“God can dream a bigger dream for you than you could ever dream for yourself. Success comes when you surrender to that dream—and let it lead you to the next best place.” – Oprah
So I have a Big Tech Idea (beyond FEM) and it feels like what I’m supposed to do next. I find myself at a point of possible pivot in my life- a possible pivot away from full-time Corporate and Government and diving right into Start-Up. Leading a tech start-up, more precisely. Finally- I have a really marketable idea with legs whose time has come with the lessons from prior efforts backing me up at a time when there are more opportunities and desire to bring in more women in the space than ever before. This is me putting out fleeces.
What to do? Ask Oprah and Dr. Phil for help? Why not? One of the biggest things holding women back is not asking for what they want- the second biggest is that, when you do ask, you’re often thought ill of for doing so…
After all, women make great start-up founders, I’m geographically mobile, which is a useful aspect of my life. And I’ve lived a lot of places so the relo thing is easier for me than most. Columbus, Ohio (admittedly my first choice)? No problem. Chicago? Sweet! SFO/Silicon Valley? Awesome! DC? On it. Austin? Yee haw! The Italian Alps? Si! Other places in the States? Or abroad? Probably no problems there, either but I’d like to grow my business as Made in the USA if possible.
I finally have enough skills to feel competent in being the head of a new organization with, you know, employees and offices and infrastructure and finances and term sheets and all of that. Apparently, it’s taken me a few more years to get to this point than others but, hey, it’s my journey and I’ve learned and shared and grown along the way so why not?
Besides, I know that there are hundreds of women like me with all of the skills and ideas in the world waiting for someone to inspire them enough to make the leap to entrepreneurship themselves while proving to investors that women- even women over the age of 35- have a lot of worthy ideas with plenty of ROI to get underway and that are worth funding. (Yes, Virginia, it’s still tougher for women to get funded.). These women could be part of our nation’s continued climb out of the Great Recession if only we could convince them to step out-and convince people to back them up when they do-and to then help the others who come behind them. Finally, I’d clearly share my journey- and the triumphs and trials along the way- with others via multiple modes and “lift (others) as I climb”.
Perhaps there’s an actual reality show or mini-show or webisodes here that helps everyone-especially women- understand how to better lever up that entrepreneurial spirit and put it into play? Perhaps to understand the bigger picture in business so that that can be more strategic partners at their jobs? I sure think so! It would be an honor and I’d have a great time doing it. We need more women in order to inspire more women- right now, it’s mostly a young man’s game which is fine except for the fact that we are missing out on so much of the economic promise that women hold if only we could become empowered! This New York University Startup Week #NYUSW agenda is a great exhibit- lots of cool guys with cool ideas – where are the women on the agenda (save on the landing page picture) at a University with a 59% female student body?
In short, I’d like to be one of the ones who helps start a movement towards more women making it not only in leadership but in founding companies and being part of the virtuous circle of seeing other women do the same. How do we start a movement? In truth, the movement has already been started- I’d really just like to be one of the equally-recognized followers who draws more of the crowd and celebrates the existing dance that’s underway by amplifying its effect. Here’s an inspiring TED talk on how to start a movement and that may explain that sentence a bit better.
So why not me? And why not ask when Oprah herself puts out a call for guests to talk with herself and Dr. Phil about an applicable topic on LifeClass?
With all of that in mind, I sent in a response to a call out on her Facebook feed yesterday. I’m publishing this today so that I can pass on the link to her producers who will call me this week to arrange my appearance on LifeClass. I’m certain that the talented producers will see an awesome tie-in to the discussions around the need for more women to lead and start-up businesses (especially tech businesses), support one another in those efforts, and lead the discussions from Lean In further down the incredible start that’s been made while creating an ongoing conversation that could be documented and celebrated. The success of Shark Tank (and thanks to Lori Greiner and Barbara Corcoran for their work there!) speaks to the interest of the American (and international) viewing audience in start-ups and ideas.
In the spirit of putting out into the Universe what I hope to receive, here is my dream list of what Oprah or someone like her could help direct me towards (and gives me a great set of to-do’s on my own regardless- entrepreneurs gotta hustle!)- and I’ll be sure to pass this list on to the producer who contacts me soon:
Mentors:
Where to go? What to do? I know that I don’t know it all and that my idea can be even better than it already is. These are a few of the people that I think might be some of the spectacular advisors/mentors that could propel quick progress- my Advisory Board Dream Team. They are some of my heros in the space- it’s not a comprehensive list by any stretch.
