Earlier today, I sent the following note in to Stanford with a signed form.
The Summer Founders Program was a simple idea: invite a group of smart young people to Cambridge, Mass. for the summer to work on an idea for a technology startup company. And when I first heard about it, I thought it was interesting and important, but I never considered the possibility that I might take part of it. Then I received an email from the man behind it, encouraging me to apply. I decided I had nothing to lose -- I didn't have any real plans for the summer -- and sent in an application. To my surprise I was accepted and I have spent the past summer building some exciting new software.
Even when I was accepted I never thought that my idea would come to anything serious. Startup funding seemed like something for serious real companies, not for me. But as part of the program we were introduced to various investors and, to my surprise, they seemed interested in the idea. One has agreed to give the company funding and it looks like my crazy idea is going to become a reality.
From everything I've heard, it's rare for people to offer to write large checks to let you pursue your dreams. And so, as much as I enjoyed the beautiful and heady atmosphere at Stanford, I feel I must take leave of it for the next year to pursue this opportunity while I have the chance.
Full disclosure: Taking advantage of this Exciting Business Opportunity may require me to sign some documents that restrict what I can say here on the blog. In the interest of transparency, I'll say what I can't say (i.e. what the contract says on this matter) if possible. But I've seen some contracts that say I can't say what I can't say! I try to avoid these contracts if possible, but even so I can say that I can't say if I can't say things in response to a question. Anyway, the point is, continue to exercise your powers of skepticism. Test them out on this post, actually.
And sorry for not updating. I'll try to post more soon.
posted 2005-09-23T14:37:19 #