Joseph Lopez of Austin 3.0 Talks about His Blog and ACTlab
Where are you from originally?
I am originally from San Antonio, TX. I grew up on the northwest side where I went to Holmes High school.
What university did you go to?
I moved to Austin in 1999 to attend UT and haven't looked back. I have a B.S., M.A. and am a PhD. Candidate in Radio, Television and Film at the University of Texas at Austin where I work in the ACTLab.
What brought you to Austin?
School brought me to Austin; the great geek community is what has kept
me here!
What is your blog about?
Austin 3.0 is a website based around the idea that Austin houses one of the most geeky communities on earth, so we decided to create a younger crowd fetching website that feels inviting for new comers and veterans alike to find their way around the Austin tech/geek scene, much like the awesome geekaustin.org, but with our own flavor. Our goal is to provide first person coverage and commentary on the Austin tech and Geek scene. We fill in the age gap of reporting, we try to cater to people who are in college and/or just graduated who are still in the "new" phase of their life where they are exploring and looking for connections beyond traditional business networking. Some of our main influences are Sandy Stone (from the ACTLab), Whurly, Lynn Bender, Bryan Menell and all the other patrons of the geek/tech movement here in Austin.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the blog?
What was amazing about starting this group was the ease of startup, we picked a domain name, setup a wordpress and off we went. I had just met Kristine within the month we started the blog, we were both at Jelly Austin, at Cafe Caffeine and just hit it off.
What is the next step for you and your group?
Our next step is keep providing great coverage of all types of events and to hopefully bring new ways of thinking about business, geekness and the spaces in between. We recently added two additional writers who we hope to offer even more perspective for our new generation of geeks.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
The best advice I can give is to be sincere about what you want and how you want to do it. Keep at it and always remember to have fun, having fun is worth just as much as the millions you hope to make one day. And of course be Awesome!
Best regards,
Hall T.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
My first exposure to FLOW, a socially minded movement started in Austin
by Guest bootstrap blogger Nina Godiwalla
I’ve always been fascinated by the Transcendental movement. It was driven by people determined to live out their idealist values, even if they had to shut themselves off from society to do so. One of my favorite short stories is by Louisa May Alcott, who lived in one of these utopian communities that her father was attempting to create, Fruitlands. It was a utopian socialist experiment in farm living and nature meditation. Maybe my fascination with these idealist groups is because at heart I’m an idealist, but at times, the harsh realities of life can make me a cynic.
The Transcendentalists come to mind because I just returned from my first FLOW (flowidealism.org) meeting in Austin. I learned of FLOW at Austin’s RISE conference for entrepreneurs, last week. During our meeting, we discussed what FLOW meant at length. FLOW’s mission is to liberate the entrepreneurial spirit for good. The end goal is conscious capitalism. I’ll give you the shortest version I heard. If people live conscious lives, this will lead to conscious businesses, which will lead to conscious capitalism. We sat in the room as lay people to FLOW. We were led by two facilitators who have been discussing this philosophy for over four years along with the leaders of the concept, John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, and Michael Strong, a serial entrepreneur.
I am intrigued by the philosophy because it harmonized two of my life passions, which I find often conflict: mindfulness and business. FLOW provides a philosophy that allows businesses to exist in harmony with so many of the human ideals that are often foregone in name of profits. Whole Foods does operate in this innovative way. There are very few companies where so many employees really do adore their employer. The last Whole Foods person I spoke to said, “I never feel like I’m working here.”
We must have been so fascinated with one another at the FLOW meeting because by the time we finished introductions, the meeting was almost over. The group was interesting: one participant was part of Safer Way, the health food store out of a garage in Austin that later turned into Whole Foods. Back in that time period, folks had afros and were all smiles. Another participant was a former senior corporate executive who left the Board Room to take on work that her heart was calling her to do. There was also someone working on a project for child entrepreneurs, ranging from 6 years to 14 years old. Other participants included some who were laid off and eager to hear a new perspective on life. We all sat there eagerly and open-minded.
You could tell the grassroots feeling of FLOW because it was headquartered upstairs in the woman’s house who hosted the meeting. Even at 8pm, the staff workers were coming in and out of the house, diligently working, while we discussed the FLOW philosophy. Her upstairs was FLOW’s Fort.
There was a conscious effort to be inclusive. No one could be in front of or behind the circle we sat in. When we couldn’t find one night that we could all agree to meet next time, there was concerned looks accompanied by a long, defeated pause. At the end, we were handed sheets about how to use the Socratic practices during meetings.
Everyone had their own take-away for the evening. We did all leave inspired by the new thinking and the possibilities it could mean for our lives and the community. As one participant said, “it is relieving to have people to connect with on this journey.” Another quote some shared during the meeting, “The world needs you. Live your life so you can be found.”
Nina Godiwalla
I’ve always been fascinated by the Transcendental movement. It was driven by people determined to live out their idealist values, even if they had to shut themselves off from society to do so. One of my favorite short stories is by Louisa May Alcott, who lived in one of these utopian communities that her father was attempting to create, Fruitlands. It was a utopian socialist experiment in farm living and nature meditation. Maybe my fascination with these idealist groups is because at heart I’m an idealist, but at times, the harsh realities of life can make me a cynic.
The Transcendentalists come to mind because I just returned from my first FLOW (flowidealism.org) meeting in Austin. I learned of FLOW at Austin’s RISE conference for entrepreneurs, last week. During our meeting, we discussed what FLOW meant at length. FLOW’s mission is to liberate the entrepreneurial spirit for good. The end goal is conscious capitalism. I’ll give you the shortest version I heard. If people live conscious lives, this will lead to conscious businesses, which will lead to conscious capitalism. We sat in the room as lay people to FLOW. We were led by two facilitators who have been discussing this philosophy for over four years along with the leaders of the concept, John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, and Michael Strong, a serial entrepreneur.
I am intrigued by the philosophy because it harmonized two of my life passions, which I find often conflict: mindfulness and business. FLOW provides a philosophy that allows businesses to exist in harmony with so many of the human ideals that are often foregone in name of profits. Whole Foods does operate in this innovative way. There are very few companies where so many employees really do adore their employer. The last Whole Foods person I spoke to said, “I never feel like I’m working here.”
We must have been so fascinated with one another at the FLOW meeting because by the time we finished introductions, the meeting was almost over. The group was interesting: one participant was part of Safer Way, the health food store out of a garage in Austin that later turned into Whole Foods. Back in that time period, folks had afros and were all smiles. Another participant was a former senior corporate executive who left the Board Room to take on work that her heart was calling her to do. There was also someone working on a project for child entrepreneurs, ranging from 6 years to 14 years old. Other participants included some who were laid off and eager to hear a new perspective on life. We all sat there eagerly and open-minded.
