I had a phenomenal day.
A few months ago my friend Bill Flagg recommended that I be a speaker at this year’s Gathering of Titans (GOT) event. This is an annual gathering of graduates of the Birthing of Giants (BOG) program. I participated in the first or second BOG event back in the early 1990’s and it was my introduction to the Young Entrepreneurs Organization (then about 100 members; now called EO and over 7,000 members around the world). BOG was a transformational experience for me – it was the first time as an entrepreneur that I really found my true peer group.
I came to GOT as a speaker but immediately felt like a part of the gang. There were about 70 people in the room that were entrepreneurs of a wide variety of businesses, many of them on their second, third, or fourth company. These weren’t all tech businesses – they covered a wide range of industries and experiences – but shared a common passion for creating things and for entrepreneurship.
After about 15 minutes in the room listening to the first speaker today (Jack Daly) I was immediately entranced and emotionally transported back to 1992. The energy in the room was fantastic and very familiar. The next speaker – Ayanna Samuels – was equally awesome and inspiring. I was up next, had a lot of fun, and was met with a warm reception. Kyle MacDonald and Neal Petersen were the afternoon speakers – both dynamite.
It wasn’t just the speakers, but the Q&A, discussion in the hallways between sessions, and the energy in the room that was so inspiring. I was invited to attend next year as a member of the gang (instead of just a speaker) and immediately accepted.
The theme for this year was something like “addressing adversity” which translated very clearly into – as Jack so beautifully stated over and over – “Golden Rule: Purpose”. The day stimulated a lot of interesting blog fodder that I’m sure I’ll be wrapping into some of my posts over the next few weeks – whenever I use the word “purpose” you can tie it back to Jack!
As I was reflecting on the day, I realize that one of the key pieces of advice that I regularly give entrepreneurs is to “join a formal group of your peers that meets regularly and spend deep time with them.” I don’t mean “industry associations” or “random networking clubs” – I mean things like EO, Vistage, or YPO. When I was a first time entrepreneur, I often thought “I don’t have time for this.” Bullshit – I didn’t have time not to do it. And that continues today even after having been involved in hundreds of companies. Entrepreneurial communities aren’t merely geographic or industry focused – peer groups that build deep, intimate, and long term relationships between the members play a key part in the process of entrepreneurship.
I’m heading out for a run to reflect a little more on the amazing day and then I’m going to the Olde Irish Alehouse in Dedham, MA for the GOT afterparty. Wow – what a great day.
I love working with Todd Vernon, the CEO of Lijit. Todd and I have been friends since I met him in 1997 when I was an investor in the seed round for Todd’s last company, Raindance (fka Evoke fka Vstream fka Something Data Something I can’t remember). Todd’s a great example of an entrepreneur that you just can’t deny – he’s going to get it done no matter what.
Todd just posted Come to Puttin on the Leash 2009 – his plea for support and participation at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley annual event that is happening on Saturday, April 25th at 6pm at the Coors Event Center on the CU Boulder Campus. The goal for the event is to raise $300K for the programs and services that are provided straight back into the Boulder County Communities.
When Amy and I started ramping up our philanthropic activity a decade ago, we started out anonymously. It felt weird and uncomfortable to talk about what we were supporting, but I soon found out that I was missing the point. While some people talk publicly about the charitable organizations they support for ego purposes, many people are doing it to provide visibility to the organizations they support and leadership for the friends to encourage them to support the things they are interested in. Over time, I’ve developed a deep respect for people putting their mouths where their money is with regard to their philanthropic activities. Todd does this beautifully in his post, describing clearly what HSBV does:
If you are a pet lover and live in Boulder, help put a leash on Todd by supporting the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and participating in Puttin on the Leash 2009.
There are piles of great things going on all over the place right now. I’m really psyched about the energy level I’m seeing around entrepreneurship throughout the country, as well as the willingness of great entrepreneurs to get out there, tell their stories, and lead by example.
Here’s a handful of fun things going on, along with a few highlights from some from some of the companies I’m involved in.
Today is one of the big CU Entrepreneurship week events. Governor Bill Ritter will be speaking and making some interesting announcements from 3:10pm – 3:40pm. The topic is putting the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Perspective. The event starts at 2:45pm in the Wittemeyer Courtroom in the Wolf Law Building.
Sam Zell will be talking at CU on 4/22 at Noon. If you’ve never heard Sam Zell speak, this is not to be missed. He’s brilliant, blunt, controversial, and often hysterically witty. The event it free but you must register.
I’m doing Beers with Brad in Vancouver on 4/22 at Night. The attendee list looks great – if you are in / near Vancouver join us!
I’m talking at the Boulder Theater on 5/6. I’ll be there along with some of my closest friends, including Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg, Threadless’ Jeffrey Kalmikoff, and Lijit’s Micah Baldwin. Paper Bird will be playing some tunes – I promise not to sing.
