Aaron Patzer gave a talk @ a JuicePitcher event about seven days back around the numbers Mint saw by phase prior to its buyout.

09/2007. Mint wins $50k @ TechCrunch50 (startup competition)

· Why it caught my eye Mint was just bought by Quicken for $170M so hearing the CEO of Mint talk about the details of his 3 years up to that is bound to have some tidbits. · Would I recommend you watch it?: Sure. It’s not too long (20 minutes) and the stats he gives on expenses by phase out are not typically available. You can see some of them in the notes below. · Most Notable Point: Typically takes a company, that is going to be successful long term, ~ 5 years to reach $50M in revenue. Took him about 3-4. · Nuance You Might Overlook: Business people don’t play a huge role in the garage phase (building out the prototype). Can lead to tension between founders if one feels they are doing all the work.

Hope it helps. Raw notes below.

*** START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING ***

• 0:2.390 – Intro

……..○ http://vimeo.com/6960507

……..○ Mint CEO – Aaron Patzer on Startups

……..○ Sold Mint for $170M cash to Quicken

• 1:14.791 – Start

……..○ Talk is on accounting

……..○ What you should pay per stage, what you need to go to the next stage

• 2:23.734 – Phases by equity

……..○ Garage Phase < $100k

……..○ Seed < $1M

……..○ Funded > $1M

• 3:3.371 – Overview of him

……..○ EE / Com Sci

• 4:11.837 – Garage Stage Expenses

……..○ Goal is prototype

……..○ No revenue

……..○ Value = $500k per engineer, -$250k per business plan

……..○ Engineers that build for first six months, business raise funds/research (relatively idle)

……..○ 5:54.45 – actual expenses

…………….§ $50k of his $

…………….§ First hires eng -30-50k, 2% equity … after dilution worth a lot, 2nd engineer 1.5%

…………….§ Office – $400/cube/monht

…………….§ Tech – $10k

……..○ Raise seed in 9 months

……..○ Need a technical partner, 50% if there from start

……..○ 3-5 months in and don’t have … 10%, CEO is 20%, VP 5-10%

……..○ Legal – Defer legal to 1st round … 0.5% to 0.75%

……..○ Total – ~ $150k

• 9:24.570 – Seed Launch

……..○ 100-1000 users, usable but not polished

……..○ Shows original design

……..○ 5-6 staff, 1 UI focus, 3-4 eng, 1 biz generalist (marketing, sales, books, recruiting, everything but tech)

……..○ $750k raised by angels

……..○ His salary $50k/year

……..○ VP Engineer – $180k/year … to $90k w/ 4% of company

……..○ Salaries – $450k, Overhead $100k, Legal $50k,

……..○ Total burn – $600k

……..○ Legal costs .. $750k costs 35k + legal counsel … 30-40k … to get seed funds … so $690 after fees

……..○ 12:30.964 – Revenue Projections

…………….§ Will be made up

…………….§ Average takes 6-7 years to get to $50M

…………….§ Biggest key is market opp and $/transaction

……..○ 13:45.653 – Define Market

…………….§ Talk about competitors

…………….§ Goal revenue per user per year … 3 years back … right on (+/- 30% but not 10x off)

……..○ 15:13.339 – Referrals & Lead Gen

…………….§ User Base * Rev/user/year = Opps

• 15:43.583 – Funding for Launch / Lead

……..○ Hidden expenses (patents, trademarks, contracts, etc)

……..○ $400/month for salary

……..○ One time expenses (patent, finance legal, consultants, servers, etc … every month $150-200k)

……..○ Assume average people cost of $200k/year (about 30 people at this point)

……..○ Earn ~ $6M / year

• 17:28.519 – Build A Model for when to raise funding

……..○ COGs vs Revenue vs Opex

…………….§ Who is active customers, customer growth

……..○ $20k/employee/month is the spend per employee

• 19:3.192 – Exit (Aquired)

……..○ Not just the cash

……..○ Incredibly gratifying

……..○ Learning all the skills (marketing, sales, recruiting, mgmt, etc) – great skills regardless of win/lose

……..○ Create something from nothing is a great thing

……..○ Tracks $200M in flow, $60B in assets … tracked now in MINT

……..○ He is 28 years old

Kevin Rose (founder of Digg and WeFollow) gave a talk recently at FOWA. Link to actual discussion is http://vimeo.com/6905398.

· Why it caught my eye Viral traffic growth. An elusive beast. · Would I recommend you watch it?: Absolutely. His points, while summarized well by many are clarified by his examples. · Most Notable Point: Ego. Define your core use case and then design to fulfill user ego if possible. Does your app create sense of self worth? Value? For the user. · When should you fast forward? Q&A wasn’t notable. · What the audience didn’t hear: His point on marketing by approaching jr. bloggers with your startup story intriguing. Also, loved his example that Farmville (on Facebook) which I have played (thanks to my boys) and has more active users than World of WarCraft.

As always, for those amused here are my raw notes …

*** START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING ***

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:42 AM

……………..§ Kevin – Intro

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:43 AM – EGO

……………..§ Doesn’t drive design … but should influence design you need for the business goal

……………..§ What emotional rewards

……………..§ What visible rewards (badges, etc)

……………..§ Good Examples

……………………..□ 10/6/2009, 9:45 AM Twitter

…………………………….® Followers – Celebrity as free endorser (New idea)

…………………………………….◊ Works due to simple friend model

…………………………………….◊ Becomes a social currency … more is better (bigger platform)

…………………………………….◊ False follower concept is reality

……………………..□ 10/6/2009, 9:48 AM Digg Leaderboard

…………………………….® Who has submitted the most stories … Top Digg poweruser goal

…………………………….® Permlink page … size of icon for submitter is larger and friending icon

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:50 AM – SIMPLICITY

……………..§ Overbuild features

……………..§ Just release something (do it really well) and see what users do with it .

……………..§ Constantly ask what to remove

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:51 AM – BUILD and RELEASE

……………..§ Don’t debate features

……………..§ Put it out there

……………..§ Build, release, analyze, repeat

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:52 AM – HACK THE PRESS

……………..§ Invite only systems

……………………..□ Press likes limited story (bloggers)

……………..§ Logged in user to see categories

……………..§ Talk to jr. bloggers (talk to the staff @ TechCrunch for example)

……………..§ Attend parties of events you can’t afford (i.e. Web 2.0 costs $3-4k) … so hit after parties . Have demo in hand

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:56 AM – START PODCAST

……………..§ It’s not about numbers here … core of your community looks for this

……………..§ Launch party, quarterly parties

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:58 AM – ADVISORS

……………..§ What technical issues are probable (scale, server, etc)

……………..§ Can be biz/dev or tech

……………..§ Stock compensation . Small % . Vests over course of years

………○ 10/6/2009, 9:59 AM – USERBASE TO SPREAD WORD

……………..§ Farmville – Facebook app … larger user base than WoW

……………………..□ Notes to you that your friends are helping you when you are away . Pull stagnate friends back in due to feeling of owing them (they help to get free points)

……………………..□ Rare blacksheep given away

……………..§ WeFollow – Enable people to tweet out a pre-built msg … with their keywords

……………………..□ 10/6/2009, 10:02 AM – Graph of user growth … spike with add of welcome splash with call to action to add to directory giving them data of adding themselves

………○ 10/6/2009, 10:02 AM – DOES YOUR PRODUCT ADD VALUE TO 3RD PARTY SITE

……………..§ Wall Street gives link to Digg on every page as it adds value to WSJ

………○ 10/6/2009, 10:03 AM – ANALYZE TRAFFIC

……………..§ Google Analytics

……………………..□ Top exit pages, paths

………○ 10/6/2009, 10:03 AM – LOOK AT BIG PICTURE

……………..§ Users contribute – Quality Content

……………..§ Traffic from content

……………..§ Traffic nets to buttons (digg reference)

………○ 10/6/2009, 10:04 AM – Q&A

……………..§ B2B Advice on viral design – Not much to say there

……………..§ 10/6/2009, 10:06 AM – Moonfruit promotion on twitter good/bad – They offered to give a macbook to someone that promotes their service. Shut down by twitter due to volume. Digg (us) focus on show people what they are going to send not a generic plug.

……………..§ Visibly punish (opposite of reward)? – No do not. Users don’t know always they are gaming. Many times people digg 500 stories but to them it’s a game. User onboarding can help less users going off the deep end. Focus them on positive tasks.

……………..§ 10/6/2009, 10:08 AM – Companies don’t pay for marketing / advertisting … does Digg pay for some? Digg has not paid for marketing. Focus on meetups and get togethers.

……………..§ 10/6/2009, 10:10 AM – Demographics of Digg? 95% male started. Expanded content w/ version 3. Will do more promotion at the vertical level (i.e. Rock climbing). 3000 follow knitting.

Actually, Judy wrote a book titled “Close the Innovation Gap” but I was more taken by the four points she laid out as keys as they seemed so clear:

• Leadership
• Policy
• Culture
• Funding

I was impressed with her clarity of though on this subject.   This is no “Tim Ferris” marketing ploy1.  She did some hard research here and pulled out some very concise messages.

So if you are in business, or responsible for an area of a business I would ponder what she has to say..

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

1-Side comment on Ferris, I continue to read aspects of his book and ponder.  He did have some notable insights as well … just too much marketing oil for me.

* START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

• Judy Estrin Author
• 9/5/2008, 6:40 AM Start
• Author
………………○ serial entrepreneur, worked on protocol w/ Stanford, CTO Cisco for 2 years, PackageDesign,
………………○ Thinking about innovation on 2004
• Complex for a set of reasons
………………○ Incremental innovation
………………○ Disruptive
………………○ Disruptive but not breakthrough (ipod, not genetic engineering)
• Its an ecosystem
………………○ Research community – furthers understanding
………………○ Dev comm – builds
………………○ App comm – Applies
………………○ Google example – Algorithm –> Product –> Execution (innovated in all areas)
………………○ 9/5/2008, 6:45 AM Energy example
• 9/5/2008, 6:45 AM — Where are we (US)
………………○ Sits on board of FedEx and Walt Disney
………………○ Valley is more risk averse … as is large corporations … so incremental innovation focus
………………○ Talked to — Tech, Educators, Policy, Life Science, Etc
………………○ Found – - Policy problem
………………………………§ Innovation gap in last 8 years … over harvested in last 8 years
………………………………§ Most interesting things are based on disruptors that are 10-20 years old
………………………………§ Became more short term focused in the way funding worked … not funding lab work. After 2000 acute in % of spend. Respect for science. Listening to science.
………………………………§ Kids — not inspired to be science / tech
• 9/5/2008, 6:50 AM Kids
………………○ Not inspired to learn how things work
………………○ Bauer Comment – wouldn’t it be interesting to allow kids to virtually break down and assemble the pieces of things. Like CAD/CAM light.
………………○ Can’t tinker today
• 9/5/2008, 6:52 AM Can do
………………○ Virtual worlds
………………………………§ Bauer Comment – Amusing. She and I think about it
• 9/5/2008, 6:53 AM Education
………………○ US are more anti-immigrant
………………○ Lower class focus (like Mexico) to block
………………○ Harder for US Foreign Nationals to stay here (Israel)
………………○ Her response
………………………………§ Great upper ed
………………………………§ But policy of immigration got clamped down when we needed to expand
………………………………………………□ Bauer Comment – Ouch for the us nationals (supply and demand) in tech sector
………………………………§ Need to be able to: Risk, Be Open, Patience, Self Assess, Trust
………………………………§ Need a balance of the above … enough to be real …
………………………………§ Innovation is not zero sum … US vs China … no … but if US doesn’t innovate with them we are toast
………………………………§ Two things hurt innovation — Policy (immigration) and Classification of Federal Research
………………○ Google doesn’t share as much research
………………………………§ They help by open up aspects of their source
………………○ MSFT Research … give a lot of credit of becoming more open
• 9/5/2008, 6:55 What is the difference between research and Dev
………………○ Research about furthering understanding. No outcome. Applied research is constrained to a problem. Usage research with consideration of application.
………………○ Development is building something
………………○ Disruptive research is unclear … ie dustbuster came from moon program
………………○ Tendancy today is too much of “how is this used”,
………………○ 9/5/2008, 7:03 AM Solar Energy example …. Wants VC to have more patience
………………………………§ Bauer Comment – Patience will only occur with payback models they can see that are better odds or multiples than today.
………………………………§ Scoble points out market for energy in Europe
• 9/5/2008, 7:05 AM Leadership, Policy, Culture, Funding
………………○ Impacts to innovation
………………○ Same inside company and outside of company
………………………………§ Bauer Comment – Cockroach model enables innovation due to reducing financial requirements
• 9/5/2008, 7:07 AM Talk of Government Innovation
………………○ Afraid of government not google
………………○ Candidate runs on create change
………………○ Middle ground of government and free markets
………………○ Gov, Business, and Non-Profits need to address problems
………………○ Markets are too short term focused so they can’t solve this
………………………………§ Bauer Comment – Which is why floors on types of energy, as an example, are key to R&D
• 9/5/2008, 7:10 AM How people help
………………○ Create innovative environments
………………○ Think long term
………………○ Talk about longer term problems
………………○ Wrote book to escalate dialog around this
• 9/5/2008, 7:12 AM Solutions of Long Tail
………………○ Can’t procrastinate
………………○ Pick small battles that help … don’t try to win the war
………………………………§ Bauer Comment – Similar to startups, daily battles are the key … not the scoreboard on a given day.
• 9/5/2008, 7:13 AM Is there hope?
………………○ You can be fooled by the valley … they are just a part of the US innovation need
………………○ The rest of historical US isn’t holding line
………………○ However, there is hope

** END RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

I bumped into this webcast from others referencing it as a ‘must watch’ from NextWeb 2008. So, while I had sworn off pondering semantics for awhile (too early for most clients) I decided I should check it out. I wasn’t disappointed. Nova Spivack (CEO of Twine) gave the best 101 on Semantic I have seen: Five approaches to add/infer semantic data How semantic enables JIT database models How semantic enables part of the “Web as an OS” dream Where we are now, where we are going Q&A and moreAs usual, the keys I saw are below plus my usual raw scribble I took while running/watching this.

