If I were a DC VC...

I would have cool VC envy…seriously. I’m not jus trying to rhythm—I mean it!!I figure I would go ahead and blog today about my thoughts on this subject as well, since it’s related to starting the Club in my previous post.

I’m an avid follower of Fred Wilson’s blog AVC and Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson’s blog Ask the VC and of course every entrepreneur basically knows of/about Guy Kawasaki. There are other VCs who also get good attention…but none that I’ve come across who are in the DC, MD and VA areas (DMV). The key thing all the cool VCs have in common...is their willingness and high level of interaction with entrepreneurs, budding entrepreneurs, other investors and the general public.

The DMV has it’s share of Venture Capitalist firms—here is a list of just those in Fairfax County, VA. And it’s worth noting that a few were listed in the Entrepreneur Magazine's 7^th Annual Top Venture Capital Firms for Entrepreneurs:

• Maryland Technology Development Corporation
• Maryland DBED
• Boulder Ventures ltd.
• The Carlyle Group
• Novak Biddle Venture Partner LP
• Amplifier Venture Partners LP

Of course I’d be reminisce if I didn't note that the majority of the firms in the top 100 list were in Palto, CA, Menlo Park CA, and Waltham MA.

But back to being cool…if I were a VC (first off, my life would probably be drastically different) I would aim to be one of the cool VCs who is approachable, full of good scoop, and abreast of what’s happening. Frankly, I think that’s why so many people read Fred’s blog. He knows what’s going on, he’s a cool guy who is in “the know” and loves to interact. I would be his alter ego…the cool chick VC. Yes, when I grow up I want to be Fred!!

The VCs in the DMV need to come out and play a little more…meet the entrepreneurs and the people who partake in the technology community.

I just recently received this comment (two months after the event) from Hannah Clifford of Intersouth Partners on my post about the Grubstake Breakfast

Thanks for the mention in your blog. Please say hi next time you're at an event; not all VCs bite.

The key to your success will be perseverance, self-awareness and surrounding yourself with a great team. There will be many bumps in the road; embrace the challenges and learn from them.

Good Luck!

Hannah

We all need more events in order to be able to network and say “Hi” to each other. Am I going to pitch a VC every time I see one…must definitely not. We (investors and entrepreneurs in the DMV) all need to network, keep each other abreast of what’s happening and support one another.

I’m sure many VCs in the DMV wouldn’t mind hitting the same types of homeruns Fred has habit of being involved in…if you don’t know what they are, look them up and you might want to use Del.ici.ous or Feedburner to help you (hint, hint).

The next big thing might very well be lurking in the DMV (shameless plug for Why Go Solo).

I plan on knocking on the doors of VC firms to get them involved once our Club (we'll need a name soon) is up, running, active and productive. I certainly hope they will get involved, provide feedback and education…as well as, have some fun and be a little cooler!!

The Wheels are Turning...Watch out!!

Since before BarCamp DC I decided to get involved in the technology community of DC, which is frankly, what ultimately lead me to BarCamp DC. What I’ve realized in the process is that there isn’t much actively going-on and therefore not much of a gathered community around Technology and Web x.x in our Nation’s Capital.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, BarCamp DC has gotten me all fired up and now the wheels have been turning. Anyone who is a serial entrepreneur knows what that normally means—that’s right, I’m going to start something!!

Not a business…but rather a club and community. But first let me share what I have found so far:

The Northern Virginia Open Coffee Club (OCC) which meets every two weeks but rides the OpenCoffee Club concept developed by Saul Klein. I’m talking with Will, the organizer of OCC, about this idea. I first thought may be expanding OCC would work, but having our own DMV (DC, MD and VA) Club might be best.

We also have Refresh DC…I haven’t been to any of their meetings yet.

Our goal is simple: bring together the best and brightest new media developers in the DC metro area so that we may learn from one another. Our industry is too rich for any one person to "know it all." That's where we come in.

Newly started is the DC Web 2.0 & Video 2.0 Meetup group…They are having a meeting tomorrow and I plan on attending. According to Paul, the organizer of this group, the group has reached two dozens members in less then a month. So it’s obvious the interest is there.

