Comments on: Growing the Houston Startup Community http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/ Javid Jamae's thoughts on software, startups, and other things. Sat, 19 May 2012 01:04:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Import Business http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Import Business Tue, 08 May 2012 08:10:43 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-392 Excellent post. I definitely love this website. Keep it up! Excellent post. I definitely love this website. Keep it up!

]]> By: Import Business http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-391 Import Business Tue, 08 May 2012 07:33:32 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-391 I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You are incredible! Thanks! I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody
else know such detailed about my problem. You are incredible!
Thanks!

]]> By: Wayne Lopez http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-364 Wayne Lopez Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:17:20 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-364 Nice meeting you at Groundup this morning Javid. After being here a year, I can tell you something you wouldn't believe and that Houston is ahead of the curve over Atlanta. I've spent the past 5 years there and you are way ahead, which to me is surprising considering the schools, companies and resources there. I've actually turned down an opportunity to move to Silicon Valley, because as Greg Gianforte (of RightNow Technologies) told me, you can start a technology company anywhere in the new economy. I love that Houston is somewhat of an underdog and hope to get my endeavors started here and keep them here. I think Houston is really waiting to explode. The technical talent is definitely here, but I think the culture needs to be bred in the schools. Because the oil, gas, and healthcare industries have such a stranglehold on the economy and culture here, it's hard for those already in the workforce who may have kids and a mortgage to leave that stability. That being said, I think you'll see major growth over the next 2 years and would be willing to bet our first self-publishing check on it ;-) Nice meeting you at Groundup this morning Javid. After being here a year, I can tell you something you wouldn’t believe and that Houston is ahead of the curve over Atlanta. I’ve spent the past 5 years there and you are way ahead, which to me is surprising considering the schools, companies and resources there. I’ve actually turned down an opportunity to move to Silicon Valley, because as Greg Gianforte (of RightNow Technologies) told me, you can start a technology company anywhere in the new economy. I love that Houston is somewhat of an underdog and hope to get my endeavors started here and keep them here. I think Houston is really waiting to explode. The technical talent is definitely here, but I think the culture needs to be bred in the schools. Because the oil, gas, and healthcare industries have such a stranglehold on the economy and culture here, it’s hard for those already in the workforce who may have kids and a mortgage to leave that stability. That being said, I think you’ll see major growth over the next 2 years and would be willing to bet our first self-publishing check on it ;-)

]]> By: Robert Brackenridge http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Robert Brackenridge Fri, 13 May 2011 08:38:30 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-349 Javid, I don't believe Shion is knocking the meetup community, in fact I read that he is encouraging it. I read that he is challenging the core technologists to start forming their own communities rather than relying upon event driven organizations to do so. Your example of PHP for instance... How many marketing, sales, legal, HR, etc, etc, service representatives would you expect to see at a PHP meetup? Well... You might see a recruiter there on the rare occasion... But, this isn't their typical venue. Whereas you will see a crowd at many of the entrepreneurial events in town, but the majority are either looking to provide services or sit on the sideline. There are very few active participants. I believe Shion's argument is quite valid. Pointed? Yes. But frankly it needs to be. He is struggling with many of the challenges a technology startup faces in Houston. Javid,

I don’t believe Shion is knocking the meetup community, in fact I read that he is encouraging it. I read that he is challenging the core technologists to start forming their own communities rather than relying upon event driven organizations to do so.

Your example of PHP for instance… How many marketing, sales, legal, HR, etc, etc, service representatives would you expect to see at a PHP meetup? Well… You might see a recruiter there on the rare occasion… But, this isn’t their typical venue.

Whereas you will see a crowd at many of the entrepreneurial events in town, but the majority are either looking to provide services or sit on the sideline. There are very few active participants.

I believe Shion’s argument is quite valid. Pointed? Yes. But frankly it needs to be. He is struggling with many of the challenges a technology startup faces in Houston.

]]> By: Chris Lee http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Chris Lee Thu, 12 May 2011 18:11:38 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-347 The problem with ignoring the consumer web space is that it's really the batter that makes the cake for all the other industries. Innovation at the individual level is stimulated and nurtured by ideas in the consumer space. The reason is simple: most of those who do the innovating (ie, programmers) haven't specialized in a vertical industry. Those ideas are then baked and molded by industry veterans to produce interesting vertical solutions. The consumer web space is a proving ground, where programmers can quickly launch an idea and see if it works. The winners are copied by industries. You have Twitter, then you have Twitter for X. You have Facebook, then you have social network for X. Etc. Ignoring the consumer space is trying to start a bakery without batter. The problem with ignoring the consumer web space is that it’s really the batter that makes the cake for all the other industries. Innovation at the individual level is stimulated and nurtured by ideas in the consumer space. The reason is simple: most of those who do the innovating (ie, programmers) haven’t specialized in a vertical industry. Those ideas are then baked and molded by industry veterans to produce interesting vertical solutions. The consumer web space is a proving ground, where programmers can quickly launch an idea and see if it works. The winners are copied by industries.

You have Twitter, then you have Twitter for X. You have Facebook, then you have social network for X. Etc.

Ignoring the consumer space is trying to start a bakery without batter.

]]> By: Marc Nathan http://javidjamae.com/2011/05/12/growing-the-houston-startup-community/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Marc Nathan Thu, 12 May 2011 12:51:46 +0000 http://javidjamae.com/?p=417#comment-346 Absolutely, 100% Spot On. Javid outlines and demarcates the issues surrounding the Houston Startup Scene in a way that only a true technologist could. Javid himself has really stepped up his involvement and lent his leadership to the small, but growing community. We suffer from the same problems than any community who is not Silicon Valley does - we have startup envy. I still believe that we are one of the very best places to start a tech company outside of the Valley for all of the reason that Javid writes in this post - high standard of living, incredible talent pool and very open and friendly community. We have ideas, mentors and money - I know this for a fact. I know that I'm not the only one who believes and acts on this, just look at Jerald Reichstein of BouncingPixel, Jeff Reichman of January Advisors, Grace Rodriguez of CulturePilot & DFJMercury and Brian Cohen of iDiscover Group and my own business partner, Kelsey Ruger of ChaiONE just to name a few. The issue we have is that we're not focused on our strengths - Energy, Healthcare and Manufacturing. That is not to say we can't make a consumer web business succeed (blinds.com will do close to $80m this year), it's just not what we're geared to do. Javid is dead on, we need more events, more blogs and more invite only gatherings that get technologists and startups together. Great, well-thought out post. Absolutely, 100% Spot On. Javid outlines and demarcates the issues surrounding the Houston Startup Scene in a way that only a true technologist could. Javid himself has really stepped up his involvement and lent his leadership to the small, but growing community. We suffer from the same problems than any community who is not Silicon Valley does - we have startup envy. I still believe that we are one of the very best places to start a tech company outside of the Valley for all of the reason that Javid writes in this post - high standard of living, incredible talent pool and very open and friendly community. We have ideas, mentors and money - I know this for a fact. I know that I’m not the only one who believes and acts on this, just look at Jerald Reichstein of BouncingPixel, Jeff Reichman of January Advisors, Grace Rodriguez of CulturePilot & DFJMercury and Brian Cohen of iDiscover Group and my own business partner, Kelsey Ruger of ChaiONE just to name a few. The issue we have is that we’re not focused on our strengths - Energy, Healthcare and Manufacturing. That is not to say we can’t make a consumer web business succeed (blinds.com will do close to $80m this year), it’s just not what we’re geared to do. Javid is dead on, we need more events, more blogs and more invite only gatherings that get technologists and startups together. Great, well-thought out post.

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