The document discusses the entrepreneurial methodology for engineers working at a non-technical startup. It begins with an introduction to Inspirato, a luxury destination club, and its timeline and growth. It then discusses fundamentals for starting a technology project at a startup, including hiring the right people with industry and technology experience who understand the business goals. Other fundamentals include sticking to architectural principles of loose coupling and separation of concerns, using established coding patterns, and maintaining a disciplined yet creative approach. The document concludes by discussing moving from the current state of dispersed data to an integrated solution using Cloud Elements and taking questions.

1. PERSPECTIVE / TECHNOLOGY
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL
METHODOLOGY:
HOW ENGINEERS CAN HARNESS THE MADNESS
IN A NON‐TECHNICAL START‐UP
WITH
AND
BRANDON VOGT / VP, ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE ‐ INSPIRATO
Cloud Elements Meet‐Up
The Entrepreneurial Methodology

2. DISCLAIMER
THIS IS NOT:
a platform to debate methodologies
THIS IS:
a thoughtful discussion about pace and change in a non‐technical
startup and how to achieve success from a technology perspective
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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3. AGENDA
1. INTRODUCTION TO INSPIRATO
2. KEYS TO SUCCESS (from a technology perspective)
3. OUR FIRST INTEGRATION PROJECT (with cloud elements)
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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4. INTRODUCTION
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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5. INSPIRATO TIMELINE
JAN 2011
Club launches – backed by $11
million of private investment
capital
MAR 2012 Club launches Philanthropic Program “Inspired Giving” ‐ Over $2
million raised for nonprofit organizations to date
APR 2012 Inspirato named one of Colorado’s “Best Places to Work”
JAN 2012 Club receives $20 million investment from later‐stage venture capital firm
Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)
NOV 2011 Forbes's names Inspirato one of
“America’s Most Promising Companies
OCT 2011
Club receives $17.5 million in equity funding led
by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB)
JUL 2012 Club launches “Jaunt” – new last minute deal
program; club launches “Trios” and “Flex” membership
products
MAR 2013 Club partners with American Express
APR 2013 Club launches “Inspirato for Business” – a platform based travel
solution for corporate meetings, incentives and rewards
JUL 2012 Club surpasses 4000 members – becomes
largest destination club in the world
NOV 2013 Club surpasses 5000 members
DEC 2013 Club announces acquisition of
competitor Portico
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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6. INSPIRATO TECHNOLOGY TIMELINE
JAN 2011
Club launches – backed by $11
million of private investment
capital
MAR 2012 Club launches Philanthropic Program “Inspired Giving” ‐ Over $2
million raised for nonprofit organizations to date
APR 2012 Inspirato named one of Colorado’s “Best Places to Work”
JAN 2012 Club receives $20 million investment from later‐stage venture capital firm
Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)
NOV 2011 Forbes's names Inspirato one of
“America’s Most Promising Companies
OCT 2011
Club receives $17.5 million in equity funding led
by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB)
JUL 2012 Club launches “Jaunt” – new last minute deal
program; club launches “Trios” and “Flex” membership
products
MAR 2013 Club partners with American Express
APR 2013 Club launches “Inspirato for Business” – a platform based travel
solution for corporate meetings, incentives and rewards
JUL 2012 Club surpasses 4000 members – becomes
largest destination club in the world
NOV 2013 Club surpasses 5000 members
DEC 2013 Club announces acquisition of
competitor Portico
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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7. WHERE DO WE START?
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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8. ONE THING
Click on photo to watch video
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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9. PEOPLE
EXPERIENCED IN THE INDUSTRY
Draw from past experiences
EXPERIENCED IN TECHNOLOGY
Generalists (end‐to‐end developers) not specialists
CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS BUSINESS GOALS
Why are we here?
DISCIPLINED
Stay the course; focus; deliver
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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10. FUNDAMENTALS
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
‐Aristotle
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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11. FUNDAMENTALS
ARCHITECTURE
Stick to your principles
CODE
Use patterns and conventions
APPROACH
Don’t get fancy
Go with what you know ‐ with what got you here
Maintain disciplined creativity
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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12. ARCHITECTURAL FUNDAMENTALS
SEPARATION OF CONCERNS
The idea that a software system must be decomposed into parts that overlap in
functionality as little as possible
•
•
Promotes rapid development
Minimizes risks associated to change
LOOSE COUPLING
Individual components or systems interacting without dependency
•
•
Reduces risk that a change in one component will cause unwanted changes in another
Minimizes unnecessary interaction among systems
SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE (SOA)
•
•
•
•
Enables loose coupling
Enables quicker response to changing business environment
Enables Best of Breed integration
Enable 3rd party access to key business data and content
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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13. FUNDAMENTALS
Click on photo to watch video
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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14. MINDSET
ATTITUDE
It’s not impossible, it’s aggressive
EMOTION
The difference between and amateur and a professional
LUNCH BUCKET
Bring it every day; self‐motivation
SMALL VICTORIES
Celebrate, then get back to work
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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15. WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE
LEGACY
The terms “legacy code”, and “legacy process” exist for a reason
THIS ISN’T YOUR DADDY’S RODEO
Embrace change and distribution of systems and data
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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16. HERE (THE CURRENT PROBLEM)
Real Estate Data
(Landord Info, Home Value,
Size, Etc.)
Pricing & Availability
Reservations, Rules, and
Restrictions
Occupancy & Satisfaction
Marketing Content
(Photos, Features &
Amenities, Etc.)
Service Orders
(Issue Tracking & Vendor
Management)
Docs
(Leases, Contracts,
ProFormas, Etc.)
Financials
(Revenue & Expenses)
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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17. THERE (THE SOLUTION)
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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18. THERE (THE SOLUTION)
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The Entrepreneurial Methodology
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19. CONCLUSION
1. HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE
2. STICK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS
3. GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
4.
[REMINDER: INSERT PLUG FOR CLOUD ELEMENTS HERE]
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20. QUESTIONS?
If you are interested in learning more, contact me
bvogt@inspirato.com
@vogtdenver
THANK YOU FOR COMING
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