By Susan Akbarpour
July 2002

You probably wonder why we have delayed the printing of the second issue of the SiliconIran Magazine for so long?

This past year has provided significant challenges for growing businesses to
prosper in a competitive market place. Like all other start-up companies that have been functioning since 2000, we, in SiliconIran, experienced many crises to get where we are today. Although, we are happy with our achievements, nevertheless, we are perpetually learning new lessons from old mistakes. There were failures and many difficulties that we dare not deny.

The most important one was the pause in the continuity of our bimonthly
news.

We have all suffered from the market down turn, the September 11 catastrophe, and the associated consequences during the past two years. Many companies went bankrupt, some had to lay off most of their employees or reduce their paychecks and their benefits. In fact, everything seemed like a terrible nightmare during the past year. However, when the pain is not just yours, it becomes much easier to handle calamities wisely. Although, letting a few of our best full time employees go was the hardest decision that we have ever made.
As a journalist, I have never wavered from being staunchly honest with my readers. We have experienced hardships in various degrees in the past 10 months. While investing both personal savings and borrowed capital to build an infrastructure for SiliconIran, we have remained steadfast and resolute in the belief that this noble cause must succeed to nourish the global Iranian high tech community.

Quite honestly, there were, certainly, moments of weakness and doubt, when we felt the task both overpowering and unconquerable, but fortunately our persistence together with talented and dedicated help, finally produced success. We have attracted thousands of Iranian and non-Iranian individuals, who receive our services such as executive networking, one-on-one meetings, seminars, advertising opportunities, resume bank, recruiting opportunities, officer and company profile, distributing company press releases, online monitoring and many more services at our web-site.

Hope you all enjoy our services !

Susan Akbarpour
July-2002