Monica Chen has been writing about tech and startups since 2007 for The Herald Sun (Durham), Triangle Business Journal, and the The News & Observer. She loves interviewing passionate, inspiring people who are creating wonderful things in the world, and is delighted to find so many of them in the startup scene. What she is passionate about: nature, community, family, and the power of stories to tie everything together.
For my second post looking at a company's technological inner workings, I chatted with Paul Hiatt, co-founder of Entasso, a Durham startup that does the reverse of what most job sites do. Instead of having people apply for positions, it matches entry-level job applicants to the companies, like an employer-employee Match.com service.
On Entasso, companies state what skills they prefer in applicants, such as extroversion, self-direction and Javascript. Applicants take multiple-choice tests on programming languages, AP Style, Adobe InDesign, geography, etc. Their scores are compiled into profiles that are displayed to the companies. Entasso is currently targeting tech and marketing positions. --Read On
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be an entrepreneur? Seven years old when you had a lemonade stand? 12 years old when you sold Girl Scout cookies? A little bit older -- or much older -- when you were ready to strike out on your own?
Michael Parker, 16, has a social media business. Well, not "business" in all the formal ways you define it. But, he's been doing Facebook/Twitter updates for Vincent's Italian restaurant in Raleigh, and is talking with Dos Perros in Durham and one other potential client.
"I like doing stuff on my own. I've always been independent. It doesn't really feel like work. It's fun."
Sounds like he's on the right track. When work feels like play, it usually means you've found the right thing for you.
Michael was a student of Startup High, an introduction to entrepreneurism for high schoolers by Scott Kelly's new company, Max Q Ventures, which he founded after departing KeySource Commercial Bank in 2011. The students, with tablets and laptops in hand, had already stopped by Durham Bulls, Argyle Social and Lab Rats Studio last week. There will be three more weeks this summer, with about 50 students who will build mobile apps, blogs, videos, social media campaigns. --Read On
I've been covering startups as a journalist for several years now, cataloging and making sense of new ventures blooming all over the Triangle. But I noticed over the years that I never got to sink my teeth into the nuts and bolts of how they work, what's actually involved with building the technology.
Tech entrepreneurs have tried to help me out. Metaphors have abounded -- hello, Star Trek tricorders! -- that reminded me of the futurism of science and technology, the kind of magic that inspires people and draws them to the field in the first place.
But metaphors are not enough. Now, I want to know more: Exactly how does it work?
With that question in mind, and with the opportunity now to ask it on a regular basis (Thanks, Joe!), the first tech entrepreneur I called up was Aaron Houghton, who said, quoting an investor:
“That idea is either going to be an unbelievable success... or it's not going to work at all.”
“Now, that sounds like the kind of risk you'd want to take,” I thought. My curiosity piqued, I pressed for more. --Read On
For my second post looking at a company's technological inner workings, I chatted with Paul Hiatt, co-founder of Entasso, a Durham startup that does the reverse of what most job sites do. Instead of having people apply for positions, it matches entry-level job applicants to the companies, like an employer-employee Match.com service. 
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be an entrepreneur? Seven years old when you had a lemonade stand? 12 years old when you sold Girl Scout cookies? A little bit older -- or much older -- when you were ready to strike out on your own?
I've been covering startups as a journalist for several years now, cataloging and making sense of new ventures blooming all over the Triangle. But I noticed over the years that I never got to sink my teeth into the nuts and bolts of how they work, what's actually involved with building the technology.