You could tell the grassroots feeling of FLOW because it was headquartered upstairs in the woman’s house who hosted the meeting. Even at 8pm, the staff workers were coming in and out of the house, diligently working, while we discussed the FLOW philosophy. Her upstairs was FLOW’s Fort.
There was a conscious effort to be inclusive. No one could be in front of or behind the circle we sat in. When we couldn’t find one night that we could all agree to meet next time, there was concerned looks accompanied by a long, defeated pause. At the end, we were handed sheets about how to use the Socratic practices during meetings.
Everyone had their own take-away for the evening. We did all leave inspired by the new thinking and the possibilities it could mean for our lives and the community. As one participant said, “it is relieving to have people to connect with on this journey.” Another quote some shared during the meeting, “The world needs you. Live your life so you can be found.”
Nina Godiwalla
Friday, April 3, 2009
Joshua Baer of OtherinBox Talks about the Capital Factory
Joshua Baer of OtherinBox Talks about the Capital Factory
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Nashua, NH. It's basically a suburb of Boston, MA. I love New England, but I'm much happier dealing with a Texas summer instead of a New Hampshire winter!
What university did you go to?
I studied Computer Science and Information Decision Systems at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The late 90's was a really fun time to be there - I felt like the Internet was sprouting up all around me. It was the kind of place where you could check a web page to see if the coke machine had any Dr. Pepper left and you regularly saw robots in the hallways.
What brought you to Austin?
I came here after graduating from CMU in 1999 to work in the incubator at Trilogy Software. I still am friends with and work with dozens of the people I met at Trilogy. I'm not the first person to credit Joe Liemandt for bringing thousands of smart, entrepreneurial technologists to Austin. Many of them stayed here and are running companies of their own now.
What is the idea behind Capital Factory?
First-time entrepreneurs want to ask questions of successful entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs like investing in young entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs of all kinds thrive on each other's passion. Capital Factory brings together first-time entrepreneurs with successful entrepreneurs in an intense 10 week summer program. Startups get $20,000 in cash, $20,000 in free stuff, and 20 successful mentors who work with them over the course of the summer to identify their first customers and secure their next round of financing if needed.
What need does it fulfill?
Gaps have formed in the traditional funding path for early stage companies. Many venture capitalists are moving towards bigger funds that invest larger amounts of money in lower risk companies that have already proven their model. Angel investors are banding together into syndicates that look more and more like venture capitalists. We think we can help to fill some of those gaps and then introduce companies to angel investor groups or venture capitalists at the right time.
How exactly will the process work?
Each week there will be a group session where one or more mentors presents to all of the companies and then there will also be one-on-one sessions with individual mentors. We have a good idea what the structure will look like, but we'll adapt the actual topics based on the companies that are selected and specific challenges they are facing.
Who is it for?
Most importantly, we want to get involved with companies that we can have the biggest impact on. After all, its not really about the $20,000 it’s about the 20 mentors who are going to spend time with the companies and help them to focus on the right priorities and with key introductions to customers, partners, employees and investors. If someone submitted a great company idea, but none of us had any real value add beyond the money, we'd probably pass on the deal and select another company that we thought we could really benefit from our advice and relationships.
We like lean companies that can get to profitability quickly and can scale rapidly. Most of us have technology backgrounds and while it is not a requirement, it is very likely that the companies we select will have technology components to them. We're happy to start with just an idea on a napkin, but we'll also work with companies that have some customers or angel investors and are now ready to scale their business.
What is the next step?
Applications are due this Friday, April 3 and so then we have about 2 weeks to work through more than 100 applications and select 10 finalists and 3 winners. Then its time to get to work!
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
If you are an entrepreneur starting a new company and want this kind of support, you probably should apply to a bunch of programs, see which ones you get accepted into, and select the one that has the mentors who you think can help your business the most.
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Nashua, NH. It's basically a suburb of Boston, MA. I love New England, but I'm much happier dealing with a Texas summer instead of a New Hampshire winter!
What university did you go to?
I studied Computer Science and Information Decision Systems at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The late 90's was a really fun time to be there - I felt like the Internet was sprouting up all around me. It was the kind of place where you could check a web page to see if the coke machine had any Dr. Pepper left and you regularly saw robots in the hallways.
What brought you to Austin?
I came here after graduating from CMU in 1999 to work in the incubator at Trilogy Software. I still am friends with and work with dozens of the people I met at Trilogy. I'm not the first person to credit Joe Liemandt for bringing thousands of smart, entrepreneurial technologists to Austin. Many of them stayed here and are running companies of their own now.
What is the idea behind Capital Factory?
First-time entrepreneurs want to ask questions of successful entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs like investing in young entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs of all kinds thrive on each other's passion. Capital Factory brings together first-time entrepreneurs with successful entrepreneurs in an intense 10 week summer program. Startups get $20,000 in cash, $20,000 in free stuff, and 20 successful mentors who work with them over the course of the summer to identify their first customers and secure their next round of financing if needed.
What need does it fulfill?
Gaps have formed in the traditional funding path for early stage companies. Many venture capitalists are moving towards bigger funds that invest larger amounts of money in lower risk companies that have already proven their model. Angel investors are banding together into syndicates that look more and more like venture capitalists. We think we can help to fill some of those gaps and then introduce companies to angel investor groups or venture capitalists at the right time.
How exactly will the process work?
Each week there will be a group session where one or more mentors presents to all of the companies and then there will also be one-on-one sessions with individual mentors. We have a good idea what the structure will look like, but we'll adapt the actual topics based on the companies that are selected and specific challenges they are facing.
Who is it for?
Most importantly, we want to get involved with companies that we can have the biggest impact on. After all, its not really about the $20,000 it’s about the 20 mentors who are going to spend time with the companies and help them to focus on the right priorities and with key introductions to customers, partners, employees and investors. If someone submitted a great company idea, but none of us had any real value add beyond the money, we'd probably pass on the deal and select another company that we thought we could really benefit from our advice and relationships.
We like lean companies that can get to profitability quickly and can scale rapidly. Most of us have technology backgrounds and while it is not a requirement, it is very likely that the companies we select will have technology components to them. We're happy to start with just an idea on a napkin, but we'll also work with companies that have some customers or angel investors and are now ready to scale their business.
