Dallas Startup Happy Hour (Monday July 21 @ 5PM)
July 19, 2008
Are you interested in connecting with the local startup community? We are working to build a vibrant startup community here in Dallas every bit as interesting and dynamic as San Francisco, Boulder, Boston or Austin. The first step is engagement.
The first Dallas ’startup happy hour’ went so well we decided to make it a regular thing (every other Monday). We hope to see you at the INFOMART High Tech Bar at 5PM this Monday July 21st. If you need directions or help finding us feel free to call me at 214.550.2003 or if I am not available try our help desk at 214.550.2002 (during business hours only).
PLEASE RSVP on Upcoming.org here: Dallas Happy Hour (we need to make sure we can handle the turnout)
The last ‘Startup Happy Hour’ (still thinking about an official name) went off without a hitch. Around 5PM, Brad Merritt (CEO of WhiteBox and my partner), George Carter (inventor of Laser Tag) and I were the only attendees (except of course for Jennifer and Masha who agreed to help sign people in and hand out name tags). But within 30 minutes we had around 20 people. By seven we had upwards of 50 people (34 of which filled out Jennifer’s sign in sheet). I closed the tab around eight and there were still about seven or eight people. I was really surprised we had such a good turnout. The best part of the evening was the mix of people. The majority of people worked at startups. There were a few angel investors, perhaps not as many as we would like (it is July after all).
Startup Attendees included:
Charles Humphreyson Prova www.provagroup.com
Brian Wiblin Concepla Systems www.comceptasys.com
Jason Hudgins Droidworks http://blog.droidworks.com
Brian Lee Profit Stars www.profitstars.com
Ty East Symon www.symon.com
Carri Craver Nomee www.nomee.com
Justin Bigelow Adshuffle www.adshuffle.com
Marc Archin Web Algorithm, Inc. www.webalgorithm.com
William Watts Intelivox www.intelivox.net
Paul Sanderson Near Port www.webalgorithm.com
Jay Ramirez Marblehead http://blog.marbleheadllc.com
Marshall Lawrence Architel www.architel.com
Abdullah Jibaly Ayoka www.ayokasystems.com
Scott Whigham Learn It First www.Learnitfirst.com
Mark Blaskovich Ayoka www.ayokasystems.com
Paul Johnson Lomans Rx www.lomansrx.com
Kevin Theppharaj Architel www.architel.com
Stormy Shippy High Form www.highform.com
Micah Davis Roov.com www.roov.com
Andres Fabris Traxo www.traxo.com
Eknauth Persaud Ayoka www.ayokasystems.com
Andy Chen Traxo www.traxo.com
Brian Mann Rank One Sport www.rankonesport.com
Scott Ticer n/a www.scott&tieless.com
Charles Cecil MCG Group www.mcggroup.com
Scott Ryan Architel www.architel.com
Brad Merritt WhiteBox www.whiteboxco.com
Of course there were more, but they didn’t give us their name, URL and email…
How to read the Texas Startup Blog
July 19, 2008
I thought it might be helpful to point out how this website is organized (of course David Cohen is going to change it soon). The homepage http://www.texasstartupblog.com is set up like a magazine or newspaper website. My latest ’startup’ story is in the upper lefthand corner of the page. Below that are a few videos (I change them less frequently than I should). In the middle column you will see posts found on other ’startup blogs’ in the network. Finally, in the far righthand column you will find a search field (sometimes powered by lijit), a few ads (right now they are not connected to our ad server). Below that you will find jobs from our job board. Below that you can see titles of recent network stories as well as links to various category posts, archives and the other network blogs.
If you miss the OLD Texas Startup BLOG - i.e. emphasis on blog - you can set your bookmark to my ‘blog’ page found here: http://www.texasstartupblog.com/category/blog/ It looks just like a regular chronological blog. If you want to skip my personal and political posts you can set your bookmark to the ’startup’ category found here: http://www.texasstartupblog.com/category/startups/ If you want to read about my politics, exclusively, visit: http://www.texasstartupblog.com/category/politics/ I know some of you are tired of my complaints about airlines seats, pride in the USMC or my feelings about how McCain is a horrible choice for president - I hope this helps you get just the content you want.
