Comments on: Awesome Inc: Y Combinator as a Reality TV Show?

By: Brian Raney

Brian Raney — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:04:56 +0000

Hey guys,
My name is Brian Raney and I am one of the founders of Awesome Inc. First, my apologies for the website being vague and confusing. The website is in the initial design stage and while I am flattered that Josh found our site and wrote about us, I am equally surprised that he caught wind of us this early on.

The reality TV show is just an idea at this stage in the game (it shouldn’t have been on the website and has since been removed). I am interested in hearing other entrepreneurs’ thoughts/feelings on the idea though. It will obviously give participants’ ideas more mainstream attention, but the downside is that it might take away from the disciplined environment we are trying to create.

We will absolutely take your advice Josh and post a ton more details before expecting anyone to apply (in January).

Also, thanks to David Cohen for showing us how TechStars does it right. Luke Murray (co-founder) and I hope to visit more incubators and mobile conferences in the next few months to learn as much as we can.

Brian Raney
brian@awesomeinc.org

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:51:20 +0000

Their was a show on an all HD network called Mojo, Startup Junkies, that chronicled a start-up, Earth Class mail. While it was interesting to a junkie like me, the overall show would put normal people to sleep (my wife would attest to this)

By: Guy

Guy — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:43:29 +0000

The Awesome Inc stuff seems really shady to me. I think it is just a front to get the reality show made and as an investor, the Option plan is a bunch of crap. Unless whoever is behind Awesome can give some details on their background etc that makes sense, I would steer clear

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:06:58 +0000

There used to be (maybe still is) a UK TV program called Dragon’s Den, which was exactly that – a reality TV show where inventors etc. pitched to a panel of four rich businessmen as potential VC investors.

It’s like Big Brother Business – great TV, but I reckon you’d have to insane to go on it.

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:47:05 +0000

@David: And see, I knew that too. Brain fart, I guess. Fixed, though, thanks! :)

And yeah, I can’t lie: I would definitely watch a reality show documenting a web startup.

By: David Cohen

David Cohen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:48:46 +0000

FYI – TechStars is in Boulder, Colorado – not Denver. We’ve been approached a bunch of times to make a reality TV show out of TechStars. But of course it would totally change the dynamic from a true investment fund to just “entertainment” (not the same). So we’ve chosen not to do that. But it would make for a pretty interesting series – if you’re into startups the drama can be pretty fun to see.

I met the guys from Awesome – they toured TechStars last week.