- This event has passed.
August 27 @ 9:30 am - 11:00 am PDT
FreeHow Ian Collins Built 7 Startups by Solving Real Problems
Common startup wisdom suggests startup founders should focus less on chasing the next big idea and more on identifying a problem worth solving. For 30 years, serial entrepreneur Ian Collins has taken that guidance to heart. Across his impressive career, each of the seven tech startups he’s founded has stemmed from a single, powerful source: a real-world problem that needed a solution.
In a fireside chat with Founders Network Founder and CEO Kevin Holmes on August 27, Ian will dissect his entrepreneurial journey, revealing the fascinating stories behind each of his successful ventures. From navigating the early days of mobile networks to developing solutions for the burgeoning chatbot revolution, Ian will showcase his ability to identify critical customer pain points across diverse industries.
Opening Remarks @ 9:30am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Dina Fattom, Member Success Manager at Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:40am PT
Ian Collins is a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for innovation & problem solving. Ian was most recently the founder and CEO of Wysdom.AI, one of the first AI evaluation solutions for the enterprise. Through his career Ian has founded 7 tech companies over the past 30 years by focusing on solving real problems in large markets.
After starting his career as an engineer in the telecom industry Ian’s entrepreneurial journey started in the 90s when cellular networks were emerging as a new technology and there was demand around the world for talented engineers. Then he applied that domain expertise to the emerging internet and founded a company to take the internet from the desktop to mobile phones. After that he solved a problem that the telecom industry had supporting smartphones as they took over the mobile device market. The next challenge was helping the mass market avoid the loss of digital photos and music before cloud storage was cheap and plentiful. Then most recently Ian saw that AI was going to need an independent evaluation framework and solved that problem for the enterprise contact center industry.
Ian invests in, mentors and sits on the boards of startups and is currently working on his next company.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:30am PT
Complimentary Ticket:
Are you a full-time tech founder? Be our guest! We’re making our events available to tech founders everywhere. Enjoy a complimentary ticket to come learn from fellow tech founders, partners and investors. Already used your complimentary guest pass? Request an invite to see if you qualify for membership.
About Founders Network:
Founded in 2011, Founders Network offers lifelong peer mentorship to over 600 tech startup founders globally. Our platform, programs and high-touch service facilitate authentic experience sharing, warm introductions and long-term professional relationships. Additional benefits include over $500k in startup discounts and promotion to 2,000 newsletter readers. Members are located in San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, London and other tech hubs. Each month our Membership Committee admits a new cohort of full-time tech founders who are nominated by an existing member. Learn more about us here
Confidentiality Policy
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity. Read more about our Privacy Policy here.
Testimonials
"If you don't have a cohort group in something like Founders Network that you can develop long-term relationships with and discuss the same topics that come up with people that you already know, you're probably missing out on something very important."David Plonsky
"The number one advantage is the law of compound interest. The longer you stay in a very high-quality network the strong and more authentic relationships you build."Chaitanya Vaidya
"We know each other's business and we know each other's struggles. Having a personal relationship with other founders that is completely confidential and completely authentic gives you a lot of great advice."Doug Lessing
"FN manages my network for me by connecting me with other founders in my specific industry sector. I've been able to explore business development opportunities, partnerships, etc."Becky Splitt
"We just saw the first Mexican unicorn come to life this same week which is a fantastic idea. Being part of the Founders Network makes a lot of sense. We see that the Mexico City chapter is growing substantially."Max Linares
"There's a lot of great stuff going on even now in San Francisco. I've found Founders Network has been a great resource for me and for all of the founders I know during these tough times."Jarie Bolander
"It allowed me to meet people who had done this before that had the experience. I was able to explain an issue very briefly and they were able to give me a very detailed response on how they addressed it."Terence Finn
"I've used the platform to discover advice, connections, resources, discounts, on important services, connections to investors, and practice on how to pitch. The kind of conversations you can't get anywhere else on youtube or google searches."Alexandra Greenhill
"I see Founders Network as one of those necessary resources in the Chicagoland area."Jason Jacobsohn
"The Black Founders initiative allows me to shape this program where we can inspire, engage, and support Black Founders."Khiry Kemp
