Local entrepreneurs launch social networking site
Kait Smith
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: Features
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Created by two local entrepreneurs, Matt Wilson of East Fishkill, NY and Jared O'Toole of Hopewell Junction, NY, Under30CEO is an online social networking community designed to push young entrepreneurs forward and encourage young people to pursue their dreams.
"Our biggest goal is to inspire people to get passionate about something and do what they love," O'Toole said.
Under30CEO's mission is to motivate young entrepreneurs to go beyond working a standard nine to five day job. In creating a community of users who are going through the same process of starting a business or graduating from college, O'Toole said the network becomes not only a motivator, but a supporter, too.
"Seeing people do it helps [users] break out of their comfort zones," O'Toole said.
By registering with Under30CEO.com, users have access to resources that help encourage them to go out and do what they are passionate about - even if they aren't aspiring entrepreneurs.
One key resource the site uses is Twitter.com. If you aren't familiar with Twitter, it's similar to the "status" feature on Facebook. However, for a Web site like Under30CEO, it can be used as a promotion tool, too. "It's all about word of mouth over the internet," Wilson said. Twitter is one of the main sources of publicity used by Under30CEO.com. In fact, the site was recently featured on Fox 10 News in Alabama due to connections developed through use of Twitter.
The site also regularly features blogs with business advice and interviews with successful entrepreneurs. Wilson and O'Toole also host live events every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. This online "cocktail hour" is a live stream on a specific topic that allows viewers to network while gaining advice from the site's creators. Currently about 25 users attend live events each week and the number is continuing to grow, O'Toole said.
"Right now, it's a close knit community," Wilson said of the site, which currently has around 440 members. "But we are going to tweak a few things and really work on expanding."
That expansion includes the launching of an online TV show. The show will feature experts from the entrepreneurial field giving advice to the site's users.
"It's going to be entertaining and informative," Wilson said. "It will continue our mission of inspiring people to go out and do what they love."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Jared OToole
posted 2/19/09 @ 11:45 AM EST
Great article! It really is all about seeing peers getting out there and taking charge. Hopefully the site helps other kids realize they can do whatever they want. (Continued…)
Matt Wilson
posted 2/19/09 @ 1:34 PM EST
Kait, thanks for the write up. Glad you got some input from Josh and Jeff. If there's anything we can do to help out students at Marist who are looking to do big things when they graduate hop on the network and let us know!
Josh Hurlock
Josh Hurlock
posted 2/20/09 @ 1:43 AM EST
Kait,
Awesome article. You are a great writer. Under30CEO is ready to takeoff and students should check the site out.
Randy
posted 4/01/09 @ 6:29 PM EST
Good luck with the community. I wish I had something like this when I was putting together my business.
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