Comments on: Startup Weekend – Toronto – Lessons leaned http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/ In search of new things Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:12:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Micah Baldwin http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-109 Micah Baldwin Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:54:55 +0000 http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-109 Seems to be a fair representation of what most people probably took away from the weekend. I look forward to meeting you in DC as well. An example of the difference between the Boulder adventure and Toronto's: 20 minutes before the kickoff on Friday I asked Andrew if he thought nametags would be a good idea. Could some organization have helped, yes. I think by nature you have three types of people attracted to the startup world: 1) the idea guys - they love the lack of structure, which often breeds problem solving and creativity. Interaction is the measure of success. 2) the builders - they love to find practical solutions to problems. Structure is a must as is project management and progress management. completion is the measure of success. 3) the doers - a mix between structure and no structure works best. They want to always be doing something, but not constantly being told what to do. Interaction and completion are measures of success. By definition, idea guys and builders tend to have conflicting styles. (And no, one cannot belong to multiple groups.) It seems thats what happened in Toronoto is that exact conflict. But, it seems the doers persevered and got something out the door. Boulder was light on builders, which is why we didnt launch on Monday am. The move forward team is a great mix of the three groups above, and in the coming months, we will see a positive refinement of the product. Hopefully, Toronto's move forward team will experience the same. Seems to be a fair representation of what most people probably took away from the weekend. I look forward to meeting you in DC as well.

An example of the difference between the Boulder adventure and Toronto’s: 20 minutes before the kickoff on Friday I asked Andrew if he thought nametags would be a good idea.

Could some organization have helped, yes. I think by nature you have three types of people attracted to the startup world:

1) the idea guys – they love the lack of structure, which often breeds problem solving and creativity. Interaction is the measure of success.

2) the builders – they love to find practical solutions to problems. Structure is a must as is project management and progress management. completion is the measure of success.

3) the doers – a mix between structure and no structure works best. They want to always be doing something, but not constantly being told what to do. Interaction and completion are measures of success.

By definition, idea guys and builders tend to have conflicting styles. (And no, one cannot belong to multiple groups.) It seems thats what happened in Toronoto is that exact conflict. But, it seems the doers persevered and got something out the door.

Boulder was light on builders, which is why we didnt launch on Monday am. The move forward team is a great mix of the three groups above, and in the coming months, we will see a positive refinement of the product. Hopefully, Toronto’s move forward team will experience the same.

]]> By: Steve Poland http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-106 Steve Poland Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:20:28 +0000 http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-106 Yeah we're all on the same page. It was an experiment -- and this one was very organized; people still went and enjoyed themselves and that's what counts. I'm a guy that likes to see a fluid flow to things -- and that's me. Yeah we’re all on the same page. It was an experiment — and this one was very organized; people still went and enjoyed themselves and that’s what counts. I’m a guy that likes to see a fluid flow to things — and that’s me.

]]> By: confusement http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-104 confusement Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:28:56 +0000 http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-104 @Andrew. Thanks for the comment. I'm really looking forward to seeing you again in DC, working with another great team and putting out another world class product! See you in a few short weeks :-) ps. I totally misspelled your last name on the first "draft" of my post. Sorry about that, it's fixed now :-) @Andrew. Thanks for the comment. I’m really looking forward to seeing you again in DC, working with another great team and putting out another world class product!

See you in a few short weeks :-)

ps. I totally misspelled your last name on the first “draft” of my post. Sorry about that, it’s fixed now :-)

]]> By: Andrew Hyde http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-103 Andrew Hyde Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:25:44 +0000 http://confusement.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/startup-weekend-toronto-lessons-leaned/#comment-103 Great writeup! I had a lot of fun meeting and working with you and the team on the product. Lessons were learned, and every weekend will be stronger from it. Great getting to know you. Great writeup! I had a lot of fun meeting and working with you and the team on the product. Lessons were learned, and every weekend will be stronger from it.

Great getting to know you.

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