Blake Burris
Check out my post on Cleanweb “Big Issues” as a key track of New York City’s Big Apps competition.
It’s exciting to have Mayor Mike and NYC’s EDC popularizing Cleanweb with a broad base of innovators in the City and reaching people far beyond.
Dear Kettlebell: Thanks for making me feel guilty if I don’t take you out for 70 good swings 2x per week. I’m going to outgrow your 50# weight soon! #4HB #paleo – View on Path.
I first met Chris George at the Cleanweb Hackathon at Rice University back in August 2012 where he’d volunteered to help organize some details of that event. In casual conversation, we discovered a mutual interest at the intersection of nutrition and technology (a bit of quantified self). As we talked more over the weekend, I learned of his experience in organizing running events and community (barefoot running and paleo lifestyle) meet ups along with raising of sponsorships. His skills and interests were fairly adjacent to what’s required of local teams producing hackathons. So, I figured that with his outgoing and personable style and flexible schedule, he might be a fit (and interested) for working with me to support the burgeoning cleanweb community.
Over lunch at a nearby Chinese vegan joint, we made a bargain that I’d train him up on the cleanweb space along with relevant technology and take him to the events happening the remainder of the year where he could get first-hand experience and meet scads of new people. If things worked out, I suggested, he could create an opportunity (and paying job) for himself. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind tour of the cleanweb communities; where he’s traveled (in couch surfing style) representing cleanweb in San Francisco, Austin, NYC, Los Angeles, Rome and most recently, Chicago.
Chris’s work scope (as much as it can be constrained in a startup) is working with self-selecting leaders internationally to building the global cleanweb community (mostly in the mega cities) where Cleanweb takes root. The ultimate goal of creating the next web-scalable companies addressing resource issues.
Chris, It’s great have you in the cleanweb family and it has been encouraging to watch you find your footing and apply your creativity to accelerate the Cleanweb. You’ve been a critical part of building the momentum towards the launch phase of the Cleanweb Initiative. We could use another four of you so get busy!
As I return from yet another trip evangelizing the Cleanweb Gospel, I find myself imagining a few things: where will Cleanweb pop up next? Which cities will rival Rome and London as primo innovative-Cleanweb community icons in 2013 and beyond? I believe I have an answer that may cause you…
SuperFudge from Houston’s patgreerskitchen.com #plantstrong – View on Path.
After spending time with Matt Reisman (@mattreisman) a Boston native and his business partner, Duer Reeves a former SUN executive, in Boulder a few months back, I left excited by their plan to focus their accelerator on #Cleanweb. While no one would claim it’s easy starting and funding an accelerator, they do have a few advantages working in their favor:
- Genuine interest in helping early stage entrepreneurs
- Techstars affiliation
- Boulder location with 300+ days of sunshine with a rich startup history community
I’ve also joined their advisory board and look forward to getting more involved and recruiting for the first class begins. Godspeed!