I have heard of TECH Cocktail and apparently there was a TECH Cocktail event way back in May, in DC, and although, it sounds like is was a hit and splendid event…it’s not a regular thing.

And also upcoming is Start-up Weekend DC (I’m signed-up but on the waiting list)

I know there are probably quite a few groups I’m missing which are completely programming/engineering related.

Alright, so here is what I have in mind:

We start a group in the DMV which upholds a creed that is the basis, backbone, and mission of the Club. The creed basically entails a group dedication to support, encourage and grow all web x.x type companies, technology companies and spread the growth of all related matters. The Club is open the web entrepreneurs, technology driven individuals, programmers, engineers, and technology focused investors and everyone else who have a genuine interest in supporting the creed/mission.

Thought leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators in the DMV would lead the efforts and combine knowledge into a blog. The blog would be about the Club events, the members, entrepreneurial ways and the latest happening/technology...as well as, what's hot in the DMV as it relates to technology and business development.

The Club would host 2-3 events/gathering a month. Once a month the meeting would be for Entrepreneurs to vent their ideas and get feedback from the community or practice their pitch prior to seeking funding. The members would provide honest feedback, recommendations and support to assist each other. Once a month, we would also have have an educational session presented by the members covering a new technology or an entrepreneur skill/know-how. Finally, once a month we would try to host a guest speaker (successful entrepreneur, VC, PR...etc.)

The point of all this is to truly establish a way to support, grow and promote the Technology industry in our own backyard. It will take the involvement of all sides to make this happen (the entrepreneurs, techies, developers, investors and social media gurus).

I imagine a day when a web x.x or technology company is launch in the DMV and there is a buzz, commotion, and excitement around it. There is an Army of local bloggers promoting and supporting the launch, there’s a killer launch party with lots of media, and there is a sense of accomplishment…we might not be Silicon Valley, Seattle or NYC, but at least we aren’t the quiet mouse we used to be either!!

Coding Envy: Why Aren’t I a Bigger Geek

I went to bed with coding envy…and I woke-up this morning still frustrated from having coding envy. Instead of Powncing about my frustrations, I decided to blog about it. I’ve been Powncing too much and not blogging enough (but, I digress)

BarCamp DC was fun and informative, it was also a reminder of everything I don’t know and wish I knew. Being surrounded by what appears to be some of the best and brightest programmers and designers in this town increased the coding envy I’ve been harboring for the last couple of years.

I wish I knew one programming language like the back of my hand…be it PHP, .Net, Java or Ruby on Rails, while having broad knowledge of all programming languages. I would love to “geek out” and talk about it, constantly develop new applications, and test “stuff out”. But, I don’t and can’t. If I could, Why Go Solo would be much farther along.

I spoke with a few programmers who were working on their own Web 2.0 type companies (in their spare time) and they admitted, that although, they can create it; they can’t necessarily bring it to market.

On the other hand, I can bring just about anything to market and am fully equipped and prepared to lead a company, be a spokesperson and continue to grow a concept. This is why people need each other and have to develop the right teams.

Fortunately, I met someone yesterday who mentioned he would help me find a lead engineer for Why Go Solo, and prior to that, I met someone else who agreed to review our code for quality control. We’re moving ahead with the development of our Phase One beta because nothing will stop us from launching. And much like many other Web 2.0 companies, we’re going to start looking for the brightest, and smartest programmers to come join our team.

One of the discussions that floated around throughout the day, and definitely at the after party was the need for more technology and web 2.0 type conferences and events in Washington DC. The VA, MD and DC areas are not without some amazing programmers, engineers, designers and innovative entrepreneurs…and we definitely need to get together more often, support each other, interchange ideas and put ourselves ‘on the map’.

I wonder a great deal about how different things would be if we were creating Why Go Solo in Seattle or in San Francisco…I’m assuming it would be overall a lot easier; from raising funding...to the development and launch, but I’m hoping that doing it here in the DMV will create some commotion!!

