Michael Gold will give a talk about how to build a social network from the ground up. He will discuss his background as a developer in the 90s and during the dot com bust before starting his own business. He will cover the key aspects of building a social network including partners, product vision, customers, technology, and using a lean process with user stories, early design, talking to customers, developing the product, launching, and measuring growth. He will showcase the Clubster web and iPhone apps that were built using this approach.

1. Tonight’s talk:
How to build a social network
from the ground up.
@MichaelGold

2. but first...
a little about me.
@MichaelGold

3. I’m not the guy painted gold
@MichaelGold

4. I started as a developer in the 90s
@MichaelGold

5. ...Then came the “Dot Com” bust
My last day as an employee
Source: NASDAQ
I decided to go into business for myself
@MichaelGold

6. @MichaelGold

7. Then one day...
I got a call from Texas
@MichaelGold

8. My Partners
@MichaelGold

9. Product / Vision
Customers / Users
Technology
@MichaelGold

10. The Lean Process
@MichaelGold

11. Step 1. User Stories
Example:
A club member needs to be able to log in so
that he can access his personalized home page
App: MS Excel or Google Docs
@MichaelGold

12. Step 2. Design early product
App: Balsamiq - www.balsamiq.com - $80
@MichaelGold

13. Step 3. Talk to customers
@MichaelGold

14. Step 4. Design the product
App: Keynotopia - www.keynotopia.com - $40
@MichaelGold

15. Step 5. Develop the product
App: Pivotal Tracker - www.pivotaltracker.com.com - $7 / month
@MichaelGold

16. Step 6. Launch the product
App: Engineyard - www.engineyard.com
@MichaelGold

17. Step 7. Measure growth
App: Mixpanel - www.mixpanel.com
@MichaelGold

18. The Clubster web app today:
@MichaelGold

19. The Clubster iPhone app
@MichaelGold

20. Contact me:
Michael Gold
mike@clubster.com
(646) 345-9838
@MichaelGold