andrewjdumont.com

About

If you’re like me, you have a passion for finding the next big thing, a passion for creating something that no one else has – it’s what drives you. But as I’ve learned, it’s not easy to do. In fact, it’s nearly impossible.

But, the bottom line is this; it has been done, and it will continue to be done, over and over again. Granted, the successes of companies like Facebook, Mint, 37Signals and many others are few and far between, but they happen. Creating a company that will achieve that type of success requires knowledge, experience, intelligence and a whole lot of luck.

That’s what I’m here for, to help you with that experience portion of the equation (sorry, I can’t help you with the luck part). Don’t get me wrong, I am miles away from knowing it all. But, with that lack of knowledge came the ride of my life, on the roller coaster that is the startup world. From the highs of receiving the nod from BusinessWeek as the Top 25 Entrepreneurs in America, to being terminated from a company I helped create without warning, I’ve been through it all.

The result? This blog. I’m here to provide a blunt, transparent and innovative look at everything startup related – with the hope of helping you avoid many of the mistakes I’ve made. If this sounds like it’s something that piques your interest, join me.

The Andrew Dumont Story

The Early Years

From day one, I’ve always had something about me that was a little different than everyone else. Some called me hyperactive, others called me restless, but it was just me (I’ve tried to chill out, trust me). I can recall walking into my 5th grade english class with the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal and receiving the oddest looks from my teachers and classmates.

I don’t know what it was, but I always had this odd fear of mediocracy. With that fear came a constant drive to fill my brain with as much information as possible and work until I couldn’t work anymore. At the age of 16, I took my first “real job,” aside from selling baseball cards to fellow students. I worked in the warehouse at a company called Premier Graphics, taking freshly cut paper from a machine and placing it on a cart, over and over again. Although the work was extremely tedious, I loved it. I loved the idea of the exchange, the exchange of my time for a check (albeit small, at the time). But, it gave me a taste of what was possible, the idea that the more I worked, the more I got – not just in currency, but with everything in my life. I took this concept and applied it to everything I did, from school, to sports, to work, to relationships.

Entrepreneurship

I entered my entrepreneurial career as the VP of Marketing at technology startup Tatango, without any prior knowledge of the tasks at hand. To be honest, I didn’t have my first computer until I was 18, so my technical skills were lacking, to put it nicely. But, with that lack of knowledge came a fresh, humble outlook towards the roles I took on. We were a very small operation right off the bat, setting up shop in the basement of the founder’s basement, equipped with an idea, a horrible looking website, a few imacs and more drive than you could imagine. The result was a company that absolutely took off. We had hundreds of thousands of users, press mentions in some of the largest outlets in the world and attention from some of the biggest names in The Valley – all from our little basement shop in Bellingham. But, as with all good things, it had to come to an end. Throughout those two years, I learned more than I ever could have imagined.

Today

Currently, I’m spending my days as the Business Development Executive at San Francisco-based Seesmic. The company has a strong venture backing, brilliant management team and unmatched potential. I’m loving every minute of the time I’ve spent with Seesmic thus far and am happy to be a part of taking this awesome product to the next level. Keep an eye out.

The Future

I wish I had a crystal ball that could tell me where I’ll end up, but I don’t. Luckily, I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some great projects with some great people. My number one goal is to share the information I’ve learned and help as many people as possible along the way. If you have questions, need help, would like an introduction or simply just want to chat, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Cheers!