What is the next step?
Applications are due this Friday, April 3 and so then we have about 2 weeks to work through more than 100 applications and select 10 finalists and 3 winners. Then its time to get to work!
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
If you are an entrepreneur starting a new company and want this kind of support, you probably should apply to a bunch of programs, see which ones you get accepted into, and select the one that has the mentors who you think can help your business the most.
Best regards,
Hall T.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Chris Ritchie of the Austin Inventors and Entrepreneur Association Talks about His Group
Chris Ritchie of the Austin Inventors and Entrepreneur Association Talks about His Group
Where are you from originally?
Sherman, Texas
What university did you go to?
St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas
What brought you to Austin?
I had family working at IBM and the lure of the lakes, music and high tech was just too much.
What is the idea behind your group?
The most common question I get is “hey, I have this great idea … now what?” Austin Inventors and Entrepreneurs Association (AIEA - http://austininventors.org) is a non-profit focused on helping the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur answer that question.
What need does it fulfill?
AIEA is focused on helping the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur take the next step in the process. No matter where they are in their venture.
What exactly does your group do?
AIEA provides both online and in person opportunities for individuals in the Austin area to get access to resources that will help them in their efforts to get from idea to product. Additionally, local subject matter experts volunteer their time to provide invaluable insight to topics such as patents, finance, organization, marketing and more. As a side benefit meetings are often a positive conduit to networking. AIEA is a pay-it-forward organization that believes in the spirit of giving back to the community.
Who is it for?
We are primarily focused on providing resources to the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur. Typically the majority of members are in the early stage of idea development in much need for answers to the many questions that plague a start up venture.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Idea folks are protective of their ideas and understandably so. There are more scams that legitimate help in the idea industry. Getting an idea sufficiently in to the light to get it to the next step is a significant challenge.
What is the next step for you and your group?
We are looking for better ways to bring idea developers together with product developers shopping for ideas.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
The demand for new and innovative ideas is stronger than ever. Don’t be discouraged by economic rhetoric. Be determined to get your idea to the next step and be bold in seeking out those who might play a critical role in your success.
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
Sherman, Texas
What university did you go to?
St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas
What brought you to Austin?
I had family working at IBM and the lure of the lakes, music and high tech was just too much.
What is the idea behind your group?
The most common question I get is “hey, I have this great idea … now what?” Austin Inventors and Entrepreneurs Association (AIEA - http://austininventors.org) is a non-profit focused on helping the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur answer that question.
What need does it fulfill?
AIEA is focused on helping the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur take the next step in the process. No matter where they are in their venture.
What exactly does your group do?
AIEA provides both online and in person opportunities for individuals in the Austin area to get access to resources that will help them in their efforts to get from idea to product. Additionally, local subject matter experts volunteer their time to provide invaluable insight to topics such as patents, finance, organization, marketing and more. As a side benefit meetings are often a positive conduit to networking. AIEA is a pay-it-forward organization that believes in the spirit of giving back to the community.
Who is it for?
We are primarily focused on providing resources to the individual inventor and/or entrepreneur. Typically the majority of members are in the early stage of idea development in much need for answers to the many questions that plague a start up venture.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Idea folks are protective of their ideas and understandably so. There are more scams that legitimate help in the idea industry. Getting an idea sufficiently in to the light to get it to the next step is a significant challenge.
What is the next step for you and your group?
We are looking for better ways to bring idea developers together with product developers shopping for ideas.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
The demand for new and innovative ideas is stronger than ever. Don’t be discouraged by economic rhetoric. Be determined to get your idea to the next step and be bold in seeking out those who might play a critical role in your success.
Best regards,
Hall T.
Monday, March 30, 2009
RISE Conference – Austin Entrepreneur's Conference
Guest bootstrap blogger Nina Godiwalla Talks about the Rise Conference
I was one of the RISE (www.riseaustin.org) participants who went to so many sessions that I didn’t get around to lunch until 6pm when the sessions were wrapping up. I ran all around town, from the North side to the South side to the East side. The session topics and the people they attracted were so varied. There were 70 year olds and 20 year olds in the same sessions, all eager to learn how to blog and create their own webpage. The sessions were free, making it a boon for any typical, broke entrepreneur. For these few days, those who couldn’t afford to join many of the professional networks in Austin had a place to share their ideas and make like-minded friends. It was impressive to see how many women and minorities were at the sessions. Because people around us were fairly represented, it really felt like a community.
One of the unique elements was the conversations and emphasis on business with a purpose to help others. As one business student said in a session, “I’m always an outcast for having these social-minded views when I talk about business. It is great to be around others that care too.” I’ve been to many business conferences in other cities. Typically you choose whether you want to go to the Entrepreneur’s conference or the Social Impact conference. There may be a session or two within each conference where the topics overlap, but for the most part people that share the idea of profit with a purpose tend to be the minority. The opening and closing talks (Roy Spence & John Mackey) at RISE gave participants a framework by which to meld the two philosophies—purpose and profit.
I witnessed many people, including myself, with a new spark of hope and excitement, knowing that there is a community of leaders and peers around us to join in our entrepreneurial journey. There are a couple of us so inspired by the conference that we are coming up with ways to keep it alive throughout the year. It would be sad to wait another whole year. We are working on a couple ideas with the organizers.
Nina Godiwalla
I was one of the RISE (www.riseaustin.org) participants who went to so many sessions that I didn’t get around to lunch until 6pm when the sessions were wrapping up. I ran all around town, from the North side to the South side to the East side. The session topics and the people they attracted were so varied. There were 70 year olds and 20 year olds in the same sessions, all eager to learn how to blog and create their own webpage. The sessions were free, making it a boon for any typical, broke entrepreneur. For these few days, those who couldn’t afford to join many of the professional networks in Austin had a place to share their ideas and make like-minded friends. It was impressive to see how many women and minorities were at the sessions. Because people around us were fairly represented, it really felt like a community.
One of the unique elements was the conversations and emphasis on business with a purpose to help others. As one business student said in a session, “I’m always an outcast for having these social-minded views when I talk about business. It is great to be around others that care too.” I’ve been to many business conferences in other cities. Typically you choose whether you want to go to the Entrepreneur’s conference or the Social Impact conference. There may be a session or two within each conference where the topics overlap, but for the most part people that share the idea of profit with a purpose tend to be the minority. The opening and closing talks (Roy Spence & John Mackey) at RISE gave participants a framework by which to meld the two philosophies—purpose and profit.
