Gabe enjoys building things and solving problems. He created a service to allow Pandora and Last.FM integration after realizing others had the same problem. The service was popular with over 12 million songs played. For his next project, Hollrback, Gabe aimed to create a mobile app to better facilitate networking interactions. He left his job to work on it full-time and launched an initial prototype to prove the concept. Hollrback is still growing but has come a long way from its early stages. Gabe learned that starting a company requires sacrifice and is an emotional rollercoaster but he is passionate about solving problems.

1. I’m Gabe.
I like to make things.
Here are some examples.

2. The basics
I like to build things.
I like to solve problems.
I don’t like being bored.
I like to learn.

3. So what does that mean?
Always building something to solve a
problem.

4. Example 1:Problem
I wanted to listen to Pandora.com radio and
tie it into Last.FM, a listening tracking service.
Turns out other people did too.

5. Example 1:Solution:1
I created a solution and released the source
code and documentation to the world for
everyone to use.
I thought this was a good idea.
It’s not what anyone wanted.

6. Example 1:Solution:2
What people wanted was a service.
Nobody wanted to be taught how to fish, they
just wanted dinner.
So I built a hosted service for the world to use.

7. Example 1:Results
Seriously!
Te
ch
C
run
ch
!

8. Example 1:Results
People were really happy.
Donations pay for the overhead.
Over 12 million songs have been played through the
service.

9. What did I learn?
There are real problems that haven’t yet been solved.
If you solve a problem you’ll make people happy.
Happy people give back to support you.
Making people happy is addicting.
Don’t underestimate the press machine.

10. Example 2:Problem
I was going to networking events and meeting
people but getting manageable or useful data
from the interaction.
Unable to realistically manage anything from
these interactions later.
Need better ways to ask for cute girls’ phone
numbers.

11. Example 2:Solution
Develop a platform to facilitate exchanging
interesting and dynamic information when
meeting someone.
Requires mobile clients and a web application.

12. Example 2:The Realization
I realized this project was bigger than myself
and needed support.
If I wanted to succeed, I had to treat it as more
than a hobby.
Applied to a local incubator in hopes of finding
a co-founder, mentorship and some seed
capital.

13. Example 2:The Realization
I had to position myself to focus on what I
cared about.
I left my job at a big, evil, well paying
corporation to do freelance and work on
Hollrback.
Before I knew it I had started...

14. Example 2:The Realization
A Startup!
Gasp

15. Example 2:Step 1 Would you
like to know
more?
Visually try and prove out the idea in a
meaningful way to gain support.

16. Example 2:Step 2 Would you
like to know
more?
Fake a prototype.

17. Example 2:Step 3
Then what?
Work for a long time on something you hope
people will use.
Doubt life choices.
Eat ramen.
Doubt life choices again.

18. Example 2:Step 3
Discover microwave burritos.
Put your passion ahead of friends.
Put your passion ahead of sanity.
Lose all sense of reality.
Every day is/has a battle.

19. Example 2:Step 4
Launch.
By accident.

20. Example 2:Step 4
Expect the best/worst.
Take pride in small victories.
Spend a lot of time supporting new users.

21. Example 2:Results
To be continued...
Hollrback is gaining traction but there’s a long
way to go.

22. Example 2 Would you
like to know
more?
But it’s come a long way since that first video.

23. What did I learn?
I had to give up a lot.
It’s a roller coaster ride of extreme highs and lows.
It probably hasn’t been healthy for me.
Always looking for the next “win”.

24. Things I learned about
myself.
I like to build things.
I like to solve problems.
I don’t like being bored.
I like to learn.
It’s only worth it to me if I’m passionate about it.
It’s not about money.
I can’t go back.

25. Thanks!
Le
.c om t ’s
as be
g fri
kan end
e
g ab s!
Scan my Hollrback Card and feel
free to contact me at any time!