Details Notable Points Title/Link: NextWeb Presentation Slides (Excellent clarity & flow) Duration: ~45m Presenter: Nova Spivack AI focus (I knew I liked him for a reason), Co-Founded Earthweb which created DICE.com Recommend to Watch? Yes Put aside that he and I both agree this is early adopter material … you need to watch this to begin to get your head around it. If what he is saying shakes out … the tooling to enable semantic frameworks around data is 2-3 years away from prime time. That is just a blink (especially if you have kids). 1. Queue the “Circle Of Life” Song … Web 3.0 Returns Us To The Backend via Semantic Tools He made some excellent points on the cyclical nature of development focus and how Web 2.0 is all about the UI. The next wave, however, will refocus us on the backend and the catalyst for that will be the value semantic structures can bring to businesses (he has some great slides on that). Primarily he pointed to how documents and data exploding on the web making algorithmic search models like Google begin to be inefficient. 2.Not AI … AS (as in Artificial Stupidity) Perhaps a joke only a AI major would appreciate. His point was that AI can’t solve complex riddles like deriving semantic data for existing stuff. It can help but it is more of tool for the human mind to apply … than a machine you can delegate this task to. 3. Smart Data … Dumb Software Another good word play. Here he was talking about how enriching data with semantics can enable the applications that consume it to become dumber about the specifics of data (relationships between it, what it means). Instead all of the application focus can be on how to dynamic leverage data that is presented to it based on its associated semantics. I think his venture Twine is something along that front.

I’m am going to ask to get an invitation to the beta of Twine. From that I hope to get a better sense of what he is seeing here.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

*************************************************
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****** START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING ******
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• 6/6/2008, 6:11 AM
• Radar Networks – CEO – Nova Spivack
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Product called Twine
• Excellent article hitting topics -
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/is-keyword-search-about-to-hit-its-breaking-point/
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ http://thenextweb.org/2008/04/03/nova-spivack-the-semantic-web-as-an-open-and-less-evil-web/
• 6/6/2008, 6:12 AM
• Overview
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Stuff = Nouns
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Connections = Verbs
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Social Graph is subset of Semantic Graph
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Improves collab, integration of data, personalization, etc
• 6/6/2008, 6:15 AM
• Web 3.0
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Coming 3rd Decade of Web (till in 2.0)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Focus enrich structure of web
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ File Server to Database
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – nice slide showing evolution by web ‘waves’ (1, 2, 3, etc)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Pendulum from front end focus to a back end focus
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ 3.0 backend … 4.0 back to front end based on improved backend
• 6/6/2008, 6:18 AM
• Failure of search as data on web increases
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – another referenced graph that is solid (on his blog)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Solutions
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1. Tagging
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2. Natural language search
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3. Semantic (goes into understanding meaning of natural search)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a. Keyword search is capped out
• 6/6/2008, 6:19 AM
• Five approaches to add / infer from data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1. Tagging
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1) Bad due to inconsistency between public taggers
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a) Bauer Comment – he talk about how large data set can analyze the tags and reach a common definition of tags from the crowd (UX card sorting in mass)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2. Statistical Approach
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1) Google
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3. Linguistic Approach
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1) Understand meaning of text … rules, grammar, etc … read the text systemically
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2) Great but high CPU, hard to scale, language dependancies
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4. Semantic web
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1) Set of standards (open) make the semantic web (W3)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2) Semantic technologies
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a) Express, infer meaning of things
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3) Meta Data … put into the data that describes meaning of data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4) Does w/ open standards
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5) Problems — Hard to scale, who makes all this meta-data on existing content
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5. Artificial Intelligence
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1) Decades away … Cycorp in US … 15 years manually keying human knowledge
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2) Wikipedia – AI on top might do better keeping up w/ human consensus
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3) Huge in 4.0 …. But far away
• 6/6/2008, 6:24 AM
• How to compare add/infer data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Software smarter
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Data smarter
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ AI is both
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Semantic web is in the middle
• 6/6/2008, 6:26 AM
• Two paths
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Manual – RDF, L … too hard
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Top down – Automatically generating … from content .. More practical
• Twine
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Use RDF … top down
• Make a higher resolution web as each piece of data carries more information about it
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Types (person, city)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Relationship (like ‘lives in’)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Google is just pages / links
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – Key becomes normalizing, in effect, static content via verbs and nouns descriptions
• Bauer Comment – Between websites imply global nouns
• Smart data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Enables dumb software …. To become smart via the enriched data
• Applications evolve that read semantic data and are independent of vertical (health, etc)
• He wants to not use AI … use AS (Artificial Stupidity)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – good word play … helps clarify role of machine in complex decision chain
• 6/6/2008, 6:31 AM
• JIT in time data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Semantic web pulls in just when needed
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Problem in past way communicating schema (i.e. XML, DDL)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Semantic web … does it via an entology … a page on web … makes sense of data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – sounds like XML to me
• 6/6/2008, 6:33 AM
• Making the web an OS
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ File system aspect could be based on semantic
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – How does MESH play into this … or similar
• Open – Ontologies, Rules, Data Records, Data Mappings, Query Interface,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Bauer Comment – Key break down of basic semantic framework
• Standards
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ OWL – Built on RDF … more expressive schemas
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ SWIRL – Rules Language
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Griddle – Transform data
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Sparkle – Another RDF solution
• 6/6/2008, 6:36 AM
• Basic Unit of Data in Semantic Web
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Triple – Subject , Predicate, Object (susan, works for, IBM)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ URI – Points to location on web with further information on each piece (for the triple) …
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – Linking database definitions or file definitions cross site
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Then link data records – create open database
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Better term “Data Web”
• 6/6/2008, 6:39 AM
• Table isn’t how we think
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ List of triples … but lists get really REALLY long … talking billions
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Vomits a DB to stick triples in DB
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Solve this via ‘Triple Store” … new DB designed for this
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Easier to maintain
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ List A + List B = List C
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,□ Bauer Comment – Hello VSAM
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Form and Dissolve database relationship structure
• 6/6/2008, 6:41 AM
• Linked data universe
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Number of ontologies cover various Ontologies
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Reviews, Music, Communities, etc
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – Open XML standards are similar
• 6/6/2008, 6:42 AM
• Right now
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Early adoption period
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ A lot of momentum in developers … early applications like Twine
• Focus today is how to become more open
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Data portability project
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Semantic web enables portability
• Very hard … no tools
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Two examples
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ FOOF – Friend of Friend
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Shock – Sharing forums
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ API’s get more open in next year
• Twine
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ TO get into beta — nova@radarnetworks.com nextweb2008 twine
• Q&A
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ 6/6/2008, 6:47 AM
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Economic consequences of this? New business models? Theme.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Semantic web doesn’t create new business models. Just makes existing ones better.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – Better can be disruption for existing players that don’t change
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Example of new player – Singechay (sp?) … semantic commerce, ads, etc
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Open standards … enable?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Semantic web … can you use it to lock in users?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Technically if you use the open standards … it is easier (in his view)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Focus more on value creation … not lock in
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Trick to lock in … make your own Ontology … stuck in your system
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Reason web succeeded was simple … Semantic web isn’t
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Key question is how long did WWW take to get defined … 15 years
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ We typically think of explosion point in early 90’s
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Get to point of ‘easier’ to use
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Gap is tools for Semantic web … estimate 1st wave 12-18 months … twine is open up hosted development tools
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Semantic requires definitions of objects and relationships… how get agreement
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – Whispering in background about ‘free beers at door’ … hehe
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Semantic web designed for disagreement
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Good but many definitions
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – Similar to MLS in real estate market
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Built into standard you can map across Onotologies
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Anyone can make associations … community driven …
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Bauer Comment – so the walls come down via crowd
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,○ Amazed on how quickly google tagged images online
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Twine is doing same .
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Social network for sharing knowledge … discover around interest
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Add information auto tags
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Learn and make recommendations
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Open more in summer / fall
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,§ Tries to automate RDF setup
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Given I spend so much of my life heads down I try to periodically look up and listen to speakers on the subject of the purpose of work and life as a whole. Randy Pausch, author of the best seller Last Lecture, is my most recent counsel on that front. You see, Randy Pausch was given six months to live back in late 2007, but has used that time as a platform to demonstrate how to live life … even in the face of death. So, when I noticed that Randy was giving the ‘charge’ to the current graduating class of Carnegie Mellon I thought: I wonder how he is doing. More importantly, what is he thinking. As usual, Randy didn’t let me down. My thoughts … on his thoughts … below (and detail notes of course).

Details Notable Points Title/Link: 5/18/08 Address 9/21/08 – Good Morning America Interview (best summary) 9/18/08 – The Last Lecture Duration: ~5m ~10m ~85m Presenter: Randy Pausch Professor @ Carnegie Mellon specializing in Virtual Worlds Recommend to Watch? Yes Specifically I would watch the ABC summary clip. It summarizes his key points well from the 9/18 lecture that started it all. Then the 5/18 address as I think it was on of his better insights (and new). The lecture itself is probably something you want to skim the notes on. 1. We don’t beat the reaper by living longer … We beat him by living well This was his best point. Today’s society is so focused on how long we can live and not so much on what it means to live well. Really that is what matters. 2.It isn’t what you DID that bothers you on your death bed, it’s what you DIDN’T I know personally there are things I hope to chase and haven’t … 3. Find Your Passion … In People Randy points out that passion focused around things and/or money is a slippery slope. Both are easily measured and others will always have more leading to a life of chasing what can never be attained as the target is always moving. However, your passion will always be yours and attainable. More interestingly, as you discover your passion you find it is intricately interwoven in people. In relationships. These relationships are also attainable and rewarding. Especially when they are founded on respect and true love for one another. 4. What Focuses I notated in the title “What focuses” because it intrigues me how I didn’t know Randy Pausch before he became terminally ill … but I should have. Its interesting how I (and people in general) allocate attention when death is involved. Would we have listened to Randy’s words if he wasn’t dying? I don’t think I would have as it would of been similar to so many voices on the subject. But, similar to Tuesday’s With Morrie and My Life, when the speaker is clearly dying … a ring of truth arises … an aura of focus. And rightly so. My (our) increased focus on Randy due to his situation is actually a corollary to our lives in total. His situation is our situation. We are all dying. And when we realize our time is finite we become inspired/focused on how to live it ‘well’ to Randy’s first point. Wouldn’t it be great if we had such focus all the time?

Moving on, I think the last ‘notable point’ above is the point I am taking forward to ponder more.

How do I maintain perspective on each the gift of each moment?.

If I can solve that for myself, I suspect I will be answer Randy’s challenge of living well when my time comes.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

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Randy Pausch
83k views
……………..