I’m sure I will continue to suffer from coding envy, I will continue to be absolutely amazed by programs like Firebug (although, I will never personally use it) and I will continue to wish I was a real geek/nerd. That however, will NOT stop me from getting things done and shaking things up.

Rites of Passage...the Fourth Installment

Develop Nerves of Malleable Steel

I will try to coherently explain, the best I can, what I mean about developing nerves of malleable steel. Determination, perseverance, and even sheer stubbornness are all inwardly generated sources of energy, strength and driving forces that are sent outbound and “burned” like fuel, as we pave our way forward in the world. Some people have greater reserves then others and push harder, faster and farther against all odds. But the thing is, outside forces like; stress, pressure, difficulties and other strains are inbound and aplenty in the start-up game. How those outward forces coming in are coped with, is just as important, as all the energy you expand everyday.

By malleable I’m referring to: having a capacity for adaptive change, and being capable of being flexible and compliant.

Nerves of straight steel can snap or even worst…break, after taking too many ‘hits’ from outside sources. However, nerves of malleable steel will bend, flex and adapt to the outside forces and allow you to better deal with the stresses and pressure.

Developing nerves of malleable steel is a rite of passage that beautifully compliments the other attributes inherent in entrepreneurs.

Identify and Surpass all Weaknesses and Step out of all Comfort Zones

This is my favorite rite of passage and the one I enjoy(ed) the most because I am definitely on a journey of self-discovery and growth. I take pleasure in pushing my limits and facing my fears, and embarking on the journey of following my dreams and being an entrepreneur has elevated the requirements and sped up the process.

I believe this rite of passage actually applies to anyone who is pursuing a dream. Our dreams push us to become more than we already are…our dreams ask of us what we often times neglect to ask of ourselves.

You will know when you are facing this rite of passage…whatever the requirement asked of you; be it to overcome a fear, surpass a weakness, or step out of your comfort zones--the option to either pass through the rite of passage or give up on your dream will likely hit you like a ton of brick.

It hit me that way…each time, it was either surmount and do or let go and give up. The way the paths crossed and then veered off one way or the other was appalling…each time I grabbed hold of my dream and went for it!

Our dreams are meant to stretch, push, and mold us…go for it, it’s worth it.

Now, I say…BRING IT ON!!

Release all Doubts and Believe in Possibilities

This rite of passage becomes easier to exceed as you pass and master the other rites of passage. As you begin to master finding comfort in taking constant risks, entering and living in the realm of unknowns, accepting reality while living in fantasy, maintaining hope while releasing expectations, developing nerves of malleable steel and identifying and surpassing all weaknesses and step out of all comfort zones—you grow strong, confident and become empowered…so by default, your doubts begin to melt away.

Replacing doubts by believing in possibilities creates optimism…positive thinking. We are, create and attract what we think. Doubt attracts uncertainty and what we fear. Believing in possibilities attracts a world of possibilities beyond our wildest dreams.

When doubt creeps in, replace it by visualizing the outcome you desire. Do this as many times as it takes, until only the desired outcomes reside in your thoughts and being. After a while, you will simply think and create possibilities.

This is a rite of passage I am very familiar with…been traversing it time and time again.

Final installment tomorrow...

NYC Green Lady Prescribes Why Go Solo for Me

I grew up in a town called Westfield, NJ, which is about 30 minutes outside New York City. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in the city over the years and it was good to get back over there for the weekend. My mom, dad, Ruth, and I went to visit my sister, Laura in North Jersey and went into NYC for a day of fun. From left to right, you have my sister (who is single and can’t wait for the Why Go Solo launch), mother, father, and Ruth (my wife who can’t wait for different reasons:). For myself, the trip was to evaluate the need for Why Go Solo in NYC, “The city that never sleeps.”

NYC experiences over 40 million travelers per year and houses over 8 million people (according to 2000 Census data). My initial thought was that if you are in NYC and seeking out a social life or spontaneous connections you are in the right place. After spending a full day in both China Town and Little Italy, I was able to view at least 200,000 people walking around, sitting in restaurants and outdoor eateries, going shopping, biking, jogging, etc. Regardless of what they were doing, there were people alone everywhere and a lot of them were simply people watching. Understanding there are some assumptions in my drawn conclusion, but I would say that some of these individuals are curious people and would love to have a service like Why Go Solo.

