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What to expect this episode:

• Albert coming to you from his closet, does this sound crazy, sure does, watch and find out why.
• Product Promotion Techniques
• Relationship Building
• Credibility Building
• Acquisition Advice

What Andrew calls one of his most different and interesting interviews.

Kontagent is the leading viral analytics platform for social network application developers. The Kontagent platform has been built from the ground up to provide deep social data visualization and analysis that delivers actionable insights delivered via a hosted, on-demand service.

The Kontagent platform works directly with the Facebook API, and will soon support OpenSocial and the MySpace platform. Kontagent was founded in 2007 by serial entrepreneurs Albert Lai/CEO (5th startup, most recently founder/CEO of BubbleShare) and Jeffrey Tseng/CTO (2nd startup, most recently founder of Aevena) . The company is headquartered in the SOMA district of San Francisco, California with a presence in downtown Toronto, Ontario.

Startup chronology: CD Rom Yearbook, FrogDog, Hardware Central, MyDeskTop, BuyBuddy, Idleagent, BubbleShare

Albert admits this is the first time he has spoken about some of these early lessons in a long time.

First Business

How old were you when you started your first company? 15 years old a multimedia production company called FrogDog, which created a promotional game that was distributed virally via floppy disk.

Did you come up with the idea and then go to MuchMusic of Canada? No, it was inspired by a High School yearbook project (1994) they created on CD Rom, they believe it is the first yearbook in the world created on CD. This project led to a lot of press and corporate customers approached them looking for something similar (The Black Swan).

How do you make something viral on a floppy disk? This was 95-96′ the idea was they would send them out free and friends could copy it and give to friends.

Promotion and Relationship Building

How did you get the press? Being young (15-16 years old) landed them on the front page of the largest newspaper in Canada, he learned at a young age to make the media your friend. Especially, if you’re the underdog. (I wonder if it was MuchMusic leaking the deal to the press to get more press)

How do you build relationships with the media? Find out who might be interested in your product and try add value to their life. Have a continual dialogue with journalists your space, so that you aren’t just there asking them for favors.

What gave you credibility as a teenager? It wasn’t just building companies, it was creating the entire professional product of a businessman. (Business cards, marketing package, incorporating for billing purposes) Now a days, it’s like having a professional website. He has many students that he mentors that by looking at their website you would never know they were young students.

Who did you target as your first customers? We looked for the biggest businesses, fortune 500 companies, looked for referral through mentors. To build up credibility they lowered the price to build relationships, they do this still today. They become reference able partners. They took the approach of focusing on big companies and then filtering down to smaller ones. Andrew gives an example of Tom Szachy, (TerraCycle)that tried the opposite and it was grueling work but when he tried the opposite approach it led to success.

Which relationship led to your reference able businesses? MUCH Music of Canada. He recommends going to events (conferences) that your customers are like to be at and to build relationships with the conference organizers so that you are present and providing value for the event.

Andrew adds that if you can become a participant and be on a panel, one you get in for free and two it adds to your credibility and promotes you in a way that an attendee never will.

Doesn’t it undo all that when you meet them in person, when you were young? Back then there weren’t as many young .com millionaires but even then people realized youth and technology fit well. Today it is not a question.

Is the first product you created for MuchMusic? Yes, it was similar to the early Myst. Creative constraints were a big balancing act. So they chose to go retro and make it look like you were watching a black and white TV, thus helping out there disc space issues. He comments that today those restraints may not be there but he is doing the interview from a closet he has different constraints.

He comments that you never want to get too much space they have made that mistake before. Constraints lead to more interesting ways startups operate. Albert comments that when funding was a constraint those companies (BubbleShare, MyDeskTop) did better than the better funded businesses.

Albert adds many great businesses they come from hobbies.

Second Business

How did you promote MyDeskTop? It was a different world back then their wasn’t as much interesting content but they worked in niches that people were passionate about but highly monetize able, meaning that they helped bring enthusiasts and manufactures together. Were you buying ads, using IRC? The used many avenues, getting linked on Slashdot was very important.