…………….○
…………….○ Randy Pausch addresses graduating class
…………….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5×6gZTA&feature=userhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5×6gZTA&feature=user
…………….○ 6/5/2008, 7:07 AM
…………………………..§ Recap of his
…………………………………………□ He loves carnegie mellon
…………………………………………□ Cancer update … on month 9
…………………………..§ Beating Grim Reaper …
…………………………………………□ Don’t beat by living longer
…………………………………………□ Beat by living well
…………………………………………□ Reaper will come for all of us
…………………………………………□ Key is what you do between when you are born and when he shows up
…………………………………………□ Once he shows it is too late
…………………………..§ What we did isn’t what we regret … it what we didn’t do
…………………………………………□ From his view looking at his life
…………………………..§ Passion (find it)
…………………………………………□ It is never too late
…………………………………………□ Find it … follow it
…………………………………………□ Not in things …
…………………………………………□ Not in money …
…………………………………………□ In people
…………………………..§ To be thought well of by your peers is a tremendous honor
…………………………..§ So your passion will be grounded in people and the relationships and what they think of you
…………………………..§ Reference to late marriage being an indicator of passion for spouse … true love
…………………………………………□ Carries her off
…………….○
…………….○ Original “Last Lecture” Notes
…………….○

Druation 1:15
Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
…………….○ 2.5 Million Viewers
…………….○ 3-6 months to live
…………….○ 6/4/2008, 6:11 AM
…………….○ Example of health … push ups … good shapes
…………….○ Not talking about
…………………………..§ Cancer, my wife/kids, spirituality/religion
…………………………..§ Did just buy a mac
…………………………..§ Bauer Comment – he is funny
…………….○ Todays Talk
…………………………..§ His dreams
…………………………..§ Enable dreams of others
…………………………..§ Lessons learned
…………….○ 6/4/2008, 6:13 AM
…………….○ Born in 1960 … 8 years old on moon landing
…………….○ Inspiration to dream
…………….○ His dream
…………………………..§ Zero gravity, Playing in NFL, World Book Author, Captain Kirk, Stuffed Animals, Disney Imagineer
…………………………..§ Zero Gravity
…………………………………………□ Did the vomit comet
…………………………………………□ Got around rules by applying as a journalist
…………………………..§ NFL
…………………………………………□ Learned team … from Coach Jim Graham (sp?) … 22 guys … 1 guy w/ ball
…………………………………………□ Get fundamentals down
…………………………………………□ Coach riding him was a gift … bad place is when no one says anything as you screw up
…………………………………………□ Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – Good point
…………………………………………□ Learn indirectly … head fake learning
…………………………..§ Article in World Book
…………………………………………□ Authored article for virtual reality
…………………………..§ Meeting Captain Kirk
…………………………………………□ Great role model
…………………………………………□ Not smartest guy (spock, scotty)
…………………………………………□ Leadership was his skill
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – Hard to measure … but interesting point … no love for Kirk
…………………………………………□ Met Kirk. Came to see their VR setup of red alert
…………………………………………□ Cool was his idol coming to see him
…………………………..§ 6/4/2008, 6:25 AM
…………………………..§ Winning Stuffed Animals
…………………………………………□ Won a lot of them
…………………………..§ 6/4/2008, 6:27 AM
…………………………..§ Being an Imagineer
…………………………………………□ For Disney
…………………………………………□ Hit brick wall
…………………………………………□ Point of brick walls is to stop people that don’t want it badly enough
…………………………………………□ So here is how he worked around it … VR on $5/day
…………………………………………□ Walt Disney … Denying VR … Aladdin Attraction … Gator Vision
……………………………………………………….® Brief secretary of Defense on VR
……………………………………………………….® Gave him excuse to meet Walt Disney use Sec Defense meeting … to see their setup
……………………………………………………….® 80 hours … talking to all experts in world … what to ask disney
……………………………………………………….® 2hr lunch w/ Jon Snody … Sabbatical coming up … asked to work w/ them
……………………………………………………….® Wait long enough …people will surprise and impress you
…………………………………………□ Dean @ Univ VA (Dean Wormer – Name not important)
……………………………………………………….® Clause on owning IP … told him to block it
……………………………………………………….® Unpaid leave of absence …
……………………………………………………….® Dean said wouldn’t allow that
……………………………………………………….® Got into pissing match … get out of it
……………………………………………………….® Redirect to dean of sponsored research
……………………………………………………….® He talked to him different “Star Prof, Want to Hear more”
…………………………………………□ Some brick walls are made of flesh
…………………………………………□ Charlie and Chocolate Factory
……………………………………………………….® Get everything you wanted … “Lives Happily Ever After”
…………………………………………□ How to put artist and engineers together
…………………………………………□ Turned down being a full time imagineer …
…………………………………………□ Instead became 1 day a week consultant
……………………………………………………….® Virtual Jungle Cruise
……………………………………………………….® Pirates of Caribbean best done
…………………………..§ 6/4/2008, 6:40 AM
…………………………..§ How enable dreams of others?
…………………………………………□ Professorship
…………………………………………□ Tommy … student … told him want to work on next star wars film (1993)
……………………………………………………….® Told him there wouldn’t be a sequel
……………………………………………………….® Tommy work on all 3 of the next films
…………………………………………□ Building virtual worlds (created a course)
…………………………………………□ Random teams … 4 wks … rebuild team … 5 projects a semester
…………………………………………□ Texture mapping, 3D graphics … was awesome
…………………………………………□ No violence, pornography … been done … stumped his male students
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – heh
…………………………………………□ Copied process from VR lab
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – interesting … 2 week sprints … rotate members
…………………………………………□ Students went beyond his expectations … he challenged them to do better
…………………………………………□ 6/4/2008, 6:48 AM
…………………………………………□ Example of hello world
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment … rather amusing at end
…………………………………………□ People would line up to register for his course
…………………………………………□ Favorite … roller skating ninja
……………………………………………………….® World crashed
……………………………………………………….® Pulled out ninja sword … “I am dishonored” die
……………………………………………………….® Teammates drag him off
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – Funny
…………………………………………□ Hard to hand stuff over … find someone better
…………………………..§ 6/4/2008, 6:55 AM
…………………………..§ The Dream Fulfillment Factory
…………………………………………□ Don marinelli (Drama), and him Randy Pausch (CS)
…………………………………………□ Entertainment Technology Center
…………………………………………□ 2 years masters degree … Masters of Entertainment Technology
…………………………………………□ 6/4/2008, 6:58 AM
…………………………………………□ A lot of talk of Don and his serious energy
…………………………………………□ Gives most credit to Don for ETC
…………………………………………□ All time spent making stuff … no book learning
…………………………………………□ 6/4/2008, 6:59 AM
…………………………………………□ No dean’s to report to … liscense to break mold … field trips … 50 students to pixar
…………………………………………□ Have 5 contracts from companies will hire students for summer internships
…………………………………………□ Focus Groups … Learning to Work In Groups
……………………………………………………….® Do peer feedback from each group on how your work style does
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – Great point … broad sample set
……………………………………………………….® Best gift of an educator … help people self reflect
…………………………..§ Alice Project
…………………………………………□ How to teach computer programming
…………………………………………□ Fake kids into learning to code … by helping them to learn code games /movies
…………………………………………□ Alice is his legacy
…………………………………………□ Java … next wave …. 2008 … v3.0 … using SIM characters
…………………………………………□ Wanda is who to email …
…………………………..§ 54min in
…………………………..§ Lessons Learned
…………………………………………□ Parents, Mentors, Students
…………………………………………□ Reflect on his parents
…………………………………………□ His remembers them as giving, fun, talented, etc
…………………………………………□ His dad got the bronze star for service in WWII … never told anyone (found it after he died)
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment – now that is a deep point …
…………………………………………□ Allowed him to paint his room
…………………………………………□ Andy van Dam
……………………………………………………….® Hi mentor
……………………………………………………….® Got him to go to grad school
……………………………………………………….® Dutch uncled him … told him his arrogance would limit him
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Bauer Comment – honesty from a peer
……………………………………………………….® Job advice was best … prof route for career
……………………………………………………….® Told him to use his sales skills selling education … not some widget
…………………………………………□ Best point of all time – student
……………………………………………………….® Why is alice I fun?
……………………………………………………….® Approach teaching as a story telling activity
…………………………………………□ Mentors counsel him to talk about fun
……………………………………………………….® He is having fun … even now
…………………………………………□ Are you tigger or eyore?
…………………………………………□ Never lose childlike wonder
…………………………………………□ Help others
……………………………………………………….® Working class roots
…………………………………………□ Kept his letterman jacket
……………………………………………………….® Shows it
…………………………………………□ Relationships
……………………………………………………….® Loyalty – 2 way street
……………………………………………………….® Student … has dean not liking him … he went in to vouch for him
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Put his tenure case on the line
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Bauer Comment – interesting job risked in favor of people and loyalty
……………………………………………………….® To assess people … ignore what they say … look at what they do
…………………………………………□ Never give up
……………………………………………………….® Never got into Brown University
……………………………………………………….® Carnegie Mellon turned him down … met w/ Dean (met w/ him)
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Bauer Comment – interesting … similar to dana
……………………………………………………….® Talked to Berkley and Cornell … not right
……………………………………………………….® So Dutch called
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Nico .. Allows to see him @ 8 a.m.
……………………………………………………………………………………► Why are we here?
……………………………………………………………………………………► He tried to show he has a fellowship … didn’t matter
……………………………………………………………………………………► Nico wanted to know why …
……………………………………………………………………………………► Key was know why you are blessed and say it
…………………………………………□ How get help from people
……………………………………………………….® Being honest … no hip … earnst
……………………………………………………….® Apologize when you screw up
……………………………………………………….® Focus on others
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Example brings out cake for his wife’s bday in lecture
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Sings b-day song (Jay)
…………………………………………□ Remember Brick Walls … Are there for those that don’t want the dream bad enough
…………………………………………□ Don’t bail … best gold at bottom of barrels of crap
……………………………………………………….® EA sabbatical story
……………………………………………………….® They were going to give funding to another company for Alice concept
…………………………………………□ Get a feedback loop and listen
……………………………………………………….® Data from surveys
……………………………………………………….® Peers
……………………………………………………….® Key is listening … anyone can get chewed out
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Bauer Comment – excellent point
…………………………………………□ Show Gratitude
……………………………………………………….® Took em to disney world
…………………………………………□ Don’t complain … work harder
…………………………………………□ Keys
……………………………………………………….® Be good at something … it makes you valuable
……………………………………………………….® Work hard
……………………………………………………….® Find best in everyone
……………………………………………………….® Luck – prep + opp
…………………………..§ Wrap up
…………………………………………□ His final head fake
…………………………………………□ This isn’t about achieving dreams
…………………………………………□ It is living right … as dreams come true in that manner
…………………………………………□ 2nd head fake
…………………………………………□ All he does (like this) is for his kids
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Have you ever wished …

• For more time?
• To have a greater purpose than just the 9 to 5 job?
• To not have to pay your cable company?
  

I have, so when I tripped across Clay Shirky (author of “Here Comes Everybody: Organizing Without Organizations”) speaking I caught a snippet of these themes in his opening remarks. His style and flow seemed solid … so I hit play and started running.

So, 10 points to Clay for framing an interesting view on what is going on today to enable the community movement behind so many initiatives. It provides definite context on why this isn’t a fad but rather the re-awakening of people … and how they use their time.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

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• 5/7/2008, 6:24 AM
• http://blip.tv/file/855937
• Clay Shirky
…………….○ GIN key was transformation during industrial revolution in London
…………………………..§ Meaning people freaked out, didn’t innovate till they recovered from hangover
…………………………..§ Then the new stuff came — elected officials, libraries, etc
…………….○ Social lubricant for today
…………………………..§ Sit Com
…………………………..§ In our time … 1st time we had ‘free time’
…………………………..§ Went to TV … initially
…………………………..§ TV was our GIN … now we are realizing free time shouldn’t be TV
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:27 AM
…………….○ New Book – Here Comes Everybody
…………………………..§ What is interesting – Wikipedia article on Pluto
…………………………………………□ How community evolved the definition
…………………………..§ The counter was “where do people find the time” from interviewer
…………………………………………□ The time comes from TV (which mass media doesn’t want you to give up)
…………………………..§ 200 BILLION hours a year on TV
…………………………………………□ 2000 Wikipedia projects could be done w/ that
…………………………..§ 100 MILLION HOURS a weekend … watching just the ads
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:30 AM
…………….○ What to do w/ the surplus (like Gin)
…………………………..§ People experiment on how to use
…………………………..§ Explore complex ecosystems … try lots of things
…………………………..§ Failures leave the trail of where not to go
…………….○ Wikimap for crime in Brazil
…………………………..§ Pushpin on Google
…………………………..§ Start see map of where crimes are
…………………………..§ Something society knows but can’t get a accurate easy hold on
…………………………..§ Cops aren’t incented to provide it in a model for consumers to use / slice
…………….○ So the TV generation … finds time … by shutting off TV (like Gin Generation w/ prior)
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:33 AM
…………….○ WOW Guilds
…………………………..§ Doing something w/ people (better than TV)
…………………………..§ Example to Gilligan Island … how they almost ALWAYS got off the island … but never did
…………………………..§ Worse to sit in basement and argue about reality TV
…………………………..§ Better to something than nothing
…………………………..§ Even ‘wall cats’ … hold out invitation for participation … anyone can mark up walls
…………………………..§ Media doesn’t understand
…………………………………………□ Run prior to now as consumption model
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:35 AM
…………….○ Triathlon
…………………………..§ Consumer (sure), Produce, Share
…………………………..§ They will take up offer to produce and share
…………….○ Small change
…………………………..§ 1% … 1 TRILLION HRS of TV a year watched by internet site people
…………………………..§ That’s 1000 Wikipedia sites … which are community models
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:37 AM
…………….○ Isn’t this a Fad (still with his recall of an interview over his book)
…………………………..§ Big one time shift ala industrial revolution
…………….○ Sitting w/ 4 year old daughter — story
…………………………..§ Girl goes behind TV … tryin g Shutting off TV … looking for mouse
…………………………..§ Kids think media w/o mouse are not interactive enough … want that or will go elsewhere
…………….○ 5/7/2008, 6:39 AM
…………….○ Repeat consume, produce, share
…………………………..§ Work hammer, tong … figure out next idea … look for mouse (where it isn’t today) .. Reference to TV story above

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Here is a sign when you need to watch a webcast. You briefly scan the comments … and then, for some reason, one image … one phrase … sticks in your head.

