Greetings everyone. Welcome to the re-launch of the BillSnow.com newsletter. The gist of this thing will be to cover “what’s hip and happening” in the high tech, venture capital, and entrepreneurial world. While this newsletter will undoubtedly be Chicago-centric (I live in Chicago, after all), I invite people from outside of Chicago to join the fray. If you haven’t done so already, join my newsletter mailing list, and chime in whenever you feel it is appropriate. All you have to do is send me an email. Feel free to forward this email to anyone who may find all of this interesting.
The goal of this newsletter is to cover a wide range of valuable subjects for entrepreneurs (and wannabe entrepreneurs) of all shapes and sizes. Since this is a community affair, I welcome participation from entrepreneurs, investors, services providers, educators, and the various gadflies who periodically inhabit this diverse world. This participation is vitally important, because while I believe I am an endless torrent of fascinating opinion and fact, things are so much better when other people are involved.
So…what’s the tenor and tone of this here newsletter? Even though there is a certain amount of “driving by feel” (that means I’m making it up as I go along), I hope various themes will coalesce, and this thing will develop its own unique personality. Kind of like a child, expect I won’t have to pay for college and pester it to get married as it approaches 40. Some of the topics I plan to cover include (but are not limited to):
§ Growing a company
§ Going from idea to exit
§ How to take the “first step” towards following your entrepreneurial dream
§ How to raise money
§ Where and when to raise money
§ Dealing with the ambiguity of the start up
§ Management techniques
§ Valuation techniques
§ Etc., etc., etc.
The tone of my past writing has been described as, “candid, abrasive, and refreshingly hip,” and I will do my best to see that this newsletter maintains that standard. I’ll try to keep the staid and sterile boilerplate approach to a minimum. I liken this approach to what many of us have experienced in our lives at one time or another. It usually happens after we’ve finished school (i.e., after pouring through tome after tome of fact filled but emotionless drivel) and we are introduced to the real world (i.e., we get jobs). If we are lucky, some wise old sage eventually takes pity on our naďve, enthusiastically confused, and diplomaed rear ends by cutting through all the clutter and distilling what we really need to know into a few short sentences. The words of wisdom usually begin with:
“Kid, it’s like this…”
As you might imagine, there will be humor (hopefully) as well as hard-hitting facts. While my newsletter will be accurate, professional, and above all, helpful, I will not allow this thing to become boring and devoid of personality. I’ve said it before: You’ll never stand out if you try to be the best at fitting in.
And most importantly, this will be done with me, your humble scribe, playing the role of raconteur, sounding board, sage advisor, moderator, and experienced advisor. You can’t lose!
Here’s how I envision this thing working. You send me emails talking about whatever you want to talk about. Introduce yourself. Talk about your company. Talk about your idea. Talk about who got funding. Make an announcement that you just received funding. Make an announcement that you (or your firm) just made an investment. Tell people you’re looking for a job. Write in with opinions about what someone should do to grow their business, or how they should begin the process of becoming an entrepreneur. Point out helpful resources and interesting websites. Write about the entrepreneurial experience. Write about the venture capital experience. Proffer your opinion. Correct the mistakes of others. Learn from others.
And have fun!
Let’s keep it entrepreneurial minded. I plan to leave politics out of the discussion. I plan to omit the negative creeps who only want to send “anonymous” emails bad mouthing former employers. There’s another Chicago resource that will publish your vindictive vitriol. Actually…as I think about it…if I get enough “anonymous” emails, perhaps I’ll bring back my “correspondence from the dopes” section.
I plan to keep this newsletter “on track” and focus on real advice and help. I will not permit it to degenerate into jealous knee biting. Much like my website, this newsletter offers nothing but extremely valuable entrepreneurial resources. Think about it. How many other “entrepreneur resource” websites offer an early stage venture capital manifesto – using Keith Richard’s guitar tuning as a paradigm – for free?! Not many, pal!
This first newsletter will be a bit brief; I hope to have more info and messages in the next one. As I said above, I’m driving by feel, and I am dependent to a large extent upon the participation of our community. Brief or not, I think our community needs this kind of thing. I hope you agree!