At the time what were some of the ways to get on Slashdot? They had a TopGear approach, they would do stunt like stuff with their hardware, such as over clocking hardware they first site to publish a benchmark to breaking the GHz barrier. They would do crazy stuff and cross promote to other sites.

How did you get people to work for you for free and do these crazy stunts? The love of writing combined with a love of hardware, most people wanted an avenue to publish their work. People forget back in the day blogs weren’t as accessible so getting published was tough.

The first people who jump into a technology have it easier than followers.

They sold MyDeskTop, in the single digit millions they are under an NDA. Payment was in cash he advocates balancing your portfolio of stock payments vs. cash. Also when starting a business he feels the business is high speculative and invests in conservative stocks.

Third Business

Buy Buddy, they were overly optimistic about wireless technology adoption curve.

Learned that you cannot fight two things:

1. don’t try change people, most are lazy but they want their data to be secure (even if encrypted).
2. don’t fight technology curves if it is against the grain of rapidly reducing hardware costs.

Fourth and Fifth Business

The failure of IdleAgent led to BubbleShare.

In 2000 Albert started doing more business out of Silicon Valley, it was a major down period for tech. He felt that every advance in technology they were making they were being held back by the market. When you are in a down economy you don’t want to build a capital intensive product.

What was the vision for BubbleShare? It started off as a network of instant messaging clients but went through many iterations and ended up in a photo sharing site. They realized what they wanted to do was very complicated and simplified their goals. They focused on solving one problem. They used inspiration from their two favorite websites Google and Craigslist (a simple interface and because you didn’t have to register). Simplicity was BubbleShares beauty, they were more concerned about appearance and elegance and what they failed to do was produce a social aspect.

They have learned their lessons about being viral and being data driven they are now focusing on viral analytics, the equivalent of taking Google Analytics and applying it to social networks.

Albert adds sometimes it pays not to listen to their customers and should give thought to business goals and strategy of distribution goals.

You want to be very careful in acquisition discussions, sometimes they are really researchers that may really want to build their own product. Fortunately, they had learned that lesson early on. Try feel out the market and try get multiple parties interested in case one falls through another can step in.

Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple is constantly experimenting with equipment do you think you are a tinker of businesses? I think am interested in trying to solve problems, which leads to many ideas. He has improved in being strategic thinker and applying it to his hobbies/passions.

• Feedback, how can Andrew improve his product? He wants active participants
• Here is Albert’s Website – Kontagent
• Please click around and explore Mixergy (you will be amazed at what it hidden on older pages)

Questions I would have liked to have heard:

1. Did you go to college? And if so, did it interfere with you starting companies?
2. Did he take time off after selling MyDeskTop or did you have a project waiting in the wings?
3. How did you find your co-founders?

The beauty of this interview, while not structure well (it jumps around a bit), Garry is new to the startup business and still learning, so I feel we get a first look into the mind of a new entrepreneur. However, I was hoping to hear these questions asked in the interview:

• How did you get introduced or get the attention of YCombinator?
• Follow up on business model? Garry never answered the monetization question

When editing be consistent show urls, so it is easier for viewers to find (audiblepodcast.com/twist, Ustream, webspy, dnamail, guest site), Jason never seems to remember the Audible url and If it is viewed I think it is easier for viewers to remember. You may want to ask Audible for a url for people that already have an account to show them you are spreading the word (maybe a one month half price promo)

Jason suggests that Garry try his idea (iPhone contest) for Posterous’s next 5 features. Nothing on Posterous Blog yet, we’ll see if he takes his advice.

Tyler’s news delivery is not so good, better stick to insights. I recommended trying Tyler in the news chair in my last review (which fit the segment) but be careful not to exclude your guest in conversation.

One last point, this show was much shorter, just a little over an hour which is understandable.  I am sure Jason’s schedule is filled with TechCrunch50 meetings. However, the one thing I think we learned is 1:01 is too short and 2:25 is too long. I do look forward to next week’s format of Ask Jason and Jason’s Shark Tank, just an FYI each question is taking about 10 -12 minutes and a little longer for Shark tank pitches.