I witnessed many people, including myself, with a new spark of hope and excitement, knowing that there is a community of leaders and peers around us to join in our entrepreneurial journey. There are a couple of us so inspired by the conference that we are coming up with ways to keep it alive throughout the year. It would be sad to wait another whole year. We are working on a couple ideas with the organizers.
Nina Godiwalla
Friday, March 27, 2009
Fred Castaneda of the Struggling Entrepreneur Talks about Podcasting and Entrepreneurism
Fred Castaneda of the Struggling Entrepreneur Talks about Podcasting and Entrepreneurism
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Mexico and Spanish is my native language, but I have spent the last 52 years here in the US. Although I am a permanent resident alien, I did serve in the US Army as a combat infantryman during the Vietnam War, as my draft number was #29 in the first lottery. And I have studied many languages-- Latin, Greek, French, German, and I speak fluent Spanish and English.
What university did you go to?
I have attended the following universities:
- Loyola University of Los Angeles (B.A.)
- Loyola Marymount University (M.B.A.)
- ITESM (aka "Monterrey Tech" in Mexico City- MBA program)
- Western State University (Law School, Calif.)
- KW University - PhD candidate in International Business
What brought you to Austin?
I came to Austin as a transfer from Dallas during my IBM career (I have just retired from IBM after 31 years in Systems Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Social Media, New Media, Podcasting and Software Development).
What is the idea behind your group focused on podcasting?
I have been a podcaster for 3 years, and I currently have 8 podcasts. I also am the organizer for the AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP with meetup sessions every month for the past 2 years. My idea is to provide the skills, technology, updates and best practices for the podcaster community of entrepreneurs in Austin, as well as nationwide (during the Telesummits and conferences in the US).
What need does it fulfill?
Podcasting fulfills the need of exposure, awareness, demand-generation & fulfillment, delivery of content and sales of premium content for the Small Business Owner and Entrepreneur--regardless of what product or service is being sold and/or delivered to the clients and customers. Including the proper format of both audio and video podcasts in this delivery channel can add to the marketing mix of the entrepreneur's firm, thus increasing revenue and profitability, while enhancing a competitive, differential advantage.
What exactly does your group do?
The Podcast of http://www.strugglingentrepreneur serves to provide lessons learned, best practices and case studies of the "entrepreneur's story" to the audiences of both aspiring entrepreneurs (aka "dreamers") and also the recently-launched entrepreneurs (aka "newbies"). It also delivers awareness of organizations that provide assistance, value and help to the entrepreneur (e.g., SCORE, BIGAustin, the Business Success Center, etc.).
The Austin Podcasters Group creates a community of entrepreneurs and other podcasters who wish to create and publish podcasts to enhance the marketing strategy of their company.
Whom is it for?
The AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP -- We support podcasters from every industry and at every level--from beginning to advanced.
The podcast series of THE STRUGGLING ENTREPRENEUR is for the individual who dreams about starting a business (either on a part-time or full-time basis), or has recently launched a business. It is also for the audiences that want to learn about entrepreneurship from the case studies, success stories and the personal experiences of those interviewed in the series.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
(1) THE AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP - the challenge was taking a group that was about to fold and close its doors, because the leader of the group at the time, Mark Lassoff, wanted to terminate the group. However, with the insistence of a fellow podcaster (who has THE COMIC BOOK PAGE PODCAST), I took over as leader and saved the group from the brink of extinction to its current status of over 69 members. Also, in February, we have outgrown our current venue for meetings.
The other obstacle was funding out of my own pocket the cost of using the MEETUP FACILITY--that's right! the membership pays nothing for belonging to the group.
For the STRUGGLING ENTREPRENEUR podcast, the most challenging aspect was getting the podcast launched and keeping the success of the podcast in line with the quality of the content. That is, I have turned down all the offers for advertising from multiple vendors--mainly, because I do not want the quality and integrity of the podcast to suffer and lose my audience because they may think that I now have a credibility and integrity compromise. To this date, there has been no sponsorship or advertising. Thus, the content is free from ads and is not affected by others paying for their content to be pushed in the podcast.
What is the next step for you and your group?
For the AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP, the next step is to grow the group close to 100, and then transition the leadership to another member, with the model that the "baton" needs to be passed to other members--so that the group is really the members' group, and not mine.
Also, a sharing of the podcasts being done by the current membership will allow the exposure of the entrepreneurs with their podcasts.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Subscribe to the podcast series of http://www.strugglingentrepreneur.com.
WHY? Because every entrepreneur has a story, and one of the key items we ask in every interview is HOW they overcame their obstacles, as well as recommendations and "words of wisdom" from their entrepreneurial experiences for the "dreamer" and the "newbie." You can always learn from the experiences of others.
Remember the saying:
"Good judgement comes from experience; and experience comes from bad judgment."
Thus, let's learn from the experiences of others, so that we can avoid the pitfalls and become more successful with fewer chances for struggling with the obstacles to having a successful business in the shortest amount of time with the biggest return!
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Mexico and Spanish is my native language, but I have spent the last 52 years here in the US. Although I am a permanent resident alien, I did serve in the US Army as a combat infantryman during the Vietnam War, as my draft number was #29 in the first lottery. And I have studied many languages-- Latin, Greek, French, German, and I speak fluent Spanish and English.
What university did you go to?
I have attended the following universities:
- Loyola University of Los Angeles (B.A.)
- Loyola Marymount University (M.B.A.)
- ITESM (aka "Monterrey Tech" in Mexico City- MBA program)
- Western State University (Law School, Calif.)
- KW University - PhD candidate in International Business
What brought you to Austin?
I came to Austin as a transfer from Dallas during my IBM career (I have just retired from IBM after 31 years in Systems Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Social Media, New Media, Podcasting and Software Development).
What is the idea behind your group focused on podcasting?
I have been a podcaster for 3 years, and I currently have 8 podcasts. I also am the organizer for the AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP with meetup sessions every month for the past 2 years. My idea is to provide the skills, technology, updates and best practices for the podcaster community of entrepreneurs in Austin, as well as nationwide (during the Telesummits and conferences in the US).
What need does it fulfill?
Podcasting fulfills the need of exposure, awareness, demand-generation & fulfillment, delivery of content and sales of premium content for the Small Business Owner and Entrepreneur--regardless of what product or service is being sold and/or delivered to the clients and customers. Including the proper format of both audio and video podcasts in this delivery channel can add to the marketing mix of the entrepreneur's firm, thus increasing revenue and profitability, while enhancing a competitive, differential advantage.
What exactly does your group do?
