First Customer - First Revenue for 5o9 Inc

Today is the beginning of a new chapter. Three people have worked incredibly hard for the last 18 months to build something of value. We have now started down a path to realize the value of what we've created. We couldn't have done without the passion and fortitude of the founders. This is truly a team effort.

This is a quote from one of the prospective customers we are working with (sorry I can't disclose their name yet) who is acting as a reference for us.

Your technology is the true future, as with any technology, time will improve, modify, and drive additional innovation.  That is the quest that I see within your labors in the wireless industry. 

My remarks will be filled with the admiration that I have of your work ethics, determination, core competencies, corporate product delivery, as well as the solid development standards used to find and fill a need that will drive the future of the wireless industry. 

There will never be another day like today. I will close with a big thank you to my two partners who've worked like crazy to make this day happen and to all the people along the way who've helped us refine our message and learn what the mobile customer really needs.

Cheers everyone! We're no longer a "pre-revenue" startup

Miles Levin's

Startups are notorious brutal. Everyday it seems like an uphill battle to tell the world what you've done and ask prospects to become customers.

However it's nothing like what Miles Levin is going through. He suffers from an incurable form of cancer. He's one of the most courageous people out there. He fights everyday against something deadly. He knows he probably won't make it.

Today was the day he found out that the cancer is no longer responding to the chemo. His days are now numbered.

Everyday I have a rough day as an entrepreneur I think about people like Miles. He has a tough day everyday. And yet he still remembers the little things.

My hat's off to you Miles. You're a brave young man and I can only thank you for helping keep my life in perspective.

 

Link to Miles Levin's Care Page (link) Click on Visit a CarePage... then type in the exact name - levinstory Spend a moment and read about a special human being. It's worth your time.

Strategy vs. Fundamentals

Brad Feld has a post today about strategy vs. fundamentals. he couldn't be more right.

You don't need a strategy - what you need is customers who are using your product to solve their problems and who are willing to pay you. That's execution.

Most startups forget that. What problem(s) are you solving for the customer and is it valuable enough for someone to pay you for doing it.

GrandCentral solved a customer problem, all your phone numbers in one place. They raised $4m and executed. They got brought today by Google for somewhere around $50m

 

SMS Text News » GrandCentral (almost?) acquired by Google for 50 million smackers

Don't be evil | The Register

Back from my fishing trip... and this article was too good to pass up. Pandora's box is now firmly open, and this article points to the perils of online document storage.

 

Be careful out there. 

Don't be evil | The Register

Gone Fishing

Taking a break from blogging and just spending some time quietly observing what's going on in the industry.