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Michael

active 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Base

Full Name

Michael
Interests

computers, photography, movies, math, physics, medicine, travel, architecture, gardening, cooking, wine, coffee, and everything in this world that I would like to figure out, but mainly a romantic evening by a fireplace.
Gender

Male
Zip Code / Postal Code

15338
Country

USA
Describe yourself

Entrepreneur, physicist, tall, and of course extremely good looking. Born and raised in Europe, but a happy American now. It is the place to be for entrepreneurial spirits and I am on my 4th startup company. Still you can tell I am from the old country. I do ok in seven languages and I am well read in most of them. I like my beer in a glass, my coffee in an espresso cup, and hold my wine by the stem. I am a perfectionist and a night owl. I would qualify for the Nerd exam, but the other side of the brain would protest. I am into design, art and esthetics just as much as logic and science. Hopeless romantic would apply too, I guess, and I am a very sensual person. I hate conflict, arguments and yelling. I always wear a smile and I am even tempered, but stubborn and far from a push over. How did I end up here? My IQ used to be 196, but I am in need of a free refill
Favorite music

Eclectic mix Besides the latest top 20 and usual “Disco era” suspects, some all time favorites: Brazilian Jazz: Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, and recently Bebel Gilberto and The black Eyed Peas version of Sergio Mendes songs. …French: Michel Fugain, Joe Dassin, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Becaud, France Gall, Julien Clerc, Celine Dion. Spanish: from Rocio Durcal, Julio Iglesias, to David Bisbal, Gipsy Kings, Azucar Moreno, Los del Rio, …German: Udo Juergens, Seeed, Italian: Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazotti… English: Sting, Luther van Dross, Alicia Keys, Linda Eder, Shirley Bassey, Michael Bubble, and a hundred more
Favorite books

Wikipedia is what I read most lately. I will update this with some old favorites.
Birthday

December 31, 1969
Favorite movies

Bond, James Bond. A romantic comedy, a clever thriller, European movies (just because they are so different), a good action movie. Specifically… (older) Les Uns et les Autres, One Two Three, The Name of the Rose, Eyes of Laura Mars, The English Patient, Sabrina (the original and the remake), Monty Python (all), To Catch a Thief, A Passage to India, Out of Africa, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels(Foreign) Amelie, Oh Pardon, El Abuelo, Black Book, Volver! Le Grande Blonde avec une chaussure noir. (More recent) Scent of a Woman, True Lies, Entrapment, Match Point, Analyze This (and …That), As good as it gets, A Beautiful Mind, A Good Year, Get Smart, Iron Man, Dark Knight, …

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Viewing post 1 to 5 (9 total posts)  
  • On January 14, 2009 Michael said:

    They were all sold to larger companies, one almost became public but the IPO fell apart because of Sep 11. They were well capitalized, but the one that was the least capitalized made the most money in the end. You need a good bit of luck in this process. There are many dynamics out there that you can not predict. Home-runs are rare, but you keep growing those ideas that have home-run-potential, and if you are lucky you hit one. I have done alright, though I am still waiting on he real home run. Of course you keep looking up at the very unusual big stories like Steve Jobs and his likes, but compared to the other 99.9% of the population I am very fortunate.

  • On January 14, 2009 Richard said:

    Thanks Michael.

    Did your other three startups fail, or did you sell them?
    If the former, then how? Under-capitalization?

  • On January 12, 2009 Michael said:

    @Richard…focus on your strengths :
    - you are young and have boundless energy,
    - you can live on a low budget,
    - you probably have some friends your age that can help you,
    - and you hopefully have a good idea that will be in tune with a young generation.
    Now find a partner with some money, and another partner with experience, and you will have a winning team. You should be able to take on conventional companies 10 times your size.
    Next, don’t give away the shop to investors. You have the time to grow it on a small budget, that is your edge. So go for it :)

  • On January 8, 2009 Richard said:

    Hi Michael,

    Any tips you could give a less experienced entrepreneur? (Aside the obvious: keep capital expenditure as low as possible, keep it simple, find a good niche, etc.)

    Cheers

  • On January 7, 2009 Shea said:

    Re: skirt chasing, alas, at least as far as I know, the phrase remains pristinely unjargoned. It’s great social, emotional and physical exercise! :)