Kansas City Big Thinker Profile: Michael Bleigh

 Netflix lovers rejoice, there is now an easier way to soak up the freshest content and you have Michael Bleigh to thank. Created by the Olathe, KS native, Hack the Midwest winner Qup (pronounced queue-up), allows Netflix addicts to receive email notifications when new titles are added. Like all great things, Qup was born out of necessity. An admitted Netflix addict and overall movie fanatic, Michael created Qup because he got tired of the old way he was doing things. What was he doing you ask? The old way was to use Google reader to receive Netflix’s RSS feed via mobile device. Then from those, if he’d like to add something to his queue he’d have to login to Netflix’s non-mobile friendly U/I. He wanted to create a way to be able add something to his queue with one click. Once Qup is paired with a Netflix account, this becomes a reality.

However Qup isn’t the only project in Michael's queue. As a Partner at Intridea, Michael is also an avid competitor in hackathons. He competes because he has a lot of ideas and feels that the time crunch based format gives him a chance to really try something out and see if it has legs. One of the ideas that grew legs is Divshot, created at Startup Weekend along with his brother Nathan Bleigh and designer Jake Johnson, whom they met at the competition. Though they did not win Startup weekend, they did build a great foundation for Divshot, and were recently selected as a finalist for the upcoming Crowdstart LA Competition.

*Editors Update: Divshot was just announced as the first place winner of Crowdstart LA taking home $25k. We here at Think Big would Like to congratulate Michael and the rest of the Divshot team. More info available here via Silicon Prairie News."

Divshot is a rapid prototyping tool for web apps, a drag and drop editor similar to a balsamic or mock up tool, but different in that it exports valid semantic html & CSS which can then be taken and used a basis for web apps. It leverages Twitter Bootstrap to provide a pallet of tools to build an interface. Its ultimate goal is to become the interface builder for the web. It is designed with a vision to be a tool that developers wouldn’t turn their nose up at. As a developer he feels there has never been a tool that truly outputs data in this way. As he simple puts it “(he) wanted to see if it were possible to create something that would export the same kind of markup if he were to code it by hand”.

How he Thinks Big:  by taking something that is a little bit annoying to a lot of people and making it easy. For example it may take 30sec to a minute to do all the click throughs from an RSS feed to add something in Netflix. Which probably takes 5-6 minutes a week, but that’s 5-6 minutes a week of wasting time on something that is annoying. If it is possible to spend a day creating something that solves that. Then he views that a win. 

The DNA of a Future Entrepreneur

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR 

We've all heard the characteristics of an entrepreneur—they’re driven, hard-working, passionate and quite frankly, a bit obsessed.  But at the same time, most entrepreneurs don’t know that they’re going to be an entrepreneur at a young age.  So what does the DNA of a potential entrepreneur look like?  We caught up with Devin Mirfasihi, law student at the University of Kansas, who has many characteristics of a future entrepreneur.

1.  Future entrepreneurs want to do everything and kick ass at multitasking

Devin is the perfect example of a would-be entrepreneur because he juggles so many different activities.  He started out as a finance student at KU and quickly landed a job on a Garmin Internet team.  While working at the KC-based company for 2 years, Devin discovered that he could do even more, and decided to go to UMKC to study law.  On the side, Devin is a student rep at Kaplan and has his real estate license. 

So that’s finance, technology, law, student relations and real estate.  A variety of different interests, but he seems to tackle them all with grace.  Being able to juggle multiple interests and tasks is a sure sign of an entrepreneur. 

“I tend to overextend myself,” says Devin.  “But when I think about the future, I just want to have a business that helps a lot of people in a substantial way."

2.  Future entrepreneurs know that work-life balance is important

Although many entrepreneurs struggle with a work-life balance, a majority of them do recognize that it is extremely important.  Young, would-be entrepreneurs feel the same way.  They know that in order to become a success, it’s important to juggle work, family, friends and hobbies as evenly as possible.

“I’m busy and I juggle a lot of things,” says Devin.  “But my project management work keeps me organized.  It’s also very important for me to be social.  I can’t keep up mentally if I’m not being social with friends.”

But these friends are more than just buddies to hang out with on the weekends—they could be future business partners.

“I surround myself with smart friends,” says Devin.  “I look forward to interacting and working with them in the future.”

3.  Future entrepreneurs know the power of collaboration

Entrepreneurs are good at working in groups, are effective team leaders and know the power of collaboration.  Devin commented that he is only as strong as the people he surrounds himself with.

“I don’t do everything myself,” he explains.  “I leverage people and resources to get where I need to go.”

4.  Future entrepreneurs love challenging tasks and problem-solving

For entrepreneurs, problem-solving is a part of everyday life.  In fact, entrepreneurs strive on being challenged throughout the day.  When stimulated with a challenge, entrepreneurs tend to go above and beyond to reach a solution. 

“I always want to learn.  I always want to be challenged,” notes Devin.

5.  Future entrepreneurs don't love the corporate world

Almost every entrepreneur has been in the corporate world before—it could have been a short stint as an intern or a 25-year long career in business.  Whatever the case may be, entrepreneurs can tell (usually early-on), that the corporate world is not for them. 

“Law is pretty corporate,” explains Devin.  “But if I do law, I would like to start my own law firm.  It’s hard, but it’s doable.  I like the flexibility and I like being able to control my own client base.  When you start your own thing, you get to meet different people every day too.” 

6.  Future entrepreneurs are passionate right off the bat

If there’s one thing that current entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs share, it’s passion for an idea.  Passion is the driving force that wakes entrepreneurs up at 3:00 in the morning to write down an idea.  Passion is the reason why entrepreneurs spend 90+ hours a week on a business.  Passion is the reason we see new successful businesses pop up around the world.

“I want to pick something I’m passionate about,” says Devin.  “When I buy into a product, it’s easier to sell.” 

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