Such was my experience w/ Paul Graham’s reference to why we all (but especially startups) need to be more like cockroaches. I was impressed since:

1. What better visual could a new businesses have for its stakeholders and themselves on the attitude they wanted to take on how time and money should be spent?
   
2. The cockroach as a role model was an interesting one. On one hand you have the eventual masters of planet earth. On the other hand they are ugly.
   

I needed some grounding, so I fired it up to see the context that Paul positioned our six legged friend in.

I am now a Paul Graham fan. Great insights and style of presentation. If you are still reading I would be curious on your views on:

1. How do the businesses we work for (or own, our ourselves personally) do to avoid the temptation of leaving Sherwood Forest (embracing a simple life and giving the rest back)?
   
2. Is that viable? Or just idealism talking?
3. And how about that Cockroach. Is that inspiring or just a gross visual?
   

Deep stuff … for me anyway.

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• Make Something People Want – Paul Graham founder of Ycombinator
• http://omnisio.com/startupschool08/paul-graham-at-startup-school-08
• 5/5/2008, 6:34 AM
…………….○ 280slides is being used for his presentation (some hiccups prior to his pitch)
…………….○ Make something people want
…………………………..§ Not 3 words
…………….○ Don’t worry about money
…………….○ Add together = Non profit
…………………………..§ Weird result … bug or new discovery?
…………….○ For example, Craigslist … is the above
…………………………..§ # of employees @ Craigslist … $/employee is HUGE
…………….○ Get ‘weather gauge’ … to decide when / where to engage
…………………………..§ Low op size gives you weather gauge
…………….○ Focus this thought
…………….○ Focus just on your 1st stage of your company
…………….○ Google was like that … low size
…………….○ There are ideas that have to be profit making companies to be done right (not non-profit)
…………….○ Successful startups … look like non-profits?
…………….○ Would all non-profits make good companies?
…………………………..§ Users have to have money
…………….○ To test idea … ask how far you would go to bet against it
…………………………..§ Benevolent models are hard to beat
…………….○ Just internet startups?
…………………………..§ Look at MSFT
…………………………..§ They were robin hood early on … IBM was the sheriff of nottingham trying to chare high $ for PCs
…………………………..§ They changed to the sheriff later
…………………………………………□ Stock has been flat since they went to sheriff role (due to size)
…………………………..§ Small you can’t bully users … you have to be nice … but once big … you can be mean …
…………….○ Don’t be evil might be the most important point of Paul B. to Google
…………………………..§ Catch is people will hold you to it
…………….○ A lot of evidence is benevolence works
…………….○ 5/5/2008, 6:44 AM
…………….○ 3 ways it helps (benevolence)
…………………………..§ Morale
…………………………………………□ Roller coaster of emotion … downside is your people stop working on downside
…………………………………………□ SO less times of feeling failures … if you feel like you have a greater mission … someone needs your help
…………………………..§ Others want to help
…………………………..§ You are decisive
…………….○ 5/5/2008, 6:46 AM
…………….○ Blogger … low lows … and survived
…………………………..§ One point ran out of money
…………………………..§ Evan Williams came back and he was the only one there … users needing him kept him going
…………………………..§ Users to take care of you are forced to take care of what they want
…………….○ Founder of Chatterous
…………………………..§ They realized they didn’t care if they had to move into their house ..
…………………………..§ Cared less about $
…………………………..§ Investors became more interested … their lack of need … the passion
…………….○ 5/5/2008, 6:48 AM
…………….○ Cockroach image
…………………………..§ This is the model for early phase business
…………………………..§ All come close to death … multiple times
…………………………..§ One attribute … doing good for the world … makes you get off the mat like rocky (my comment)
…………….○ Octapart
…………………………..§ Search site for industrial components
…………………………..§ Right way to search
…………………………..§ Bauer comment – edging in on manufacturers as well of parts
…………………………..§ Digikey … another competitor … trying to force them to stop … they operate on little information on price
…………………………..§ Nice founders
…………………………..§ Dropped out of Berkeley to do this
…………………………..§ He wanted to help them … because people are trying to stop them
…………………………..§ Because they are robin hood (benevolence)
…………………………..§ People will rally …employees, investors, customers
…………….○ A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week
…………………………..§ Picture of a general
…………………………..§ Translation get out there and start the battle … get engaged w/ the customers … will they tell their friends?
…………….○ 5/5/2008, 6:53 AM
…………….○ Being good … good in situation where things change fast
…………………………..§ Lying you have to remember a lot
…………………………..§ Truth you have to remember little
…………………………..§ Example … 80 startups … 57 are alive … invested in
…………………………………………□ When advising 57 … have to have a stateless (not specific to startups) due to they can’t remember
…………….○ Talk about being good … people assume you are beating the drum that you are good
…………………………..§ He isn’t not good
…………………………..§ He was loud … as a kid
…………………………..§ People don’t say he is a great guy … just say ‘he means well’
…………………………………………□ So he is average
…………….○ Don’t just be evil … be good
…………….○ 5/5/2008, 6:56 AM
…………….○ Q&A
…………………………..§ How many startups company’s have motto’s / mission statements / creedo’s?
…………………………………………□ He talked in general
…………………………………………□ Then pointed out the ‘good plan, execute’ concept
…………………………..§ Should people finish college grad degree or go start a company after undergrad
…………………………………………□ Not excited about leaving college
…………………………………………□ Making $ and startups isn’t the only thing in life … have fun … learn stuff …. Your idea might be that great … ideas come along quite often
…………………………..§ Most college graduates work for dropouts
…………………………………………□ Maybe
…………………………………………□ (guy sterotypes that everyone that runs /advises companies … )
……………………………………………………….® Follow your passion
……………………………………………………….® Guy gets loud
…………………………………………□ Maybe (nice counter … must be a Jim Fay fan
…………………………..§ Ideas that are already out there … what material to you read to get ideas
…………………………………………□ Look for problems … find good problems … stuff that seems broken
…………………………..§ What emphasis on web2.0 … all your companies you have funded are web2.0 … versus fundamental problem like search or security
…………………………………………□ Searching for components is fundamental
…………………………………………□ They have funded some infra players … like 2 DBMS players
…………………………………………□ They fund what is applied
…………………………………………□ It’s really driven by what the entrepreneurs are offering to do
…………………………..§ What factors used to determine what you fund
…………………………………………□ What they like …people that do stuff they like
…………………………………………□ No evil
…………………………………………□ Look for people that looks like they are going to exceed
…………………………………………□ Fund founders they like and think they are going succeed … and it turns out their bio is one of benevolence

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Ask 3 people what Live Mesh is you’ll get three answers. Ask 97 more and you’ll get blank looks. Good thing innovation is not a democracy.

Live Mesh was put to a ‘technical release’ last week to perhaps 20,000 of your closest friends. The interesting thing was as you listened to the jabber they all portrayed it differently. Some boring and some hinting at what could be. It was the latter that got my interest but it took three different webcasts (raw scribble from each below) to boil it down for me.

In summary, Live Mesh is worth pondering. What you see now is misleading. It is NOT is just a repackaging of what has been around for awhile (synching files between PCs, remote desktop connectivity). If what is hinted at above is realized it could become the platform for transparency of sharing all files … links, tweets, comments, images, blog posts, docs … across all devices … pcs, phones, OTHER SYSTEMS. If you ponder that prior sentence you can see how it disrupts the current centralized model (sites like MySpace, Facebook, Friendfeed) for social networking. There is no facebook or friendfeed required. All the pieces are pushed around … peer to peer … via live mesh. All you need is your favorite “Mesh” reader to see all the ‘file data’ being synch’d to you and rolled up the way you want it. And MSFT has leverage in that market (PC devices per consumer).

Consider me sold. MSFT’s vision of peer-to-peer when fully baked will trump the current centralized sites that drive it today.

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******** 1st VID – HANDS ON WITH LIVE MESH **********
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• http://on10.net/blogs/nic/Hands-on-with-Live-Mesh/
• 4/24/2008, 6:13 AM
………………○ Live Mesh Team
………………………………§ Noah
………………………………§ George
………………○ Referenced at MIX a few months back
• 4/24/2008, 6:14 AM
• Goal put you at center of your computers and stuff
………………○ Data
………………○ Application / Computer access
• Use cases
………………○ Tie to your rigs
………………○ Data synch
………………○ Remote Desktop (Bauer words)
• BAUER COMMENT – ISNT THIS A FANCY UI ON EXISTING FUNCTIONS?
• 4/24/2008, 6:16 AM
• Demo
………………○ Blue folders allow synch and share across mesh
………………○ BAUER COMMENT – Team file sharing?
………………○ Uses remote desktops (through firewalls and NATs)
………………○ BAUER COMMENT – Might press AMZN’s AMI model … relative to vendor play of on demand usage … but AMZN has payment engine behind usage .. Not clear here if they can
………………○ Through a browser
• 4/24/2008, 6:19 AM
• Browser
………………○ Browser experience is slower
………………○ Also have client experience
• 4/24/2008, 6:19 AM
• Folders
………………○ Live on ALL machines
………………○ Auto replication?
………………○ INCLUDING VIRTUAL DEVICE
………………○ Bauer comment — So they are pushing to virtual storage (backup) …
• Timeline
………………○ See members
………………○ See timeline
………………○ See presence
………………○ Bauer comment – Looks like office live
• 4/24/2008, 6:21 AM
• Data
………………○ See anywhere
………………○ BAUER COMMENT – Might be a killer for sharepoint … alfresco … for users that use those tools soley around document share
………………○ BAUER QUESTION – File locking … edit conflicts
• 4/24/2008, 6:23 AM
• How hard to add device to mesh
………………○ Add piece of software … connects to cloud
………………○ BAUER ? – can you connect to multiple mesh’s
………………○ Not on mobile and Mac yet
………………………………§ Working on it
• 4/24/2008, 6:25 AM
• Roadmap
………………○ They say this is the 1st step to putting users in center of all their stuff
• How convert folders to mesh
………………○ Simple right click ‘add to mesh’
………………○ Choose what machines get the ‘push’ (versus pull) and force immediate
• Sharing to friends
………………○ Use LiveID … but to invite just send via email
………………○ Share (bauer ? – not edit)
• Location of files
………………○ In the cloud … right now … for sharing outside of mesh
………………○ You can synch to your mesh machines
………………○ So they do push down to devices AND the cloud (offline file)
• 4/24/2008, 6:29 AM
• File types supported, size limits
………………○ None
………………○ Initial release is 5GB of data in cloud
• 4/24/2008, 6:30 AM
• How did this come about / fit into SaaS vision of MSFT
………………○ Everyone has many devices
………………○ How make work as one
………………○ Bauer comment – Kills (depending if not tied to workflow, tagging, etc functions) the salesforce ‘content management’ play … why would you do that .. Create a mesh for you company and put the files there
• 4/24/2008, 6:32 AM
• Products and Solutions that Work Now
………………○ Windows Live … exists and augments
………………○ This is a platform to bring together data and devices
………………○ Then build from there
………………○ Easier file / data sharing platform
• 4/24/2008, 6:33 AM
• Platform .. Will we see different solutions making products from it
………………○ Live Mesh based on synch feeds (ATOM, RSS, etc)
………………○ Other people can plug in and store data in feeds
………………○ App to synch favorites
………………○ App to store todo lists
………………○ App to track stuff
………………○ Could have apps in their UI (Bauer comment – requires MSFT) or as an API (Bauer Comment – like AMZN)
• 4/24/2008, 6:36 AM
• How get access
………………○ Mesh.com … invitation only
• 4/24/2008, 6:38 AM
………………○ SkyDrive / Foldershare
………………………………§ They are all one group
………………○ Bauer comment – If they are all one group it is unlikely this is a free play (pricing not mentioned … key in what isn’t said). However office live is free (but its in beta) and does a similar function (w/o synch local, provides cloud).
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******** 1st VID – END — *************** **********
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**
**
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******** 2nd VID – AMIT KEYNOTE ******************
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Web 2.0 Expo
10m
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:30 AM
…………..○ Bauer comment – how about that pump up music at the start [wink]
…………..○ Amit
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:31 AM
……………………….§ Web is center
……………………….§ We connect via many devices
……………………….§ How to keep those devices in synch
……………………….§ Ours
……………………….§ And our trusted friends
…………..○ Settings and local favorites
…………..○ Device types – picture frames, macs, phones, laptops, towers, etc
……………………….§ Bauer comment – how many of those devices are on the web?
…………..○ Unified Device management
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:34 AM
…………..○ Feeds
……………………….§ Unified feeds
…………..○ Apps
……………………….§ Web based app management
……………………….§ Apps know devices and their capabilities
…………..○ Drop dead simple
……………………….§ Bauer comment – doesn’t jive w/ commentary so far on blog space
…………..○ Demo
……………………….§ Capture video of kid w/ phone
……………………….§ Dad sees on laptop real time on airport
……………………….§ Ims back
……………………….§ Shares a song to his daughter … next second
……………………….§ While kids next room are gaming
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:36 AM
…………..○ Everyone gets access to tech preview that is @ Web 2.0 Expo
…………..○ Device Ring is Core Metaphor
……………………….§ On windows PC
……………………….§ Mac / Mobile Next
……………………….§ Future more devices
……………………….§ Folder for anywhere access
……………………………………□ Bauer comment – interesting play … mesh compatible play on device sales like picture frames, touch tables, etc … fully compatible you get more features … becomes an iphone/ipod angle / barrier for MSFT devices
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:39 AM
…………..○ Mesh Bar
……………………….§ Single view of devices
……………………….§ Members in folder
……………………….§ News and events in the folder
……………………….§ Notifier lives on task bar … all up view of action on mesh
……………………….§ Also avail on live desktop to get webview
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:39 AM
…………..○ Use case shown is just ONE scenario
…………..○ Their focus is PLATFORM
……………………….§ Define model digital relationship between devices, people, assets
……………………….§ OpenAPI
……………………………………□ Yes, MSFT is about Open
……………………………………□ Shows Datamodel browser for Livemesh … dev can mesh format (xml, rss, atom, etc) … so you choose lang/tools … how you interact w/ live mesh
……Bauer comment – How is different than friendfeed?
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******** 2nd VID – END ***************************
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**
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******** 3rd VID – AMIT KEYNOTE *******************
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Channel9
John Udell Interviews

