To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #9 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with RawData:

Q: What does your company do?
A: RawData, with its advanced technology, does for traditional media what web analytics did for the internet. RawData, tracks exactly how the consumer moves through ALL media.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: Tens of Millions of dollars are spent in Radio and TV advertising, just in local markets. These spending decisions are based on questionable and often time inaccurate data. Add to that, each local market consumes media differently and those differences are not being measured in the current systems. At RawData we want to empower the relevant decision makers by collecting and reporting more accurate local data in a more cost efficient manner.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Media – we work with movies and music and the people that make all of it. Mark’s (all 4 of them) are entertaining as hell.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A:1 – Not all money spends the same. Know who and where the money is coming from and what their motives are. Always remember there are a lot more funding sources than the popular groups, and mentors can and will work for FREE (w/out altering your cap-table).
2 – Terms are always open. Nothing is static, from rent to the terms of a potential investor. You can always ask for an item to be removed or even ask for more clarity on the motive behind a term.
3 – You can always find another job and/or other people to work with, the old fashioned, ‘No Asshole’ rule.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Bus. Dev. – Ines Papert (sheer determination)
Sales – Obi-Wan Kenobi (You will buy…)
CIO – Yvon Chouinard (innovative and groundbreaking solutions)
HR – Shane McKonkey (the guy could spot talent)
CEO – Will Ferrell (people gotta laugh)

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Ice Climbing

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: I enjoy good/fun people, dynamic environments, and solving big problems. As it turns out we have an abundance of all three here in Utah. Also, I have found a good group of kindred spirits that are into the same things.

We look forward to LaunchUp #9 and hearing more from RawData!

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To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #9 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with O-CODES:

Q: What does your company do?
A: We make offline information interactive using simple codes and text messaging. Consumers can save and share stuff they see in print by texting a simple code to 62626. We send them info on their phone, save the content for them online in a free personal archive, and can simultaneously share that content to their Facebook wall, Twitter stream, and Evernote notebook. 

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: We make it easy for people to save and share information they encounter off-internet (instead of keeping stacks of magazines, coupons, brochures, etc) lying around. We also make it easier for brands to measure the value and response rates for their offline advertising and marketing investments.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Coolness is in the eye of the beholder – this is a better question to ask our customers and since most of them are friends and family at the moment I’m sure the data is unreliable

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A:1. Get paying customers as early in the process as possible. If you have an idea, make a PowerPoint and see if you can get a contract before you’ve built or coded anything. All ideas are lame until someone is willing to get out their wallet.
2. Customer service/satisfaction/loyalty is a key to success in any market. But this doesn’t mean just doing whatever they want (Henry Ford’s famous quote about faster horses). You have to know your customer well enough to solve their problems, even when they can’t articulate them.
3. Trust everyone but get everything in writing.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Eric Ries, Max Levchin, Evan Williams, Steve Blank, Tony Hsieh

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Golf

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: Love the 4 seasons for outdoor sports, family here, talented people at affordable salaries

We look forward to LaunchUp #9 and hearing more from O-CODES!

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To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #9 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Pixelture:

Q: What does your company do?
A: We make enterprise software for commercial and educational use. 

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: Our product makes it easier to share content and create powerful collaborative discussions.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Ideas are incredibly powerful and shape the world we live in–Pixelture makes sharing these ideas more dynamic and effective, and this is helping to shape the world we live in.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A:1- Everyone falls down–the successful entrepreneur is the one who got back up one more time; 2 – Edison was right, genius is more about tenacity and sweat than convenient inspiration; 3 – Love what you do–period.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Benjamin Franklin, Seth Godin, Guy Ritchie, BIll Mahr, and Tony Stark (these will change from week to week)

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Who has time for any of these?

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: The second wave of high technology in Utah is afoot (the first wave being Novell, WordPerfect, and the like). Omniture and a slew of others are signs of the second wave.

We look forward to LaunchUp #9 and hearing more from Pixelture!

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To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #7 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Brian Henderson of FanFare.

Q: What does your company do?
A: We plan to revolutionize the live concert industry by giving fans the power to determine who they see in concert, where, and when.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: Have you ever been frustrated that your favorite artists don’t make the stop in your city? Or if they do, you can’t get the tickets you want? We have too.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: We will bring collective buying to live music, and forever change the industry. How often do industry changing ideas come around? It’s a David vs. Goliath story. That’s cool.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: 1. Find mentors
2. Triangulate advice
3. Don’t spend all your time planning. Take action, then deal with the results.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: In no particular order: Richard Branson, Thomas Edison, Simon Cowell, Larry H. Miller, Shawn “Jay Z” Carter

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Basketball. Definitely. The ultimate team sport that requires individuals to excel at the same time.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: Utah is home to our idea, our friends, and us. Simply THE most entrepreneurial friendly place in the nation. Woot!

