(1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am the Co-Founder & CEO of YouNoodle in San Francisco. Just started building a new startup called LongPlay.
(2) In two sentences or less, describe how you participate in the startup ecosystem.
YouNoodle powers startup grant programs, innovation challenges, and pitch competitions. Aside from that, I am part of two venture funds, and an advisor to a handful of startups
(3) What are you currently reading right now and would recommend to others?
I just finished reading “Shoe Dog”, by Phil Knight, founder of Nike. An amazing journey against all odds of an athlete and entrepreneur at a time without venture capital or online shopping.
(4) What makes you stay in the startup ecosystem?
It is where the future is forged, both good and bad. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
(5) What drives your passion about the startup ecosystem?
Scrappy founders applying creativity and grit to change the world. And if you put your heart at it, you can help a lot of founders around the world move their dreams forward.
(6) Where do you see the startup ecosystem in 5 years?
Bigger than ever, but not SF-centric. Talent is everywhere, and the startup world is notorious for breaking status quo and improving things.
(7) How has failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
YouNoodle took 8 years to build. We could have done it in half the time with the learnings we have today. And that’s not an exaggeration, I can go through it in detail if you are interested 🙂
(8) What is one of the best worthwhile investments you’ve ever made (could be financial, time, energy, etc.)?
The core people I had/have around me building YouNoodle. I often picked passion and tenacity over experience, and found myself giving a number of people an opportunity unavailable to most of their peers
(9) What do you do to refocus yourself when you feel overwhelmed or unfocused?
I travel. I spend time alone. I play music (piano). I hang out with non tech people.
(10) What’s one piece of advice you would give someone trying to break into the startup ecosystem?
Step 1 doesn’t have to be founding a company. Join a cool startup, a hopeful founder who needs your help. You can learn 80% of the journey by being close to a founder in all aspects!
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