Startup Houston

When I left my last position and was waffling on starting a consulting practice, everyone told me to talk with Ernie Rapp (LinkedIn, Facebook).  At the time, Ernie had his own consulting practice here in Houston for over 5 years and had made a wonderful go at it. We bacme instant friends and have kept in touch since. Earlier in the year, Ernie let me in on his new project, The Up Experience (Facebook group) and we met recently to talk more about it. Here are some excerpts from that chat:

Josh: Tell me about the UP Experience. Where did the idea come from?

Ernie: UP (to be held February 7, 2008) came from my experiences over the last several years, as I realized how focused I had become on my profession.  So focused, in fact, I realized I needed to add an intellectual/learning component to my life.  I did not want to go back to college, nor did I want to get another certification in a particular field.  I needed to understand what was going on in my world, both my local world and the larger world in general.   Getting unique perspectives from unique people who are doing amazing things and who are experts in their fields was what I was looking for.  I attended a 3 ½-day event in California called TED, and it was so educational and inspirational I wanted to create the same experience in Houston.

Josh: It does sound a lot like the TED conferences that several friends have attended over the years. How does UP differ from TED in format and construction?

Ernie: We have patterned UP based upon my own experiences from TED.  We’ll have 20 presenters each giving 20-minute on-stage presentations during a one-day event.  TED is 3 ½ days and their presenters are on stage for 18 minutes.  A unique feature we added to the UP format is the break-out session scheduled after each group of 5 speakers – during the coffee and lunch breaks.  The experts who just finished their on- stage 20-minute presentations will do another 20 minutes of informal question-and-answers for those attendees that are interested in a particular speaker.  We really wanted to give attendees and speakers this opportunity to get to know one another (and the presenters are extremely interested in seeing this concept succeed).

Josh: Do you feel that Houston can support this in the same manner that California can? What challenges do you see ahead?

Ernie: Houston is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.  We decided to launch this event here because we are native Houstonians and our business and personal networks will help in getting the word out about the event.  I am beyond confident that Houston has a number of individuals that are working hard, very focused and need the same thing I do — an intellectual shot in the arm, in a fast paced, rapid fire way, on topics that are important to understand about our future.

Josh: The list of presenters is impressive (Malcolm Gladwell, Steve Wozniak, Ray Kurzweil to name a few)? What was the process of finding and securing presenters like?

Ernie: Our advisors, a group of business associates and friends, put together their recommendations on presenters and topics of interest.  That list grew to over 350+ suggestions.  We researched and discussed these suggestions for a long time.  Ultimately we narrowed their list to 70 possibilities.  From there we approached a smaller group of supporters for their recommendations.  Once we had the top 30 targets, we started contacting those individuals, their agents, etc.  Over a six-month period of time, the 20 confirmed speakers were finalized.  In some cases, it was someone knowing somebody else, or having seen a presenter with a message that was deserving of presenting at UP. In other cases, it was a sales process to convince a few that this (first time) concept would work and work well.    With only one or two exceptions, we were able to secure the presenters that were most appealing.

Josh: Shifting gears for a moment, you have been providing strategic advice to local businesses for many years now, both during your days at Arthur Andersen and on your own: what do you see as obstacles to Houston becoming an epicenter for technological development and commercialization?

Ernie: I think the only answer is lack of human resources.  Can you imagine saying that a metropolitan area as large as Houston could lack the necessary skilled work force?  With the price of oil and gas continuing to escalate, Houston’s economy will continue to do well. As it relates to technology and commercialization, we as a city need to continue to show a progressive attitude toward keeping engineers and getting a skilled work force to relocate to Houston, making Houston their home. For those of us who are native Houstonians, we need to show that same progressive attitude to promote Houston as we know it best, as a great place to live and work.

Josh: How do see UP helping Houston evolve in this direction?

Ernie: UP will be an annual one-day event in Houston, Texas that lots of folks put on their calendars as a day that cannot be missed.  Houston, to a large extent, does not get this caliber of presenter as often as we should.  In fact, the multiple speaker bureaus that we have worked with for the first UP have stated that Houston never comes UP as a place where these high caliber presenters get invited to speak.  That needs to change.   If we are to continue as a major international energy and business center, we need to attract the best and brightest and to promote innovative thinking.

Josh: How can Startup Houston help you?

Ernie: That’s easy: register to attend and tell others to do the same.  I realize that the startup world is beyond difficult; every day is one of survival.  To come to UP for one day, may sound difficult (perhaps even expensive with an entry fee of $1,000).  However, what is one good idea worth to the startup world?  It’s certainly more than the registration fee and certainly more than one day of your business life.

Josh: Anything else you’d like to add?

Ernie: Josh, thanks for having me on the blog with you.  Can’t wait to see other Startup’s attend The UP Experience on February 7, 2008.