Startup2Startup, a popular invite-only Silicon Valley networking event, held its 7th get-together last night, bringing 140 entrepreneurs together. The event is the brainchild of Dave McClure, the venerable startup angel investor who recently joined Founders Fund, and the event sponsors include some of the top VCs in the valley.
The monthly event consists of a dinner, with an invited speaker or two giving a presentation followed by moderated table-by-table conversations (plus healthy lobby chatter before and afterwords). Startup2Startup brings together three types of startup people: startup rookies and students; entrepreneurs and startup veterans; and investors and experienced corporate employees. See the photo set of the night’s activities and introductory video below:
Part of the event’s success has been the ability to pull in big names to speak, including Chad Hurley, James Hong, Naval Ravikant, Matt Mullenweg, Toni Schneider, Reid Hoffman, Matt Cohler, Paul Graham, and Jessica Livingston.
The featured speaker last night was Amy Jo Kim of ShuffleBrain, who gave a great presentation on the psychology and practices behind successful games and how to apply them to web apps. Showing how gaming principals make many popular sites work (with a case study on YouTube), Kim’s talk gave practical advice applicable to any social media site. Here’s the slideshow:
The table conversation allows the startup “rookies” — defined as being a part of their first startup (or not yet part of one) and having raised less than $1 million — to ask whatever they’d like about business, make connections, learn from veterans, and meet investors. My tablemates at last night’s event included Rashmi Sinha, CEO of SlideShare, Matt Cutts from Google, and founders from various startups including Apture, Foodzie, techVenture, Life360, among others. Each table brings a good mix of first-time founders, people itching to do a startup, investors (typically both VC and Angel), seasoned entrepreneurs, and a moderator. The conversation is generally open, engaging, and off-the-record.
February’s speaker will be Jeffrey Veen of Adaptive Path and Google fame. The price of the event is $40 for the invited rookies, but we’ve procured five free tickets for TechCrunch readers. All you have to do is 1) be a startup founder, rookie, or wannabe and 2) leave a comment below explaining why you want to go. We’ll pick the best five submissions and send the winners to the event.
UPDATED:: Here’s the entire video of the event:
I am a rookie, no doubt about that. But I have an idea that is going to revolutionalize our online and offline lives. That’s what’s been keeping me up at night bubbling with new ideas and working at putting them together.
Once I pull it off it won’t be long till I’d be invited to Startup2Startup to help the next revolutionaries (I’m also planing to get Crunchies 2009 awards…)
10 Reasons why we want to go? (in no particular order)
1. We are a start-up formed by undercover geeks
2. We have a BIG IDEA that will get you hooked online
3. We believe we can take social networking to the next level
4. We are twitter-holics
5. We know how to engage our audience
6. We have PASSION!
7. We know brand engagement = opportunity and we have the very platform to execute this
8. We believe everyone is an “influencer”
9. Web 2.0 is all about PEOPLE
10. We work hard, yet know how to have fun!
We have a start-up company about internet telecom service. Without any precondition, you can apply for your account (phone number) from our website, and make free calls to the others over the internet. We have run for 4 years.
It seems Skype or MSN, right? Yes if you use the softphone download from our website. But how can you get my call when you power off your computer? That’s big problem in Skype, MSN or other Instant Messaging. Our solution is very simple. You may buy an IP Phone from us. Your IP Phone will be online 24 hours a day. You can’t miss any income call. Also, it is more nature and convenient to dial or answer a call by the IP Phone.
You may view us as a vendor of IP Phone (or chat machine) for Skype or MSN. Actually, we have our own internet telecom system on the internet, which is based on our proprietary P2P technology.
We sell the IP Phone as well as other hardware such as enterprise gateway, IP PBX. We also sell the license for soft switch and conference call control, for the enterprise market.
I am looking for some guys for our marketing in Silicon Valley. The passion for creating a great company from a start-up is necessary.
Many people thought the internet telephony is worse than traditional one. You will change your mind if you have a try for ours. Oh, maybe you have an impulse to try, visit http://www.headcall.com .
So much I have said, shouldn’t I get the invitation for the next Startup2Startup ?
By the way, if any body here has an interesting in joining us, contact me at yanghm.cn (at) gmail.com.
