Introducing the Start Conference, by Jeffrey Veen

Introducing the Start Conference

When I recently decided to leave my job, I began a little personal project I called "100 Lunches." I wanted to sit down with a bunch of people over a meal and just listen. What was interesting to them these days? What where they building? Were they nervous about the state of the industry? Excited by all the new opportunity?

As I started the project, I quickly realized that the stories I was hearing needed a wider audience. My friends and colleagues told tales of late nights, harrowing server crashes, exhilarating growth, and touching emails from their users. Not one of them knew what they were getting into, nor would any of them change their paths.

Wouldn't it be great, I thought, if everyone could hear these amazing start up stories?

So I got together with my long-time friend and business partner Bryan Mason and started planning. We decided to get a great group of entrepreneurs, investors, and other people associated with new web companies together for a day of discussion and advice. And that's how the Start Conference came to be.

So here's the deal: On August 7, we'll spend the day at the beautiful Fort Mason Center talking about starting companies. We've got a lot of fun things planned, including a fantastic party on the Bay afterwards. And we're making it cheap - just $200. We didn't want to turn this into a conference filled with investors hunting for the next big thing. We wanted something for people who make web apps and dream of starting their own thing. (Also, we understand that you probably won't want to submit an expense report for a conference that encourages you to quit your job.)

If you've ever thought of staking out on your own, we hope you'll join us. It's going to be great fun.

All the details are on the Start Conference web site. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments here.

This entry was written by Jeffrey Veen and posted 11 June 2008 at 12:58 PM. It was filed under Personal.

Comments

1. On 11 June 2008 at 3:07 PM Jacob Patton wrote:

I'd love to come, but I won't be sure I'll be able to make it to San Francisco until early July. If I purchase a ticket to the conference now, will I be able to get a refund if I can't make it? Failing that, do you have anything against me re-selling the ticket (heaven forbid I can't show)?

2. On 12 June 2008 at 2:27 AM Russell BC wrote:

This sounds like a brilliant idea except...I'm in London. I know I'll miss out on the behind the scenes late night drinks by not being there, but I'd be happy to pay $200 and have my money go to covering a video man film sessions and interview some of the cool people you are having lunch with.

3. On 12 June 2008 at 9:16 AM Eric Meyer wrote:

Congratulations, sir! Well, actually, sirs. To you both, congratulations!

4. On 12 June 2008 at 9:56 AM Veen wrote:

Hey, thanks everyone. The response so far has been fantastic.

Jacob, we have a 30-day full refund policy, so you have until July 7 to decide if you can make it. An transferring the ticket to someone else is fine with us. Just let us know.

Russell, we plan to capture the whole event, though we haven't decided how best to distribute that. I'm sure we'll find a way for anyone to see the best of what happens at the event.

Eric, thanks! You and Mr. Zeldman have been an inspiration for us.

5. On 12 June 2008 at 11:33 AM Cory Levy wrote:

Sounds like it is going to be an awesome conference! I wish I could make it but I will be in NYC interning during that time. I would love to talk to you about your personal project: "100 Lunches". I am a 16 year-old entrepreneur, and think what you did is impressive! I'd love to speak to you further.

Thanks!
Cory
cordor12 AT yahoo DOT com

6. On 14 June 2008 at 7:57 AM tom sakell wrote:

I, too, am interested in viewing the conference from afar (Washington, DC). Please let me know how I could contribute to the conference in real-time or archived.

A conference out here "published" live: perhaps you could do the same: http://www.blogpotomac.com/.

7. On 16 June 2008 at 8:11 AM Thora wrote:

I'm located in Europe but interested in "attending" via the web - any such luck for us geographically challenged netizens?

8. On 17 June 2008 at 8:52 AM Schönheitsoperation Tschechien wrote:

It was always my dream of mine staking on my own. I'm looking forward to join the conference...and the party afterwords as well. I hope this will be a great day.

9. On 19 June 2008 at 4:34 AM Mark Brownlee wrote:

Hi Jeff

I want that interactive flash world map as shown in Google analytics. I want to put it on my website to display sales figures by countries, states and down to cities. Can you help?