The Podcast of http://www.strugglingentrepreneur serves to provide lessons learned, best practices and case studies of the "entrepreneur's story" to the audiences of both aspiring entrepreneurs (aka "dreamers") and also the recently-launched entrepreneurs (aka "newbies"). It also delivers awareness of organizations that provide assistance, value and help to the entrepreneur (e.g., SCORE, BIGAustin, the Business Success Center, etc.).
The Austin Podcasters Group creates a community of entrepreneurs and other podcasters who wish to create and publish podcasts to enhance the marketing strategy of their company.
Whom is it for?
The AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP -- We support podcasters from every industry and at every level--from beginning to advanced.
The podcast series of THE STRUGGLING ENTREPRENEUR is for the individual who dreams about starting a business (either on a part-time or full-time basis), or has recently launched a business. It is also for the audiences that want to learn about entrepreneurship from the case studies, success stories and the personal experiences of those interviewed in the series.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
(1) THE AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP - the challenge was taking a group that was about to fold and close its doors, because the leader of the group at the time, Mark Lassoff, wanted to terminate the group. However, with the insistence of a fellow podcaster (who has THE COMIC BOOK PAGE PODCAST), I took over as leader and saved the group from the brink of extinction to its current status of over 69 members. Also, in February, we have outgrown our current venue for meetings.
The other obstacle was funding out of my own pocket the cost of using the MEETUP FACILITY--that's right! the membership pays nothing for belonging to the group.
For the STRUGGLING ENTREPRENEUR podcast, the most challenging aspect was getting the podcast launched and keeping the success of the podcast in line with the quality of the content. That is, I have turned down all the offers for advertising from multiple vendors--mainly, because I do not want the quality and integrity of the podcast to suffer and lose my audience because they may think that I now have a credibility and integrity compromise. To this date, there has been no sponsorship or advertising. Thus, the content is free from ads and is not affected by others paying for their content to be pushed in the podcast.
What is the next step for you and your group?
For the AUSTIN PODCASTERS GROUP, the next step is to grow the group close to 100, and then transition the leadership to another member, with the model that the "baton" needs to be passed to other members--so that the group is really the members' group, and not mine.
Also, a sharing of the podcasts being done by the current membership will allow the exposure of the entrepreneurs with their podcasts.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Subscribe to the podcast series of http://www.strugglingentrepreneur.com.
WHY? Because every entrepreneur has a story, and one of the key items we ask in every interview is HOW they overcame their obstacles, as well as recommendations and "words of wisdom" from their entrepreneurial experiences for the "dreamer" and the "newbie." You can always learn from the experiences of others.
Remember the saying:
"Good judgement comes from experience; and experience comes from bad judgment."
Thus, let's learn from the experiences of others, so that we can avoid the pitfalls and become more successful with fewer chances for struggling with the obstacles to having a successful business in the shortest amount of time with the biggest return!
Best regards,
Hall T.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Michelle Frith of Biehler & Associates Talks about the City of Austin’s Small Business Development Program’s Getting Connected Business Resource Fair
Michelle Frith of Biehler & Associates Talks about the City of Austin’s Small Business Development Program’s Getting Connected Business Resource Fair
Where are you from originally?
All over the Midwest. I was born in the Oklahoma Panhandle, but lived in nearly every small town in Kansas and the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle. The people are really nice there, but it was great to move to Central Texas.
What university did you go to?
The University formerly known as Southwest Texas State University – now known as Texas State University. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication and a Master of Arts in Communication many years ago.
What brought you to Austin?
I came through Austin on a school field trip in middle school and thought it was so beautiful that I was determined to live here someday. And my dream came true! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
What is the idea behind the SBDP's Business Resource Fair?
Business owners aren’t always aware of the incredible resources there are in Austin to help them be successful. We want to connect entrepreneurs to those resources, be it from non-profit groups whose mission is to help businesses, from business networking organizations, or from government programs which have ways to assist our small business owners. When Austin small businesses are successful, Austin itself is successful in so many ways.
What need does it fulfill?
These days everyone needs to stretch their imaginations and do research to find out how to be the best they can be. Businesses are no exception and an event like Getting Connected can offer a goldmine of information and assistance and all for free. While some see these times as “trying”, I think of them as an opportunity to be creative, to see things from new and different angles. Entrepreneurs seeking new information will only make themselves and their businesses the better for it. In any other tough economic times, it’s been the true entrepreneurs who turned things around for all of us. You know – necessity is the mother of invention!
Who is it for?
Getting Connected is a free event for anyone thinking of starting a business, who is researching and is about to start a business or anyone who is already in business. We will have resources that anyone can take advantage of. Besides the great exhibit with dozens of booths being conducted on the ground floor of Palmer Events Center, the City’s Small Business Development Program will also be offering three different BizAid Business Start Up Orientations throughout the event. The hour-long classes will be offered at 3:00, at 4:45 and at 6:00 p.m. These classes share the basic considerations every potential entrepreneur should ponder before starting. Many of our BizAid Start Up Orientations are currently business owners and the feedback is always extremely positive.
What was the most challenging aspect of running such a Fair? Coordination of so many different details is definitely a challenge. Venue selection, food, exhibitors, invitations, marketing, RSVP’s, speakers, audio/visual, booth layouts, evaluations, decorations – there is just so much to do! We have a great event coordinator and a team that is unbeatable. You can always tell when an event is well run when it looks easy. SBDP events appear seamless – and we’re really proud of that.
What other events/activities are you running this year?
Our major events each year are Getting Connected, the Ups and Downs of a Second Location slated for May 13 of this year and Meet the Lender offered each August. The Ups and Downs of a Second Location was a real hit last year and we’re really excited to be offering it again. That event will include panelists from three businesses that have successfully expanded their business to more than one location. They share their positive experiences and the challenges they faced in expansion as lessons learned. Meet the Lender on August 6 will once again offer 40+ lenders in one place at one time in a casual setting so that small business owners can shake hands and find out what the lenders’ requirements are and who they might want to do business with. Getting Connected and Meet the Lender are both free events but there is a small investment for Ups and Downs of a Second Location. Major events and recurring classes and events are listed on our website’s Calendar of Events or anyone interested can sign up to be in our database to receive emails about business related events and classes.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Plan, plan, plan and then go back and get a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D and Plan F. Being an entrepreneur is fun, scary, hard, thrilling, demanding, complicated, and such a blast! Seek out resources and help, get a mentor and have support and cheerleaders who are on your side. Do your research and don’t forget while you’re working at your business, you have to work on your business. Tell everyone you know what you do – and more than anything be passionate!