We look forward to LaunchUp #7 and hearing more from FanFare!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #7 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Cody Campbell, CEO of Bazari.

Q: What does your company do?
A: Bazari is a text message based platform that provides the benefits of eCommerce to markets without internet access. We are targeting the world’s fastest growing markets such as India and the Philippines. Through the platform, customers can browse for products, purchase the specified product, make the payment, and have the product delivered similar to shopping on eBay or Amazon. Additionally, baked into our platform are business intelligence and data reporting capabilities.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: I am so accustomed to having instant access to the internet that I forget how much being able to search, browse, and purchase products has simplified my life. We are providing the benefits of eCommerce to individuals who currently have no access to the internet.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Texting is cool. All the cool kids are doing it. Just imagine how much cooler it will be when you combine it with shopping, something else all the cool kids do. Additionally, we are launching a company that will have operations in India and the Philippines. I don’t know if you have been to India or the Philippines, but they are pretty “cool” places.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: 1) Don’t try and do it solo. Partner with other companies and bring on solid team members ASAP. 2) Share your idea with everyone, you’ll be surprised the great advice and help you receive. 3) Get traction early. Don’t wait until you have a complete product to start trying to sell it.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: 1. Sergey Brin, 2. Suhas Gopinath, 3. Tom Lounibos, 4. Jeff Bezos, and 5. Brian Regan to keep us entertained.

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Definitely Mountaineering. I think it is in an entreprenuer’s DNA to want to reach the top.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: We are in Utah because of events and programs like LaunchUp. The community in Utah is incredibly supportive of entrepreneurs and we have access to an amazing network of individuals that have “been there and done that.” We wouldn’t be where we are right now if it wasn’t for the support we have received from the community.

We look forward to LaunchUp #7 and hearing more from Bazari!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #7 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Dustin of Inzolo.com.

Q: What does your company do?
A: We help you tell your money where to go, rather than wonder where it went by using the time tested envelope budgeting system in a web 2.0 manner.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: It matters because too many people and families have too much consumer debt and are living paycheck to paycheck. Inzolo helps you make a plan, follow that plan, and make course corrections as you go.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Because I have a story to tell… http://inzolo.com/about/

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: 1. Do something to build your business every day.
2. The thing that you put off most because it is most uncomfortable to you is probably the most important thing that needs to be done next. Just do it.
3. Obsess over your customers, not your competition.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: 1. Dave Ramsey
2. Aaron Patzer
3. Jacob Kaplan-Moss
4. Cameron Moll
5. Russell Brunson

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Basketball, if not baseball.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: Born & raised here.

We look forward to LaunchUp #7 and hearing more from Inzolo!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #6 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Ryan Goodwin, CEO of Simler.com.

Q: What does your company do?
A: Simler is a new web application that connects people based on common interests and allows them to engage in meaningful conversations. While social networks are great for connecting you with people you already know, Simler connects you with people you should know because you share the same passions.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: To paraphrase CS Lewis, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one!’” No matter how obscure your interests or situation might seem, there is actually someone else out there that is in the same boat. If we can connect those two people, we just made the world a smaller place on the individual level. We make the world a better place, one connection at a time.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: It’s no secret that social media is a hot topic these days. But in all honesty, social media is headed down the path of noise overload—it has become just a new way to be spammed by your friends. Simler solves the unwanted message problem by distilling the conversations down to what you want to hear, from the people you care to hear from.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: 1) Work hard. It’s never as easy as you think it will be.
2) Do not underestimate your need for a well orchestrated and executed PR campaign.
3) Don’t try and be everything to everyone.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Steve Jobs (of course), Jake Nickell and Jacob DeHart of Threadless fame, Kevin Rose, and Tony Hsieh

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Snowboarding, no question about it.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: I’m in Utah because my first start-up right out of school has been growing rather quickly since we started it. Not to mention, the state provides me with almost all the outdoor adventures that I love within just a few minutes drive.

We look forward to LaunchUp #6 and hearing more from Simler!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #6 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is with Stephen Fulling, CEO of Kynetx.

