last year’s E-days were held in Southern Sweden and attracted 950 participants, including participants from twenty-seven different states in the U.S