The University of Michigan School of Information Executive Ed program is teaching a course from 6/1 – 6/3 on Making Social Computing Work in Your Enterprise. This is being done in conjunction with NewsGator.
Slice of Lime is a Webby Honoree in two categories for their work on Big Green Rabbit. Congrats guys on recognition in the Youth and the Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics categories.
And – if you are bored – here’s 2:37 from my talk with Phil Weiser on The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem as part of CU Entrepreneurship Week.
Brad Feld and Phil Weiser One-on-One: Feld on The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem from Andrew on Vimeo.
Awesome video. It’s worth two minutes and thirty six seconds of your life.
When I grow up, I want to work in the channel!
I’m serving up Spud’s tomorrow at Spud Bros between Noon and 2pm. 50% of all revenue goes to charity (The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County) so bring your appetite. Location: the Corner of 10th and Pearl behind Pasta Jay’s in Boulder, Colorado.
My friend Jonathan Weber – the publisher of NewWest.Net – is putting on second annual Designing the New West conference on 4/16 and 4/17 at the Gallatin Gateway Inn in Bozeman, Montana. While short notice at this point, Jonathan just told me there are still about 30 spots left. If you are interested in architecture and landscape in the Mountain West, the schedule and lineup of speakers looks awesome and the cost to attend is only $195.
Next week is the first annual entrepreneurship week at CU Boulder. There is a full schedule of great events for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.
Monday 4/13: 11:30am – 2:00pm: Starting Companies at CU: Technology Entrepreneurship Luncheon @ University Memorial Center
Tuesday 4/14: 10:00am – 11:30am: Panel Discussion on Social Entrepreneurship @ University Memorial Center Room 247
Tuesday 4/14: 5:30pm – 8:30pm: Silicon Flatirons Center’s Entrepreneurial Mash-Up @ Dairy Center for the Arts
Wednesday, 4/15: 5:00pm: Feld-Weiser One-on-One: The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem @ Wittemeyer Courtroom, Wolf Law Building
Wednesday, 4/15: 6:00pm: Entrepreneurs Unplugged featuring Glenn Jones @ Wittemeyer Courtroom, Wolf Law Building
Thursday, 4/16: 3:00pm – 8:00pm: Putting The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Perspective @ Wittemeyer Courtroom, Wolf Law Building
Friday, 4/17: 9:00am – noon: CU New Venture Challenge Semifinals @ Atlas
Friday, 4/17: 2:00pm – 5:00pm: CU New Venture Challenge Finals and Post-Challenge Reception @ University Memorial Center
Also, if you are in Boulder for lunch on Tuesday, come by Spud Bros at the Corner of 10th and Pearl behind Pasta Jay’s between noon and 2:00pm. I’ll be the “guest chef” (more like “guest spud slinger”); 50% of proceeds will go to The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County.
I love tennis. I don’t play nearly as much as I’d like to. About half of my Qx vacations with Amy include tennis; the first day is usually frustrating as I dust the rust off my strokes. By the third day I’m getting back into it and by day five I’m fantasizing about all the tennis I’m going to play when I get back home. I then don’t play much, except a little in the summer. I repeat this cycle on another Qx vacation.
My Q1 vacation in the Bahamas was fun, but for a variety of reasons I didn’t end up getting recharged the way I generally do from a Qx vacation. So – Amy and I decided to grab a few friends, go some place warm (in this case, San Diego), and have a four day tennis weekend. My brother Daniel and his wife are part of the group and as a teaser he sent me a photo of his first tennis racquet (it was my second tennis racquet). Recognize it?
That is one sweet Jack Kramer Autograph. Daniel and I were both pretty serious juniors; I played 8+ hours a day in the summer in the Texas heat and tournaments on the weekend until I hit 14. At that point, I discovered computers and girls and it was all over for my budding tennis career.
Daniel and I both graduated to Futabaya’s (one of the first wood composite racquets that didn’t shatter when you threw them at the ground), but I lovingly remember my Jack Kramer Autograph. I also remember having to buy one with my very own money ($30 with strings – had to buy nylon because I couldn’t afford gut) because I’d smashed it in a fit of anger and my parents – very appropriately – decided to teach me a lesson.
I now use a racquet made out of plutonium that weighs 0.2 ounces and has a sweet spot the size of a cantaloupe. But I still wind up and crush the ball from the baseline as though I was using my trusty Jack Kramer Autograph.
Last night, Brightkite announced that it has merged with Limbo. The resulting company, which will be called Brightkite, recently closed a $9 million financing. I’m psyched for Martin, Brady, and the Brightkite crew as this merger positions them really strongly for their next phase of growth.
Brightkite was a member of the TechStars 2007 class. They’ve crafted an outstanding mobile social networking app that really started to take off after the release of their excellent iPhone app. It’s become one of my signaling devices for where I am in the world – if you want to keep track of me friend and follow me on Brightkite.
Congrats guys – I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings!
Off for a run on the Embarcadero (without my iPhone this time.)