Q: What does your company do?
A: Kynetx supplies a development platform for building applications that respond to context in the user environment. For techies, think GreaseMonkey in the cloud with diamonds. For others, I’d love to show you

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: Innovating in the user environment allows for transformational experiences. Take Tivo for example: Tivo changed how you watch TV. In a similar way, Kynetx Apps create a fundamentally different kind of Internet experience for users – an experience that is individualized and in context.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: Kynetx is cool because we’re bringing about an Internet of people instead of an Internet of machines. Our development platform allows developers to quickly create Apps that will blow your mind.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: Innovation. Marketing. Belief.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Team Kynetx. We have the dream team. We are the Ten.

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Fast machines – motorcycles and airplanes. I also like racquetball and backpacking too.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: In 1995 Phil Windley talked me into moving to Utah when he started iMall. Since we had so much fun, and success, we’re doing it again.

We look forward to LaunchUp #6 and hearing more from Kynetx!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #6 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is from Jason Barnes of iActionable.

Q: What does your company do?
A: We help sites and services attract new users and increase interactions by providing a personalized Achievement System. Sites can define and automatically award public badges to their users when specific actions are performed.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: We believe that a good way to encourage good behavior or use of a site/service is to provide a few goals for users and offer a public rewards for those who achieve them.
With Achievements you can make things fun to use, promote exploration, encourage return visits and sometimes create a little friendly competition between users.
By offering a centralized achievement system and badge repository service we hope to push this new trend forward and help sites create better user experiences and increase usage of a product or service in an desired and beneficial way.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: The Badge/Achievement trend is very new and we believe it is going to grow rapidly. A few major companies or sites have successfully implemented Achievement Systems on the web and more and more people are going to want to implement one. We want to make it easy for anyone to create one!
We are the first to offer a service based achievement system powered by a customizable event based rule engine. Very little is required to initially hook in our API to track events. We also make it easy to modify the criteria by which achievement/badges are awarded without additional dev work.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: Start Ups are like a roller coaster. One minute you’re excited and swear your idea will take over the world, the next you’re starting to wonder if you’ve done the right thing. New ideas and projects can be bad temptations!
Find a good co-founder. It will ensure that things keep moving when either of you gets busy or starts to burn out. Keeping each-other in check but also motivated is important.
Release early and get feedback as soon as possible. We waited too long to really get our idea out there and discovered there was a whole different need that wasn’t being met and we quickly changed directions.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A:Phil Haack (Microsoft), Scott Guthrie (Microsoft), Fred Wilson (avc.com), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Michael Arrington (TechCrunch)

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Bowling, definitely bowling.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: Ryan and I met while attending Neumont University in Sandy. We both landed our first software development jobs here in Utah and have been working together on startup ideas ever since.

We look forward to LaunchUp #6 and hearing more from iActionable!

To help you to get to know the companies presenting at LaunchUp #5 we asked each to respond to a few questions…

The following Q&A segment is from Chris Walsh of TrackMyMarketing.

Q: What does your company do?
A: We eliminate the hassle of creating, maintaining, and integrating your campaign tracking codes in 3rd party web analytics tools.

Q: Why does that matter and how do you make the world a better place?
A: We are drowning in data and short on insight. We can make the world a better place by eliminating poor advertising campaigns.

Q: Why is your company cool?
A: We make it easy to manipulate, integrate, and create insight from your own data. In other words, we solve the problem of messy campaign organizational processes and locked spreadsheets. I know this doesn’t sound cool, but it really is.

Q: What 3 lessons/observations would you tell other entrepreneurs?
A: Persistence to continue to build your vision, go the extra mile for your customers, ask for help.

Q: Pick 5 people for your entrepreneur dream team (assuming you and your team were riding the bench)
A: Jeff Bezos (Focus on the customer), Eric Peterson (Godfather of Web Analytics), Avinash Kaushik (Web Analytics Guru), Bill Minor (a former mentor), Mark Cuban

Q: Which one pursuit? Golf, Basketball, Skiing/Snowboarding, Knitting, Mountaineering/Climbing, Bowling, Watching Grass Grow
A: Golf, definitely a weekend hacker.

Q: Why are you an entrepreneur in Utah?
A: Hmm, still relatively new to the area, so I am still figuring out the scene and making contacts. It certainly has a more entrepreneurial spirit than Central Pennsylvania.

We look forward to LaunchUp #5 and hearing more from TrackMyMarketing!