Startup
Vol. 1
Issue 1
Winter 2011
The king of hip-hop brings his interests to the business world {p.5}
A Des Moines startup starts slow, aims big {p.2}
Emma Peterson talks passion {p.3} Image from: albertailin.blogmentions.com
Table of Contents From the Editor ----------> Page 1 Jake Kerber---------------> Page 2 Emma Peterson----------> Page 3 Steve Jobs-----------------> Page 4 Jay-Z------------------------> Page 5 Dan Shipton---------------> Page 6 End Note-------------------> Page 7
From the Editor
Welcome, readers!
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, student, or startup wannabe, there’s bound to be something of interest here for you. We’ve packed the next few pages full of inspiration taken from present-day people taking on their dream jobs--one step at a time. If small startups are your thing, make sure to check out our profile on Jake Kerber (p. 2) and Emma Peterson (p.3).They’re bring life to Des Moines startup businesses. If big names are more up your alley, check out our May the startup force be with piece on Steve Jobs (p.4). you, Let us know what you think--as always, our ears are open.
Erika Owen Editor-in-Chief
Patience: Jake Kerber
Ask Jake Kerber what it takes to create a startup and he’ll say “time.” Creator of Locusic--a Pandora-like site for local bands--Jake is starting small and expanding steadily. His vision is strong--”I want to take Locusic national”--but he understands the need to let the business grow on its own. He’s started with Des Moines and the Twin Cities, but it’s soon to hit in Austin, Texas. Patience is important in a business like this. Bringing it to too many areas at once can be hard to maintain, and it takes away from the personal connections Jake can make with each band.
“Locusic, pronounced low-CUEzick (as in Local Music), is a music streaming service focused on local bands/musicians.” --Locusic website
Visit Locusic.com for a look into Jake Kerber’s creation.
Images from: Facebook, Locusic.com
Passion:
Emma Peterson
“If you don’t have passion, screw it. What are you doing?” This is something you can bet came out of Emma Peterson’s mouth. She’s the creator of Tikly--a event ticket service without the crazy fees. A fan of a Des Moines local band, The Nadas, she started out by convincing them that she was the intern for them. Taking it from there, she connected with other local groups, and the idea for Tikly was born. Her passion for music drives her to jump out of her bed at her parent’s house each morning. According to Emma, If you don’t have the passion, you’re not doing it right. Images from: desmoinesregister.com, Tikly.
Vision:
Steve Jobs Steve Jobs had something in mind when he created the Apple Corporation. He still had that vision after he was fired from Apple. He left, created Pixar, and bought Apple. Steve was known as “hard to work for,” “obsessed,” and “unpredictable,” to name a few descriptions. But boy did he have a vision. With such a specific product and brand in mind, it was important that Steve jept his vision close and controlled the action of those involved with this vision. While he may have been “controlling,” “angry,” and “compulsive,” Steve Jobs created a legacy with his vision.
Image from: dreamsrain.com
Interest: Jay-Z
Jay-Z is... A rapper A record producer An actor An entrepreneur Married to Beyonce He’s the king of hip-hop. But many don’t know the business back ground behind this rapper. Jay-Z started out with a boombox in his neighborhood of Brooklyn, and found himself creating clothing lines and recording studio years later in adulthood. Jay-Z is living proof that if you carry on your interests into your field of work, you’re bound to have success. Like passion, you need to have an interest and hunger to learn about your career. When that dies, you motivation and passion follows. Especially working as an entreprenuer, that motivation and interest is vital to keeping the startup alive. Image from: alantilda.blogetty.com
Networking: Dan Shipton
Dan Shipton is a programmer. He created BitMethod, became the steward of the first co-op workspace in Des Moines, and knows networking better than all of us. Working within a startup cooperative work area, Dan stresses the necessity of communication. Have a question? There are a number of people who can answer it in the same office as you--even if they are’t a coworker. “Network like crazy,” was his advice. “You never know who you’re going to meet.” Check out Dan’s business at BitMethod.com
Images from: bitmethod.com
End Note:
Entrepreneurship is...
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” - Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Enterprises
“Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.” - Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” - Steve Jobs, founder of Apple
“If you beleive in something, work nights and weekends. It won’t feel like work.” - Kevin Rose, founder of Digg