I’d like to announce a quick project called FounderList that I hope will be helpful to technology startup founders and investors. It’s a private email discussion list I’m launching now that I hope will become an extremely helpful resource for startup founders everywhere, especially those who are geographically challenged and don’t live in Silicon Valley, New York, or another startup hotbed.
If you’d like to join FounderList, you can visit the FounderList Apply page.
Here’s a brief QA to explain more:
Why was FounderList created?
I previously started an email discussion list on the sport of wakeboarding in 1995 that lasted for 10 years. It was a fantastic community of 2,000 people sharing and learning about their favorite sport. That experience led me to believe something helpful and valuable could be created today for technology startup founders.
FounderList was created from the combination of selfish and altruistic motives.
On the selfish side, being a startup founder that is NOT located in a hotbed of fellow startups I felt the need to find a way to network with other founders and virtually create the benefits those in Silicon Valley have of learning, sharing, networking, and helping each other out. There are some things that can’t be duplicated of course, but there is a lot of good that can be done through a community of people going through a similiar experience.
On the altruistic side, I realized if I had this need many other entrepreneurs probably did as well and would benefit like I would. Why note help them out?
Why would you use an email discussion list instead of a forum or web application?
1. Building personal relationships – Email is a more intimate and personal medium than a forum or a site that facilitates discussion. You get to know people better when they’re in your inbox.
2. Privacy – We want FounderList to be a place where founders can discuss problems and situations that they may not feel comfortable sharing on a public site.
3. Time – Founders are busy, very busy. Seeking out a web-based forum or application requires effort that many founders won’t have the time to make. It’s easier to fire off an email or respond to an email to a discussion list when it’s right there in your daily workflow.
Why does FounderList need to exist when there is so much helpful startup information on the web?
There is a lot of amazing information on various blogs and sites now, including access to many smart entrepreneurs and investors via Twitter and other social networks. However, all of this information is given in a general sense and there’s no great way to ask for very specific advice or help.
This information also doesn’t let me network and grow my business with other founders, it only serves to educate. FounderList does both.
What sorts of topics are discussed?
Strategy, industry news and trends, hiring, firing, equity issues, raising investment, acquisitions, marketing, scaling, technology, monetization, etc.
Why is it by invitation only?
In order to be able to network effectively, the number of members of the discussion list needs to be controlled and kept to a smaller number. We’d also like to make sure that the companies are in the web/technology space.
Why is it limited to founders and investors?
Similar to the previous question, we’d like the list to stay a small community of people experiencing similar situations. The problems and discussions that a junior marketing person has at a company are different.
We feel that a limited number of investors makes sense in order to provide their perspective to many of the problems founders face.
Why is it limited to technology startups?
Same reasons as above for keeping the list small with a set of people facing similar problems.
Are you trying to make money from FounderList?
Not in any direct way. The list is free and there is no advertising. In the long run hopefully the networking and education will make a lot of people a lot of money.
Can I join FounderList?
You can apply here and we’ll get back to you.
The problems and discussions that a junior marketing person has at a company are different.