My Start-Up Life Ships

Over the last few years Amy and I have become close friends with Ben Casnocha.  We adore the guy.  Ben started his first company – Comcate – at age 14.  As of today (age 19), he’s now a published author as his first book – My Start-Up Life: What a (Very) Young CEO Learned on His Journey Through Silicon Valley – is officially available. 

As an early reader / reviewer of the book, I highly recommend it.  The story is oriented around Ben’s experiences as a teenager trying to deal with the pressures of both teenage and adult “business / entrepreneurship” life simultaneously.  He does a magnificent job of articulating the characteristics of a startup without being preachy and weaves in a number of vignettes from experienced friends and colleagues.  It is simultaneously personal, educational, and emotionally deep.

If you are an aspiring (or existing) entrepreneur, My Start-Up Life is required reading.  If you are a TechStars entrepreneur, Ben will be out in Boulder in June – pick up a copy so you can pepper him with questions

In addition to recommending that you buy the book right now, Ben and I are going to do a giveaway on this blog of an autographed copy of the book to the commenter who has the best haiku with the word “start-up” in it.  Join in the fun – now!

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

20 Comments on “My Start-Up Life Ships”

  • IM May 21st, 2007 7:09 am

    everything we do
    should be a startup
    unless its endup
    the spirit
    last lifelong
    let’s blog it
    let’s bookmark it
    the “Life of startup”

  • David Duey May 21st, 2007 7:13 am

    Startups are such fun
    Passionate and scary
    Building something great

  • Kris May 21st, 2007 8:10 am

    Startup tech co now
    Much work, coffee, little sleep
    Sell To Yahoo! soon!

  • Lance Weber May 21st, 2007 8:52 am

    Startups bud in spring,
    Which bloom bears the sweetest fruit?
    Feld tends the garden…

  • Jenn May 21st, 2007 9:26 am

    start-up with no fund
    credit card entrepreneur
    how much percent now?

    sweet, web 2.0
    my Google focused start-up
    cute bubble logo
    :)

  • Jonathan May 21st, 2007 9:45 am

    I loved my startup
    1 founder, 3 engineers
    Before the suits came

  • Matt Winn May 21st, 2007 9:48 am

    Dream; then iterate.
    Skirt startup loons who hoot
    Macro-myopic.

  • Matt Winn May 21st, 2007 10:19 am

    whoops! I nearly DQ’d on syllables. Correction follows:

    Dream; then iterate.
    Skirt startup worn loons who hoot
    Macro-myopic

    Best,
    Matt

  • Heather Duey May 21st, 2007 10:46 am

    escape through startup
    code-kids-code-sleep-code-eat-code
    create own cube life

  • Tony Casson May 21st, 2007 12:28 pm

    So many start-ups
    One designed Guitar Hero
    Is that a strat-up?

  • Mary Beth May 21st, 2007 3:53 pm

    Feld recommends it?
    Did not he contribute too?
    Start-up disclosure.

  • Vada May 22nd, 2007 2:39 am

    ingenious start-up
    will put rats out of business
    highest art upends

  • Scott Yates May 22nd, 2007 6:29 am

    for entrepreneurs:

    startups, like parents,
    get heaps of good, bad advice.
    which bits to ignore?

    for investors:

    pile of startup plans
    first step is to throw out half…
    no unlucky ones!

  • Andy Conigliaro May 22nd, 2007 6:36 am

    Our start-up speeds up
    Slow down, dig deep, run harder
    Earn ev’ry success!

  • Tim Wolters May 22nd, 2007 9:38 am

    The start-up awakes,
    endless possibilities
    converge into one

  • David Duey May 22nd, 2007 1:12 pm

    A revised, and hopefully better version of my earlier entry…

    Start-up exciting
    Passionate and scary
    Building something great

  • Daddy May 22nd, 2007 1:48 pm

    One last revision (I promise); I didn’t have enough syllables in the second line.

    Start-up exciting
    Passionate, often scary
    Building something great

  • Hugh Lang May 22nd, 2007 1:54 pm

    another startup plan
    a better mouse trap?
    or a load of crap

    i just couldn’t resist that one. and I want the book.

  • David May 22nd, 2007 2:03 pm

    We

  • Jenn May 26th, 2007 7:20 pm

    Here’s one I couldn’t resist sharing:

    Jack Bauer start-up
    damnit damnit damnit damn
    it damnit damnit

Leave a Reply