Towards the end of the day, I broke off from my family and was alone for about 3 hours just people watching. My main thought, without first recognizing it, was, “I wish I had Why Go Solo and wouldn’t mind making a connection right about now.” Martin

Rites of Passage (Part III)

We’ve begun to discuss the rites of passage to getting a start-up off the ground. If this hasn’t become obvious yet from the previous post, it will in this post—starting a start-up will test your sanity in indescribably ways. What I can manage to convey in words…doesn’t even begin to explain it.

Accept Reality While Living in Fantasy

This is particularly applicable to the visionary(ies) for the start-up, the person who gave ‘birth’ to the idea and initiated the process of taking the idea to conception. From day one, this person has been carrying the load of his/her vision and has been busy rallying people behind it, imparting the vision and motivating others to follow him/her.

For this person, (and yes, I am that person) there’s a need to live in a world where the grandeur of the start-up exists in it’s full glory, because that is where the will to keep moving, to keep fighting and to keep giving 110% comes from…it’s the source of the enthusiasm, hope, and joy which must continuously be shared with others: partners, investors, vendors etc.

At the same time, this poor soul also has to stay grounded and accept reality. This is very tough when things aren’t going well or when progress is delayed. No one around possesses the same sense of urgency or burning desire to see things happen. (Just want to note. I’m talking in general terms, Martin is right there with me)

Everything has to be seen in a variety of dimensions, phases and stages…starting a start-up is not a single layer job, and the visionary behind it, has to exist in different places, at different times while never losing perspective or track of the house of cards.

The reason why this becomes very difficult for me is because I have a wild and vivid imagination. I can’t even impart the sheer size of the vision to most people or explain how clearly I can see it all…meanwhile, the reality SUCKS. However, only being positive and active in reality will bring about the vision.

I can jolt anyone interested in the world that exists in my imagination!!

Maintain Hope While Releasing Expectations

This isn’t about being passive or naive…this is necessary in order to maintain some sanity. Having hope means you believe, you trust and you have faith…this also means, you are detached from the outcome and releasing expectations. You trust and believe the right things will be done, the best outcome will be reached and the correct actions will be taken. (You hope while you supervise)

Leaders don’t have expectations…they impart a vision, they share their passion, they nurture, train and develop their people and then allow for right things to occur and for their people to raise to the occasion.

Having expectations is like carrying a very heavy ball and chain that you created for yourself. Surely, if you are dead set on having expectations, be sure you clearly communicate what they are, but don’t be surprised when those expectations aren’t met.

Hanging on to expectations is setting yourself up for constant disappointment. That is not the type of environment that is healthy for developing a strong start-up.

Hope is also a slippery slope…and heartaches are still plentiful, but growth, understanding and further development is built into it; be it your own or that of the people around you.

There will be times for expectations, for deliverables and for specific requirements—it just shouldn’t be the normal tempo or level of operation. The world cannot come crashing down if an expectation isn’t met. See, it’s always best to hope and be prepared with an alternative plan.

That’s the other thing with hope…it keeps you creative because you aren’t tied to being angry or disappointed.

Even as I write this—I know that I have way too many expectations and I know they are weighing me down. I come from a background that was very structured and failure to deliver had consequences…so I’m still learning to ease up!! However, don’t be fooled…it’s still necessary to hold people accountable, to express and convey a sense of emergency and foster a need for action.

More to come later…btw, the picture is from my time on the USS Essex.

Rites of Passage (Part II)

As an entrepreneur with a brilliant idea (sorry for the shameless self-promotion) I’m on the journey (with my partners) of getting our start-up off the ground. I have embarked on this journey with my eyes wide open, and every day, I remain extremely conscious of what’s happening to me and what I’m experiencing. I constantly check-in on the state of my well-being, my outlook on everything that’s happening or not happening, my train of thoughts, my expectations, and the reality of current statuses and progress.

