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.