A First for A Fellowship of Founders
Well, suddenly I’m up and out of my house, cancelling another event which I was kinda looking forward to, and heading to this event for a startup community I’ve been invited to join. I wasn’t sure when exactly it’d start (the people in charge - some of my favorite people in seattle- sorta dropped the ball, but luckily, most everyone was right there to pick it up and we all rushed over to meet, greet, and pitch - play ball!
Why Attend: I’ve been welcomed into this community of founders, and the mentors will be helping me to make my business even more amazing. Amazing.
Well, the vibe is kinda annoying because everyone is trying to give me ideas on how to improve my business after I only told one sentence about my business. I just sometimes don’t like to talk about my business so directly cause then people instantly tell you how to fix/improve it… and I’m like, why don’t you just learn more before diagnosing. IDK. Its like well-intended but kinda frustrating too. Lately I’m talking to so. many people who really understand my work and goals (this is so rare in my life, but becoming the new norm. Like people I adore - and/becuase they completely get what I’m doing. I’m kinda freaking out over it in a good way). So, this snap back into reality, talking to random people, then they give me unsolicited advice so suddenly. I’m like - uh… huh? Who are you? What? Are you talking to me right now?
PS - for what it’s worth, lemme make a drop-down to the build-up for an event I ALMOST attended but had to bail on since this is more of a commitment. I’ll put it right below.
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(this is just to humor me, I suppose, since I couldn’t go in the end, but i did prep tihs blog nicely:
Climate Disasters: The Three Trillion-Dollar Opportunity… That PLUS Healthcare? Wow.
Disclaimer: Everything below is a mix of what I observed and heard during the event. The goal isn’t to pinpoint "who exactly said what," but to share (usually) an outsider's view and overall perspective on these industries. I’m not here to act as a definitive firsthand source—readers should do their own research. I hope this inspires you to attend events, explore new industries, and hear what leaders are presenting. These notes combine my observations with thoughts on how things could run smoother and how ideas connect (IMO). I’m not an expert, you know? Just hanging out in the room with them. Enjoy.The last time I was here, the community was concerned… yet well aware of climate change and the trillion-dollar opportunity that comes with it. These founders and investors tapped a keg and then listened to each other speak and pitch solutions to block out the sun, start volcanic eruptions, dye the ocean, and put both chemicals - and mirrors - in the sky. Yes, all for the sake of climate change. Well… let’s return again for this curious combination: climate AND healthcare. (The two largest money pools on the planet, both tied to human survival…) As they ask in the event’s description, “What does health have to do with climate?” (or something along those lines in their wording). And, you know what? I have a few ideas off the top of my head, of course - but let’s hear what these guys have prepared. both tied to human survival,
Why Attend: I am in need of authenticity. And… I don’t know if we’ll find it here. But these are two topics that relate to every single human and living thing on earth - even non-living things… inanimate things (at least the climate part, just like… even based on temperature and humidity) - so let’s go live a little, learn a little, and see what is discussed. I’m sure it’ll be interesting.
Notes from the Event
A few more thoughts before arriving:
I’m so confused by this group, and I also think none of them have taken the time to read my blogs; otherwise, they wouldn’t all ignore me whenever I attend their events. LOL - or maybe that’s why they do? IDK. But I think it’s more that they don’t know/care much about who I am so far. So, no worries. It’s better that way.
I like to be an observer, and I like to see how people speak candidly. Though, I’d like to see more bravery and… what? Like… action (plus, I’ve said it in my other blogs - I’m a “climate change” skeptic. I LOVE EARTH!! NATURE!!! HUMANITY!! ORGANIC-NESS. EVERYTHING!!!!! I just have seen a lot and studied a lot too - that I probably won’t get into now (which I know gives off the ‘trust me bro’ or whatever vibes), but I just think there’s a lot more going on here than what we’re told. I write about it in other blogs, as I’ve said. So just scroll down to the search bar at the bottom of the screen and type “climate” or “volcano,” and surely more blogs will pop up. Then I don’t need to repeat myself. But my biggest concern, I’ll just say: The people presenting themselves as humanity’s rescuers may also become extremely wealthy from defining - and administering - the rescue.
It feels like the boundary between saving the world, controlling the world, and monetizing the world’s deterioration may be extraordinarily thin. Especially in this “climate hub” with so much money and influence, here in Seattle - a city that is making climate changes that affect the entire PLANET - and definitely the region with such influence.
So, I'm going in watching for whether this is actually problem-solving or just the financialization of catastrophe. Are people trying to save lives, or finding "market opportunity” in two crises at once?
And antoher guy was just talking forever about his business and he’s not even part ofthe cohort, he’s attending antoher nearby event. He was asking if I have an CRM and was telling me that he wants to help people (grandparents and parents) write stories for kids.
The team:
A guy working in high security; before that worked in personalization in oil and gas capital management
He wants to spend more time in the sun, hugging trees instead of at home in an automated world.
He’s working to connect anything through anywhere. Make all computers connected so you can access them to do anything.
Wants to remove the need to sit in front of computers.
A guy with bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD, found it hard to get in touch with the right people and get the right jobs
This guy was giving me lots of random ideas about my business, but they weren’t really on track with my goals - they were and weren’t, but it was a bit frustrating
goal is to maximize retention at companies to make sure businesses keep going.
New person is a woman.
The guy in charge changes the pitches from 2 minutes to 90 seconds.
The girl works at Microsoft and helps customers come up with strategies, taking it from pilot to production. She’s a content creator; she works to build content and is a strategy leader
Earlier, she was asking if I had characters for my content- established characters
Then she told me I need quizzes for my customers
I told her I don’t have characters, and I already have quizzes.