Your pen pal,
Bill
I ran into Brad Hessel at the last Monday Morning Meeting (in Naperville). Brad is the former CEO of Bodacion Technologies, and he is currently looking for a new gig. He’s been keeping busy with a few hush-hush consulting jobs. Take a look at Brad’s website. It’s no BillSnow.com, but then again, what is? Brad’s cool by my book.
After accepting an offer to be General Counsel for SecureInfo Corporation, our old buddy Vic Pascucci (plus his lovely wife June and little Vic IV) recently moved to San Antonio Texas. The Chicago scene just isn’t the same without Mr. TannedFeet.com. I mean, who in Chicago can do a biceps flex like old Vic? Who will come to my barbeques and eat $300 of raw meat? ‘Tis a sad day in Chicago.
On the plus side of the ledger, there is one good thing about Vic leaving Chicago…it is much easier to buy black clothing.
Seriously, Vic is a great guy, and a good friend. I’m sure we’ll hear from him one of these days. I’ve asked him to periodically chime in with some words of wisdom from Texas. Maybe one day he’ll have enough experience to become SecureInfo’s Specific Counsel.
Bill, my name is Chris Jostes and I am an entrepreneur based out of Lockport, Illinois. I have this past week completed my business plan and financial information for the company I would like to introduce called USLocal.com. USLocal.com will be a local community information network. USLocal.com will be a site which opens initially in the South and Southwest suburbs of Chicago and will provide an extensive internet yellow page service, a guide for new residents into these communities, an extensive regional calendar of events, advanced links to community government web sites and a section dedicated to providing coupon/savings information. I have planned partnerships with AmericanEagle.com and Acxiom as my information provider.
I am now at the stage where I am trying to find a potential angel investor to partner with me on this development. Could you recommend any strong companies or tools to use which apply to the Chicago angel market. I am a member of the Technology Executive’s Club, however their focus emphasizes the VC – potential business relationship as opposed to the angel - business potential relationship.
Any input would be appreciated.
Kind Rgds,
Chris Jostes
Anyone have any advice for Chris? I checked the website, doesn’t look like it’s up and running yet. Chris, are you still working on this project?
Our good buddy Raman Chadha chimes in from DePaul with the following…
The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University and the Lincoln Park Business Development Institute announce the fall sessions of Start Up! Chicago, the successful course in which students learn how to launch a new business and develop their own business plan. With a dynamic mix of expert speakers, case studies, class discussions, and experiential activities, the 10-week course is taught by experienced instructors and entrepreneurs.
Start Up! Chicago — Fall 2004 Sessions
Loop Campus
6pm - 9pm
Mondays, Sept. 20 - Nov. 22
DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Lincoln Park Campus
6pm - 9pm
Wed, Sept. 22 - Wed. Nov 24
John Richardson Library, Rm. 400, 2350 N. Kenmore
Register online at http://www.startupchicago.org. Course fee - $495.
If you want to contact Raman directly, his contact info is below.
Raman Chadha
Executive Director -- Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
Entrepreneurship Faculty -- Dept. of Management
DePaul University
312-362-7203
rchadha@depaul.edu
Back in April, I moderated an entrepreneurial panel at DePaul University. In addition to dropping my PDA down the elevator shaft (talk about “giving back” to your university), I got to meet some pretty interesting entrepreneurs. Kirsten D'Aurelio was one of the panelists, she’s a successful entrepreneur and recently chimed in with following:
Hi, Bill.....
It's VoiceScape's 5 Year Anniversary this month, and we are rockin' and rollin' on the corporate stage! Classes are forming for our two upcoming presentation skills courses in September, plus ongoing one-on-one coaching building speaking confidence for clients from Bank of America, Partners in Wellness, Northern Trust, and many others. The actor training techniques we use to help clients communicate effectively and authentically continue to win rave reviews and glowing testimonials from our clients. Our successful voice training work at Northern Trust landed in the May issue of Training Magazine; we were able to help them increase customer satisfaction surveys by strengthening the vocal images of 55 Investor Services phone reps there. As CEO, I've got several fall speaking engagements on the books, as well as a new adjunct position in the Communications Department at DePaul U., so I will be very busy indeed! We're updating the website, too----feel free to take a spin at www.voicescape.com to see the changes.