Show Ratings:

Mike Arrington:

Garry Tan:

Tyler:

Jason:

Overall Show:

Date: Sept. 4, 2009

Live at Sequoia Capital, including Mike Arrington

Guest: Garry Tan, Co-founder of Posterous

Posterous is the dead simple way to put anything online using email. We launched in July 2008 and we’ve been steadily growing and adding features.

We love sharing thoughts, photos, audio, and files with our friends and family, but we didn’t like how hard it was… so we made a better way.

That’s posterous. We’re super excited to see what happens when blogging becomes as easy as email, and we hope you enjoy posterous as much as we do. Thanks for trying it.

Interview: (03 min)

• Where did the idea come from? Email is the simplest way we all communicate why not just email something and have it integrated into many services.
• To start an account it is very easy just email a picture to post@posterous.com
• Jason and Mike use the service but the beauty is someone who doesn’t know how to blog can get started right away
• How much money have you raised? $15,000 originally from Y Combinator
• What are the terms and why did you choose Ycombinator? They got about 6% of the company for about $15,000. It wasn’t about the money it was more about connections, they have weekly dinners (about 20 to 25 startups per session) and it has that fraternity feel, a Band of Brothers.
• They raised $725,000 Angel round (pre-series A, convertible round with a Cap.) they have used less than half, they want to stay lean (4 people: 3 fulltime and 1 contractor) only a month ago they got an official office.
• Been in operation for 14 months, experiencing 25% growth monthly
• A feature Jason wants to see is default settings for different formats ie. pictures go to Flickr, Posts go to his blog. Garry comments that it is more than likely going to happen.
• Who do you call when you need advice? Our lead investors
• Garry admires and respect? Jeff Bezos of Amazon, he is doing great with whatever he touches. Jason agrees he is the most underrated CEO and does great stuff.
• How do you make money? Never answered
• What did you do before Posterous? Product Manager for Microsoft (02-03) he thought the internet was dead, he learned what to do and not, basically do less. He learned it was difficult to get a feature in a product and then just as difficult to take it out. Cannot move quickly as a company.
• Garry is a big believer in less is more, people try to add too many features, do less.
• What are the challenges? What is the hardest thing? “Cutting to the bone” with resources
• What is next? Keep growing, full template themes.
• What do the other users (Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) think about Posterous? No pushback yet, they built it because people wanted it.

The News: (40 min.) with Tyler Crowley

• Facebook mobile connecting 65 mil. people on mobile phone app, stunning but not surprising, people use FB like their inbox in a way competing with Gmail.
• Former CEO and Co-founder of FeedBurner, is now the COO at Twitter. What does this say? Dick Costello is the next CEO, succession plan, they get to see how they work together for when the company goes public.
• Ebay signs agreement to sell majority stake in Skype for $2.3 bil., founders are suing, Skype is an amazing product, Jason’s question, why haven’t they been able to grow the company?

TWiST Sponsors

Personalities

Matt Mickiewicz, Guest.  Thank you for being on the show and putting yourself out there.  In a previous shows Jason’s has advocated experience over education and you represent his belief.  I really don’t have any advice; you get a 10 for being a show participant.  I am a big advocate of 99designs I have used your service and would recommend it to anyone.  Just a little insight you may be able to use, I got my entire family and friends involved in helping me pick a winner.  Everyone enjoyed the experience and were waiting to see what I chose, if you could add a friend rating system that would be great.  To be honest their were so many great logos I had a very tough decision but that is the beauty of your site, having a good tough decision, I couldn’t lose.  To the doubter this is my contest, if anyone wishes to run a contest, I can give a few pointers that may help, contact me.  Are you guys considering an affiliate program?

Andrew Warner of Mixergy, The News segment.  In addition to your job as guest news anchor and Mahalo product model, your work at Mixergy is great, anyone needing insight into starting  a business, should check out your work.  I thought your questions and follow-up comments contributed to the show.  I particularly liked the comment about people wasting their time when they could be listening to something that improves them on Audible.  I couldn’t agree more.