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
All over the Midwest. I was born in the Oklahoma Panhandle, but lived in nearly every small town in Kansas and the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle. The people are really nice there, but it was great to move to Central Texas.
What university did you go to?
The University formerly known as Southwest Texas State University – now known as Texas State University. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication and a Master of Arts in Communication many years ago.
What brought you to Austin?
I came through Austin on a school field trip in middle school and thought it was so beautiful that I was determined to live here someday. And my dream came true! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
What is the idea behind the SBDP's Business Resource Fair?
Business owners aren’t always aware of the incredible resources there are in Austin to help them be successful. We want to connect entrepreneurs to those resources, be it from non-profit groups whose mission is to help businesses, from business networking organizations, or from government programs which have ways to assist our small business owners. When Austin small businesses are successful, Austin itself is successful in so many ways.
What need does it fulfill?
These days everyone needs to stretch their imaginations and do research to find out how to be the best they can be. Businesses are no exception and an event like Getting Connected can offer a goldmine of information and assistance and all for free. While some see these times as “trying”, I think of them as an opportunity to be creative, to see things from new and different angles. Entrepreneurs seeking new information will only make themselves and their businesses the better for it. In any other tough economic times, it’s been the true entrepreneurs who turned things around for all of us. You know – necessity is the mother of invention!
Who is it for?
Getting Connected is a free event for anyone thinking of starting a business, who is researching and is about to start a business or anyone who is already in business. We will have resources that anyone can take advantage of. Besides the great exhibit with dozens of booths being conducted on the ground floor of Palmer Events Center, the City’s Small Business Development Program will also be offering three different BizAid Business Start Up Orientations throughout the event. The hour-long classes will be offered at 3:00, at 4:45 and at 6:00 p.m. These classes share the basic considerations every potential entrepreneur should ponder before starting. Many of our BizAid Start Up Orientations are currently business owners and the feedback is always extremely positive.
What was the most challenging aspect of running such a Fair? Coordination of so many different details is definitely a challenge. Venue selection, food, exhibitors, invitations, marketing, RSVP’s, speakers, audio/visual, booth layouts, evaluations, decorations – there is just so much to do! We have a great event coordinator and a team that is unbeatable. You can always tell when an event is well run when it looks easy. SBDP events appear seamless – and we’re really proud of that.
What other events/activities are you running this year?
Our major events each year are Getting Connected, the Ups and Downs of a Second Location slated for May 13 of this year and Meet the Lender offered each August. The Ups and Downs of a Second Location was a real hit last year and we’re really excited to be offering it again. That event will include panelists from three businesses that have successfully expanded their business to more than one location. They share their positive experiences and the challenges they faced in expansion as lessons learned. Meet the Lender on August 6 will once again offer 40+ lenders in one place at one time in a casual setting so that small business owners can shake hands and find out what the lenders’ requirements are and who they might want to do business with. Getting Connected and Meet the Lender are both free events but there is a small investment for Ups and Downs of a Second Location. Major events and recurring classes and events are listed on our website’s Calendar of Events or anyone interested can sign up to be in our database to receive emails about business related events and classes.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Plan, plan, plan and then go back and get a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D and Plan F. Being an entrepreneur is fun, scary, hard, thrilling, demanding, complicated, and such a blast! Seek out resources and help, get a mentor and have support and cheerleaders who are on your side. Do your research and don’t forget while you’re working at your business, you have to work on your business. Tell everyone you know what you do – and more than anything be passionate!
Best regards,
Hall T.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Eric Hennenhoefer of Obsidian Software Talks about the Entrepreneurs Organization
Eric Hennenhoefer of Obsidian Software Talks about the Entrepreneurs Organization
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Washington DC, was a toddler in Dallas, and lived a dozen places before settling down in Harrisburg PA for kindergarten. If you’ve visited Hershey’s Chocolate World or remember Three Mile Island, I’m from up there.
What university did you go to?
I went to Penn State University and have a graduate degree in Computer Engineering.
What brought you to Austin?
I’m a migrant tech worker. I was living in Vermont and working for IBM when AMD lured me down to Austin to work on the Athlon microprocessor. I figured anywhere that serves ice tea year round works for me.
What group are you with?
I’m the Texas Director for Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), and I work with the boards of the Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston EO chapters.
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is a global network of more than 7,000 business owners in 38 countries.
What need does it fulfill?
EO provides a peer to-peer-learning experience for entrepreneurs. Often entrepreneurs find that as their businesses grow, they need a safe forum to discuss their personal and business challenges with others facing similar problems. EO offers a way to connect with your peers to learn and grow.
What exactly does your group do?
The EO chapter has monthly education events and members are placed in a forum. Forums contain 8-10 fellow business owners who meet once a month for a confidential discussion. EO is not a networking group and there is a strict non-solicitation policy.
Who is it for?
EO is for founders and controlling shareholders who operate companies with over $1 million in sales.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Reaching entrepreneurs is difficult. The number one complaint I hear from new members is they wish they heard of us earlier. You can check out our Membership video
What is the next step for you and your group?
Growth, Austin EO is looking for new members.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Follow your passion.
Best regards,
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Washington DC, was a toddler in Dallas, and lived a dozen places before settling down in Harrisburg PA for kindergarten. If you’ve visited Hershey’s Chocolate World or remember Three Mile Island, I’m from up there.
What university did you go to?
I went to Penn State University and have a graduate degree in Computer Engineering.
What brought you to Austin?
I’m a migrant tech worker. I was living in Vermont and working for IBM when AMD lured me down to Austin to work on the Athlon microprocessor. I figured anywhere that serves ice tea year round works for me.
What group are you with?
I’m the Texas Director for Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), and I work with the boards of the Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston EO chapters.
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is a global network of more than 7,000 business owners in 38 countries.
What need does it fulfill?
EO provides a peer to-peer-learning experience for entrepreneurs. Often entrepreneurs find that as their businesses grow, they need a safe forum to discuss their personal and business challenges with others facing similar problems. EO offers a way to connect with your peers to learn and grow.
What exactly does your group do?
The EO chapter has monthly education events and members are placed in a forum. Forums contain 8-10 fellow business owners who meet once a month for a confidential discussion. EO is not a networking group and there is a strict non-solicitation policy.
Who is it for?
EO is for founders and controlling shareholders who operate companies with over $1 million in sales.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Reaching entrepreneurs is difficult. The number one complaint I hear from new members is they wish they heard of us earlier. You can check out our Membership video
What is the next step for you and your group?