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=399578

4/23
36m
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:43 AM
…………..○ Whats it like to be @ MSFT (3yrs now)
……………………….§ Was @ IBM. Tremendous on potential impact
……………………….§ He does business, product strategy … intersection
……………………….§ So great job for him
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:45 AM
…………..○ What like taking over Gates role
……………………….§ SKIP
…………..○ GOTO 7:30 IN (MESH STARTS)
…………..○ Talk about environment MSFT faces
……………………….§ Mainframe was todays sexy utility. Timesharing. All was there in 70’s.
……………………….§ PC revolution was empowerment to consumer.
……………………….§ Swing of pendulum
……………………….§ Web grew in era of dialup … so built for that … force decentralized .. Thin terminal
……………………….§ Broadband penetration allows fatter clients
……………………….§ Both sides have good power (CPU, Storage) now
……………………….§ What design patterns work for backend and frontend
……………………….§ PC started for one computer for a subset
……………………….§ Moving now to not just one pc person … multiple devices per user … how to tie together … data … personal and cloud … MSFT wants to enable those solutions that balance leverage both
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:51 AM
…………..○ Internet OP SYS Space (AMZN, Google). How does MSFT history enable or drive action for them.
……………………….§ MSFT’s Approach.
……………………….§ Knew Bill / Steve since 1981
……………………….§ DNA of MSFT is a platform company … so need ISV community
……………………….§ Platform
……………………….§ Discussions of what different industry models will look like, be built like … given cloud computing … no specifics
……………………….§ MSFT wants to just enable that building … not be the buildings
……………………….§ AMZN. Ground up. Make raw resources (VMs, AMIs) to the developer. Power play.
……………………….§ Google. Tries to simplify cloud w/ constraints. So they serve a niche
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:55 AM
…………..○ 16:30 in
…………..○ LIVE MESH … folder share … screen share … can confuse true vision
……………………….§ MSFT core environment — multi device environment
……………………….§ Enterprise side … solved by MSFT via SMS
……………………….§ Now solve for consumer (device management)
……………………….§ So that is one path
……………………….§ 2nd is devices don’t / aren’t built well to work together
……………………………………□ Bauer comment – Is this their trump of OPENID … or could they push to use mesh to push data to various devices (including SYSTEMS)
……………………….§ Data flow … like feeds
……………………….§ Applications … be configured and liscensed
……………………………………□ Bauer comment … again … is this a slow entry to single user
……………………………………□ Bauer comment … msft takes what they have (user content, consumer) and uses mesh to push into systems they don’t control … devices they don’t control … they maintain relevance by owning/channelling the user profile
……………………….§ 4/25/2008, 7:01 AM
……………………….§ File and folder synch gives user a taste of power
……………………………………□ Bauer comment – I think it just allows the user to dismiss … now if the goal is to addict and get them using it (fits theories above) … then this is smart
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:02 AM
…………..○ Go beyond files/machines … bring people into the equation … Less obvious … connection to the web … How to optimize … spell that out
……………………….§ Two things (1) rich apps enable on PCs to share settings across devices (2) also websites extend their function to the world of devices
……………………….§ Groove reference … stumbled on … centralized websites … provision workspaces .. Invite users in … users want to take offline … wanted website to go offline … groove was peer sharing … so it do that well
……………………….§ Live mesh fills void of groove … infra … one service … manage synch to devices … data might be peer-to-peer or encrypted or through the cloud … but devices don’t care … developers don’t care … use infra … to push to devices
……………………………………□ Bauer comment – This is alert thingy on steriods … if all apps are synching real time … you go to your mesh console to see the same activity
……………………………………□ Bauer comment – majority of consumers are not sharing over web … in theory … msft has high ground if they can convert that user base via mesh
……………………….§ Use that simple tech … website … device … website … cloud
……………………….§ A feed of feeds … one thing a “mesh object” … represents a site … an element of that feed is other feeds … so an app can have many feeds … members, news, calendar, etc … or custom ones (transactions, recommended links, comments on a site)
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:08 AM
……………………….§ Folder is a mesh enabled Object
……………………….§ Item in feed is sub feed
……………………….§ Standard schema by item
……………………….§ News feed off a folder … see to right of folder … item by entry
……………………………………□ Bauer comment — So it would be like alertthingy or twitter offline
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:10 AM
…………..○ Banking example …
……………………….§ Local host and do stuff w/ an offline app
……………………….§ Developers want one way of working w/ mesh
……………………….§ Web version of live mesh … and client … same code
……………………………………□ Bauer comment — like AIR
……………………….§ Called MOE (mesh operating environment) … cloud MOE or client MOE same one
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:11 AM
…………..○ Synch problems .. How evolved from mistakes of groove
……………………….§ New team … he sponsored
……………………….§ There is a DNA trail … playdoh, lotus notes, groove, live mesh
……………………….§ More work w/ them during his CTO tenure not as much lately
……………………….§ Basic synch, interaction … that is similar
……………………….§ Groove power of adhoc invites … bypass centralized security … so groove users will get that part of mesh
……………………….§ Hope people feel that mesh is very lightweight … notthing there … works across firewalls, nats, double nats … few knobs to turn
……………………….§ Developer kit is NOT on mesh.com right now
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******** 3rd VID – END ***************************
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For those not tracking the geek world, David Heinemeier Hansson is a rather successful coder that built some well adopted apps (e.g. Backpack) and a framework that got some people excited about its ease (Ruby on Rails).

O.k. So what …

Well, DHH went on a rant about how the new business model of FREE that everyone is jumping up and down about. Specifically saying how it was nuts. In his view, “real” business startups (not those looking to get bought by some big fish) should focus on bringing value that customers pay for … not how they can be free and gain adoption from that.

Novel thought … but why is he pointing this out?

As usual my raw notes are below, but here are a few key themes that jumped out me as I watched this webcast over lunch

In summary, gotta give hops to DHH for pointing out the frenzy in business today to launch businesses based on models that are not clear (just build membership) especially in a setting where VC’s are presenting before him. I think he is right to call for a refocus at the individual level especially as he talked about focusing on a niche and delivering to that niche. Much like the line Security through Obscurity … you can protect your business concept by starting small in niche markets. If you go after the mega models (like the next FriendFeed … you have big fish to swim with and will likely get eaten).

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http://omnisio.com/startupschool08/david-heinemeier-hansson-at-startup-school-084/21/2008
11:40 AM
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:41 AM
…………………………§ 37 signals
………………………………………□ Not hiring
………………………………………□ Not looking for VC $
………………………………………□ Makes them different than most businesses
…………………………§ Their focus – how to be viable outside of big dogs getting bought out
…………………………§ New focus – Don’t focus on the $
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:43 AM
……………○ A secret to making $ Online
…………………………§ Great application
…………………………§ ???
…………………………§ Profit
……………○ ??? = Price is key
……………○ Point is web 2.0 thinks everything is free … not true
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – BASECAMP and their model is paid … so his point is VC $ makes free ok
……………○ Simpler way to build a business
…………………………§ Have a price
…………………………§ Signup
…………………………§ Working 4-5 years … multi-million $ business
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:45 AM
……………○ Shows campaign monitor (email service, track who clicks on what)
…………………………§ $0.01 per recipient
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:46 AM
……………○ Shows FogBugz
…………………………§ On Demand
…………………………§ Buy the software
……………○ Show FaxItNice
…………………………§ Route around the fact that many businesses work w/ fax
…………………………§ Wrap it to a nice webservice
…………………………§ Pricing options
………………………………………□ $5 per fax,
………………………………………□ $20 retainer then a per send
………………………………………□ Send and receive faxes monthly
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:47 AM
……………○ Not rocket surgery
…………………………§ Still hard but easier
…………………………§ Most businesses fail
………………………………………□ So why not try to be the next Google
…………………………§ Bad logic in his view
………………………………………□ Odds are not the same for barn burner … odds for a small niche product is better
…………………………§ Odds
………………………………………□ 1:10 is not facebook creation odds
………………………………………□ Example of relevance
……………………………………………………® 1:10 of making a million $
……………………………………………………® 1:10,000 for a billion $ business
…………………………§ Take better odds at smaller reward 1st … then go for the moon as the change in lifestyle from 0 to $1M and $1M to $1B is notable (the latter being small)
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:52 AM
……………○ Example
…………………………§ 2000 customers
…………………………§ $40/month
…………………………§ 12 months
…………………………§ $1M year
…………………………§ 40,000 signups on trail … 5% conversion … 110 a day
…………………………§ …
…………………………§ What if you were happy @ $200k / yr = 400 customers @ $40/month
………………………………………□ BAUER COMMENT SO IT GETS EASER
……………○ 4/21/2008, 11:54 AM
……………○ Finding customers
…………………………§ Backpack
………………………………………□ Hard to get consumer to get people to pay
………………………………………□ Hard to establish business w/ that segment (consumer)
………………………………………□ Relaunch backpack 2 months ago … doubled the revenue by focusing on businesses
…………………………§ The Fortune 5,000,000
………………………………………□ The lifestyle business (mom & Pop store?)
………………………………………□ People make fun of that but he calls BS
………………………………………□ There is a lot of room in between
……………○ Craigslist
…………………………§ Without taking VC $ allows you to make the shots
…………………………§ Run @ your pace
…………………………§ $1M / yr … like no meetings
…………………………§ So its satisfying to not go for the brassring
…………………………§ Craig Newmark – $1B people are not happier
……………○ Good cause is incredibly hard and time consuming
…………………………§ Why flip business?
…………………………§ Enjoy it over 20 years
…………………………§ He questions the sell out startups … is it really the good life?
………………………………………□ Trade passion for meetings
……………○ 4/21/2008, 12:03 PM
……………○ This is not the movie industry
…………………………§ No need to dominate the box office
…………………………§ Solve small simple problems
…………………………§ Most of the great companies started small (200 companies)
…………………………§ Don’t Model after Facebook
……………○ VC Fuzz
…………………………§ Forget viral
…………………………§ Forget the overbaked ideas
…………………………§ Treat your customers nice and ask for $
……………○ Pressure to get started
…………………………§ People are selling stuff way before your idea
…………………………§ Sell it better
……………○ 4/21/2008, 12:06 PM
……………○ Basecamp
…………………………§ Developed w/ 3 people doing other stuff
…………………………§ Single server 1st year
…………………………§ Limited amount of time to work on something focuses your energy
…………………………§ He was contracting w/ 37 signals at this time … 10h/wk to develop basecamp
…………………………§ It makes the time really matter
…………………………§ Less time is a huge benefit
………………………………………□ BAUER COMMENT — Power comes from focus knowing value is each hour
…………………………§ Grew basecamp a year before you stopped doing consulting and just focused on basecamp
…………………………§ 7+ years for great businesses maybe longer
……………○ Don’t Overbuild
…………………………§ Deal with those issues later
……………○ Take it easy
…………………………§ There will never be less work
…………………………§ It will never be less
…………………………§ Amount of work in beginning creates more work
…………………………§ 14 hour days / 7 days a week … get out of that
…………………………§ Change the practices … or they will stick with you
……………○ 4/21/2008, 12:10 PM
……………○ Blame loss on someone else
……………○ 4/21/2008, 12:10 PM
……………○ Q&A
…………………………§ How does great achievement drive from small goals (i.e. how did Ruby on Rails happen)
………………………………………□ Solve simple problems. RoR was his effort to enjoy coding. Solve simple solution.
………………………………………□ Tons of VC come to them (RoR) .. .they say no … he uses RoR to build stuff … so he understands it …
………………………………………□ Solve simple problems that you are intimately involved with
…………………………§ What would you have done differently (BaseCamp, RoR)?
………………………………………□ Not much. Happy with results. Happy didn’t listen to give it away for free.
…………………………§ How many businesses are in the sweet spot of the fortune 5,000,000
………………………………………□ 500 to 1000 people … that is huge
………………………………………□ His focus
……………………………………………………® 3 people
……………………………………………………® 5 people
……………………………………………………® Guy doing something in his spare time
………………………………………□ Those people … want something that sounds like it works
…………………………§ The is no business too small for fortune 5,000,000
………………………………………□ Deal w/ people on monthly … you are not relying on 1 customer
………………………………………□ Big customers can yank your change
………………………………………□ Small customers but many you can control innovation
…………………………§ How stay focused
………………………………………□ How do you not get distracted … 10-14 hours a day
………………………………………□ Parent filter …
……………………………………………………® Joke
………………………………………□ Stop working in 14 hour a day … work 5 hours a day
………………………………………□ 37 signals is 4 day work weeks … 8 hrs a day … 2-3 hours productive
………………………………………□ Get 3 GREAT hours a day in