- Sheryl Sandberg @sherylsandberg (http://leanin.org/) – Who better than Ms. Sandberg to help open doors and mentor me? What a great next chapter for Lean In!
- Ann Miura-Ko @annimaniac (http://www.forbes.com/sites/velocity/2010/03/25/meet-ann-miura-ko-the-most-powerful-woman-in-startups/) -Ms. Miura-Ko’s facebook cover photo should be enough reason but the article above lists about a dozen more reasons that she would be an awesome advisor.
- Dave McClure @davemcclure (http://www.500.co)- Startup Guru who’s spoken out about his interest in supporting women in tech start-ups.
- Sarah Blakely (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Blakely) The amazing founder of Spanx whose foundation is interested in promoting women entrepreneurs.
- Esther Dyson @edyson (https://twitter.com/edyson)Investor. “Internet Court jEsther”. Adventurer. Awesome.
- Mary Meeker (http://www.crunchbase.com/person/mary-meeker) “The Queen of the Net”.
- Cindy Padnos @IlluminateVC (http://www.illuminate.com/about/) Managing partner of Illuminate Ventures, an early stage VC firm focused on investing in women-led start-ups. (I’m not close to the VC stage yet but her insights would be incredibly valuable.)
- Angie Chang @thisgirlangie (http://www.women2.com/category/female-founders-to-watch/) Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Women 2.0 – A community for women in technology.
- Jessica Carbino @JessicaCarbino ( http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jessica-carbino/61/13b/979) Ph.D Candidate at UCLA with domain expertise relevant to my start up idea.
- Kelly Fitzsimmons (http://www.thenextwomen.com/2012/11/22/kelly-fitzsimmons-serial-entrepreneur-lessons-learned-whilst-raising-8m) Successful female serial tech entrepreneur.
- Reid Hoffman (http://www.crunchbase.com/person/reid-hoffman) Knows everyone. Helped write a cool book that I’m reading that he co-wrote with a young entrepreneur. He has also supported and advised other women which is a great sign! http://www.women2.com/entrepreneurs-under-25-the-young-and-the-relentless/
Makeover:
Love my luscious long locks. Love my Johnny Cash-inspired look. Probably time for both to be sharpened- and I want my hair to look like Katherine Webb’s which is totally possible. Where are Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear when I need them???? Especially as a more amply-sized lady, their help would be beyond valuable in transitioning me into looks that make that best first impression and make me feel more confident that I am putting my best foot forward in some sassy shoes. (Hey, I’m a weird girl, but still a girl, okay? I can covet amazing shoes and bags as much as the next XX’er. I admit it- I, too, would love to someday have a (just one- I promise) vibrantly-colored Berkin bag and matching wallet once I “make it”- or Hermes decides that it wants to curry the favor of the startup founders/ tech ladies set. There. I have come clean. Deeeeeep breath… :) )
By the way and as general commentary, as it turns out, higher BMI’s don’t make for less hard-working, entrepreneurial or innovative people no matter what the general impression may be and I’d like to prove that as well (and none of these amazing ladies on the Forbes Most Powerful Women in Tech appear to be Lane Bryant shoppers). It typically does mean that women who are heavier make less money while men who are heavier make a bit more. Just ask a number of the bigger gentlemen who are Silicon Valley power brokers- you have a higher BMI and still an incredible asset. Let’s encourage the “average” size 16 and larger women out there- we have amazing worth as well regardless our ability to fit into a size four.
Not that I’m not trying to lose weight for a lot of good reasons, including preserving my good health- I am- but it’s tough and my body seems quite happy to save up calories for a famine-y day and I am tired of being angry with my body simply not being as slender as I’d like it to be for mostly vain reasons. Good on my chubby little body for hauling me around so wonderfully and for being so daggone efficient with calories. (And, Oprah, thanks for the story about getting the casting call for The Color Purple while at a fat farm and turning out to be at exactly the right weight at exactly the right time 
)
Back to my makeover… with the upcoming opportunities that will soon present themselves, however, I’ve been thinking about my style and have decided that my ideal look is probably somewhere in the realm of practical elegance meets lace meets bright accents meets science. What does the intersection of Audrey Hepburn and Abby from NCIS look like? What about when you add in a dash of cowgirl? (Not cow bell. More like cowbelle. Ha!) Maybe ModCloth + White House/Black Market + theFunkyCowgirl.com + cool Etsy finds?
