I’m looking back on Startup Weekend now with a clear head. It seems that I blogged about 100 posts in 54 hours this weekend, over on StartupWeekend.com.
On Monday morning, when I wrote the explanation for why vosnap.com was not launched on time I was fighting through being very tired and very frustrated. But reading through it again today, it still captures what happened accurately. Really, the 40+ comments to that post tell the story – they’re worth a read. Many of the people involved commented, as did the people around the world who were following us on a live cam, via the blog, on TechCrunch, Facebook, and elsewhere. It’s amazing to see how these people agonized right along with us, and their big-hearted responses to my “brutal honesty” post.
Andrew Hyde did an amazing job with this. Interest is pouring in to both of us from all over the world – people want to do their own Startup Weekend. I think Startup Weekend could very easily become a phenomenon.
VoSnap will launch. Today I saw a new alpha version that was basically working, thanks to several on the dev team. People are still working on it today but obviously not in as focused of a manner. I’m still a shareholder in the company, like my 71 oh so awesome new friends. And I can’t wait – but I will.
I think Rod has some great ideas in his post this morning. Seems that just a little more advanced planning would probably have gone a long way towards smoothing over a lot of the challenges experienced. And I’m betting that having done this bit of advanced work would not have taken away from the spirit or energy originally anticipated, and clearly demonstrated at the event.
My other observation would be to allow the even to take a bit longer. I think 2.5 days is just not enough. Clearly for this idea it wasn’t enough. If I were lucky enough to be involved with such an event, I’d vote for making it a week long thing. The participants would still be able to stay up all night to get tasks done, and post blearily about the latest going’s on, etc.
Plus, a longer event schedule would allow for more “reality” entertainment to its observers online (and off). And there’d be a chance or two for a party and an end of event celebration.
Just my two cents.
Dave, your post echoed the strange mix of happiness, elation, frustration and disappointment. Hopefully over the next few days as things begin to settle, the elation and happiness will increase and the frustration and disappointment will subside.
lol. ya 40+ posts. That’s an enormous amount when you consider the other posts got Max 13. It shows that there is still interest after Startup Weekend is finished. I would really like to see another post with some more progress sometime soon.Y Not?
Dave, the reality of Monday morning definitely was cause for the mixed emotions you have expressed when the launch didn’t happen. The excitement and desire to see a product through to completion is what we now hold on to as we press on towards taking VoSnap public! 🙂
I don’t know how ya’ll have time to blog about starting up a company. Seems like more talk and less do. Opps, I’m contributing
Dave,
I read about StartUp weekend after it kicked off. Would have loved to join you all. I think this could become a springboard activity for the denver area. At one point becoming so big that there will be multiple teams and ideas going at once. Competition is always good. Maybe even having a draft. Please give us a lot of notice if there is another one being put together.