 |
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”— Albert Einstein |
SM: Operating under a traditional software licensing model, are you seeing any recurring revenues?
CC: We do have support, but I also should point out that we are rolling out our online services such as online donations and email marketing. This year the non-profit side is profitable.
SM: I have done three startups myself, the first of which I started while I was at MIT. I came out here as soon as possible to be a part of this ecosystem.
CC: It is an amazing ecosystem. Every time I am out here I am reminded how isolated we are.
SM: I know you sold ChiliSoft to Cobalt, but didn’t they get purchased by Sun?
CC: They were purchased by Sun about five months later. Sun had to have known about the purchase ahead of acquiring Cobalt. It is part of their platform now.
SM: What was the evolution of ChiliSoft?
CC: We started with the store and after a year left that business. The retail level was just too tough at the time. Software was way too hard for most people because it required DOS and Windows 3.1 had a terrible interface.
SM: You say you see opportunities where others do not, but you also have the guts to pursue them.
CC: I suppose that is true. Success or failure, you have to try. I think that entrepreneurs are naturally optimistic. We see a better place and love solving problems.
By guest authors Charles W. Bush and Kathy Hwang of 3Strand Innovation, a brand, design and business consultancy
The idea for this article started when we scoured the web for the best interactive and engaging website designs. When we were done, we realized many of the good ones were automobile websites. And as the public conversation [...]
Charlie Crystle is passionate about music, nonprofit institutions and entrepreneurism. He has founded several companies including his current effort, CircleDog. His past ventures include ChiliSoft, which was purchased by Sun. He focuses on product usability, economics and policy, all of which are themes which can be found in each of his successful ventures.
SM: Let’s [...]
SM: With 23 people employed, how do you target revenues?
PK: My goal is $4 million per employee annually. That is what we have been shooting for long-term as we build things.
