Letters from Silicon Valley - Week 5: The Start-Up Crawl

By Andrew McCalister on Apr 8, 10 04:14 AM in Letters from Silicon Valley

Because of the rather extensive workload over the past week I feel the need to supply a slightly more lighthearted entry for you to ponder...

Earlier this week, during my daily cycle into work, I noticed a sign stapled precariously onto a telegraph pole, stating:

"START-UP CRAWL. Stop 10"

I had to laugh. The U.K's passion for drinking can be marveled at through the institution that is the Pub-Crawl (a past-time I must admit to being rather fond of). However, the passion for entrepreneurship in the Valley is so great, this British tradition has been adapted in-order for like-minded individuals to unearth new and exciting companies. As opposed to new and exciting liquid substances.

Upon greater inspection, I later discovered a colleague of mine was hired during one such "Crawl". Convincing the Company's Co-Founder to buy a pen off him after an impromptu sales interview.

If both the alcohol consumption of the standard British Pub-Crawl and entrepreneurship activities of the Start-Crawl could be combined into one, interesting results would surely flourish. However, some sorrow would have to be directed towards the final company en-route!