Last
week, Chris Shaw (Think Big’s Entrepreneur in Residence) began what is known as
The Tech Trek: an 8-day roadtrip
to some of the most well known startup hubs documented through the frames of Google Glass. Chris traveled by vehicle with 8 other
lucky “Trekkers” from Silicon Valley to Kansas City.
Before
the Tech Trekkers set off on
their innovative, tech-inspired walkabout, Think Big was able to ask them all a
few questions such as why they’re doing what they’re doing and what they’re most
excited about. Since we’ve already
met the head Trekker Chris
Shaw,
it’s time to meet the rest of the gang:
Spencer Walsh
Tech
Trek Videographer & Producer
Why do you want to go on the Trek?
“There are two reasons why I want to go on
Tech Trek. First, I was asked to produce the video content for the trip.
Secondly, I would never miss a chance to mix bleeding edge technology with
doing what I love”.
What stop are
you most excited for?
“The
Tech Trek stop I'm most excited to see is the Grand Canyon. Cities come and go.
Technology changes every day. This excerpt from Wikipedia explains why the
Grand Canyon is the total opposite of that, and therefore the perfect
juxtaposition for the trip: ‘Nearly two billion years of the Earth's geological
history has been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their
channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was
uplifted’”.
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“I'm excited to get my hands on the
technology and start playing with Glass - that's when I think the really good
ideas will surface.”
Blake Miller
Partner
at Think Big Partners
Serial Entrepreneur & Tech Trek Supporter
Why
do you want to go on the Trek?
“I want to be immersed in other startup community
cultures in an effort to bring back and implement best practices.”
What stop are you most excited for?
“Vegas, Duh.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“Experiencing the stratosphere with Glass.”
Jason Grill
Tech Trek
Media & Public Affairs Expert
Why do you
want to go on the Trek?
“Great group
of individuals involved. Great cities. See Google Glass up close. Share the
Kansas City entrepreneurial story.”
What
stop are you most excited for?
“San Francisco
Bay Area through the eyes of Google Glass.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“I’m looking forward to hopefully using them
at the Dodgers stadium. I’d like to see what Zack Greinke can do away from KC
and what this Yasiel Puig talk is all about up close.”
Manager
of Product Marketing at Sprint
Tech
Trek Intrapreneur, Blogger/Social Media Producer, Mobile Connectivity Provider
and Spotify DJ
Why do you
want to go on the Trek?
"I’m excited
to better understand the piece parts of the tech eco-systems in each of the
cities. I want to find new ways a
big corporation like Sprint can serve the community in KC.
I also love road trips and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be in close quarters
with all of these innovative people!”
What stop are you most excited for?
“Hard to say…but probably Boulder just
because of the success in this small community and the close analogs to
KC. I would say Vegas is a close
second because I know there’s a lot going on there that is overshadowed by the
city’s casinos.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“I’m hoping to capture some candid moments of
general shenanigans along the road.
When you lock 9 people up for an extended period of time, there’s bound
to be something happening that won’t wait for you to take your phone out of
your pocket, launch the video camera and begin filming. Other than that, I just want to explore
the current app eco-system and see what kind of things we can dream up on the
way back.”
Tom
Brantman
Tech Trek
Observer, “B” Team Documenter (role includes interjecting questions, points of
interest and pit stops)
Why do you want to go on the Trek?
“Feel the
energy of these awesome entrepreneurs. Meet and listen to the new masterminds
who are shaping tomorrow’s interactions. This is a crazy fantasy trip, who
won't want to be part of it?”
What stop are you most excited for?