Hey, I’m working on a company that would match students with small and medium sized business for internships. There aren’t enough internships available to meet demand (especially for younger college students in their freshman and sophomore years). My view is that the current system of allocating college labor is inefficient, and I’m trying to take advantage of every opportunity to rectify this situation.
Obviously, this would be an excellent opportunity to learn and get advice on my idea, and I’m very excited at the chance to attend. However, since the market for my business is small companies, the information I could gain would be invaluable to move things along. Thanks for considering me. If anyone has any questions or feedback, I’d love to hear them. Email me at dmh17@duke.edu
Doug
to meet angels to raise money now, to know VC’s to raise money later.
launch at TC60 in September.
because I have answers to the music biz.
24 years old w/ superstar team. I’m on fiya! (fire)
Hello,
My partner and I own Work It Training (www.workittraining.com) based out of Austin, Texas. We provide 1-on-1 and small group fitness training to our clients. Whether you are looking to lose weight, tone or build muscle, we work with our clients to help them achieve their fitness and health goals. Instead of quick fixes and trendy diets, we engage our clients in a more intimate partnership that empowers them to establish life-long health and fitness and health goals.
We have gathered a lot of client feedback on issues that they have said have prevented them from meeting their health and fitness goals in the past. We believe we have come up with a novel and innovative solution to take the principles and practices that we have learned at Work It Training to the next level. We are currently in the seed stage of our new idea. In doing our research we have not yet found an example of another business that matches what we have in mind. We feel that our idea is a great intersection of the health and fitness industry with social networking media.
We would love the opportunity to explain our idea in more detail in a positive and welcoming environment with other rookie entrepreneurs, as well as seasoned entrepreneurs and veterans.
Thank you for reading and look forward to the opportunity.
Dear Henry and TechCrunch,
I’m Mike Moradian, Founder/President of CampusBuddy.com and a startup rookie.
I, along with my team, have worked hard to create on one the largest student-related Facebook applications and a Facebook enabled sites. The site analyzes of 80 million official course grades–the most on the web–making it one of the most objective places on the internet for students to seek information of colleges and professors. We’re dedicated TechCrunch readers, and were even featured in TC on Oct 17, 08. The opportunity to attend Startup2Startup would mean a lot to CampusBuddy and the team of Startup rookies behind it.
Thank you very much,
Mike
CampusBuddy.com
I’m tired of being laid off (my 5th time last friday). I’m also tired of hearing about people getting funding for ideas I’ve already had (and also had better plans for execution).
First, please know that I read TechCrunch everyday…yes, even Sunday, and I know the enormous opportunity this is. I have been following the global tech start-up community for several years always hoping to be counted among them. This past year I have taken the plunge and I am ALL IN. I use my day job to fund my start-up and have invested all personal resources and free time toward making my dream happen. It is getting close.
One of the items that has been hard to overcome is in how to keep a simple/user friendly design on top of a sophisticated and powerful application. So having a chance to meet and mingle with Jeffrey Veen, the guy who wrote the book on this (literally), would be incredibly APPRECIATED. Not to mention that the timing is perfect for where I am in development.
So, while I would benefit from the connections and “picking of peoples’ brains” like everyone else, the immediate value me for is that this might well be an impetus for a critical design change that I have overlooked that may make all the difference.
Lastly, I would like to think that I do have something to contribute to those there, having had a variety of career and educational experiences.
Thanks for your consideration.
Wow! I’d do laps in a speedo around my snowed-in house to go to this. I’m a senior in college who has worked on an online social investing platform in the Boston area for the past two years. We’ve grown fast and been on CNBC and in the Journal, and now we’re just surviving like everybody else. I’d love to bring my start-up mind and experience to a table of brilliant entrepreneurs and investors. I’ll put on a bow-tie and be their waiter for the night if that’s what will get me there.
Thanks for your time! -Brendan
http://www.Beat...ngAddiction.com
I’m 22 years old and about to enter “the real world.” I know that I could never be happy working for someone else. So, I’m essentially left with one option: running a startup. Luckily, I have a little black book filled with business and product ideas. I’ve prioritized them by feasibility and startup cost and know which one to begin with (In fact I’m within a few weeks of a launch). All I need is help pulling the trigger.
I’m looking for that initial push off the edge to see if I can fly.
This is a great opportunity for the veterans to motivate and mentor newcomers. We all need role models showing the way, and proving that any idea can succeed as long it is good.
