The $1 Billion Challenge
In a recent article for The Economist, Ron Conway outlines fields where he expects to see the next billion dollar companies emerge. While I generally agree with his prognostications, one line in the article struck me more as a challenge than a prediction.
“Perhaps 2012 will see a company develop a $1 billion business inside 12 months.”
That line got me thinking about a new paradigm for viewing business ideas. After spending the last two years diving head first into the world of tech start-ups, I’ve seen some patterns emerging. Everyone wants to be Google or Facebook (obviously), but at the same time most accept that they probably won’t be.
What has struck me most when talking with entrepreneurs “on-the-ground,” trying to get their idea ready for the world, is how few of them are willing to pursue really big ideas. Most of the (pre-launch) founders I’ve met are working on something that sounds like a nice feature to add to an existing platform. Then there’s the Groupon clones or the “Facebook of” crowd.
The common characteristic is that these entrepreneurs are thinking small. Yes, We Are All Weird
The $1 Billion Challenge
But, what if some of us stopped thinking about the ideas, the technologies, and the things we wish Facebook would do. What if we got a group of really smart people together and asked a simple question: Is it possible to build a $1 billion business in 12 months?
That’s exactly what I want to try. At worst, it will be a thought exercise that guides the development of participants’ business models. At best, we’ll change the world.
I’m not proposing a startup weekend, though I think those are fantastic. I’m proposing drawing a blueprint for how a company that could scale that fast would have to look, and if the big idea and the disruptive business model come together, then we’ll worry about starting up.
If you’re interested in joining, drop me a line in the comments, or shoot me an email.
Are you up to the challenge?