Accelerator:
Y-Combinator and TechStars and 500 Startups! Oh my! Two things are working against me with respect to accelerators- one is my age as I am about a decade older than the average participant. Add in that I lack a technical co-founder and, wow… good luck. The chances are not zero, but…
Not that YC, TS and 500 are the only accelerators that would be awesome- there are a dozen really good ones but I would likely face the same challenges with any of them. Here in DC we have Founder Institute and The Fort, which are recruiting. There’s a new one starting in Columbus, Ohio called Founder’s Factory and another one in DC called 1776DC- neither has classes starting soon-ish or clear parameters on who will make it in.
Not that it will keep me from applying for these accelerators once I get my IP protected in a month or so but the personal attributes of my life listed above might hinder my chances of being accepted if I don’t have some networks into which I can tap for references regarding my abilities. Regardless, I want whichever accelerator that my company enters be excited about both me (the jockey) and my company (the horse) along with good reasons to believe that they will truly accelerate the start-up’s development because there are not other good reasons to surrender 6% of owner’s equity. If they don’t believe in me or the idea or have a reasonable chance of accelerating the venture, the uphill climb to success will be more difficult and with less ROI. Even with a great idea that answers a market need.
Capital:
I’m planning my Kickstarter campaign for about a month from now and it seems like I’ll need about $40K to make the venture a reality, including IP protection, marketing, equipment, a basic office, etc. It’s a lot of money (and the total includes the fees collected by Kickstarter) but a small amount to make a dream come true- especially one that will help so many people once in so many niches once it’s stood up. There are a lot of relevant markets who will want to contribute who will have passion around the problem that it solves- and I have some strategies for getting there as I’ve been studying an awful lot on how to make Kickstarter campaigns successful
Or maybe I should try for $50K and give www.qstartlabs.com a try? After all, they are Columbus-born and bed and I know and like Jeff Lamb… but is that the way to go? And how can I raise the $50k? Kickstarter for 50K+?
That total, by the way, does not include any living expenses as those are not typically covered in Kickstarter campaigns. I’m still figuring that part out but trust that the answers, as they always do, will become apparent to me in due course. My present living situation options are lovely and gracious- and I’m so grateful for them. The location for the next steps will determine what living situations options may be available- I hope it has a lovely bathtub.
On the list of “nice to haves” in my project is a new laptop. My current well-loved-and-used MacBook has been a true internationally-travelled road-and-air warrior at six-plus years old but is now needing more upgrades than it’s probably worth at this point. Likely the rest of the initial future staff for my venture will BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Back to my computer, though… I don’t want to be mid-pitch when my little Mac darling decides to breathe her last. Thus, I’ve been spending some time slinking around the Apple store. Even with educational discounts to which I may be entitled, the machine that I’m looking at (13 inch MacBook Pro with retina display, iLife, AppleCare, One-on-One plus an external hard-drive, Thunderbolt display, keyboard and mouse) will run around $3000. Yikes. Might have to dial down those dreams…
Back to capital… $100K would be the sweetest of all spots and hopefully will occur through gifts and grants. We’re not ready for VC yet, or even angels. We need a bit of traction first…
The Ask
Here’s the link to the show plug to which I responded: https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=9212104
So, Dr. Phil and Oprah, here’s my ask: teach me the rules for being an awesome female tech start-up founder. I’ve laid out my short-term (four year) goal above and am working to reach it. Your help and guidance in any way would be most appreciated and I’m looking forward to meeting with you both soon!
For Today…
But, for today, this posting has given me a great to-do list with which to start off the week and awesome visualizations on which to concentrate. I’ll let you all know when I hear from the LifeClass producers and look for more blogs here regardless. Being part of the ACTiVATE program by the Path Forward Center for Entrepreneurship has been (and will continue to be) so helpful along the way to becoming a tech start-up superstar and I’m grateful for the help from Renee Lewis and the rest of the women in my class (and our gracious speakers) so far! (And, yes, I’m prepping for the next session of Springboard Enterprise’s Dolphin Tank )
Next up: my thoughts on Lean In!