“I'm interested in a transition more than a
stop. My expectation is that people will approach Google Glass with excitement,
familiarity and awe while we are out in the Bay area. But as we progress
towards the center of the US, excitement will be replaced with fear and lack of
context or no reaction at all…I guess if I were to pick just one place it would
be Amazon. I spent a lot of time in Bentonville with Walmart and I love the way
Amazon has completely changed the way I shop. They have changed retail more
than any other digital company and they will continue to change it. Seeing the
Amazon Locker is a cool way to see what might be next. Maybe even see something
else they have cooking.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“I want Google Glass to augment my current
shopping experience real time. I want to look at items on the shelf and see
where I can get it at a better price, how long it would take to get it, is
there better or greener product options, what are other customers saying about
that product. Some of this would be awesome if it were automatic, for now I
assume I can direct that experience with basic search and Amazon shopping
tools. From a Hallmark perspective, I want the story behind the products. I
want to know who manufactured those products, why, where did the ideas come
from, what are the people who created these products like? There is a strong
emotional connection between a product and its maker and I want to feel that
some way in the future.”
Writer
for The Atlantic, ESPN Insider and Large
Tech Trek
Journalist
Why
do you want to go on the Trek?
“To explore
the device as a consumer object and a sociological phenomenon, and explore the
present and future of wearable computers.”
What stop are
you most excited for?
“The Lightening in a Bottle Festival outside of
LA.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“Shots of aerialists over the crowd,
describing what they are doing on stage.”
Andy
Olson
Innovation
Leader at Hallmark.
Tech Trek
Observer
Why do you
want to go on the Trek?
“I'm tagging along to learn as much as
possible and to help out capturing this awesome experience (any way they'll let
me). In terms of learning, I'm specifically interested in:
Entrepreneurship - Is there anything in the
way these start-ups/entrepreneurs work that I can take back to Hallmark (ways
to develop the most innovative/relevant ideas, ways to
make good decisions faster...)
Google Glass Capabilities - The Glass product
is an amazing tool for storytelling (as evidenced by our documentary) and for
connecting people. As Chris uses Glass, I want to learn how we might adapt/use
this capability back at Hallmark (as we consider future products and/or
services).
I also wanted to join this trip because it's
a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm a techie at heart (my undergrad is in mechanical
engineering - I graduated from Santa Clara University in the Bay area). The opportunity to get my hands on this
technology while it's still hot from the oven is pretty amazing. I also love to
hang around smart people; between the people on our team and the people we get
to interview/meet, I'm going to hear from a lot of great minds. Finally, it's
an adventure...I like adventure.”
What stop are you most excited for?
“I'm excited about this entire trip. I think
I'm most interested in seeing how different communities live entrepreneurship
and how different communities experience Google Glass.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“In terms of unique applications, I can't
help but think about how I might use it (or see it used) on a bicycle. I'm a
cyclist (as our fellow teammate, Tom Brantman); my head always goes there.
There are a couple of existing cycling applications that could easily be
incorporated into Google Glass. It would make a safer experience for the rider
AND provide more/relevant data.
Finally, I'm looking forward to serendipity.
Between the people and the new technology, we're going to come across stuff we
didn't anticipate (and we'll find uses that we never imagined). The unexpected
is where we're going to have the most fun (and find the most insight).”
Rodrigo
“Rigo” Neri
Entrepreneur selected by Head Trekkers to join
The Tech Trek
Why do you want to go on the Trek?
“Over the past
couple of years I've been getting more involved with the startup & tech
community in Kansas City. I'm
currently one of the lead organizers of KC Startup Weekend. Throughout this
time I've seen Kansas City's startup & tech community grow but I feel that
it can be even bigger. The reason I want to go to Tech Trek is so I can see
with my own eyes what makes these top communities in the US special and bring
the lessons back to KC to help it grow and make it a well-known startup and
tech hub.”
What stop are you most excited for?
“I think I'm most excited about Boulder, CO.
It's a place I've never been before, they have a small and powerful community
which I believe is similar to what Kansas City can become.”
What unique way do you imagine using Google
Glass while there?
“I haven't really thought much on what unique
way I imagine using Google Glass in the trip. I'm curious to see how it
performs on the road and low internet connections. However, when it comes to Google
Glass in general, I'm excited about the possibilities of soon being able to use
facial recognition to learn about who is around you, especially in
entrepreneurial and tech parties.”
Now
that you know them and why exactly they’re doing what they’re doing, learn more
about the Tech Trek experience here.
