Startup.com, Living the Dream, Living the Nightmare

I don't think this is the first time I've seen Startup.com.  It felt familiar, but it was most likely sometime ago that I saw it.
This is a fantastic documentary.  Generally, I don't care much for this style of documentary.  By this style, I mean the camera is following someone around for an extended time.  Because, much like "reality" tv, once the camera is rolling, it's no longer reality in the same sense.  This is why I don't think cameras should be allowed in court room proceedings, but that's another issue.  Despite this, there are time where you get the sense, the principles have forgotten the camera was rolling.  This is where the real value of this film lies.  Getting a true insight into Kaliel and Tom's experience.
What a ride they took.  It wasn't made clear, how much they paid themselves in salary, or how much of their shares they sold off, while the selling was good.  So, other than the value of the experience, it wasn't clear how well they were positioned financially when the ride was over.  I like that in the end, Kaliel ended up with a dog, though I'm not sure he was with the same woman who insisted they have a baby or get a dog.
At some point, it was clear they didn't pay enough attention to their product.  The underlying technology they were providing was too flawed.  They didn't do what they needed to do soon enough to correct this.  None the less, before they ever shipped the product out the door, the valuation was already through the roof.  If it were I, this is the point were I would have sold off a good portion of my interest in the company, hedged my bets so to speak.  I think the 3rd founder sold out too soon for too little, and I don't know if Kaliel and Tom kept their whole hand in for the whole game.

Three Little Business Ideas

1. MergeMe: Where all communications come together.
This is an application to merge all communications: email, text, social media (skype, facebook).  Configurable to notify you of any updates to collaborative projects (google doc, google code, gitHub).  Addition of tracking searches, calls, gps info.  Branch into peer-to-peer social networking (a Facebook you control).
mergeme.com is currently being cybersquated:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting.

2. WearBears : wearable knitted animal hat-scarf-mitten in one.  It's a hat, it's a scarf, it's mittens, its fun!  The idea started from talking about Werewolves and Beorn, the character in The Hobbit who can transform into a bear.  What do you call him?  A wereBear.  Then a light bulb went off.  What if you could wear a teddy bear.  What would that look like?  As it turns out,  WereBears are not a new idea, as I found out by visiting: werebears.com.  So, why not just call it what it is...WearBears.  And as far as I can tell wearbears.com is available.
As it turns out, this is not a new idea: http://www.amazon.com/Husky-Plush-Animal-Scarf-Mittens/dp/B006FVXKOG by Krave Products.  There's also HatButik, Rhode Island Novelty, and (probably many) others.

3. Grab-orGo : fast fresh organic.  Pre-order it, grab it and go.
Online order/pay system. Location/time for pick-up (showing available times, you schedule time).  You recieve text/email confirmation of time, box# and combination.  Food is placed in box (with pre-set, changeable combination.  You come at or after scheduled time, grab your food and go.

What do I want to get out of Entrepreneurship and Technology course?

TINST 475 W15
L2M@uw.edu

This is what I want to get out of the Entrepreneurship and Technology course.

I would like to discover what the options look like between being just an employee to being a full business owner.  What options are there for taking an idea and turning it into a business.  And learn about if and when a particular course is the best one.

The idea of owning and operating a business scares the crap out of me.   What if I fail?  How will I pay my mortgage and send my kids to college when the money is not rolling in?  What if I don't feel like working 80 hours a week?  What if?  What if?

The idea of being an employee and not being an employee scares the crap out of me.  I don't like the idea of not being in control of my destiny, so to speak.  What happens if and when I get laid off?  I know what happens and I know what it's like, and it sucks.

So, ultimately I'm hoping to gain a better understanding of myself, and what course I am best suited for.  And hopefully, if and when I make the decision to launch my own project, I'll be better equipped to get started.