A Sack of Seattle tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-56673 2009-11-06T08:00:00-08:00 My bag o' thoughts: About entrepreneurship, venture capital, parenthood, and the world in general TypePad ASackOfSeattlehttp://feedburner.google.comThis is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site. Great video to watch about entrepreneurship tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a65a897d970b 2009-11-06T08:00:00-08:00 2009-11-06T08:00:00-08:00 asack
http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/11/great-video-to-watch-about-entrepreneurship.html Friday's Homework Assignement tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a65a7b80970b 2009-11-05T20:31:55-08:00 2009-11-05T20:31:55-08:00 asack
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http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/11/fridays-homework-assignement.html Advice for wannabe entrepreneur from big company tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a67094df970c 2009-10-28T18:48:00-07:00 2009-10-28T18:48:00-07:00 A big company executive who is ready for a change asked me for career advice. He wants to work at a small company. I told him that he should take a project and start small -- work out of his... asack
A big company executive who is ready for a change asked me for career advice. He wants to work at a small company.  I told him that he should take a project and start small -- work out of his house. Having a project to work  on that's interesting and takes advantage of his past experiences will be super useful in moving him from point A (big company) to somewhere else. The reason I gave him this advice is that I've found many people -- myself included look for an insight that's the BIG idea -- as if big companies were born out of strokes of lightning in a bottle. I think that may happen, but more often they come from mucking around with ordinary things and putting things in motion. Once things are in motion -- extraordinary things can happen.
 http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/fridays-advice-for-wannabe-entrepreneur-from-big-company.html Open - my vote for the title of new book by Charlene Li tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a67cc826970c 2009-10-27T12:35:31-07:00 2009-10-27T12:35:31-07:00 Charlene Li is one of the great analysts in the technology sector. Read about her and her company here. I just read her tweet: "Wanted: Your vote on the best title for my next book, takes 2 minutes. Thanks! http://bit.ly/18l7oE"... asack

Charlene Li is one of the great analysts in the technology sector. Read about her and her company here. I just read her tweet:

"Wanted: Your vote on the best title for my next book, takes 2 minutes. Thanks! http://bit.ly/18l7oE"

I clicked the link and it brought me to a book description and then a list of 5 titles to choose from. I think this kind of crowd sourcing is just beginning and we're going to see a lot more. I think it makes all the sense in the world. When communication is key -- and you don't know what words work best -- just ask the audience. It's the ultimate "ask the audience" hotline used in "who wants to be a millionaire"

I voted that her book be called "Open". We'll see if it wins.
http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/open-my-vote-for-the-title-of-new-book-by-charlene-li.html Friday's advice for wannabe MBA entrepreneur tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a61946ee970b 2009-10-23T15:02:14-07:00 2009-10-23T15:02:14-07:00 A 25 year old MBA student called me from MIT. I'm always happy to help an alum. She had already demoonstrated the ability to do a little bit of research and reach out to people and introduce herself. I told... asack

A 25 year old MBA student called me from MIT. I'm always happy to help an alum.  She had already demoonstrated the ability to do a little bit of research and reach out to people and introduce herself.  I told her that's a good skill to have.  My career advice was :

  • Meet with the constituents of the start-up scene in Seattle
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Press
    • Investors
    • Big companies
  • Strive to start your own company before you're 30 -- doing it while your young gives you great exposure, great learning, and you're not encumbered by life's expenses yet.
  • Consider working at a big company for 4 or 5 years -- learn an industry and learn a function. I've never done this before -- so it's a bit of do as I say not as I do. My career has been small company after small company. It's useful to have experience working at one of the big tech companies.  
You're not young forever. Take advantage of it. Now that I'm forty -- I'm learning that I have some perspective of time. Sometimes that's useful....sometime it's an impediment. I'd gladly be 25 again. :-) 
 http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/fridays-advice-for-wannabe-mba-entrepreneur-.html Web 2.0 conference in SF tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a64f9058970c 2009-10-20T08:02:00-07:00 2009-10-20T08:02:00-07:00 I'm spending today and tomorrow at Web 2.0. I've attended the conference for the last 4 years and am looking forward to it this year more than In the past. Not sure why -- but i am. If you're in... asack
I'm spending today and tomorrow at Web 2.0. I've attended the conference for the last 4 years and am looking forward to it this year more than In the past. Not sure why -- but i am. If you're in SF and want to get together...send me an email
 http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/web-20-conference-in-sf.html TechStars is in Seattle Nov. 4 -- Seattle angel investors should attend tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a5f8cf6b970b 2009-10-19T15:06:36-07:00 2009-10-19T15:06:36-07:00 TechStars is a mentorship-driven investment program in Boulder and Boston. They fund 20 new startups every year from over 600 that apply, and have been operating for 3 years now in Boulder and one year in Boston. TechStars is like... asack
TechStars is a mentorship-driven investment program in Boulder and Boston. They fund 20 new startups every year from over 600 that apply, and have been operating for 3 years now in Boulder and one year in Boston. TechStars is like a "boot camp" for those companies highlighted by some amazing mentors. Somehow they let me on that list and went to both Boulder and Boston this summer to help these companies, and had a blast doing so. TechStars companies have achieved some notable exists such as Intense Debate (to Automattic/Wordpress), Socialthing (to AOL), and Brightkite (to Limbo).  

