Graham Evans is from England and was involved in the steam industry. He came to the Puget Sound area in 1996. Graham is involved with the Federal Way Coallition Against Trafficking (FWCAT), which is an initiative to increase general community awareness of human trafficking, advocate for justice, and provide training opportunities for schools, parent groups, youth groups, and clubs.
Graham is very passionate about this topic. We used this topic to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Business Model Canvas (BMC). The BMC breaks down the concept of a business into 9 categories. The purpose is to help a group of people brainstorm about what a business needs. This is a very effective tool. Within less than an hour, we were able to flush out a lot of useful information. In fact, Graham sent our ideas on to the folks at FWCAT
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Amy Sallin Guest Speaker
Amy Sallin is the UW Business Plan Competition (BPC) Program
Manager. She presented information about the BPC. The BPC is held each
year at the Seattle UW campus. It is now in it's 18th year. The
purpose of the BPC is to foster student start-up projects, identify
projects with real potential and provide students the opportunity to
present these ideas to participants from the business community and
potential investors. At least one member of the team must be a student
in a Washington State college.
The benefits of the BPC, in addition to the possibility of winning real money, are gaining visibility within the business community, building a network of contacts, getting feedback from other entrepreneurs, and receive skilled coaching and mentoring. There are several rounds in the BPC, including screening, coaching, investment, sweet 16 and final round. About a third of the entries move on to the second round.
The benefits of the BPC, in addition to the possibility of winning real money, are gaining visibility within the business community, building a network of contacts, getting feedback from other entrepreneurs, and receive skilled coaching and mentoring. There are several rounds in the BPC, including screening, coaching, investment, sweet 16 and final round. About a third of the entries move on to the second round.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Erik Hanberg Guest Speaker
Well, I thought I had written this a couple weeks ago. Turns out it was just all in my mind...
So, Erik Hanberg, interesting fellow. There are a number of ways one could categorize Erik. A few different labels one could use. Erik has managed to take a number of interests and convert these into multiple revenue streams. I suspect, he would call himself first and foremost an author. He was a pioneer in the self publishing industry, and now has more than a handful of published works available online. I was intrigued by the various trial and error marketing techniques he employed over the years, such as giving one book in a series away for free in the hopes of seeing crossover purchases of the other books in the series.
Erik didn't stop hear. He took the knowledge he gained from publishing his own works, and made a business out of sharing that knowledge with others. Further, he combined this concept with his wife's expertise to offer a more full-service product. I like how they took their strengths and what they enjoyed doing and found a way to make a living doing it.
Erik at one point launched his own theater company, but was unable to sustain it. He also was involved with the site Exit133, and co-founded Suite 133, a place for people to come work together. Currently, in addition to authoring and his business with his wife, he also serves on the parks commission. Erik seems a very down to earth person. Not flashy, not a "business" guy. But someone I could see myself emulating. Just doing things he would already be doing anyway.
So, Erik Hanberg, interesting fellow. There are a number of ways one could categorize Erik. A few different labels one could use. Erik has managed to take a number of interests and convert these into multiple revenue streams. I suspect, he would call himself first and foremost an author. He was a pioneer in the self publishing industry, and now has more than a handful of published works available online. I was intrigued by the various trial and error marketing techniques he employed over the years, such as giving one book in a series away for free in the hopes of seeing crossover purchases of the other books in the series.
Erik didn't stop hear. He took the knowledge he gained from publishing his own works, and made a business out of sharing that knowledge with others. Further, he combined this concept with his wife's expertise to offer a more full-service product. I like how they took their strengths and what they enjoyed doing and found a way to make a living doing it.
Erik at one point launched his own theater company, but was unable to sustain it. He also was involved with the site Exit133, and co-founded Suite 133, a place for people to come work together. Currently, in addition to authoring and his business with his wife, he also serves on the parks commission. Erik seems a very down to earth person. Not flashy, not a "business" guy. But someone I could see myself emulating. Just doing things he would already be doing anyway.
Friday, January 23, 2015
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.
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.
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.
Friday, January 9, 2015
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.
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.
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