Technology startups give advice to students
By Sol Tran
The floor of the San Francisco Design Center Concourse was packed Sept. 8-10 as the TechCrunch50 conference got underway.
The crowd of over 1,700 people was pulsing with excitement about the newest technological innovations as entrepreneurs gathered from around the globe to see 52 companies launch their Web sites to the public.
In case the crowd was not energized enough, Neda Amidi, Santa Clara junior and intern for the startup company Zong, was there passing out free Red Bulls and T-shirts at one of the 112 booths where companies like Zong were pitching their products.
"I have been helping out at the booth doing some small pitches and also attending some of the small panels," said Amidi. "I visited other small startups and listened to their pitches as well."
One of the pitches was from Santa Clara Law School graduate Chiara Rosati Carthy. In her presentation on the Perkins Coie law firm's proficiency in the legal aspects of entrepreneurship, Carthy delivered a compelling argument about the necessity of legal counsel.
YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe and entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban were among the many tech superstars who gave their own words of wisdom during the three day conference. As startups pitched their products, these tech experts delivered their critiques.
Among the critiqued was one of Hollywood's favorite celebrities, Ashton Kutcher.
Kutcher pitched a new mini web series called BlahGirls.com, which he created with Jason Goldberg. The site features a comedic cartoon series hosted by three fictional girls gossiping about the latest celebrity news.
It might seem odd to see a Hollywood actor roaming among the Silicon Valley's top entrepreneurs, but Kutcher had some advice for any potential businesspeople nonetheless. "I think the greatest thing about becoming an entrepreneur is finding something to give which people want to receive," said Kutcher. "So it is like entrepreneurship through altruism."
Cuban had everybody raving with his inspirational words for aspiring entrepreneurs. "You need a well-rounded education so that when you go out and start something on your own, you don't freak out and be like 'I don't understand accounting,' 'I don't understand marketing.' You've got to go for it."
Cuban shared some of his own experiences, advising students not to hesitate to try something new and adventurous.
"In my senior year, I wasn't even 21 and I opened up a bar, and it was the hottest spot on campus, but we got busted for underage drinking because I let my friends in. I was fearless, because I had nothing to lose! That was probably my greatest strength. Which was like, 'Ok, I am going to go for it, I am going to go for it, I am going to go for it.'"
Cuban also emphasized the importance of working hard. "My college buddies would tell stories about how there were magazines, newspapers and books all around me. You know I might be hungover, but I was reading stuff and learning," he said.
"I was always outworking everybody. Work hard, play hard. There is no magic potion."
With its lineup of tech superstars, priceless networking opportunities and nightly parties, TechCrunch50 hopes to attract more Santa Clara students next year, especially if they continue to give students 95 percent off the ticket price.
In the meantime, there are many opportunities coming up for students in the Bay Area very soon.
Contact Sol Tran at vtrankiem@scu.edu.