Phone In Guests, advice if your company name is a word mash please speak slowly and spell it out if need be, if you want anyone to find you.  John Theriault, you did a great job with Vivolve.  The rest of you should thank LinkedIn, for me finding your websites.  However, you get a 10 for participating.

Tyler Crowley, Insights, Holy cow your mike works!!!  Your influence / appearance on the show needs to be perfected.  You have a lot of interesting “Insights” but you need to work out a hand signal to que your “Insights From Tyler!!!” clip.  I would also consider getting a podium or music type stand for your computer so you can stand.  It will help your appearance, you are Jason’s Feldman (from the Regis show).  Personally, I wouldn’t mind having you in the news anchor chair when not in the news segment.  However, I’m not sure about all the things you may be doing off camera, just a thought.

Segments

Special Announcements, We Live In Public – the trailer in my opinion was reminiscent of George Orwell’s,  1984.  The segment was a bit long.

Ask Jason, This is my favorite segment, the Shark Tank is a great addition but this segmant helps the audience in a range of topics.

Jason’s Shark Tank, I love the new segment , Jason you mentioned in a previous show you should do a whole show on how to pitch.  I think I would have preferred to see this first.  Now I have to watch all the shows to get a glimmer of a good technique.  You did give a bit of advice on what to do but unfortunately, I feel I will have to wait for mistakes to figure out a good technique.  Also, if I knew a good technique, I would be able to spot that or see mistakes in the segment.  My only other comment, I DO NOT LIKE the visual, I prefer your original work.

Interview, besides being a good interview you never asked for Twitter questions.  I did think your one discussion was a bit incomplete with regard to spec work.  The world economy is beginning to show up in many peoples work lives and whoever works in the internet space is affected much more, this great medium allows for very few barriers of entry.  6.7 billion people around the world have to do something.  Most everyone will be affected by this sometime in your lives, that is why starting a business may be one of the last frontiers that may not be affected.  To the no spec people, embrace the change and work the system, this ship has sailed.

The News, it is what it is, opinionated and informative.

The Deadpool, it was nice an short but I don’t think I learned a whole lot on why they failed.  Maybe the obvious is the only reason.

Homework, generally I like this segment but I would give you an incomplete.  The professor said he wasn’t done with the assignment.  However, some Toros will be given for the promotion of Audible

Sponsors, DNAMail, Ustream, WebSpy and Audible, you did a great job.  Thank you for sponsoring the show.

Main Host, Jason Calacanis:

• I’m giving you a “Dude???” (we are about the same age so it is in our vernacular) you don’t know my URL it is only 5 more letters longer than your extremely long URL.  However, when I launch my new site it will be changed to StartupRecap.com(under construction).
• I like the fact that you admitted your mistake about successful Canadian businesses, you are human.
• However, when you pulled that Canadian population figure 30mil. (I checked, current number 33mil. close enough) out of your head, maybe you are a cylon.  That was reminiscent of Daniel Negraneu when he announced a guys cards, 2 hands in a row and was dead on, amazing.
• Your phone skills need a little work we heard the tone a bit too much I even jumped once.
• I am trying to decide where I stand on this, you look / glance over your shoulder at Tyler a lot and it may be distracting.  Have you considered putting him in the news anchor chair?  If you don’t like that have him at least stand.  I’m not digging him sitting down.
• I appreciate the fact that you disclose when you are involved in a project ie. ChallengePost, GDGT
• Only 12 minutes were left before you mentioned Jimmy Fails, you are improving.  You even had one show that you never mentioned him, I think for your guests sake I would try stop, I think it makes them uncomfortable.
• This interview was ok, I think your best was with Seth Sternberg of Meebo.  I liked how you got into how he does things ie. communication, hiring, working with investors.