News from the startup network!
July 18, 2008
I thought it might be smart to point to interesting posts I found on the other SpringStage startup blogs. Ingrid from the Caribbean Startup Blog has an interesting Q&A with Dwayne Black, the founder of Jampersonals.com, the largest Jamaican online dating site. Richard Stump from the Kentucky Startup Blog has a video from Matt Beck describing his startup called Pearlabs. Marc DeWalle from the North Carolina Startup Blog has a great Q&A with Jess Martin, the organizer of the RTP Startup Weekend. The South Carolina Startup Blog is announcing Tech After 5, a networking event for startups hosted by Phil Yanov. David Cohen of the Colorado Startup Blog has a post describing our job board and how it is much improved. Enjoy!
David’s little side project: earFeeder
July 18, 2008
David Cohen of the Colorado Startup Blog has a post titled, “Blast from earFeeders past” where he talks about his ‘little side project’ called earFeeder. Neat little application (acquired by SonicSwap a couple of months after he launched it) you can learn more about it in this facebook video. The irony in the project, for anyone who knows David:
At TechStars, I spend alot of time telling people to focus and not do side projects. Before they all write me to complain, let me clarify: this was a side project for me when I had no “main project”. At that time I was only doing investing because my previous startup (iContact) had just vaporized. So TechStars founders: hush, and focus.
Craziest thing I ever did. . .
July 18, 2008
I was an undergrad at the University of Texas during the first Gulf War and I decided that I would enlist in the United States Marine Corps (MCRD San Diego, MOS 0331). Wow, what was I thinking. Perhaps the most amazing experience of my life, an experience I think any young man (and certain women) would benefit from. What was the craziest thing you ever did?
Many famous Americans, such as the composer John Philip Sousa who directed the U.S. Marines band for 13 years, have served in the Marine Corps. Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s Pizza, is a Marine. In politics, Senator Zell Miller, pundit James Carville, Secretary of the Navy and U.S. Senator Jim Webb and military analysts Anthony Zinni, Joseph Hoar and Bernard E. Trainor are Marines. Donald P. Bellisario the creator of Quantum Leap, Magnum P.I., JAG and N.C.I.S. is a veteran Marine. Baseball Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Ted Williams, Rod Carew, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Collins, and Bill Veeck all served in the Marines. Professional boxers Leon Spinks and Barney Ross both served in the Marines, and so did former heavyweight champions Gene Tunney & Ken Norton. Six astronauts, including Senator John Glenn, Charles F. Bolden, Jr. and Fred Haise, are Marine aviators. Several have succeeded in the entertainment industry, including actors Steve McQueen, Tyrone Power, Don Adams, Gene Hackman, Harvey Keitel, Lee Marvin and Drew Carey, talk show host Steve Wilkos, rock and roll singers The Everly Brothers, former Ramones member Christopher Joseph Ward (C. J. Ramone), and reggae musician Orville Burrell (Shaggy). R. Lee Ermey and comedian Jonathan Winters were both drill instructors prior to their renown.
Funniest uStream Channel
July 17, 2008
We are launching a ’startup ustream channel’ and to get prepared I have been watching live shows from folks on the system. These two guys: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-rhettandlinkast-live are awesome. Basically, they call people who have Craigslist ads and pretend not to understand what the folks are selling. It is perfectly hilarious (well for the price anyway).
Angel/Entrepreneur Meetup Committee
July 17, 2008
I wrote about my idea for an Angel/Entrepreneur Group in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Things have progressed and I am in the process of forming a committee to organize the group.
Committee Members include:
Alexander Muse - Entrepreneur (vc backed)
Brad Merritt - Entrepreneur (bootstrapped)
Charlie Humphreyson - Angel (experienced)
Chris Ryan - Angel (starting)
Robert Bennett - Angel (experienced)
Paul Johnson - Entrepreneur (starting)
We are looking for two additional angels to join the committee prior to our first meeting. If you are interested in helping take my idea and turn it into something real please give me a ring at 214.558.1079. I have a couple of meetings with potential angels tomorrow, but I would like to finalize the committee by next week with the hope of having our first meeting the week after. Thanks for all your comments and your help.
