It’s Freakin’ Genius!
A Founders Live origin story most people are not familiar with not only foreshadows our Why but also illustrates how we continue to expand to all corners of the world.
In 2013 - the year before the very first Founders Live event - I participated in a Seattle startup pitch competition as the CEO of my then mobile payments startup Seconds.
The competition involved a timed 90 seconds pitch. No slides. Just step up on stage, grab the mic, and lay down your startup pitch.
I was excited to participate but a bit nervous as well. I hadn’t really done many of these competitions before, and even though I was confident with my words, I didn’t know how well the other founders would present their startups.
When it was my turn, I stepped up on stage and ran through my 90 second pitch with ease and confidence. As the last word came out of my mouth the roughly 100 people in the room clapped and roared in support of me and my startup.
Once the voting was done, to my amazement it was announced I was the winner!
What an awesome feeling. I felt like a mini-celebrity and was so full of confidence and purpose I could have run through a brick wall.
The feeling was so incredible and left such an impact on me that shortly after that experience I felt another powerful sensation: I dreamt of millions more people around the world being able to experience that exact same winning energy. What would happen if we empowered millions more people to pursue their dreams? I wasn’t sure but I sensed it had to be good.
What I didn’t know at the time was that “win” was the lightning strike trigger sending ripples throughout the world for decades to come.
So with that fun pitch competition experience as a mold, I structured the very first Founders Live event in March of 2014 (at the time called Feature Friday). This time, I determined each startup would pitch for 99 seconds. Why? Well because it’s unique and different. And then we’d have 4 minutes of questions from the crowd with each startup before they ultimately vote for their favorite.
Side Note: Another irony of the event is the winner from that first event was called Freakin’ Genius! Double entendre anyone?
Since Day One, a favorite aspect of the Founders Live event experience is how much it means to people to simply step up on stage and share their vision. And when one Founder emerges as a winner, it’s fascinating how deep the energetic pulse is felt within their bones.
The coolest aspect of Founders Live is that our creative founders are the new rockstars and everyone has a story to share. Now that Founders Live reaches into 29 countries around the world, each week new entrepreneurs step up on stage to share their vision with their city and the world. And everyone wins even if there's only one officially voted during the event.
Never forget how the seemingly random and possibly inconsequential things you witness can impact the trajectory of another person’s life.
Next time you attend a Founders Live event or watch a Center Stage Show, just know someone’s life is about to completely change forever.