Growth, Austin EO is looking for new members.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Follow your passion.
Best regards,
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Jonathan Davis of American Workforce Talks about the Entrepreneur Organization’s Accelerator Program.
Jonathan Davis of American Workforce Talks about the Entrepreneur Organization’s Accelerator Program.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in the northernmost reaches of rural Upstate New York.
What university did you go to?
I attended the University at Albany where I had the opportunity to study Economics.
What brought you to Austin?
I was fortunate enough to get to know a number of the people at Trilogy while I was going through the recruiting process in the late 90's. While I chose not to move to Austin right after college this same group of friends convinced me to move less than 18 months later to join a start-up called Mall.com.
What is the idea behind EO Accelerator?
Accelerator's a truly amazing program. The Entrepreneurs' Organization (formerly YEO) created it about 3 years ago with the goal of providing content-based learning opportunities to first-stage companies. Austin's chapter has been around just over a year and we now have nearly 20 cities in 3 countries with 350+ members.
The original goal was to have quarterly learning events with professional facilitators that focused on Sales, Finance, People and Strategy. What we've discovered after a couple of years is that while the content is great, our Participants are really enjoying the introduction to Peer to Peer learning that this provides. The twice-quarterly meetings that we have are based on teaching through real world experiences and driving real take-home value for the Entrepreneurs that are spending this time away from their businesses.
What need does it fulfill?
We found a number of resources for people who were thinking about starting a company (Fortune Small Business, Bootstrap Austin's Ideation Group) and even resources for companies who were pre-revenue and looking for ways to position themselves for funding.
The Accelerator Program is for Entrepreneurs who are actively engaged in and growing their businesses and they're faced with added complexity, scalability challenges and the complications of employees.
What exactly does the group do?
Accelerator provides peer to peer learning opportunities as well as the chance to learn from seasoned Entrepreneurs who are actively running their own businesses through what is called "Gestalt Protocol". Gestalt, which is also the basis of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, is the idea that we weren't born with opinions but we all have them. Instead of giving opinions or advice, members within EO and the Accelerator Program are responsible for listening to the experiences that Mentors and Speakers are sharing and decide what applies to them and how it can impact their companies. We don't offer advice and we don't hide the ugly side of the mistakes that we, as fellow Entrepreneurs, have each made.
Who is it for?
The Accelerator Program is for Entrepreneurs whose companies have at least US $250,000 in revenue but who haven't yet reached $1m.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
In order to launch any kind of volunteer-led group you must have passion and leadership at the top. In launching the Accelerator Program in Austin I believe that while recruiting was difficult, assembling a team of other Entrepreneurs to serve as mentors, leaders and supporters was the single most challenging aspect. Now that I have a de facto Board that includes Jeffrey Stukuls, Alan Blake and Member-Leader Dean Dzurilla I'm more comfortable with the program's perpetuation and its future looks bright. Obviously, it took the support of Chris Canada as our Past President and Derek Wright as our current President to maintain its status as a focal point of the local Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter.
What have you learned from running it this past year?
I'm a reluctant CEO and I've made a lot of missteps during my short tenure as an Executive. That being said, I've gotten a unique and special opportunity to learn how to Lead other Leaders over these past 14 months. From a selfish perspective, I've really enjoyed the insight I've gained about myself by launching and managing our local Accelerator Program.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Baz Lurhmann parodied it in a song in 1999 called "Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)" but the true credit goes to Mary Schmich who wrote in the Chicago Tribune in 1997:
"Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in the northernmost reaches of rural Upstate New York.
What university did you go to?
I attended the University at Albany where I had the opportunity to study Economics.
What brought you to Austin?
I was fortunate enough to get to know a number of the people at Trilogy while I was going through the recruiting process in the late 90's. While I chose not to move to Austin right after college this same group of friends convinced me to move less than 18 months later to join a start-up called Mall.com.
What is the idea behind EO Accelerator?
Accelerator's a truly amazing program. The Entrepreneurs' Organization (formerly YEO) created it about 3 years ago with the goal of providing content-based learning opportunities to first-stage companies. Austin's chapter has been around just over a year and we now have nearly 20 cities in 3 countries with 350+ members.
The original goal was to have quarterly learning events with professional facilitators that focused on Sales, Finance, People and Strategy. What we've discovered after a couple of years is that while the content is great, our Participants are really enjoying the introduction to Peer to Peer learning that this provides. The twice-quarterly meetings that we have are based on teaching through real world experiences and driving real take-home value for the Entrepreneurs that are spending this time away from their businesses.
What need does it fulfill?
We found a number of resources for people who were thinking about starting a company (Fortune Small Business, Bootstrap Austin's Ideation Group) and even resources for companies who were pre-revenue and looking for ways to position themselves for funding.
The Accelerator Program is for Entrepreneurs who are actively engaged in and growing their businesses and they're faced with added complexity, scalability challenges and the complications of employees.
What exactly does the group do?
Accelerator provides peer to peer learning opportunities as well as the chance to learn from seasoned Entrepreneurs who are actively running their own businesses through what is called "Gestalt Protocol". Gestalt, which is also the basis of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, is the idea that we weren't born with opinions but we all have them. Instead of giving opinions or advice, members within EO and the Accelerator Program are responsible for listening to the experiences that Mentors and Speakers are sharing and decide what applies to them and how it can impact their companies. We don't offer advice and we don't hide the ugly side of the mistakes that we, as fellow Entrepreneurs, have each made.
Who is it for?
The Accelerator Program is for Entrepreneurs whose companies have at least US $250,000 in revenue but who haven't yet reached $1m.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
In order to launch any kind of volunteer-led group you must have passion and leadership at the top. In launching the Accelerator Program in Austin I believe that while recruiting was difficult, assembling a team of other Entrepreneurs to serve as mentors, leaders and supporters was the single most challenging aspect. Now that I have a de facto Board that includes Jeffrey Stukuls, Alan Blake and Member-Leader Dean Dzurilla I'm more comfortable with the program's perpetuation and its future looks bright. Obviously, it took the support of Chris Canada as our Past President and Derek Wright as our current President to maintain its status as a focal point of the local Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter.
What have you learned from running it this past year?
I'm a reluctant CEO and I've made a lot of missteps during my short tenure as an Executive. That being said, I've gotten a unique and special opportunity to learn how to Lead other Leaders over these past 14 months. From a selfish perspective, I've really enjoyed the insight I've gained about myself by launching and managing our local Accelerator Program.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Baz Lurhmann parodied it in a song in 1999 called "Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)" but the true credit goes to Mary Schmich who wrote in the Chicago Tribune in 1997:
"Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."