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“More with less” … who isn’t tired of that term. But what if it meant something? Would you listen then? I think RedFin is one such company. If they are successful, it implies a notable shift in the way customers will expect to be served (and billed) by service partners.

As usual my raw notes are below, but here are a few key themes that jumped out me as I ran (i.e. jogged) along to this webcast.

In summary, RedFin seems to be a good representation of a rethinking that is going on in industry segments around two key questions if you are a services provider:

1. Should you try to define value in the form of a SuperSize meal?

2. Should you charge on a % of the value of the product you facilitate moving … OR … on the effort it takes to help you move it?

I suspect the answers to these questions will have implications for all industries … not just real estate.

sidenote: A great 60 second overview of RedFin in the style of those UPS commercials (whiteboard and all) as of late can be found here

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• Research Links
……………http://www.wellcomemat.com/home/channels/inmantv/18EAB4B3E1#wrapper
……………slides on starting business from him http://btc.montana.edu/meu/glennkelman/GlennKelman_files/v3_document.htm
……………scoble covered him in 03/07 http://scobleizer.com/2007/03/19/real-estates-worst-nightmare-redfin/
……………his post on what makes an entrepreuner http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/14/entrepreneur-20/
……………overview of redfin http://www.commoncraft.com/redfin
• 08/07 – KELMAN KEYNOTE AT BLOGGERS CONNECT
• http://www.inmantv.com/?p=52
03/07 – SCOBLE COVERAGE FROM PODTECH
• 4/16/2008, 6:12 AM
……………○ Glenn Kelman
……………○ CEO of RedFin
……………○ Micheal Young Head Tech
……………○ Trying to enable buying homes online
• 4/16/2008, 6:13 AM
• Fees
……………○ Refund 2/3 of commission
……………○ Check @ closing
……………○ Paid on customer satisfaction
…………………………§ Gives confidence on advice not selling pressure
• Locations
……………○ East and West coast
• 4/16/2008, 6:14 AM
……………○ Girlfriend talk (tangent)
• 4/16/2008, 6:15 AM
• How engage w/ Redfin
……………○ 75% of people engage
……………○ Listing from MLS
……………○ Estimate from Zilla
……………○ Past Sales from County
……………○ Lot outline
……………○ Information on schools / crime
• 4/16/2008, 6:16 AM
• Personal business
……………○ Still have to handle emotional payload
……………○ But limited sales function
……………○ Customer relationship management is guiding a confirmed buyer … not convincing them
• 4/16/2008, 6:18 AM
• Tangent
……………○ Scoble talks on value of agent
• 4/16/2008, 6:18 AM
• Problems / Push Back From Industry
……………○ There is a large place that remains for classical
……………○ There is a large segment that want to do more of the classical tasks and pay less
• 4/16/2008, 6:19 AM
• Survey on Performance
……………○ Savings on 2/3 from refund
……………○ Savings on negotiation … since agents are fighting for satisfaction … not higher fees
……………○ So they negotiate 1% better
• 4/16/2008, 6:20 AM
• Watching backs by realtors for you conversation
……………○ Inspectors … biased by who engages
……………○ Per redfin … don’t use inspector of realtor … they are not incented to find stuff
……………○ He isn’t here to disparage the industry
……………○ However industry has messed up dynamics … pay models focus on closing deal … which is bad for the customer
……………○ Selling side … agent is aligned with your interests … more sell … more you make and agent
……………○ Buyer side … more you pay the more agent makes … so agent model on buyer side is least effective in current
• 4/16/2008, 6:23 AM
• Separations
……………○ Separate on business model … 1/2 the separation for redfin is the biz
…………………………§ No spamming, no required registration to search, no telemarketing
…………………………§ Come to people on their terms
…………………………§ Pay on customer satisfaction
…………………………§ People that work with them ARE NOT salesmen … due to cust sat fee structure
…………………………§ Agents think people need help finding
…………………………§ Customers think they can find people just want help closing the deal
• 4/16/2008, 6:26 AM
……………○ Tangent scoble on personal experience w/ home buy .. How friend realtors guided him to do things that he would have done wrong (like overpaying). Non friends wouldn’t do that
……………○ This is an emotional business … you lock into one candidate … get someone on your side who isn’t emotionally involved in this
• 4/16/2008, 6:27 AM
• 2 challenges
……………○ Built great search site
……………○ Make process automated
…………………………§ What is demand etc
• 4/16/2008, 6:28 AM
• RS – What is difference between Redfin and classical
……………○ Classical will drive you around and find your home when in twon for a job
……………○ If you search well on your own. Redfin is a good match
…………………………§ Add film tours
…………………………§ Sent someone to let them in for a home tour
…………………………§ Working w/ seller to get details (close target, bids, pricing guidance for offer, etc)
…………………………§ Regular signature for offer
…………………………§ Present in person the offer
• 4/16/2008, 6:31 AM
• Measure customer sat
……………○ All parties … close or don’t close
……………○ If you are unsatisfied they don’t get paid at all
• 4/16/2008, 6:32 AM
• Technology review
……………○ Open source – linux, mysql, apache
……………○ Expanding the site is an interesting problem … replicate regional then globally
……………○ Personal service is hard to scale
• 4/16/2008, 6:34 AM
……………○ Use MSFT platform w/ virtual earth … property and school data
……………○ Blogging about houses
……………○ Crime stats
• 4/16/2008, 6:35 AM
……………○ Come to redfin
……………○ All data here or link to
……………○ Traffic / Commute data … not there
• 4/16/2008, 6:36 AM
• Emotional decisions
……………○ Want to read and research a lot
……………○ There might be some gaming on forums … so they monitor … balance points
……………○ They are dealing with the fine line of two parties opinions
• 4/16/2008, 6:38 AM
• Local services like vendors / retail outlets
……………○ Not there
……………○ RS – Hdtv available? For example
• 40 visits to see a house
……………○ Little pictures are not enough ..
……………○ So need more virtualization
……………○ Google deals w/ massive data
……………○ Redfin is a niche set of data
• Listing Alerts
……………○ By zip, geo space on map
• 4/16/2008, 6:41 AM
• Most fun and challenging thing
……………○ Fun – Knowing you are doing the right thing for customers
…………………………§ Worked @ Plumtree w/ Glenn
…………………………§ Amount of $ they save people is awesome
……………○ Challenge – Get over buying something online
…………………………§ Worry about charge card
…………………………§ Eventually it takes off. Get comfortable.
…………………………§ Not for everyone.
…………………………§ Make site clearly showing that its PEOPLE and SYSTEMS
…………………………§ Google is just systems
…………………………§ Brick and Mortar is systems
• 4/16/2008, 6:43 AM
• Demo
……………○ Home page. Search by region or neighborhood.
……………○ Comes to map w/ listings and icons
……………○ As zoom in see lot outlines
……………○ Get everyting that has sold in last few years … color coded on mod.
……………○ Mouse over with photos on it (can scroll in mouse over)
……………○ Info from county on prior sales
……………○ Estimates from zilla
……………○ Some is controversial
…………………………§ How accurate is zilla … not really
……………○ Don’t go buy houses just on zilla … it’s a guideline
……………○ Zilla was trying to provide fascinating information … they succeeded
• Tax record shows … flip for 50% profit … problem
……………○ Sellers want to hide that profit level
……………○ They stand firm.
……………○ They are honest w/ sellers if list with them or other sites …provide data that buyers want but you don’t want them to have
• Show on listings saving amount on average
• 4/16/2008, 6:48 AM
• End of demo
• 4/16/2008, 6:48 AM – excited to be on scoble
• Challenge for him
……………○ Trying catch things they missed on first rollout … adding features
……………○ While growing
……………○ He is used to world of small information … move to world of tons of information and people can screen down. Not a 3rd party.
• When spending $500k … make your best choice
• 4/16/2008, 6:51 AM – still talking in general … closing comments
• 4/16/2008, 6:52 AM
• Tidbit at end – Local agents, Bloggers
……………○ Tried to do it w/ low cost remote .. Didn’t work
……………○ Pricing information and knows the areas
……………○ Get more local everyday
……………○ Bloggers that talk about properties
…………………………§ Food fights start due to blunt comments by bloggers
• 4/16/2008, 6:53 AM – Close
……………

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On first blush Google App Engine (released to 10,000 developers yesterday) seems to be just another entry into scalable computing. But on further review there is quite a bit being introduced here that is notably different than the offerings of the early leaders of this space.

You can read the running thoughts at the bottom but here are my initial thoughts on what is unique on this offering when compared to other virtual computing plays.

So at first blush, for rapid prototyping or throw away apps this looks pretty good. But for large scale computing in the cloud I think I will still look for setups where I can host my images (like IBM, AMZN, and MSFT seem to be pondering).

