Quest #4 - Business Ideas

My primary business idea for this course is my game development company, Dropkick Games. I suppose that is misleading. This company already exists! However I plan to use my company for the business plan project in this class. Dropkick was born out of the South Sound Entrepreneur's Weekend as a matter of fact, which is very fitting in the context of this course. It was there I met two game enthusiasts that myself and two good friends joined with to create the company. We are working on our first title, hoping to release it for PC and Mac. Our goal is to create games that embody the same appeal and quality standards of the classics, while providing the player with a unique experience that they will find refreshing and enjoyable. In terms of growth, I can see this company growing in both staff size and the scope of our titles as well. This would mean making the transition from an indie company made of a few guys to something more corporate and hierarchical. However, things may work out such that we stay indie and are successful doing that, which would allow us the freedom and ease of workflow that comes with having such a small group.

A second idea I had was for a custom PC building company, based on the web, but with a personal touch. There are already custom PC shops online, but where this company would break the mold is in offering personal (via phone, email, or instant messaging) contact with a customer to determine just what they need and want. On top of this, the company would cater to two separate demographics: the traditional super user that wants a high end, custom machine with case mods and high end hardware, but also the more ordinary computer user. This business would attempt to pull in the market of people that would go into a Best Buy or Fry's in order to purchase a computer, and give them a competitively priced custom computer with the benefit of knowledgeable, personal help in selecting something right for them. Growth here would involve the hiring of personnel to communicate with customers on their needs, people to assemble the computers, and people to do accounting. This would free me to manage things like deals with hardware manufacturers or contracts with clients.

My third, and admittedly less fleshed out idea, is to have a custom guitar and bass pick designing company. This would be another web based company, where a musician could send in an image to have printed on their picks, or choose from a variety that we would provide. Additionally, the company would provide a wide array of shapes, thicknesses, and materials like bone, wood or metal. This would allow players to attain something that looked like they wanted, and would feel and respond in a way that would suit their playing style. Expansion from here would come in the form of hiring staff, and partnering with music retailers like Guitar Center to carry some of our product, and allow us to interest players who visit these retail stores into getting a custom set of picks made.

Quest #3 - Thoughts On The Tech Entrepreneur's Guidebook Intro

Possibly the best thing that I took away from reading the introduction to The Technology Entrepreneur's Guidebook was the idea of motive. The author talks about the passion of entrepreneurship, and how the motive of the entrepreneur is finding and solving a problem. Their motive doesn't stem from just profit, but an actual desire to help other people achieve something. I have seen pretty clearly in class that Andrew is both passionate about creating ideas and businesses, and that he feels passion is what drives them and makes them successful. I really related to that, and having it reinforced in this text was great.

My passion for video games as a storytelling medium is what motivates me to play them, and that coupled with the desire to bring a creative and fun experience to others is what motivates me to make them. It may be that I have more of an entrepreneur's spirit than I realized.

The other element I liked about the reading was the emphasis on entrepreneurs being good leaders and visionaries to inspire their colleagues. The author demystifies the idea that entrepreneurs work alone, which is something I would not enjoy doing. I work best and enjoy myself most in a social setting, and as a result I am glad to see that this is also key to entrepreneurship. It's certainly true in my game development experience so far, where each member takes charge in their area of expertise to create something as a group.

I'm curious to read more of this text in the future, because it definitely got off on an interesting and reassuring foot.

Quest #2 - Erik Hanberg's Talk

Hearing Erik Hanberg, our first guest speaker, talk about his entrepreneurial adventures was encouraging to say the least. He showcased the variety of businesses he either created or was involved in, and even broke down his income between them. This, to me, was real proof that you don't need to have this fantastic blockbuster idea in order to be successful, but rather it is more important to have confidence and perseverance. When Erik talked about just "starting" to build your business and make your idea a reality as being one of the key parts of entrepreneurship, I think he was right. Conquering the obstacle of fear or hesitation is the first step and definitely a big one. He also talked about enjoying the work that you do, which encourages me because my startup company is something I absolutely love, and would very much enjoy working on if it takes off. I feel that I've already taken that initial step that Erik talked about, and seeing what he has done motivates me to continue.

Erik also talked about the learning process of building a business. He mentioned that the skills he would acquire from one endeavor would help him build the next one more easily. His marketing skills from his fundraising career helped him in Side X Side when he worked on that business full time with his wife. Her graphic design skills were put to use there as well. This alludes more to the long term lifestyle of an entrepreneur: that your first business isn't necessarily your only one. Erik has started multiple businesses, which is also encouraging to me, because it reminds me that I don't have just one shot to do what I love and that's it. Instead I have a lifetime of opportunities to leverage and enjoy. I related a lot to this talk, and hope to remember the tips, pointers, and perspective for later down the road.

Quest #1 - Thoughts on Startup.com Documentary

Startup.com suprised me in terms of the intimate way in which it approached the lives of Kaleil and Tom. Having heard about the film before watching it, I expected the filming to be a fairly distant chronicling of their company, perhaps showing meetings, workflow, brainstorming, etc. to show how the company grew. I pictured something sterile, and something business oriented. Instead I was greeted by very personal scenes in Kaleil and Tom's homes, their private offices, hotel rooms while on the road, and meetings with investors. The film really becomes a personal look at their entire lives during this period of time, and not just a corporate level look at their business model.

This was refreshing, because it shows the very human side of the growth of a startup. I got to see what they were thinking, how they were reacting, and what motivated them or set them back. This level of detail was not only really cool, but also a constant reminder that these are real guys and that they actually did this. It was honestly surprising to see how fast things might move from idea to company. At the same time, it was terrifying how much pressure and responsibility became involved so quickly. You could see the change in both Kaleil and Tom and it didn't take long for them to become tense and on edge. Each of these elements contributed to a unique experience and I felt like I gained a better understanding of all the various parts that have to come together during the process of forming and growing a startup business.