Comments on: Why I do startup stuff. . . http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/ Spurring innovation and entrepreneurship. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:03:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ryan D. Kyle http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-350121 Ryan D. Kyle Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:32:43 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-350121 I think what you're doing in Dallas is great. I attended the last Startup Weekend in Redmond, WA in late August. I had such a great time building a startup that I can't wait for another event within a a few hundred miles of me. Clint and Marc, who currently run Startup Weekend are really great guys. They work incredibly hard and don't earn a ton of money, but they both have great enthusiasm for what they do. I blogged about my experience and am happy to share more with people who are interested. I think what you're doing in Dallas is great. I attended the last Startup Weekend in Redmond, WA in late August. I had such a great time building a startup that I can't wait for another event within a a few hundred miles of me. Clint and Marc, who currently run Startup Weekend are really great guys. They work incredibly hard and don't earn a ton of money, but they both have great enthusiasm for what they do. I blogged about my experience and am happy to share more with people who are interested.

]]> By: DIANA http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349978 DIANA Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:24:20 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349978 Keep it up A.M. You are doing good and masses are benefiting.That is most important Keep it up A.M. You are doing good and masses are benefiting.That is most important

]]> By: Alexander Muse http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349966 Alexander Muse Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:49:59 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349966 To be honest, I don't have the time to recreate the wheel. These guys are passionate about Startup Weekend and I am happy to help bring them to Dallas. Perhaps the 'next' startup weekend will be put together by folks here in Dallas - until then $75 seems pretty cheap. We are offering scholarships to anyone who wants to come, but can't afford the fee. To be honest, I don't have the time to recreate the wheel. These guys are passionate about Startup Weekend and I am happy to help bring them to Dallas. Perhaps the 'next' startup weekend will be put together by folks here in Dallas - until then $75 seems pretty cheap. We are offering scholarships to anyone who wants to come, but can't afford the fee.

]]> By: Alexander Muse http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349965 Alexander Muse Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:48:24 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349965 Sorry you can't make it. Invite your friends to attend... Sorry you can't make it. Invite your friends to attend…

]]> By: Joe Gleinser http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349963 Joe Gleinser Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:28:31 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349963 $75 is barely an administrative fee. How many people complaining have dropped that on dinner in the last week? I wish I could make the Startup Weekend but will be on vacation with the family. Best of luck. $75 is barely an administrative fee. How many people complaining have dropped that on dinner in the last week?

I wish I could make the Startup Weekend but will be on vacation with the family. Best of luck.

]]> By: ExTexasEntrepreneur http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349957 ExTexasEntrepreneur Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:51:44 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349957 Hey, kudos for you for putting a stake in the ground in your backyard rather than hopping on the San Hill Road Expressway. The times are changing and the means to get from idea to the success story stage is getting easier every day. Did it ever occur to you to do your own local startup weekend and keep the $75/apiece to put into the company instead of into someone's pocket? Sure, they get a hotel room and make the trip down, but they're community managers scouting and marketing who should be paying to sponsor your local events vs. getting paid to cozy up to you. Keep building the DFW comunity and good luck with your venture. Hey, kudos for you for putting a stake in the ground in your backyard rather than hopping on the San Hill Road Expressway. The times are changing and the means to get from idea to the success story stage is getting easier every day. Did it ever occur to you to do your own local startup weekend and keep the $75/apiece to put into the company instead of into someone's pocket? Sure, they get a hotel room and make the trip down, but they're community managers scouting and marketing who should be paying to sponsor your local events vs. getting paid to cozy up to you. Keep building the DFW comunity and good luck with your venture.

]]> By: scott http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2009/10/16/why-i-do-startup-stuff/#comment-349949 scott Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:54:59 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=3184#comment-349949 Alex - I'm sorry, but if they think you're making money at $75 a pop they're f'ing nuts. If you were really trying to make money off startups that way you'd be charging 500-10,000 (see jason calcanis rants recently). I wonder if some of the blowback is people reading jason's rant and mis-associating with your event coming up? I think what you're doing for Dallas is great. Not just for startups, but for Dallas. Some people have charitable causes - helping katrina victims, habitat for humanity, Lance Armstrong Foundation you name it. I think your "charity" is startups, and sometimes the "return" isn't monetary, it is spiritual, karma, whatever you like. I can't claim to provide this same kind of service to startups, but for the last 10 years I've been buying lunch for folks I know who get laid off (I just ask them to buy lunch sometime for someone else who's been laid off in the future - and not to buy my lunch next time). And I'll always take a meeting with someone to give them my advice or feedback on career decisions or personal/career impact decisions. I can't ascribe a monetary return to this effort, but all I know is: - when i was out of work, a friend bought me lunch. it was a small thing, but it meant a lot to me that he took time out of his day to really talk to me and really listen to what I was mulling over in terms of next steps. - i've consistently had people contact me years later about a conversation we had that affected their life or their outlook on an important life decision. Its a humbling experience, and a gratifying one to be able to help in a small way. - i've often been able to help people find work or business through the randomness(?) of networking and synchronicity. you just never know what will come out of such interactions for the people you connect, but it is usually something good. Keep up the good work. Don't try to justify personal investment with monetary returns :) At least, not too often ;) Alex -
I'm sorry, but if they think you're making money at $75 a pop they're f'ing nuts. If you were really trying to make money off startups that way you'd be charging 500-10,000 (see jason calcanis rants recently). I wonder if some of the blowback is people reading jason's rant and mis-associating with your event coming up?

I think what you're doing for Dallas is great. Not just for startups, but for Dallas. Some people have charitable causes - helping katrina victims, habitat for humanity, Lance Armstrong Foundation you name it. I think your "charity" is startups, and sometimes the "return" isn't monetary, it is spiritual, karma, whatever you like. I can't claim to provide this same kind of service to startups, but for the last 10 years I've been buying lunch for folks I know who get laid off (I just ask them to buy lunch sometime for someone else who's been laid off in the future - and not to buy my lunch next time). And I'll always take a meeting with someone to give them my advice or feedback on career decisions or personal/career impact decisions. I can't ascribe a monetary return to this effort, but all I know is:
- when i was out of work, a friend bought me lunch. it was a small thing, but it meant a lot to me that he took time out of his day to really talk to me and really listen to what I was mulling over in terms of next steps.
- i've consistently had people contact me years later about a conversation we had that affected their life or their outlook on an important life decision. Its a humbling experience, and a gratifying one to be able to help in a small way.
- i've often been able to help people find work or business through the randomness(?) of networking and synchronicity. you just never know what will come out of such interactions for the people you connect, but it is usually something good.

Keep up the good work. Don't try to justify personal investment with monetary returns :) At least, not too often ;)

]]>