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Campfire One: Introducing Google App Engine
4/8/2008, 5:40 AM
…………○ Intro – http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Ztr-HhWX1c
……………………§ Welcome Tom Stocke
…………Campfire One – Intro Google App
…………http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Ztr-HhWX1c
…………duration 9:10
…………
……………………2:20 – Google IO in May
……………………2:35 – kevin gibb (lead for Google App Engine)
……………………–Scalable infra is goal
……………………–Hard to create / deploy
……………………–Typical tasks – Apache server, Config, Tables, Scripts, Code push model, monitoring solutions
……………………–Find machines is 2nd task
……………………4:23
……………………–$
……………………–3rd challenge coming up
……………………–machines break, config issues,
……………………–app grows
……………………–design goals
……………………–1–Easy to use
……………………–2–Easy to scale
……………………–3–Free to get started
……………………–BAUER COMMENT (Free is good)
……………………–We run web apps (not a grid, not a virtual machine)
……………………–They run applications
……………………–Provide for entire lifecycle of web app (request log, application logs, push new version, run db, integrate tasks together)
……………………7:12
……………………–Easier to deploy
……………………–Access to google scaling model … google account, gfs (google file system), big table (?)
……………………–BAUER COMMENT (similar to AWS)
……………………–supports python only right now
……………………–SDK
……………………–Web based admin console
……………………–datastore (big table is thier model)
…………
…………○ Demo … 9m … http://youtube.com/watch?v=tcbpTQXNwac
……………………§ 4/8/2008, 5:43 AM
………………………………□ Uses a Yaml file
………………………………□ create project
………………………………□ looks like a config file (version, api_version, runtime
………………………………□ Handlers .. all code maps to main python file
……………………§ Switch to terminal
………………………………□ Starts web server locally
………………………………□ Works. Build webapp.
………………………………□ Starter app … web app …
………………………………□ Import from google
………………………………□ Define handler
…………………………………………® Get
…………………………………………® Hello msg
………………………………□ Run python with standard python wsgi
……………………§ Run
………………………………□ Stack track from python … line 18
………………………………□ Now fixed
……………………§ Add templates
………………………………□ Library based on jango templates
………………………………□ Import template
………………………………□ Use module to load template
……………………§ Build an app now
………………………………□ Form
……………………§ Put data in data store
………………………………□ Import datastore
………………………………□ Use concept of modelclass
………………………………□ Model class (table) by fields
………………………………□ On post request … create new shout (data) using form
……………………§ Write a query to pull data out
………………………………□ Gql (google query lang?) to pull out data
………………………………□ Create a dictionary to pass values into template
………………………………□ Use jango templates to render
……………………§ Clear data store
……………………§ Putting stuff in now
……………………§ Add sort order to query
……………………§ Extend data model and associated template
………………………………□ From who field added
……………………§ Example of handling data exceptions … formatting to code driven values
……………………§ Now push live to web
………………………………□ Another tool appconfig … deploy immediately
………………………………□ Cmd line
………………………………□ Pushes to live app
………………………………□ From local
………………………………□ Real time data create (tables etc)
……………………
…………○ Part III … Back to Kevin … 13m .. http://youtube.com/watch?v=oG6Ac7d-Nx8
……………………§ Back to 5 components
………………………………1. Scalable servering infra
…………………………………………a) Distributed / low overhead
…………………………………………b) Auto fault tolerant
…………………………………………c) Connect request to running instance in code is their work
…………………………………………d) Fluid in scaling … in response to demand
………………………………2. Python runtime
…………………………………………a) Language support is modular (api, console, etc – all generic so new lang later)
…………………………………………b) No restriction on code (js, css, html, etc)
………………………………3. SDK
…………………………………………a) Written in linux, mac, windows
…………………………………………b) Code, compile, test cycle … faster .. Local
………………………………4. Admin Console
…………………………………………a) Simpler LAMP stack
…………………………………………b) Add users, version running, tools on request logs / app logs, data explorer (vs sql admin), hook up domain, stats near real time, errors, what urls
………………………………5. Scalable Datastore
…………………………………………a) Schemaless object store
…………………………………………b) Supports million entities
…………………………………………c) Not on DBMS … uses BIG TABLE (google gear)
…………………………………………d) Horizontally distributed fault tolerant system
…………………………………………e) New tools, new way … no SQL … may like the system better in long run is their view …since there is no schema …new properties, new table … just code
…………………………………………f) Removes DBMS
…………………………………………g) Datastore model class
……………………………………………………i)
…………………………………………h) Advanced and primitative types supported
…………………………………………i) Data time property
…………………………………………j) Rating property
……………………………………………………i) Gdata Type (system from google) … symantic type … store entity and work w/ it in a generic way via an XML namespace
…………………………………………k) Query power
……………………………………………………i) Sort (single or multiple)
……………………………………………………ii) Transactions
……………………………………………………iii) Batch
……………………………………………………iv) User settable primary keys
…………………………………………l) Gql is like sql … jquery and fbql
……………………………………………………i) Googles sql on big table
……………………………………………………ii)
……………………………………………………iii) More complex
……………………………………………………iv)
……………………………………………………v) Joins not supported
………………………………………………………………One. Joins don’t work well across machines
…………………………………………………………………………First. BAUER COMMENT (linked server?)
………………………………………………………………Two. Allows to scale
…………………………………………………………………………First. BAUER COMMENT (who needs this level of scale? Worth the loss)
…………………………………………m) Email API
……………………………………………………i) No SMTP required … just create mail object and go
……………………………………………………ii) Outgoing HTTP requests
………………………………………………………………One. Use to integrate w/ webservices
…………………………………………n) Auth w/ Google Accounts
……………………………………………………i) Handle users alread
…………………………………………o) Support Frameworks
…………………………………………p) BAUER THOUGHT — Really the battle here is build 100% on our gear (w/ limits) and no latency risk … or split us/you … and get more control but less speed (network lag)
………………………………
…………○ Part IV – http://youtube.com/watch?v=oTFL7FPLnXY … 7m
……………………§ Gweedo (creator of python)
……………………§ Theme of ease for developers
……………………§ Now on google app engine team
……………………§ Reluctant user of power (root) … tries to not do … mess up … google app engine makes that go away
………………………………□ BAUER — IF its so easy why are releases / updates from google so slow on core lines?
……………………§ 4m in … still no notable comments
……………………§ 100% python lang
……………………§ Removed a few items from standard library
………………………………□ Don’t allow writes to file system
…………………………………………® Security, hard to track
………………………………□ No direct requests to web … open socket … use URL fetch … http or https via that … or mail send api
………………………………□ Threads
…………………………………………® Don’t need … distributed
……………………§ Add datastore, templates, jango (part of sdk, you can load your framework, etc)
……………………§ Lang unbiased … python is just first … looking for votes on 2nd lang
…………
…………○ Part V – Admin Console – Prod Mgr Pete Coomin .. 6m … http://youtube.com/watch?v=JcM2Ejk1tis
……………………§ Demo based on guestbook app
……………………§ Error / stack trace … admin sees error … users see 500 erro
……………………§ Use admin console … appengine.google.com
……………………§ Quota … governers … are in play
……………………§ CPU, data, emails, megabytes … mmonitored over 24 hour period
……………………§ Popular URI and error URI
……………………§ Log view on admin console … list of logs … filter by sev level / date-time
……………………§ Hits on broken URL
……………………§ Editing entities are possible
……………………§ Add developers for collab work
……………………§ Show rollback ability … between versions … code and db
……………………§ Serve any app engine app off any domain
……………………§ Add domain via google apps
…………
…………○ Part VI – Paul McDonald – Sample Apps – http://youtube.com/watch?v=K7usoKm5zwE … 8m
……………………§ Vorby
………………………………□ Movie quote site … vorby … search, browse, comment
………………………………□ Princess bride
…………………………………………® You tube video… etc
………………………………□ Search, filter,
………………………………□ 1:N relationships
……………………§ Barbound
………………………………□ List of top bars on front page
………………………………□ Google maps
………………………………□ Sign in via google account
………………………………□ Friends, comments,
………………………………□ Transactions in datastores
………………………………□ 1:N relationships
………………………………□ BAUER THOUGHT – THE RETURN TO VSAM?
……………………§ Huddlechat
………………………………□ Google has huddle room
………………………………□ Create new room or use existing
………………………………□ Chat app … pulls data store every few seconds
………………………………□ Transcripts
………………………………□ Upload files
……………………§ Port jiku … to google app engine
………………………………□ Recently joined google
………………………………□ Loads … see all jaiku application
………………………………□ His friends
………………………………□ Etc
………………………………□ Release when it is ready
……………………§ Same core components you have to use w/ your webapps
……………………§ Free to get started
………………………………□ 10,000 developers
………………………………□ 500MB storage
………………………………□ 200Mcpu cycles
………………………………□ 10GB bandwidth
………………………………□ 5 million pageviews a month
……………………§ Preview period
………………………………□ Large file up/down
………………………………□ Purchase additional capacity
………………………………□ Other lang
………………………………□ Offline processing
……………………§ Code.google.com
………………………………□ Video of presentation
………………………………□ Links to docs
………………………………□ Samples
………………………………□ Sdk
………………………………□ Links to signup

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I have always appreciated the concept of drip marketing. Unlike carpet bombing where you run ad campaigns in high volume forums with the hopes just 1% might be in the mood for buying your ’stuff’ … drip marketing is all about trying to stay top of mind with a CONFIRMED buyer in a long sales cycle. So instead of the lottery approach to top of funnel sales you are just a determined fisherman … casting your bait at the spot you know that bass is hiding … over and over again … every day … if not more. Presenting your lure in 10,000 different ways hoping one cast will get all the variables right (e.g. depth, speed, color, temperature, etc)

Friendfeed, more importantly, and Scoble’s plan to redesign his web presence around FriendFeed is really (in my view) an example of the next generation of marketing. A model where the drips occur so frequently, are so small, are so innocent you don’t even notice their interruption or what they are building to. You look for them. You want them.

You can read the running thoughts below but here are my initial thoughts around this “Drip Marketing 2.0″ angle.

Overall, I agree with Scoble’s strategy. If you are a full time analyst (like him) or a full time evangelist for a B2C distribution, tools and techniques like the above will add notable value to your role. Definitely something to consider if you are in that position as an individual or a head of marketing considering such an investment.

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……………○ Brett Taylor
……………○ Paul G
……………○ Polyvor (fashion site) sits with them
……………○ Team of 5 it looks like
……………○ Started 10/1/07
……………○ All prog (4) + anna (non prog)
……………○ Emacs
……………○ Friendfeed links to all sites you use … stream of things from people you like
…………………………§ Information discovery
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – isn’t this just like Facebook beacon in a way
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – Its like an RSS feed but micro bursts on favoriting of something or actions that are feed enabled (like comments, favoriting, shared, rated) that typically people wouldn’t put on their specific blog
…………………………§ Fragment conversations to social groups .. So you know people in the friend feed segment .. Discussions are more like a dinner party
…………………………§ Blog is a radio show … take callers who like hearing their voice … not listening
…………………………§ RS – blog trolls show up to get attention from attendance
…………………………§ Can have a private feed … huge % of usage
………………………………………□ BAUER – IM?
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:13 AM
……………○ How make $
…………………………§ User base focus now
…………………………§ Monetization is early (ads maybe)
…………………………§ Netflix recommendation …
………………………………………□ BAUER COMMENT – Again beacon difference is it can be private (will channels be broad enough ? Perhaps in aggregate)
……………○ Why not at google?
…………………………§ Google is good for large investment initiatives (ie android)
…………………………§ Small gigs work well alone
…………………………§ Google forces users too quickly … can focus the company on growth / infra too early
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:16 AM
……………○ Whats next
…………………………§ Information engineering (info overload) … UX
…………………………§ Honing that is hard
……………○ Filtering example … watch for XYZ term
…………………………§ They can filter out types of feed threads
…………………………§ Filters by word is good … done … filter make into rss feed
…………………………§ Give me what people I know (BAUER COMMENT — TRUST FACTOR)
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:19 AM
……………○ Not trying to be facebook (profiles / linkages)
…………………………§ Most requested (profile) but they are resisting it
…………………………§ Looking at it as an information discovery problem NOT a socialization problem or TECH problem
…………………………§ Facebook is about listing friends … vs … tracking friends and what they share
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:22 AM
……………○ Comments = Posts = Readers = Social Gestures of Value
…………………………§ Family dynamic is the model … interaction w/ people you know about content
…………………………§ Picture conference interaction … dynamic of pondering a shared item out ‘there’
……………○ Multi site aggregation
…………………………§ 19 services on friendfeed (rs) … flickr, upcoming.org, videos on youtube, etc
…………………………§ Needs glue
…………………………§ Original vision – entre’s in residence at VC benchmark capital
…………………………§ Example of how his sharing of songs on last.fm spread to his family
…………………………§ Ie smugmug … see the photos … might switch over
…………………………§ All rides on RSS and ATOM
…………………………§ Photos are good problem … they make it human readable (not spammed by 30 photos, or 58 comments)
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:33 AM
……………○ How choose services glue in
…………………………§ Goal is to enable service to add themselves to friend feed
…………………………§ Today its request and popularity
…………………………§ yCombinator … easy to scale a webservice
…………………………§ Facebook but … provide for any website
……………○ Titles
…………………………§ No titles. Make decisions as a team
…………………………§ They all saw @ Google that went well and didn’t go well re: org growth … build company where everyone has opp to make big opp … not by first joiner
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – look for
……………○ Google can’t ship stuff
…………………………§ Right people get things done
…………………………§ But if not … could be slow
…………………………§ So how do you create a non-title fighting … contributions and achievements
…………………………§ Litmus test … engineer .. Choose to work here (friendfeed)
…………………………§ Leverage collective intelligence … but if you add layers … strategy comes top down not from the collective
…………………………§ Paul was #20 at google
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – needs idea model like that one site … that did voting and I mailed to mark johnson
…………………………§ Anti roles … interested in everything .. Google was role based to some degree it sounds like
………………………………………□ BAUER COMMENT – but isnt that size related
…………………………§ Challenge is how to scale small teams … org different … not hierarchy structure
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:39 AM
……………○ They are building an offline app (AIR based)
…………………………§ You can post to twitter and pounce is a competitor
……………○ They are working things like
…………………………§ Experiments to make homepage of FF the perfect place
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – So they aspire to be a starting place over the web … vs Googlesearch or Facebook
…………………………§ Key is user driven filters of feeds by user (person A you want blogs, person X you want all, person Y you want photos, etc)
……………○ Ability to match people based on sharing of common items or types
…………………………§ Yes will consider it
…………………………§ Look at tracking geo location …
…………………………§ Pull off Doppler where you are
…………………………§ Friend feed could track people …
…………………………§ Key is api … do interesting but esoteric things w/ FF … so people can make friendfeed what they want
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:45 AM
……………○ API
…………………………§ Publish to friend feed
…………………………§ Read from friend feed
…………………………§ Mobile devices (doesn’t work as well as it should) … API could help mobile developers
…………………………§ Desktop apps … AIR app coming (like an IM client)
…………………………§ Upload images via API
…………………………§ Take a photo on your photo and send it to someone
……………○ MP3 files … can display
…………………………§ Fred Wilson … wants to play inline from tumbler accounts
…………………………§ Blogtalk radio … call # w/ cell phone … auto record … to RSS feed
……………○ Whats the plan on mobile
…………………………§ Info on FF works well on mobile
…………………………§ Trouble is a lot of phone factors / platforms
…………………………§ Do their iPhone app
…………………………§ Twitter … full blown … hard to type to it … readable
…………………………§ Likes reading FF format
…………………………§ Try to be fast in response … performance
………………………………………□ Drives UI clean? Socialspark … ? … competitor
………………………………………□ Google guys is not flashy
……………○ Usability w/o Atheistics
…………………………§ Fast, usable w/o sizzle
……………○ They are ramping better than twitter
…………………………§ Experience of large user platforms
…………………………§ Paul/Sanjey … Gmail designers
…………………………§ Jim … Googlemaps
…………………………§ Acquiring hardware is hardware
……………○ AWS?
…………………………§ Occasionally … but moved to their stuff for more control … arch is python 100% … standard open source … mysql … linux …
…………………………§ Hard scaling is the architecture … use db … right chunking on db … what capacity … cache what … reduce load …
…………………………§ Great page on slide share … shows how they scale … opensource … live journal … memcast … shows how he scaled … 1st they read .. More open on how to scale sites … more information sharing … harder in past because load wasn’t the issue
……………○ OpenID
…………………………§ Supporting OpenID
…………………………§ Take it as login an provide
……………○ 4/2/2008, 6:58 AM
…………………………§ Close out
…………………………§ BAUER COMMENT – 2nd half was no notable stuff

