Episode 014 - From TechStars startup to TechDay - Alec Hartman on the value of accelerators and community for startups

Alec Hartman explores the value of startup accelerators, the importance of community in the tech industry, and how he’s helping entrepreneurs with TechDay.

Today’s guest, Alec Hartman, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs get focused and develop their ideas.

Alec is a TechStars alumni, the co-founder of Digital Ocean, and founder and CEO of TechDay, a series of events that allows startups to demonstrate the innovative products that they are building, and helps to develop innovative tech communities.

Alec really loves startups, innovative ideas, and the future potential of technology to advance, and that’s why he’s invested in helping tech companies make that future a reality. NY Tech Day 2016 will be the event’s 5th anniversary, and over 30,000 individuals in the tech community will be in attendance.

We’re going to learn why community is so important in the tech industry, and how he measures success in a growing startup.

“There’s a five-year life span on pretty much every assumption we ever make.” (click to tweet)

“Getting into an accelerator means the work starts.” (click to tweet)

In this episode, you’ll learn from Alec:

The role of cloud computing in facilitating startup growth.
The importance of specializing or focusing on a target segment within a large, competitive industry.
How accelerators can lead to explosive growth for a startup, or a rapid death.
How to measure the value of a startup accelerator.
Why it is important to highlight and foster communities in emerging markets.
Different methods of measuring the success of a community event like TechDay: Key Performance Indicators (KPI) versus quantity.
Where the tech startup community is expanding internationally: Berlin, the UAE’s tech city, and beyond.
How making a plan is one of the most important aspects of growing a startup.
Why anyone would ever run a mile with two cinderblocks under their arms.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Answers to Quickfire Q&A:

If you could chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
1. Plato – what does he think about relative truth and product marketing?
Name a tool, app, or website that you can’t live without and why.
1. My phone.
Tell us something unique and interesting about you that not many may know.
1. He once did an 8 1/2 minute mile with two cinderblocks under his arms for a black belt test.
What are the top three skills or characteristics that you look for in people you work with?
1. Human resources skills
2. A high level of energy
3. A drive to be the best at something
4. A desire for growth
What is something you believe, but few others agree with you?
1. Pretty much every underlying assumption we have, including how we run our companies, changes every five years.

How to contact Alec:

You can reach out to Alec Alec@AlecHartman.com

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