I would love to get the ability to get inspired and challenged on my startup, that launched today – http://www.mentory.com.
This website is facilitating the same principle, invite a mentor i.e. role model to make you grow and achieve your goals.
/Natasha
The question really is “who do you want to have at the event?” I’m sure everyone who posts a request here would benefit from the exposure and feedback this event would bring them. But, you’re likely looking to invite committed people with innovative ideas. People who have a reasonable probability of creating a successful enterprise.
I am 2 years into development on a broadband delivered advertising based game system that would be disruptive to the current ad models in play.
The overwhelming response from institutional investors, marketing, advertising and entertainment execs has been, “This is hot (or cool), come back when you’re further along.”
My issue is access. Access to a community that “gets it” and has the technology to build it out. South Florida is great for networking certain things, (biomedical, telecom, aerospace…) but not too great for consumer marketing and entertainment. Your attendees and guests are far more attuned to what I have to offer.
A few minutes of time with some of those who are seeking sharply focused people with ideas that demonstrate exceptional opportunity would surely serve to accelerate the development of this project.
I’m at the stage where linking with your community makes good sense both for me and for them.
Thank you kindly for your consideration.
Marc C.
I spent the past 4 years developing and selling a software product (a ‘Rapid Application Development Framework’) that fully leveraged best of breed open source software.
The first 2 were spent in development, the next 2 attempting to expand it with a company it was sold to (I’m not driving a Porsche). We completely rebuilt the product from the ground up. Nonetheless, in the end – we failed. We were unable to get enough internal support for continued development inside what was a professional services firm resistant to change, much less the necessary resources for external marketing. It is not easy to switch from doing services to attempting to become a product company. At the least it was a great learning experience, one of many projects to come.
So I have the stamp of entrepreneur on my resume, but am still very much a rookie when it comes to financing and then marketing a product. This is really where the ‘rubber meets the road’, how things actually get launched and become successful. I have the technical know how, and creative thinking and resourcefulness in spades. It’s that next step – of turning a techie into a successful business and sales person, supplying them with networking and guidance, that Startup2Startup provides, that I would like to be a part of.
I have a product in the RIA/modeling space that would benefit greatly from having me attend the event. My success: after a successful launch, being able to come back as a veteran to contribute back to the community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Once upon a time…there was a young college student named Jake. Jake had been using Facebook for a couple years to communicate with all his college friends and recently decided that he would accept his mom and dad’s invitation to join his network. He thought to himself, “Why not? Facebook has so many cool tools I could use to stay in touch with my family.” Unfortunately, Jake went to a big party last Saturday and made a few boo boos:
a. Jake did one too many keg stands
b. Made out with a toilet seat
c. Streaked across campus
d. And was arrested for urinating in the Chancellor’s garden
Although Jake thought this was another typical Saturday, his parents thought differently.
The following afternoon, tagged pictures, wall posts, videos, and messages flooded in, corroding the decency of Jake’s profile. His parents took one look at his disgusting performance and… let’s just say Jake’s monthly tuition check just got a whole lot smaller.
If only Jake knew about WebFam he could have started a private network for him and his family where he can easily import “appropriate” photos from his social networks, share blog stories, files, videos, publish websites, and collaborate schedules using a shared calendar, without the a. b. c. and d. happening. webfam.com . . . you want us there…
And we want to be there. WebFam has raised 60k and looking to get further connected with the greater startup community so we can mingle with the same Silicon Valley veterans that have been rejected by their own kids on facebook.
760.525.2409
jrpease@webfam.com
yay…now i can tell my creepy uncle to stop friending me without feeling bad
I would love to get one of the invites. I guess I would qualify both as having done successful startups and am in the middle of yet another one.
But the twist I bring, is that I want to come and see what is really so special about the valley’s way of doing things other than their great self PR that seems to be on constant transmit.
Somehow after the internet was started on the east coast DC in particular the credit seems to have shifted to the west coast SV in particular.
So I would love to come out and learn from the creators to see what I missed while doing things out here in the hinterlands of the world specifically DC.
how about “eat their brain” instead, has a slightly more zombie-ish/hannibal feeling! LOL!
just a way for dave to make himself feel powerful is all I see in it. It’s a power trip is all.
try
or, get a Mac.