WEBWARE NOTES

……….problem … getting people to setup on FF …

……….discussions is growth … limited to group on item …

……….people known … people subscribe

……….people known …

……….blog … take in callers … hear themselves talk

……….private discussion on friend feed of article

……….competitors do … add twitter account … can’t interact

……….shared you tube ….

……….make it people that use friend feed easier to use

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When you gaze at Sharepoint as of right now … which horse do you see? Secretariat or the Trojan Horse? I guess it depends what side of the walls of Troy you sit on … but lets ponder a bit anyway.

(** I skipped BI above on purpose as the BDC, to me is the primary unique value statement there **)

In short, I think the core of Sharepoint is about team collaboration and in reality there are better cheaper answers in the market. Study what true collaboration enablement is in your ORG then jump for the shiny widget (which may be MSFT … but may not).

What do you think?

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– No running notes today … spent too much time typing off this article (have to move on the inspiration)

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Quicksilver. Sounds like we are vampire hunting. Actually it is a prototype for a universal interaction model @ Google based on existing UI concepts of Mac’s finder + command line.

What stuck with me after pondering it awhile is the speed (as you watch it) of its interaction. It enables you to scan through all kinds of digital media, drilling down into it, and then being able to take any relevant actions … all without leaving the UI. In effect a generic UI far more powerful than file explorer for all applications.

In short, this Interaction model of Noun/Verb coupled with UI constructs like petals (e.g. McCune’s example) in my mind could quickly trump classical menu path models. Why have a fixed menu structure. Let it be dynamic (if no noun/object is selected allow it to be anything like quicksilver). Here are some images of quicksilver / constellation.

What do you think?

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Quicksilver
GoogleVideo
–File finder
–Extra fields
–Play it
–Left side is app
–Right side is actions on the app
–Sometimes 3
–
–Noun, verb, indirect object …
–
–Search, Summon (search for object and open), browse (hiearchy, search to hierarchy node then drill), acting (file–>compress–>new object)
–
–
–Fast universal access (like a google)
–Not just files/web pages/contacts/people
–where data is (local, cloud, etc)
–index backup / stickit
–search this page … my content .. jump to it
–
–ignore boundries of apps
–app package is meaningless … abstract file system … case by case by apps … show just mp3s ..
–
–Acts w/o doing
–Way w/ applications (talk)
–
–Find something and get there
–not complex apps (like photoshop)
–Simple apps like email
–automater …builds of chains of actions
–
–
–services layer … apple … put in to allow manipulate of anycontent
–
–
–enzo launcher for windows
–ask for word … define
–override ..
–context … makes flexibility
–
–
–add todo
–get milk
–to file
–dont leave the app … do in context
–quicksilver is transparent
–act w/o doing
–
–Act w/o doing
–Effortless flow of how the systems work
–
–
–How fast you can go
–limit on search isn’t optimization
–limit will become users speed of typing
–worry about what is the right thing
–abbreviation mashing
–dont type full spaces … prefix … apho .. gets photoshop
–it learns
–apho goes w/ you … your TLAs
–
–
–How much stuff
–Get at data and functionality
–Growing
–airport locations for example is mixed in
–control and manipulate the data .. pipe between apps
–initial version building
–ton of code per app interfaces… shell scripts … app
–move to plug in
–specific app … actions …
–Actions come from plugin
–create new objects by actions
–
–actions are objects
–noun verbs are same
–
–
—magic and mystery … UI blog … mike krymenski …
–make it seems like it just works
–alchemy … interesting way to go
–Abracadabra & Constellations … CMU last year … students … simple gesture system .. not intelligent .. watch draw .. match to pattern
–mouse based interaction
–constellation (show the things and navigate) … like mccune .. better in that he allowed layers of circles .. drill .. new layer on top
–explore it
–
–
–build into quicksilver
–constellation in was hard … to quicksilver
–new framework called alchemey .. access plugins .. exist with it
–when you are programming
–clutter
–letting people do search for actions
–actions ..specify a noun .. specify current context as the noun
–
–
–Google
–Interconnect the apps
–Email into GMail
–Very hardcoded
–Google could build a suite around this model
–# of search boxes on a machine … all search different … same behavior … contextual search … could tie into universal
–Search contacts and act on them

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(no webcast review today, just some research findings)

One riddle Salesforce.com customers face is how to get access to their broad, infrequent, user and partner base without going bankrupt (~$1k/yr/user adds up). While you could saddle up and build a custom solution that leverages the force.com API stack …. that isn’t rapid in my view. You are getting into custom development again which may not be required for simple departmental or point solutions (transactional or reporting).

My suggestion? Access 2007.

I know. I have heard it before. Access is lame. A virus not a tool. Etc. And it can be. However, what if we could do a Seth Brundle imitation and fuse together a few technologies to remove the bad DNA of Access while leaving the good stuff?

Here are the parts:

1. Access 2007 in the “Access Project” format We get, from Access 2007 or 2003, nice table interaction here coupled with drag and drop custom queries. In addition, ability to generate forms and reports from tables/queries objects in access. However, making it an “Access Project” format you get the industrial strength backend of SQL Server as all the DB objects (tables, stored procedures, views, etc) are in SQL Server BUT with full power to edit. You can also do this in the 2003 version. Don’t do this via via Linked Tables … you create a brundle fly. Losing the ability to update from Access to SQLServer to SFDC (later point). Basically all Access is doing in this setup in the UI layer.
2. SQL Server 2005 We want the “Linked Server” function here. Provides the ability to fuse Salesforce.com’s database layer together w/ SQL Server (so you can do cross DBMS joins). You can use the for free version (express) up to databases up to 4GB. Might be possible w/ ORCL as well (not sure if there is an equivalent to ingrediant #3 below).
3. DBmp Now weave in a framework to mutate the Salesforce.com API into something that looks like SQL Server. Since this communication is a defined syntax our pals at DBAmp have built the this translation layer. With their product (~$1.2k one time) you can do complex table joins between salesforce.com and tables you are storing externally. If you go with an ODBC solution like Open Access you will get the brundle fly again (doesn’t work with Vista, no cross DBMS table join power like Linked Server)
4. Setup some views to SFDC Since the SFDC tables are at SFDC you want to create views of them on SQL Server so other systems (Access) can interact with the objects

Now, turn on the juice and get in …

All connected. From access I can create objects in SQL Server. Run queries across those tables and SFDC tables with full query optimization (one query). And looks good early on (but so did Seth Brundle).

In subsequent tests I will evolve this model to include (1) Access 2007 forms merging local data and SFDC data (2) show how that still triggers all the authorization engine rules and triggers in SFDC (3) how that can then gen to a secure ADP executable (still in beta – bug in Access 2007 adps right now around executables) and finally how SQL Server security can be used to tie down what each adp client can do.

If you think about it … you can see the power here. All for less than the cost of one Enterprise liscense @ Salesforce.com each year … and $1.2k one time.

It seems nueral networks need to get pulled out of the sock drawer you have your Ton Loc album stashed in. At least if you put any weight into why Google had Geoffrey Hinton in for a talk a few months back.

Being a guy who did his thesis on neural networks (and referenced Hinton quite a bit in the process) I thought it was my duty to watch this discussion, and, as you might expect there were a few salient points:

Still the topic is interesting and relevant today. Especially as the issue of semantics evolves on digital assets. I will need to dust my thesis “Image Segmentation of the Prostrate Gland via Nueral Networks” off and read it again. Not.

Here are my raw notes for those amused.

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–Perceptron. Didn’t adapt. Learn weights to decision units. Limited.
–2nd Generation. 1985. Feature detectors. Forward / Backward passes.
—Works for non-linear units.
—Huge disappointment.
–1990’s .. Kernal methods tangent … perceptron … training example to a feature .. then optimize off features and weight ones that it keeps … fixed backprop
–Back prop
—Bad as required labelled data
—10^5 is too big … learning time did not scale
—Neural issues
–Learn to do computer graphics (infer vision from there)
–Binary stochastics neurons
–Output of 1/0 … probabilistic
–Learning Module .. Restricte BOltzman Machine
—Can update units in parallel .. no lateral interaction
—Governed by energy function
—energy function drives network going to low energy states
—parameter on connection … vary via feature detectors
—Compare on/off … when fantasizing (no data input) vs data exposed (real) … adjust weights … very simple neuron focused learning .. requires 100 steps … so slow
—Just run 1 step … now fast … change based on statsitics of data and real data
—put random weights on connections, put in data, reconstruct image, then loop (activate, increment, decrement)
–25k connection strengths (each is feature) … connection strength represented by pixel bright …
–Example … so very good at creating twos … give it a two … recreate a two
–Example … data in not trained on … give it a 3 … it pukes 2’s
–Now train layers by features … get more abstract features … go up 3 layers … learned WITHOUT knowing the labels … more layers is a better model of training data
–Visibile vector creating another similar vector
–Find a distribution that is simple than real life data … then find a parametric mapping of a data distribution … in short remove some ‘noise’ … weights evolve in that manner
–his model is 3 layers … 2 layers go back/forth … use for perception imprints … pattern established … then hit the 3rd
–example .. hand written digits … learn 500 features (nuerons) … 28×28 image to 500 … 500 middle … 2000 top layer … 10 label neurons … dont tie label to top … just form loose associations
–top level (2000) is a boltzman machine … low weights … energy landscape w/o view … then cut channels in weights
–learns long / narrow ravines of energy but different enough … to distinguish between 1 and 2’s
–variation of learning passes … tune at end … up pass, multiple on boltzman layer (1000) … then down pass to input one time adjusting up connections
–21:55 — Nice example of perception learning running … shows image of weights changing
–23:40 — Good example of generation …
–Brain state and mental state … neuron state vs perception of your mind
–26:10 — show how the brain state moves between various forms … weird fives …
–27:30 — Comparison chart to other learning models (note K: Nearest neighbor 3.3% is what I used on my thesis)
–discussion search via backprop
—hard to search … get stuck in geo local minimums
—work around by tying to features …
—learn same net w/o labels … put labels … on areas … tune various pieces
–32:00 Could apply to document database. Document vector versus image.
–Finding binary codes for documents
–Use document as a query … create a document vector …
–40:00 Summary — Restricted Boltzmann Machines good for image representation of large bodes of documents

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