Show Overview:

• I love the show it has a nice balance of entertainment and content.  I feel the way Jason speak is the real deal, if I meet him at TechCrunch I think I know what to expect.
• Some of the shows are getting long this one was 2:25 and even Matt commented that he watched the WHOLE show last week.  I got the impression he thought it was long but that is just a guess.  However, if you run long show, people may seek out my recap if they don’t have the time.  My recommendations, have only one question for “Ask Jason” and one “Shark Tank” pitch or shorten “The News” to only 3 stories.
• To the viewers that didn’t watch live, the show experienced an internet dropoff when Tim Holladay asked his question.  I think the TWiST staff did a great job in dealing with it, they immediately started tweeting about what was happening and that they would be up right away.  Whoever edited the show you did a great job their was hardly a blip.

• -1 because no show is a 10, -1 for length, Although, I should give you a 10 for the “Scott Simko” counter of 5

My Advice:

• Andrew did an interview with Leo Laporte at Mixergy that was great, he commented to never forget the audience and listen to what they have to say in broad terms (which I will say you do well, evidence is this contest).
• Work toward a balance of entertainment and quality content, never get lopsided and you will succeed.

Date: Aug. 28, 2009

Guest: Matt Mickiewicz, Founder of SitePoint, 99Designs, and Flippa

SitePoint is a fast growing online media company and information provider targeting the Web professional market, specifically Web Developers and Designers. The company has five major revenue streams: advertising and sponsorship, content-based products both online and in retail, software, and more recently streaming video subscriptions and classified listings. SitePoint is currently the 978th most visited web site in the world!

99designs is a disruptive startup which connects passionate designers from around the globe with savvy clients who need design projects completed in a timely fashion without the usual risk or cost associated with professional design.

It’s definitely a cliché but there’s no other way to describe it — 99designs was started by designers for designers. Our role at 99designs is to provide a friendly, professional, and secure environment where designers from all walks of life can compete on a level playing field – where they can show off their work, improve their skills, communicate with peers, and win new clients.

99designs was founded by Mark Harbottle, co-founder and chairman of sitepoint.com, along with internet veterans Lachlan Donald, and Paul Annesley.

Flippa is the leading marketplace for websites.

As a buyer, you get to choose from the widest range of established web sites, with comprehensive information about the business helping you to make the correct decision with confidence.

As a seller, you have access to a huge crowd of interested and informed buyers keen to bid good prices for premium product. The hard work you’ve invested in building your business will be rewarded

Special Announcements:

• (04 min) Jason’s Review Challenge, plain and simple he wants feedback on the show good or bad.  So he has created a contest to review this episode and the winner gets a $500 iPhone gift card.  Post it and send the link to contact@thisweekinstartups.com
• 4 remote shows coming up, next week live from Sequoia (2 conferences and 2 from Sequoia)
• We Live In Public, tells the story of the effect the web is having on our society as seen through the eyes of “the greatest Internet pioneer you’ve never heard of”, visionary Josh Harris.  If you buy a ticket (in the next week) the first 100 people to email a pic of the ticket to contact@thisweekinstartups.com you will receive a Mahalo pack.
• New segment “Jason’s Shark Tank”, 3 minutes to pitch your idea (similar to Dragon’s Den)
• Jason will be the first user of the professional user account for Twitter.

Ask Jason: (22min)

1. Stewart Moore from Maryland

• How likely is it for someone to start a consumer hardware company? Very expensive, you are competing with the big guys.  However, things are changing and a few smaller companies have succeeded Flip and Slingbox.  Flip was very simple, no features and went against the norm.  Their have been failures OQO, make sure your idea is different.  He wants to create a device that can download and create podcasts.  Make sure you do a 100 to 1,000 unit run and have people order in advance and start the work when you get 500 orders then you do it.  Consider using Kickstarter to help fund your idea or ChallengePost to help you get the design work done (one of Jason’s Angel investments).

• How does a small fish know if a big company is really interested, what is the next step after initial interest? Great question, you may have to go through 5, 10 meeting to get anything done.  They are big companies and it takes a long time to get anything done.  Protect yourself assume it will not happen and run your business is so.  Ask them during a meeting is this something that you may be able to execute on in 30 days, 60 days or 90 days and based on what they say let them know you have 3 other clients interested and you will make sure to get back in touch with them in said period.  Jason prefers the slow approach to salesmanship when people seek him out.  Consider a free, opensourse version to let them see something and if interested you can make a full version.  Jason prefers a visualization approach give them something to see.

