This event brought in app developers
and mobile entrepreneurs from around the Midwest who were ready to do exactly
what Vaughn stated at the beginning of the conference—change. More specifically, the attendees were ready
to create change for others through the use of mobile technology. The conference also showcased two of the
city’s best mobile talent—Captain Dan Stratman, mastermind behind the Airport Life app and Kirk Hasenzahl, CEO of Rarewire.
The old adage, “Do what you know” was
all the inspiration Stratman needed to create his app in 2010. As a former pilot, he utilized his knowledge
of the airline industry as his competitive advantage among the pre-existing
airline apps and since then has seen it grow to 21,000 downloads without any
formal marketing. Stratman advised the
crowd that creating an app was a long and frustrating process full of
challenges. He noted that if an
entrepreneur decides to develop an app, it’s important to be passionate, learn
everything there is to know about the business world, use marketing, learn technology
and most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help.
Hasenzahl’s inspiration did not come from
a quote but rather a device; Apple’s iPad.
The size of the screen spawned the idea for his company Rarewire, which
provides a service that allows others to create apps without being a
programmer. With 10 billion app
downloads in 2011 and an expected 185 billion downloads in 2014, it is no doubt
Hasenzahl joined the right industry two years ago. “It’s a gold rush,” he said, “and you want to
be the guy selling the shovels.” Hasenzahl
predicts industry growth within app promotion, rich media ad service, and
mobile/app security and promoted inspiration for individuals pondering the app
world to get out there and go for it.
The conference ended with the
announcement of an iPad 3 winner and what Vaughn described as a “Town Hall
meeting” type discussion. Attendees and
speakers were able to interact through open forum and share expertise on
various components of the mobile industry.
Want to see what you missed out on?
Check out Why Status Quo’s live stream from the conference!