Blogging has been a useful method of expressing myself and keeping tabs on what’s happening…however, I have yet to truly and directly express what I have learned to date and what I am still struggling with.

The question I ponder the most everyday is this: What are the rites of passage to getting a start-up off the ground?

I ask this question in ways that extend well beyond having a solid idea, comprehensive business plan, strong business model, and appropriate funding. Those are obviously crucial benchmarks, but what goes on psychologically, emotionally and mentally into each of those steps are the real Rites of Passage every entrepreneurs undertake to get their start-up off the ground.

Starting a start-up and being an entrepreneur is often compared to being on a roller coaster ride. You often have either real highs or crushing lows and keeping things balanced is difficult. I believe the Rites of Passage we undertake on the journey identify why that is…

Here are The Rites of Passage I have identified thus far:

• Find comfort in taking constant risks
• Enter and live in the realm of unknowns
• *Accept reality while living in fantasy
• *Maintain hope while releasing expectations
• Develop nerves of malleable steel
• Identify and surpass all weaknesses and step out of all comfort zones
• Release all doubts and believe in possibilities
• Trust key players and trust absolutely no one
• Become temporarily selfish and live with the guilt/circumstances

(* most troublesome for me)

Find Comfort in Taking Constant Risks

Upon making the decision of embarking on the start-up/entrepreneur journey immediate risks are taken. Leaving a steady job, placing your financial future at risk, and risking the current state of all your relationships due to the time requirements involved.

Taking the initial risks is just the beginning. Every decision at the beginning of a start-up is a risk. The key is this, do not not fool yourself that you’re making a decision…and not taking a risk. Of course, there are ways to minimize the risks…but as someone taking daily risks, that really means crap at the end of the day.

By default, taking a risk means you have no guarantees of the outcome but an educated guess, so when you take a risk based on an another risk…it has quite a compounding factor and creates what many people call “a house of cards”.

This is definitely the first Rite of Passage. Those who don’t have the stomach for it will never start a start-up.

Enter and Live in the Realm of Unknowns

Once you start building your “house of cards” (on hopefully a valid foundation, i.e. strong idea and solid business model) you work everyday to apply crazy glue to each cards so they never tumble.

Your daily work might include meeting key people, creating partnerships, building your team, developing your technology or product, and raising funds, etc. Through your daily interactions and tasks you begin encountering answers to your unknowns…some answers will propel you forward and provide glue, while some will shake up the house.

But here is the kicker, ALL potential answers to unknowns (good or bad), have to remain in the unknown category. In a start-up there are no guarantees—Therefore, unless it’s a signed deal, a delivered product or money deposited in the bank…it remains an UNKNOWN.

Your sanity is often tested. If you can do this and remain semi-sane then you have passed another Rite of Passage.

To be continued…

The Rites of Passage (Part I)

I earned the title of Marine by going through 13 weeks of Boot Camp ( pre Marine Combat Training for females) and then I earned the title Lieutenant by going through another 10 weeks at Officer Candidate School (OCS)…so I’m used to going through a variety of “rites of passage” and earning the right to graduate to the next level.

I graduated OCS with a pelvic stress fracture. After six months of recovery and being fed up of waiting, I was ready to start the next phase of my training (The Basic School). However, my doctor gave me a 10% chance of making it through another arduous six months of training. I remember him asking me: “Does this hurt?, Does this hurt?, Does this hurt?” while moving my leg around and me answering “No, No and No”. He finally asked me: “Would you tell me if it hurt?” and I replied “No” and that's when he shook his head and signed off my paper work allowing me to start training. I knew what I was made of...but he didn’t, otherwise; he would have given me better odds!!

But, as luck would have it, three months into training I badly injured my right ankle during a very important field exercise. Normally, getting injured at that point in training meant getting “dropped and recycled”. I knew I couldn’t afford having that happen to me, so although, I was on crutches; I asked to return to the field exercise. I remember a defining moment when the Executive Officer of the Company yelled back at me, soon after I’d left his office from asking, yet again, to be allowed to keep training: “Lt. Bernard, you are very persistent aren’t you?” I replied by yelling back “Yes, Sir” and he said “It just might pay off for you”

The next day, he brought me out to meet back up with the Marines in my platoon and I finished the field exercise by working in the Command Operation Center (COC). After graduating, I found out that the Executive Officer had taken full responsibility for me in order to be able to take me back out to the field exercise, and therefore, rescuing me from getting “dropped and recycled” to another company. He told me he knew I had what it took and I was worth taken a chance on.