Best regards,
Hall T.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thomas Finsterbusch of 3 Day Startup Talks about His Group
Thomas Finsterbusch of 3 Day Startup Talks about His Group
Where are you from originally?
I was born in East Berlin and moved to the US when I was 16.
What university did you go to?
I studied Computer Science at UC San Diego in beautiful La Jolla, with frequent internships on the beach.
What brought you to Austin?
After finishing my undergrad, I jumped straight into the Computer Science PhD program here at UT. My other choice for grad school was UMich. I visited both Ann Arbor and Austin in mid-March. Both have great programs, but only one did not have snow on the ground...(tongue in cheek).
What is the idea behind you’re the 3 Day Startup group?
The idea behind 3 Day Startup is really simple: we get 40 of the most passionate student entrepreneurs together for three days to start a technology company. We provide high-quality work space, cater food and drinks, and invite mentors from the Austin venture capital, angel, legal, as well as local tech communities. The goal of the event is to build enough momentum and a network of motivated people to sustain the company beyond the weekend.
What need does it fulfill?
There are two pains we are addressing. First, we see a lot of entrepreneurship talks on campus that invite speakers who have done successful startups. This is a great learning experience, but at the same time, people are just sitting back and passively absorbing material. We are at the exact opposite of this spectrum: the weekend is intense, deadline-driven, and above all, is grounded in execution.
Among other things, we develop a working prototype, incorporate the company, and elect a board of directors. Second, we know a lot of people with great ideas that never actually get implemented for whatever reason: not enough time or money, no access to people with complementary skill sets, or lack of confidence. Our response is to provide a platform that has all the resources necessary to start a venture. At 3 Day Startup, students pitch their ideas, one will be picked, and 40 highly motivated people bring it to life.
What exactly does your group do?
On Friday at 1pm, the 40 people meet at ATI and split up into groups of 5 to brainstorm ideas. They each prepare a pitch to everyone else. Out of these 8 pitches, the participants vote to select the top 3. Now, they split up into these three groups to refine their pitch and to prepare for an intense grilling on why their idea should be picked. Finally, the participants decide on which idea (or multiple ideas) to run with. Then, throughout Saturday and Sunday, the software engineers build a prototype, our graphic designers develop a corporate identity,
and the business folks engage customers, validate the market, and write a business plan. The final highlight is the pitch to a panel of investors and local entrepreneurs to get candid feedback on the project.
Who is it for?
Passionate students at UT who want to execute ideas. We are recruiting from a wide variety of majors, including Computer Science, business, engineering, law, graphic design, PR, advertising, journalism, etc.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Time management. All of the organizers are full-time students, they serve as TAs, do research and publish papers, or they have already graduated and are working at startups already. Also, there is tons of noise in the process. Students have a phenomenal commitment problem, and it's surprisingly hard to find people who are aligned with the project's vision and who are ready to invest the same amount of sweat, blood, and tears. I'm extremely happy to work with a core group of people that all share the same high quality standards.
What is the next step for you and your group?
We're starting to reach out to folks at other universities with strong entrepreneurial programs, including Stanford, Berkeley, and MIT, to host similar events. Also, we have received inquiries from students in Israel and the UK to partner on 3 Day Startup events around the world.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Follow your goose bumps.
Best regards,
Hall T.
Where are you from originally?
I was born in East Berlin and moved to the US when I was 16.
What university did you go to?
I studied Computer Science at UC San Diego in beautiful La Jolla, with frequent internships on the beach.
What brought you to Austin?
After finishing my undergrad, I jumped straight into the Computer Science PhD program here at UT. My other choice for grad school was UMich. I visited both Ann Arbor and Austin in mid-March. Both have great programs, but only one did not have snow on the ground...(tongue in cheek).
What is the idea behind you’re the 3 Day Startup group?
The idea behind 3 Day Startup is really simple: we get 40 of the most passionate student entrepreneurs together for three days to start a technology company. We provide high-quality work space, cater food and drinks, and invite mentors from the Austin venture capital, angel, legal, as well as local tech communities. The goal of the event is to build enough momentum and a network of motivated people to sustain the company beyond the weekend.
What need does it fulfill?
There are two pains we are addressing. First, we see a lot of entrepreneurship talks on campus that invite speakers who have done successful startups. This is a great learning experience, but at the same time, people are just sitting back and passively absorbing material. We are at the exact opposite of this spectrum: the weekend is intense, deadline-driven, and above all, is grounded in execution.
Among other things, we develop a working prototype, incorporate the company, and elect a board of directors. Second, we know a lot of people with great ideas that never actually get implemented for whatever reason: not enough time or money, no access to people with complementary skill sets, or lack of confidence. Our response is to provide a platform that has all the resources necessary to start a venture. At 3 Day Startup, students pitch their ideas, one will be picked, and 40 highly motivated people bring it to life.
What exactly does your group do?
On Friday at 1pm, the 40 people meet at ATI and split up into groups of 5 to brainstorm ideas. They each prepare a pitch to everyone else. Out of these 8 pitches, the participants vote to select the top 3. Now, they split up into these three groups to refine their pitch and to prepare for an intense grilling on why their idea should be picked. Finally, the participants decide on which idea (or multiple ideas) to run with. Then, throughout Saturday and Sunday, the software engineers build a prototype, our graphic designers develop a corporate identity,
and the business folks engage customers, validate the market, and write a business plan. The final highlight is the pitch to a panel of investors and local entrepreneurs to get candid feedback on the project.
Who is it for?
Passionate students at UT who want to execute ideas. We are recruiting from a wide variety of majors, including Computer Science, business, engineering, law, graphic design, PR, advertising, journalism, etc.
What was the most challenging aspect of starting up the group?
Time management. All of the organizers are full-time students, they serve as TAs, do research and publish papers, or they have already graduated and are working at startups already. Also, there is tons of noise in the process. Students have a phenomenal commitment problem, and it's surprisingly hard to find people who are aligned with the project's vision and who are ready to invest the same amount of sweat, blood, and tears. I'm extremely happy to work with a core group of people that all share the same high quality standards.
What is the next step for you and your group?
We're starting to reach out to folks at other universities with strong entrepreneurial programs, including Stanford, Berkeley, and MIT, to host similar events. Also, we have received inquiries from students in Israel and the UK to partner on 3 Day Startup events around the world.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Follow your goose bumps.
Best regards,
Hall T.
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