1. Tim Holladay, Splat Technologies, mobile app. development.

• How does a small fish know if a big company is really interested, what is the next step after initial interest? Great question, you may have to go through 5, 10 meeting to get anything done.  They are big companies and it takes a long time to get anything done.  Protect yourself assume it will not happen and run your business is so.  Ask them during a meeting is this something that you may be able to execute on in 30 days, 60 days or 90 days and based on what they say let them know you have 3 other clients interested and you will make sure to get back in touch with them in said period.  Jason prefers the slow approach to salesmanship when people seek him out.  Consider a free, opensourse version to let them see something and if interested you can make a full version.  Jason prefers a visualization approach give them something to see.

Jason’s Shark Tank: (42 min.)

Shaan Siddiqui

• Idea: Emotify, Tag content based on how they feel and create user media packages.

• Jason’s Recap: The Delicious / Stumbleupon of emotions, you have the core of an idea.  BuzzFeed has a tool that is similar.  It is in the feature phase, let me guess you are not sure exactly where this will go, can the feature turn into a product and then a business.  What have you done before? 2^nd startup, self funded, spent $25,000, worked on a year and a half too long and it failed but he has moved on.  Jason would have to meet you he prefers crazy passionate entrepreneurs.  How does this go from this being an interesting feature to a product?  Will this become a destination site?  Shaan didn’t answer with conviction, he said basically maybe.  This concerned Jason because he thinks it would be a good destination site and wanted to see passion for the idea.  What did your parent’s do?  Father – Teacher, Mother – Manager of a local supply firm, You grew up middle class?  Yes, what kind of car did your parents drive?  Accord and Civic.  Did you go to college? Yes, paid for college himself.  How much money would you need and what would you spend it on?  They are about 8 weeks from launching, they have a workable link.  They need runway, for servers and a site redesign.  They received some money from a local angel.  Jason wants a java code to help him make his site better.

• Matt’s Recap: He like the idea of content across multiple websites and multiple mediums and possible curated content.  What he didn’t hear was, how will this make money?  Right now Shaan is expecting advertising but the business model isn’t fully developed.

• Tyler’s Insight: One of his favorite feature is the Tweetmeme button, it allows you to Retweet right away.  Within 6 months he is reaching Digg like numbers, it gives instant feedback.  Will this be a similar simple feature?

• End Result: Jason is intrigued and Shaan is onto something, he can’t say yes or no on the spot but you fit his profile, you are cheap by nature.

John Theriault

• Idea: Vivolve, a life profile site for teens to start building a career resume, free for teens and recruiters, business model based around data subscribers.

• Jason’s Recap: Your ability to pitch this is terrible but your idea could be brilliant.  Basically, LinkedIn for High School students allowing them to start a resume 8 years before you start looking for a job.  The name is terrible, work on branding.  Why did you come up with this idea?  He was a sports writer and saw good student athletes struggle to create a helpful online profile to get recognized.  After some thought and explanation the name is sinking in.

• Pointer’s on how to pitch by Jason: Present the problem or frustration you solve or make an analogy in the first 10 seconds and then move on to idea.

• Matt’s Recap: It has a lot of potential; I like how your idea started down the sports niche.  You could track stat’s and charge recruiters for access by making their lives easier.  Once you start perfect the sports niche you could evolve the idea into other areas.

• Tyler’s Insight: The internship space and application space is lacking.

• End Result: Jason would like to see the sight, he loves the idea of a LinkedIn for teens and will follow up.