You must have heart, guts, determination, will power and mental strength to make it through that type of training, particularly while surmounting injuries, but I also needed someone to see my potential and cut me a break.

What I’m answering for myself now is: What are the rites of passage to getting a shot at getting Why Go Solo off the ground? Or in more general terms: What are the rites of passage to getting a shot at getting a start-up off the ground.

To be continued…

13 Entrepreneur's Secret to Success




Thirteen Entrepreneurs Secret to Success I selected my favorite top 13 Success Secret from the Entrepreneur Magazine's Hot 100 List in the August issue (the online link has all 500 companies) 1. DivX Inc.: The ability to embrace an unforeseen opportunity and have the patience to ride the waves to see the vision realized 2. Lifted Research Group: Passion, hard work and surrounding myself with great people. Also listening to my heart rather than my pocket. 3. Reflectx Services: Having an experienced, talented and dedicated team with common core values and the willingness to flex to meet market needs in spite of the business plan. 4. Goodman Networks: Having passion and desire for what we do along with an entrepreneurial spirit and an optimistic outlook on life. 5. Road King Trailes Inc.: Stay focused on your goals and products; don't just focus on what your competition is doing. 6. Hazen Construction LLC: Delivering projects as promised with a high level of quality in order to have the best reputation. 7. TC Consulting Inc.: It is the pursuit of excellence, never settling. It is the ability to live without regret. Being able to succeed is to never be content and always keep the ambition machine full of fuel. 8. Vineyard Vines: Success is having fun and loving what you do. 9. ExactTarget Inc.: Succcess means creating something that adds value--every minute of every day. 10. Journeyman Construction Inc.: See not hurdles--see opportunities 11. Albar Precious Metals: Listening to the advice of other successful people. It's very easy to get an ego--I've found the best way to achieve success is to surround myself with successful people. 12. Tavant Technologies Inc.: Keep customers satisfied, keep employees happy and constantly strive to get better at what you do. 13. North American Building Inc.: Plan your work and work your plan. Never say it can't be done. Resourcefulness produces results.




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Going to BarCamp DC

I’ve been signed up for well over a week now and the event is August 11, but it’s taken me forever to get this post out.

I heard about BarCamp DC on Pownce from Brian at Viget Labs. I did some digging and looking around and decided there would be much to be gained from going. It will be rather nice to meet the people, in and around my local area, who are involved in social media and web technology.

BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants.

Everyone who attends the event is required and expected to participate, it's an unconference. The schedule gets done as people arrive and sign-up to present. I’ve been racking my brain to decide what I would want to talk about/present. I haven’t come up with anything yet…hoping to have it figured out before I show up. My best bet is something related to the importance of building solid social communities and the advantages to be gained.

Here is a video from BarCamp SF. (I was going to post the video from BarCamp Austin II, but it was way too cool looking and people seem to be having way beyond the amount of fun I think is to be expected at a BarCamp event…geez, come on, they had a live band and were doing shots!! The event was hosted in an actual bar.)

What do your Friends Know About the Web 2.0

As I venture into starting Why Go Solo, a social networking site and company rooted in web 2.0 technology and functionality, it’s dawned on me, that one of the major benefits on my side is that my friends, acquaintances and family are pretty clueless about the Web 2.0.

Obviously, I’m not referring to my network of friends I run around on the web with, I’m referring to my friends from school, from the Marine Corps and my other business venture. The majority of them have little to nothing to do with the web besides using the internet for online searches/shopping and using email. This also included Martin, just a few months ago. Per his post yesterday, when I approached Martin he didn’t know much about the web 2.0, however, he still saw the full potential of Why Go Solo.

