Startup Revolution

Stripe Story
Can a couple of 20 somethings change the world? Stripe's answer is a strong affirmative YES. Stripe is fixing the biggest barrier to the social / mobile / connected web. We can't buy stuff on our phones.

Phones are, to use the founders of Stripe's words, "Clunky" (watch that video here:  http://cnnmon.ie/1DxDZMG ). Why is the phone the lynchpin? Stop thinking of your phone as a phone.

Think of your phone as a PORTAL, game console and magic wand. Soon "see a thing, buy a thing" will be taken for granted but only if the Stipers can make mobile payments less "clunky".

I poked around on their site some and would say they are half way down a very interesting road. Why is the phone the lynchpin? Because once payments work on phones they work ANYWHERE.

Once payments work anywhere social commerce becomes a reality and "see a thing, hear a thing, buy a thing" a reality. Extend the logic further and ask, "What is a website?".

If we can wrap "see, click, buy" tech on phones we can do so on Facebook, the Redbox machine and the grocery store. Scan those fritos with your phone and Harris Teeter or Wegmans or Kroger bills your account.

NO CHECKOUT because your PHONE is the checkout. Fix ecom on the phone, change the world.

BURN DOWN YOUR WEBSITE.

Beat the rush. Have courage, light a match, become a NOWIST :). M

Know thyself is great Internet marketing advice and this post helps explain how to define your Unique Selling Propositions and Unique Customer Aspirations.

UCA is the startups secret weapon. When you are aligned to UCA your startup scales. When your ideas are out of alignment or not communicated well (been there, done that) your startup doesn't scale.

Wrote this piece for Atlantic BT during my tenure as Marketing Director.

Martin (Marty) Smith talks to Get Social Health about the radical change in his life when he heard the words cancer and his name in the same sentence. Here is what Marty's done since his cancer diagnosis:

* Rode a bicycle across America (Martin's Ride To Cure Cancer).

* Founded CureCancerStarter.org one of first crowdfunding cancer research platforms.

* Founded Curagami, marketing tools to help content marketers and online merchants create community.

* Founded Tech Cures Cancer Fund at UNC Lineberger Cancer Center.

Wide ranging interview with  an entrepreneur and cancer survivor whose life is dedicate to helping and giving back.