More Progress

While this is still a part time after hours thing, we are continuing to make good progress. The big step for me is taking place THIS WEEK. My group is being merged into another group under a peer VP at Sun. As a result, my time is beginning to free up and for the first time, real hours are being spent on FreshBrain!!

Here are some highlights.

• Creating Our Board. We have found the first three members of our board. I will wait to name these folks in a later blog entry. But we have one member from higher education. We have another with an amazing marketing background. And the third with a good number of years of selling. We may add a couple more members as part of the interim board. One who is a leader in technology from Sun Microsystems our initial donor and technology provider. And one from a small company who has experience on the board of another nonprofit. These folks together with me will be sufficient to help us get things going. A few others with experience in finance and legal will be added in the future.
  

• Evaluated Technology. We have been scouring the planet for open source technology on which to build our business. It is absolutely amazing what is out there. We have found everything that we need, and in some cases multiple options. Specifically, we have found community, learning, collaboration and presentation software that is impressive. We have visited Sunlabs in search of the next generation of technology and found some interesting 3D collaboration software that may be available as well in our timeframe. And we have started to evaluate CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software as the first business system that we need to use - for all of the contacts that we are beginning to make! More on all of these as well in a later blog entry.

• Making Contacts. We are reaching out to everyone who shows an interest at this point. We met with folks from JA (Junior Achievement), CityYear and FIRST. We are taking to everyone who has an interest and wants to help. There are simplified java development activities like Greenfoot. Folks interested in helping us with legal issues (pro bono), book keeping, visiting schools, being advisors and so on. It is truly inspiring!!
  

Rounding Out Core Team. And we have been working on rounding out the core or management team. As of TODAY, Todd Ferrario (yea, my brother) has let his staff know that he will be moving on to be a part of this startup / nonprofit. He will be freed up on a few weeks and will "officially" start in early July. Our third will still remain unnamed as he has not told his boss and company yet. Our fourth has said yes (as I predicted). He will have to remain unnamed as well, but start at the beginning of July as well. And we have found our fifth. He will be on our board initially and will ultimately become a part of the nonprofit - as soon as we can afford him!!
So things are moving along. I will be taking a bunch of vacation, but things will continue to move forward at an accelerated rate with the nonprofit fully up and running in August.

Welcome ...

Welcome friends to FreshBrain!

Since you are here, you likely already know what we are all about. But just in case, here is our simple vision.

FreshBrain is a nonprofit focused on enhancing the development of our youth in the areas of business and technology by providing hands-on real world experience.

We are brand new - just starting up. Our initial coming out party will be in August and we will go big later in the year. Sun Microsystems has been awesome in offering to be an initial donor and technology provider, which is really going to help!!

Here is what we have been up to thus far.

• Came up with a name. Seems pretty simple, but believe me, it is not. First you have to come up with the options, then you have to see if they are available, have to test them on folks (including kids!) and finally you have to live with and say them for a while. I am TOTALLY happy with the one that we picked. Fitting, new and pretty cool.
• Created the core team. I can't actually give you the list right now since some of them are still working elsewhere:) But I have a outward sales / marketing / business guy an IT / Engineering guy and we just found our senior engineering (he hasn't actually said yes, but will in the next couple of days).
• Met with TONS of energized, motivated and inspirational people. I don't have room to list them all, but this has been amazing and likely numbering 30-40. We have met with deans of business schools, founders and CEOs of nonprofits and experts in a broad range of business and technical areas. The willingness to help and the passion that we have found is truly amazing.
  
• Met with Sun engineering folks on technology. There are some excellent technologies available, and some pieces that are missing. What is there will give us a big leg up (as soon as we can get going and bring in some interns to help:)).
  
• Began the creation of the 5013c, including the board. Hired the lawyer to put the 5013c together. And have the first four of at least five initial board members.

Not bad progress as a part time after hours thing. Can't wait until this is really our jobs:)