She wants to build an NPC server to keep payments?
She is talking way over the time. Even though he told her 10 seconds a while ago. She’s just talking about how if someone wants to do something like the stock market, idk. I don’t understand what she talked about at all.
Next person, I’ve seen a million times. But I think he does an app for gymnasts to help get connected with recruiters?
No, he works for Microsoft, and before that he founded an email encryption company. Sold it to a company that does business with the government.
PF side cards redirect agents into databases (I don’t know what he’s talking about)
His idea was from seeing AI coming up and moving fast and doing ugly things when they get programmed. Hallucinate, things they’re not supposed to
Next guy:
He works in DevOps and wants you to chat with AI through phones. He thinks phones will eventually be an AI operating system through phones. We’re solving that without the security of chatting to multiple frontier models.
He hates context switching and truly believes that being able to eliminate it from our daily lives is the next step in AI.
This next guy:
wants to help people connect with nature, release stress, connect people with what they love so they can have a next experience with their hands.
The next guy:
This guy I talked to before, and he got annoyed with me for talking about human trafficking
He works in phones
He wants a new norm with agency in a networking agency? Solve things in creative, ridiculous ways.
He may acquire a startup from someone else and try to grow it. He wants freedom and adventure.
omg my mood is so funny, idk what it’s gonna be like when i get on the mic. I’m in a bit of a grumpy mood.
The next guy is a software engineer
Worked for all the big companies - EVEN EBAY hahahha.
I wanna talk to him about the GameStop acquisition. Does he think its a joke? If so, I think he’s a joke.
He is betting on his expertise at big companies in the past
The next guy
is a software engineer, been working on taxes at Amazon. Thanks to him, they don’t really pay any tax.
ew. fucked up. How do you look in the mirror with that cocky, selfish, entitled attitude? I bet he drinks and parties.
He wants to help people build their personal grocery concierge. Learn your favorite meals, find those grocery items at the stores where they’re the cheapest, and build it for you to organize pickup, delivery, or allow you to enjoy grocery shopping.
He cares cause he’s got to do weekly grocery runs, and he’s tired of corporate and wants to do something new.
Next guy says this is nerve-wracking
Worked at Amazon for 10 years. Superpower of organizing chaos into a system.
Next guy,
Says these are hard acts to follow
He has worked in tech for more than 10 years. At Amazon for online retail. Microsoft, Oracle.
The common problem was trying to improve efficiencies so that costs are saved and clients are served. Trying to explore a couple of ideas. Based on personal experiences.
His first idea is how to build an adulting concierge app for 4-year college students out of state and stop being their concierge
Second idea is the wonderful permitting processes - so many things are really hard and seem like they shouldn’t be that hard. Trying to explore and build a gov-tech solution to ease the pain for next permitting.
The next guy is nice; I’ve heard him talk before
He’s workign to stop so many injuries in the aviation world.
He works at Microsoft.
But tech at airports hasn’t been updated since 2017, and he’s seen multiple accidents and knows radio isn’t the way to do this.
And there is a lot of money in the space.
Next guy - also works at Amazon, worked b2c and b2b.
He’s gained category management experience
Not a sexy category: toilets and showerheads - taught him how to sell and manage marketing.
My turn to talk! They literally saved the best for last.
We have to follow the format of “name, same, fame, pain, aim, and big game” - i literally have no idea what I will say
I ended up saying how I taught lots of kids at different ages overseas - 7-year-olds are smarter than 17-year-olds here
How I’m co-writing a book with Seaton, cautiously called “Everyone Is a Slave” - how we are all slaves to nutrition, not enough sleep, working 9-5, even the caution to say the name of my book, how we are in all of these invisible prisons… human potential is not unlocked
I’m working to say to adults: what is going on here?
and for kids: let’s make this better, lemme teach you financial literacy
I ended up saying, why do I care? cause I’m human and care more about all of this stuff than “how do we make these shoes cheaper” or whatever. I care cause I’m human, and I seem to care more about all of this stuff, more than anyone I meet. And I don’t get why
no offense
Then I got a lot of applause, and my friend Seaton said, “Great job,” hahahah
Seaton said he built hte world’s first something to save people from the ozone layer??? We need to research this
Next, my friend Sally speaks - she used to work at AWS and Google - but then she does her own things as consulting and coaching. It’s all founded and supported by Seaton
. Seaton is really amazing. He’s a great guy.
Now a guy stood up and said we all need to take a selfie. LOL geeze. hahaha. I wanna sneak GameStop’s BUCK into my pic. He’s on my purse. GameStop be with me.
Me and Seaton side-hugged for the whole pic ahahhah. good. i love it. Its nice to have a friend.
Our next goals: week 2 = customer discovery, week 3 = market opportunity, week 4 = problem validation
Seaton says that starting your own business is lonely. Even your family won’t support you. It’s really, really difficult. What you have here is an opportunity unlike anything else out there. All work together, help each other, hear each other. Hearing your pitch, when you tell other people, you get better and better at it. It’s a really rare thing. This is something he wanted for SURF to do since he started 17 years ago. This second batch is a thrill.
You may have so much acceleration along with the rocket fuel of AI.
You have the ability as a single person and a few close friends; there’s nothing to stop you from becoming a success.
Wow! So one guy came up to me at the end and said my speech was “awesome”
Another guy makes kids’ shows in Africa and wants to come meet with me tomorrow during my first ever time I’m hosting: Kids Education & Media Co-Working.