Every year, the TechStars companies get together for a reunion in a different city. This year, I'm excited to tell you that it's happening here in Seattle! As part of the reunion, TechStars reserves a part of one afternoon to have some of their companies that are still raising money pitch investors. About 75% of the companies that come out of TechStars have been angel or ventured backed historically, so this is a great chance to see some interesting early stage companies and to check out what TechStars is all about. In addition to the company presentations, there is a panel on angel and venture investment trends that I'm on along with Brad Feld (co-founder of TechStars and Managing Director of The Foundry Group), Greg Gottesman (Madrona), Stephen Hall (Vulcan Capital), David Cohen (co-founder of TechStars and angel investor), and Chris Sheehan (runs CommonAngels in Boston). I'm really looking forward to it and if you're a Seattle area VC or angel investor that is interested in attending, please contact me and I'll get you an invitation.
 http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/techstars-is-in-seattle-nov-4-seattle-angel-investors-should-attend.html Too few hours in the day....and week tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a5ee3fab970b 2009-10-16T15:10:09-07:00 2009-10-16T15:10:29-07:00 Damn. I haven't written a post all week. Just been swamped with work -- I'm glad it's Friday but another entrepreneur told me they hate Fridays because it means the week is gone. That's how I'm feeling today. asack
Damn. I haven't written a post all week. Just been swamped with work -- I'm glad it's Friday but another entrepreneur told me they hate Fridays because it means the week is gone. That's how I'm feeling today.
 http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/too-few-hours-in-the-dayand-week.html Reflections on Craigslist, Twitter, and Facebook tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a63a4158970c 2009-10-13T22:21:50-07:00 2009-10-13T22:21:50-07:00 I co-teach a class on entrepreneurship at University of Washington. Yesterday's class was on social marketing. I'll make the following anecdotal observations: Craigslist still rules in my opinion -- hands down it's the most impressive company next to google online.... asack

I co-teach a class on entrepreneurship at University of Washington. Yesterday's class was on social marketing. I'll make the following anecdotal observations:

  • Craigslist still rules in my opinion -- hands down it's the most impressive company next to google online. 30 employees and over 100MM in revenue from approx 5 cities.
  • Twitter -- has the most potential to change the web.  BUT -- many people don't get it, don't use it, try it and stop. What makes Twitter interesting is despite these things -- it's moved the web into real time and has the potential to really change marketing online.
  • Facebook -- 5 years in and they still don't really have a business model. They spend 150MM per year and are just reaching cash flow break even. I think they're secret sauce should be in the virtual goods area and not in advertising.
http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/reflections-on-craigslist-twitter-and-facebook-.html The 12 step program for unignited startups tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c018553ef0120a62a4707970c 2009-10-09T12:32:52-07:00 2009-10-09T12:32:52-07:00 This is a simple program aimed at start up addicts who find themselves in their company that is not meeting up to their expectations. Admit you have a problem Figure out if the problem is you or the market (or... asack

This is a simple program aimed at start up addicts who find themselves in their company that is not meeting up to their expectations. 

  1. Admit you have a problem
  2. Figure out if the problem is you or the market (or both) -- Note: you can't change the market just your approach and behavior in the market
  3. Make a list the things you can control vs the things you can't control
  4. Prioritize the list of things you control and make a 90 day to do plan
  5. Hire a coach to assist you in hitting all your 90 day goals -- buy them dinner for payment
  6. Get out of your comfort zone
  7. Assess what skills and characteristics are preventing your business from succeeding -- acquire those skills 
  8. Buy the 7 habits of highly effective people. Read the book and do all the exercises in it.
  9. Subscribe to Tony Robbins on Twitter.
  10. Get everyone aligned behind hitting your company 90 day goals
  11. Stay positive. One foot in front of the other.
  12. Ignite.

http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2009/10/the-12-step-program-for-unignited-startups.html