Discussion: (1:18)

• Matt came from a working family and built everything from the ground up.
• He was 15 years old when he started the precursor to SitePoint, he was learning how to build a website as a hobby and started finding cool things but everything was scattered about.  He compiled all the data into website called Web Master Resources (1997-98)that linked to all the resources, he quickly became the go to destination for website building.
• They bootstrapped all the way and bartered for everything from software to email lists.
• While in High School he was taking advertising orders, success was quick.  His parents didn’t think the success would last they thought it had no legs.  However, when it succeeded he skipped going to college, the only thing he may have missed out on is the social aspects of college.  Jason eloquently says the chicks.
• 2000-01 things got tough when money dried up, advertising shrunk but never had to lay anyone off.  What they did was study how people used their website and the most popular feature was, “print this article”.  They wanted to explore printing up their most popular articles as cheaply as possible and created, in his words a crappy little 200 page book but sold 20,000 for $35 apiece, which led to the books they continue to publish.
• When 99designs was started the going rate for a logo was $5,000 – $20,000, so expensive many people didn’t even get a logo.  The average price for a logo on 99designs is $300.
• There is a movement among graphic designers against spec work and is trying to get people to stop participating at 99designs.
• 99designs has 44,000 designers in their community.  99designs provides lead generation for other work for designers.  Their lead designer in Romania made $80,000US last year through their site and probably much more on the side.
• Flippa, new site recently created is a marketplace to buy and sell websites.

The News: (1:34)with Andrew Warner of Mixergy

• Apple’s Snow Leopard released with few added features, is this the end of innovation in desktop computers?  No, I don’t understand this release, I guess the big feature is exchange and speed.  However, it won’t be too noticeable.  Will you be upgrading in this office?  No, I don’t even think we did the last upgrade.  Jason would like to see more innovation in monitors.
• NFL banded Twittering during games.  Ocho Cinco found a work around by sending a signal to a friend at the game to send out tweets.  Is this a distraction to work or a great publicity stunt?  Jason, doesn’t like the idea he is a work and should concentrate on the game and let his play speak for itself.
• Yelp has an augmented reality feature, will this become a mainstream?  Very cool not sure if everyone will have a use for it.  Therefore, not that big of a deal.
• Microsoft photoshopped out a black man out of its Polish site and replaced  him with a white man.  What do you think?  Somebody is an idiot; I don’t know what they are thinking.  I don’t think it was malicious but someone not thinking the situation entirely through.  What steps do you take at Mahalo to prevent social oops?  He is very clear that you represent your company even if it is on your private Facebook account.
• Wall Street Journal reports Steve Jobs is obsessed with the tablet computer, do you think this will be a hit?  Depends on price, will it be a better experience than the iPhone, iTouch.  He doesn’t see it being a huge hit, very niche.
• Bit.ly, shortening url for other sites.  Are people making a mistake by turning over their URLs to shortening services?  Benefit are the statistics and eventually most people will have their own service.  They need to guarantee the service will be up no matter what happens to the company, until then I would be concerned.

Dead Pool: (2:10)

• Tipjoy, micropayment company
  • They will be competing with Paypal
  • Not big enough of a difference

Notable Quotes:

• (50 min.) Jason, If you’re not crazy I would never invest in you, if you’re like a normal person that disqualifies you from my investment fund.  My investment thesis is, I like crazy unreasonable entrepreneurs.
• (59 min.) Jason, A-B-C, Always Be Cheap as a startup.
• (1:59) Jason on relationships, Grab time when you can and do something epic.

Relationship Ideas:

• Do something that will make all the other girlfriends / spouses jealous
• Bring your significant other to conferences
• Gift idea, bring it to another level not by spending more but be creativity and make an effort (ex. Buy a box of chocolates, remove some of the chocolate and place something nice in the box)
• Take a hike with a great view, surprise her with a some wine, cheese and crackers.  Small surprises.

Insights From Tyler!!!:

• (16min) If you think you are a social media guru if you have not seen this movie (We Live In Public) you are nothing.

Homework: (2:04)

• Go to audiblepodcast.com/twist – Sign up for 3 months send in receipt to TWiST and receive a Mahalo pack and $20 for the first 50 people.

• The Accidental Billionaire, due next week

TWiST Sponsors:

• Ustream
• DNA Mail
• WebSpy
• Audible

Scott