When your business plan seems like candid camera!
July 17, 2008
Have I mentioned that I get more than my fair share of business plans and executive summaries each day? Recently I got a business plan that caused me to look over my shoulder and ask if I was on candid camera. OMG! It was the craziest thing I had ever read. I can’t share any of it with you because the person who sent it would immediately know I was talking about their plan. My question is simple: how can I explain how I feel about the ‘idea’ without pissing the entrepreneur off. Of course this is going to be the next Google I am sure - i.e. I am the worst predictor of startup success. Anyway, I would love some thoughts, comments or experiecne from you guys on how to encourage the entrepreneur without inadvertantly suggesting I liked his idea. Thanks…
ServiceGuy is live in Sacramento, now in 20 cities!
July 17, 2008
I pleased to announced we have launched ServiceGuy in Sacramento (FYI launch simply means we are accepting contractors, the numbers won’t go active until we have 10 contractors for a service in a city). If you are a contractor looking for a few extra leads please signup. Randy should be contacting various providers directly over the next few days. Need a cleaning person, computer guy, designer, electrician, handyman, landscaper, mover, painter, plumber, pool guy or realtor? Just click on a city and start dialing. Best of luck!
The choice: being right or getting what you want
July 17, 2008
Earlier this year I wrote about fairness in a post titled, “Life isn’t Fair and Mickey Mouse is a Rat.“ Ironically, while I have always realized life isn’t SUPPOSED to be fair, I still had a strong need to be ‘right’. I guess the fact that I understood that life isn’t fair made me MORE interested that people, at the very least, know that I was ‘right’. Several years ago (maybe four) I realized that being ‘right’ was costing me a lot. I talked to my pastor about it on a chairlift in Colorado and he suggested I talk to a counselor who was a member of the church. The problem was that I had realized that being ‘right’ was expensive, but I wasn’t able stop. Being ‘right’ has been an addiction for me. It has cost me money, friends and most importantly time; but I have nothing to show for it (except perhaps for a little righteous indignation).
Very recently I decided to try stop being right. I made a conscience effort and it has started to pay off (in little and big ways). For example, yesterday I was ordering cable for our new office space and when I mentioned that I had tried to order the cable online I was transferred to the internet sales group who wanted me to help them figure out why their online ordering system wasn’t working. Instead I politely hung up and called back in and simply suggested that I wanted to place an order. Within minutes I had placed my order and was back to doing something else. It was wonderful. The old, ‘right’ addicted me, would have stayed on the phone and argued with the internet group trying to explain why it wasn’t my job to help them figure out their internet problems. I had only mentioned it as a favor so that they could take a look at it LATER. Anyway, that was the old ‘right’ me, the new ‘get-it-done’ me simply determined the quickest way to get to YES and moved. Ah, it was such a minor thing, but added together a lifetime of minor things turn into real time.
My advice is to focus on what it takes to succeed, don’t worry so much about being right. Being right is for debators and politicians (not the politicians of old, but our new ‘right’ at any cost politicians).
IKEA for Business! Another startup solution. . .
July 16, 2008
Last week I was annoyed at IKEA for not having a program to sell furniture to small businesses and of course I blogged about it here. Colin commented on the post suggesting,
The odd thing is IKEA provides exactly what you wanted, and they’ve been spending the past six months promoting the hell out of it. Apparently the employee(s) you had contact with were nimrod(s)—it’s not free, and it’s nowhere near new, but they will deliver large orders right to your business. They even employ business specialists in the office furniture section for just this purpose (as well as helping choose furniture when someone doesn’t already know exactly what they want). I’d definitely get in touch with a store manager or even IKEA USA and pass along your experience; taking advantage of their services shouldn’t require your mom scolding them into it. ;)
So I called IKEA and asked about the program Colin talked about. They had NO idea what I was talking about. I tried to explain how it might work, no dice. Finally I asked to talk to a manager and the guy refused at first indicating that they would give me the same answer, “IKEA is self-service ONLY!” I insisted and moments later the services manager indicated that IKEA did, in fact, have just such a service. For a 10% fee they would design, pick and ship the items right to my office. I thought 10% sounded like a bargain and emailed the list of stuff we wanted and within hours I had a team (Tammy and Amy) working on my account. We should have the stuff on Saturday. WOOT! Thanks Colin (I love this blog). If you are in Dallas and need help for your startup talk to Tammy Colton, IKEA After Sales 972.712.4532 x 1450 tmeo@memo.ikea.com (hopefully I won’t get in trouble for revealing this secret data).