Dramatically yours,
Kirsten D'Aurelio, President & CEO
VoiceScape, Inc.
"Communication Skills for the Business Stage"
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hi bill...
I was visiting your website reading some entrepreneur articles and saw your invite to profile companies....my partner and I just started...but a good starting point for you would be our website...check out vipgeek.com
best regards
michael
Michael J. Schafer
Batavia, IL 60510
1-877-VIP-GEEK ext 302/ www.vipgeek.com
Relief for Technology Headaches
Michael, you are duly introduced to my subscriber base!
YourNet Connection, Inc., a full-service Chicagoland ISP focusing primarily in the areas of T1 connectivity, web design, web hosting, email services, and web search optimization. Chicagoland’s business owners and IT managers chose YourNet when they realize that buying on price alone usually compromises service levels and their network. Other customers are frustrated that their current website isn’t performing as they had hoped, doesn't drive business, or doesn’t have the proper functionality, but they fear it will cost too much to fix it. If any of these are challenges your company can relate to, we can help.
@YourNet Connection, Inc.
1320 Tower Road Schaumburg, IL 60173
tel: 847.524.3900 fax: 847.885.5605
YouNet Connection is hosting my site. I recommend them. Contact Lauren Dimet with any questions. ldimet@ync.net
If you’re interested in advertising in my newsletter…you know the drill. Send an email bill@billsnow.com
Networking Events
I’m thinking about restarting my high caliber networking events, perhaps I’ll do something on a larger scale, and open it to the general public. I’ll keep you all posted. If anyone else has any events they want to publicize, let me know.
In the past few months, I’ve received a bunch of emails. Some even say nice things about me. I love the Internet. You do a few things on-line, and you suddenly make new friends in California, Denmark, and even Schaumburg!
Here’s a little selection of comments.
Bill,
I looked at your site and read some of the material. You've done a great job at putting together some of the most essential material for entrepreneurs.
Best regards,
Jim
Jim Protsenko,
Chief Operating Officer
****************************
Molecular Nanosystems, Inc.,
977 Commercial Street,
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tel. 650/846-2519
Fax. 650/846-2522
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Dear Bill,
Just a short note to say that your paper on Venture 101 rocks. A must-read for all entrepreneurs.
As the presentation leader for our company, it has helped me to prepare for our VC meetings and sharpening my pitch delivery. Many thanks!
Best regards,
--
Arican Wegter
Managing Director
digitarian a/s
Nyhavn 4, 1st Floor
1051 K Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel: +45 33 32 20 14
Fax: +45 33 93 37 73
Mob: +45 61 70 96 77
Thanks, Ari. Based on subsequent emails, Ari wanted to point out that Digitarian is “Europe’s leading online DVD-rental service!” So noted.
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Bill:
I thought your article on PPMs was great--- you hit the target squarely and forcefully. Any article that makes me chuckle and provides good advice is a winner.
Thanks,
Fred
Fred D. Watson
Phone (847) 251 0015
Cell (847) 274 2019
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Bill,
Just wanted to let you know that I quite enjoy your columns. When you say things like "If you want “fairness” and egalitarianism, join Greenpeace and hang out at a Phish concert" and make references towards "clear plastic talking Jesus dolls" it makes your writing entertaining as well as informative. The structured, conservative, "bricks and mortar" columnists do nothing for me.
Your most recent column about Arryx was particularly interesting, and I look forward to any future columns you may write on the topic of nanotechnology startups. I would imagine you are familiar with "up and comers" such as Nanomateria, and Nanosys Inc. Both of these companies parallel and perhaps exceed Arryx in potential.
Thank you for your insight!
Joe Pivarunas
Nanalyze Founder and Site Editor
Thanks, Joe. I have my moments.
Almost Done…Go Back to Work
I hope to have a much deeper and richer newsletter next time. Stay tuned, better yet, drop me a line.
Your old pal,
Bill
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http://www.billsnow.com/Newsletter.htm
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