Same goes with my friends, acquaintances and family. They really haven’t thus far participated in any online communities, or blogs and they don’t know much about feedbruner, twitter, pownce, digg, delicious…etc.

While for many of you reading this post, this might be pretty absurd, since you can’t live without those applications and yes, there are millions upon of millions of other people who are in the same boat—many people are still uninterested and untouched by the web 2.0 movement.

The reason why? Nothing out there has really answered a real need they have in a simple fashion through web 2.0 applications.

So when I pitch Why Go Solo to people who are not web 2.0 savvy and they absolutely love it and then add…will I be able to do this, and this and what about that; I get really excited. Now, I’ll admit, that the funny part is some of the features they are looking for already exist on the web in other areas however, Why Go Solo will apply those features in a format that provides value.

Martin’s dad is a retired Reserve Marine First Sergeant and Corporate America business man who traveled a great deal and when Martin explained Why Go Solo to him, his first thoughts were “This is perfect for the baby boomers”. Our banker, also a baby boomer, thought the exact same thing.

I hadn’t thought of the baby boomers…a mistake many generation X and Y folks do, because Why Go Solo is web 2.0 type company, but once again, the light bulb went on—this will be attractive to those who haven’t participated in the web 2.0 arena because we are providing real world applications that meet and fulfill a need.

Every day that I meet more web 2.0 savvy people and gurus the more I learn and enjoy the interactions, but I’ve also realized how important it is for me to keep looking into the web 2.0 from a bird’s eye view and to keep talking about my thoughts with people, who know nothing about, what I’m about to do. They are very valuable resources and they will keep me from losing focus on who I want to serve and how.

This is also called “avoiding working in a bubble”.

What does Web 2.0 and Aspirin have in Common?

According to Wikipedia, “Web 2.0, a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2003[1] and popularized by the first Web 2.0 conference in 2004[2] , refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — which facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

Sounds like some jive talk that will occupy my spell check for 30 minutes. Since partnering with Ann back in January ’07, I’ve put on my cowboy hat and handkerchief, and investigated all sort of sites: Myspace, Facebook, Pownce, Friendster, and Twitter, etc. in my own sad attempt to educate myself, and what have I learned?

1) If this is the best Web 2.0 can muster, there is much room for new entrants to provide more value-added experiences and services.

2) We have a duty to launch Why Go Solo and provide connections that do not currently exist.

My two cents is that the Web 2.0 overlooks the fact that Brick and Mortar operations would LOVE to build relationships that will benefit the member, online community, and the business.

For example, Ann, Ruth, and myself met with Steve Gavula, the President of the MHG Group, a local restaurant chain owner in the DC Metro area Friday night. They have a gorgeous restaurant location called, Circa Dupont, in the heart of Dupont Circle, Washington DC. As you walk up to the location, you see an inviting outdoor eating section and hip storefront appearance.

Once you walk in, you can choose from 3 different experiences:
1) trendy coffee house
2) bar and grill with big screen TV’s
3) fine dining

Steve is constantly looking for ways to be a part of the Web 2.0 world and to have his establishment used as an extension of the online community world. To date, the Web 2.0 world has not extended an invitation to the dance.

Some Web 2.0 Perspective and Food for Thought

My eyes are sore I have spent so many hours online this week reading, researching and further exploring the various communities, blogs and tools that make-up this vast thing we call the Web 2.0. I have come up with some conclusions, which you might or might not agree with and I would certainly love the feedback.

Please note, that I obviously can't mention everything in one post and these observations are kept simple and in broad overviews.

I’m going to start off with my thoughts that I initially shared on Pownce after reading Fred Wilson’s write-up on the Union Square Venture blog about their new investment in Twitter. What fired me up so much about the post was this:

As we stated when we made our investment in Delicious,

The question everyone asks is "What is the business model?" To be completely and totally honest, we don't yet know.

The capital we are investing will go to making Twitter a better, more reliable and robust service. That's what the focus needs to be right now. We'll have plenty of time to figure out the business model and there are many options to choose from.