Oh and BTW - my Mom didn’t have to do it…
Solution for American
July 16, 2008
Earlier this week I vented about my experience on an American flight this weekend. I think it was my most commented on post in the history of my blog (very sad in many respects). Anyway, I have decided to offer an alternative solution to American. Why not segregate passengers from one another. The seats located below do not take up additional room, but offer passengers enough segregation that larger passengers won’t intrude into other passengers seat. So my message to American ~ fix your problem! Don’t make it mine.
Google released a ’secret’ SDK?
July 16, 2008
Ryan Paul from ars technica was shocked when he learned that Google “has been secretly making new versions of the Android SDK available to the Android Developer Challenge (ADC) finalists under non-disclosure agreements.“ If you are building for the Andriod platform you really need to talk to Google about getting the new version of the Android SDK. Duh! Reminds me of this scene from Casablanca:
Dallas iPhone Status (SOLD OUT!)
July 16, 2008
Despite what the Apple website says (i.e. that North Park has all three models of the 3G), they don’t have any iPhones. I gave in and showed up at the North Park Apple store to see if I could get the iPhone and was surprised to see a line. The line, to my surprise, wasn’t for the iPhone, but for a little card that says you are on the waiting list for an iPhone when then arrive. I guess the problem for the North Park store was that Apple thinks (or thought) that they had plenty of phones and as a result didn’t ship any to the store last night. Ouch.
My follow through. . .
July 15, 2008
This evening I got an IM from a local ‘deal guy’ who was annoyed that I didn’t send him a business plan I promised to send him last Monday. I completely forgot to forward the plan to him. For this I am sorry, but I am as busy as a dog. If I owe you something PLEASE email and call me - DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE IF I FORGET. I know this is sort of ridiculous, but it is the reality of my current workload.
Of course it might make sense to put my workload in context. I get between 10 and 20 business plans or executive summaries each week - I read most of them. I blog extensively (more than 14 posts a week on average). I read blogs extensively (my reader has more than 700+). This past week I talked to more than 25 angel-type investors all located in the Dallas area. I managed the build out of our new office expansion at the INFOMART. I am involved with more than five startups. I have a 6 year old and a 6 month old. I officially have too much going on, but for some reason I am still happy to help an entrepreneur here, a startup there and even a ‘deal guy’ who I think might be interested in a business plan I received. I will continue to provide as much assistance in the community as possible, but if you absolutely, positively need something from me ~ please don’t sit quietly on the sidelines waiting for me to remember, kick my butt. I reserve the right to explain that I don’t have the time to help, but at least I have a fighting chance of helping. Hope this makes sense.
Search
-
Startup Jobs
-
Recent Network Posts
-
Blast from earFeeders past
From Colorado Startups -
iPhoneDevCamp set for August 1-3
From Colorado Startups -
Boulder Women Engaging Tech
From Colorado Startups -
Profile: Pearlabs and Dean alert
From Kentucky Startup Blog -
Tech After 5
From South Carolina Startup Blog -
An interview with Jess Martin, one of the organizers of the RTP Start-Up Weekend
From North Carolina Startup Blog -
Startup Weekend
From Kentucky Startup Blog -
Green Tech Meetup is Thursday night at CU
From Colorado Startups -
KEF fund changes
From Kentucky Startup Blog -
Revving the engine
From South Carolina Startup Blog
-
Blast from earFeeders past
Advertisement