I was absolutely amazed that millions of dollars would be invested in concepts (Delicious and Twitter) that have no solid revenue models. No solid revenue models equal one thing, a need for real strong exit strategies that probably involve either Google, Yahoo, Microsoft or some other big company coming in for a buy-out. (This of course already happened for Delicious)

This then, also takes me to the ever-so-talked about Facebook. What is Facebook’s real revenue model? We’ll get back to this…first lets cover Ann’s simple view, in simple terms and minus a timeline of the web 2.0 history has it applies to the market (basic people using these tools).

I don’t want to debate if Friendster was the first online community or not, what I think we can all agree on is that MySpace was the first online community to really take off . For the first time in web history people really began to flock to the internet to “check other people out”. Humans are a curious bunch (for information, knowledge and for the sake of being curious)…and MySpace offered a peek into other people lives and an opportunity to “connect” with people you would ordinarily never meet or encounter.

That is the root of what has since then spawned everything else we now utilize and see has part of the Web 2.0. Ultimately, people are getting more and more curious about what other people think, what they are doing, what they are watching and what other people recommend. We call this curiosity communication, the sharing of information, networking and dare some say, real interaction. It’s a beautiful thing, because we are learning more about each other, discovering new things and exploring new territories.

What’s also really obvious, if you spend any time on the web, is that the market (general public) comes into the web 2.0 arena with different levels of knowledge, interest and involvement.

Let’s talk business a little bit. Marc Andreessen wrote a great post on what makes a start-up successful and he drives home the point that in the end—the market will spell success.

When addressing the start of a new business and whether or not the market will support it, the first question should always be: Is there a NEED for my product or service. This question is often overlooked in the Web 2.0 world and instead people think…Wow, this is a really cool application, let me build a business around it.

So let’s talk market, and let’s bring our no income revenue Twitter and weigh it against Pownce.

First off, Pownce has an income model. They are 1) running very discreet and well integrated ads and 2) they have a $20 Pro option.

In regards to the market, here is why I think Pownce will come out a winner on top of Twitter and it’s based on passed history of the market.

Twitter greatly limits your ability to feed people’s curiosity and share information. 140 characters isn’t much and there’s no way to send content other then text. Twitter is much more of a one way street and does not promote user interaction.

Pownce to be perfectly honest reminds me of a chat room and discussion boards. Never really participated in chat rooms in the past, but chat rooms have been around for awhile and have always had huge markets, same with discussion boards. The interchange between people isn’t limited to only 140 characters and text only. People can easily reply to the content that is being shared and the topics span many different areas.

Pownce provides a lot more of what people are looking for…and by people I mean the average person who spends time on the internet.

I don’t think there is a NEED for Pownce, but at least it feeds people’s curiosity in better ways then Twitter, so they have a definite shot at making it. And once you do spend some time on Pownce, you realize, there is something to definitely be gained from taking part in this new community and the sharing of information. Pownce does provide value to their users.

That’s me touching on another critical point about business. If you don’t directly answer a need then do you provide VALUE?

Okay, so back to Facebook. What NEED does Facebook answer? What value does it really provide their users? And who is really driving the expansion of Facebook?

I’m not going to answer the first two questions. Personally, I don’t need Facebook and I haven’t really gotten much value out of it. I do, however, want to discuss what’s driving the expansion of Facebook because I think this will help people think wisely about their future involvement with Facebook.

In my humble opinion, Facebook is NOT being driven by the market (the basic web user and non-web 2.0 businesses), it’s being driven by web 2.0 businesses, entrepreneurs, people and investors. Facebook is an inside job being pushed out to the market.

Will these tactics work? Time will tell. But, if you are basing your success and bottom dollar on making applications and widgets for Facebook (or Twitter for that matter)…I would diversify your business portfolio a little.

Need and value. Keep them in mind as you watch new web 2.0 companies appearing and disappearing. If the business does neither: does not answer a need or provide added value…then, do they feed human curiosity?

Run down the list of successful web 2.0 companies and see what you get…

Oh, here is another question I'd love some feedback on...Is continuously trying to simplify the use of the web 2.o really a need or an added value or are insiders creating this as well?? I do love my RSS feeds!