Blogs

Tell us your name and where are you from?

Joe Cassara – Rochester, NY


What you had for breakfast this morning?

Coffee, eggs and toast, fruit. Classic.


What are your favorite television shows and movies?

30 Rock, The Office, Arrested Development. Shawshank Redemption, Boondock Saints.


Any favorite books?

The Bible, Blue Like Jazz, Tale of Two Cities, Great Gatsby, The Search for God & Guinness


iPhone or Android or what?

iPhone


Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or what?

Facebook, Google+, Twitter.


Who are the hottest startups outside the KAYWEB Angels group right now and why?

Hipster is brand new, and does a great job of merging FourSquare and Instagram. I think they’ll make a dent in location-based sharing.


What areas / opportunities are ripe for startups to tackle?

People want to take what happens naturally, and do it better, more efficiently. So, ideas like Square and Spotify add a lot of value.


Have you done any previous startups?

Apart from a small business I started college with a few friends and eventually sold back to the University, I’ve been a corporate guy until recently. Earlier this year I left my job to start my own business development consulting practice, helping businesses grow, entering into new markets, etc. So I seem to be always starting something.


Outside of your startup what are you passionate about?

Spending time with my wife and 2 (almost 3) kids.


Who has been or currently is an inspiration to you?

My wife. I’m surrounded by peers in the business world who do great things, but watching her be a phenomenal mom inspires me to pursue excellence with everything I put my hand to, whether parenting, marriage, or a startup!


YOUR STARTUP

You are currently in stealth so don't tell us what you are doing but give us a hint of the problem you are addressing?

We’re bombarded by so many relationships and connections these days that it’s hard to know which of them carry weight. You Need My Guy meets that need.


What led you to this right now instead of anything else?

I think You Need My Guy can really help people. It adds value, and I’m proud of it. Whenever the work I do can take that extra step, I run after it. 


What is your current biggest challenge?

There is a lot to plan for our launch, and doing it all while keeping most of the details secret is tough. 


How can our readers help you get to your next step?

Go to http://youneedmyguy.com, sign up, and spread the word. Follow us at http://facebook.com/youneedmyguy and http://twitter.com/youneedmyguy.


Let's play a prediction game. Let's say we are 12 months from now, and you are about to present to your board. How would you describe your progress?

I’d say You Need My Guy will have gained significant traction in the markets we’re in, and our user base will be around 15-20,000. I expect revenue to come early and support the growth that we’ll need to look attractive for a potential acquisition.


Now let's play the reflection game. Think about who you were five years ago. What advice would you give the former you?

I guess just to stop talking about an idea, and do it. All of us are capable of so much more than we’re doing, we’re just scared to take that step.

KAYWEB Angels Portfolio People
Sean Stavropoulos, Cafrino

My name is Sean Stavropoulos, and I’m from Moorpark, California, right near the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties. I lived there until I went to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California to study Aerospace Engineering.

Started the day off with a delicious breakfast burrito and some orange juice.

While I don’t have the time to keep up-to-date with television shows, I’ve always been a fan of The Colbert Report and Family Guy.  My favorite movie of all time shifts between Gladiator and Night at the Roxbury, depending on the mood I’m in.

I had always given books the cold shoulder growing up, however my older brother recently talked me into reading Terry Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” opening book during a vacation to Japan, after which I addictively read the following 10 books. I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in fantasy novels.

I currently am sporting an original Motorola Droid, however both Microsoft and Apple have very tempting upcoming releases.

I spend the majority of my social networking time on Facebook, however recently I have started branching out more. Facebook is certainly enough for my personal life, but the power of social networks is indisputable for tech startups.

I really enjoy following startups that I personally would use in my day to day life.  One of the most promising startups from my perspective right now is Bitcasa. Almost too good to be true, their promises to bring unlimited storage with convergent encryption is nothing short of revolutionary.

Social gaming is always a booming industry. Furthermore, converged applications that make use of multiple devices, such as a TV, tablet, or phone are just starting to become viable. With companies like Samsung offering over $200,000 in prizes to developers who take advantage of this, the future of multiple-device applications is exciting to imagine.  Jumping into the converged application market early could be extremely profitable.

I have participated in numerous small projects and games, but none of them have taken off to the level Cafrino has.  My largest project so far has been as lead programmer for an online role-playing game which has a couple thousand players online at any given time and tens of thousands of accounts created.  Nothing extreme, but it is very satisfying knowing players are enjoying your work.

Outside of your startup what are you passionate about?

I try to do something new every week. As I recently relocated to the Caribbean this has been relatively easy. This week’s new adventures include visiting Palomino island and kayaking through a bioluminescent bay at night, which were both absolutely breathtaking.

Who has been or currently is an inspiration to you?

My mother has been a driving inspiration in my life.  Through both physical and emotional hardships she has always been a beacon of light.

YOUR STARTUP

You are currently in stealth so don't tell us what you are doing but give us a hint of the problem you are addressing?

I’ve been an avid online poker player since the PartyPoker days, but with the recent United States restrictions with online gambling, it has been nearly impossible to win a decent amount of money playing online poker.  Cafrino is here to fill these gaps with the safety and security of a U.S. company.

What led you to this right now instead of anything else?

A combination of timing and passion.  I used my free time to pursue the idea with Cafrino’s co-founder, Jonathan, and all the cards seemed to be in the right place.

What is your current biggest challenge?

Without a shadow of doubt: Time. There truly aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish every task while enjoying all of life’s wonders.  Learning to sacrifice and utilize my time more efficiently has truly been the biggest challenge throughout the development of Cafrino.

How can our readers help you get to your next step?

If you are searching for a reliable way to enjoy the rewards of traditional online poker sites, help spread the word.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know about our major upcoming news announcements.

Let's play a prediction game. Let's say we are 12 months from now, and you are about to present to your board. How would you describe your progress?

In twelve months Cafrino’s main goal is to have executed a smooth launch, have an average userbase surpassing the thousand player mark, and start integrating our next phase of development.

Now let’s play the reflection game.  Think about who you were five years ago.  What advice would you give the former you (any topic)?

Refocus my priorities. With my bachelor’s studies underway, stresses building, and my future up in the air, it was easy to lose sight of long term goals. What I needed more than anything was to relax, breathe, and plan my time better.

KAYWEB Angels Portfolio People
Jonathan Aiwazian, Cafrino


KAYWEB Angels Portfolio People is a section in our Blog that features profile interviews with the people behind our companies! In this interview, we feature Jonathan Aiwazian of Cafrino.com.


Tell us your name and where are you from?

I am Jonathan Aiwazian from Moorpark, California where I grew up until I went across the country to college at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY to study Biological Engineering.

What you had for breakfast this morning? (if you didn’t, what you wish you had)

I had a Garlic bagel with cream cheese and an iced coffee to wake me up.

What are your favorite television shows and movies?

I really enjoy Breaking Bad, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dexter, Jersey Shore (guilty pleasure), and Entourage.

My favorite movies are The Last King of Scotland, Snatch, Shutter Island, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Fight Club.

Any favorite books?

It has been a while since I had time to read for pleasure, but I would have to say 1984 by George Orwell, Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Slaughterhouse Five by fellow Cornellian Kurt Vonnegut.

iPhone or Android or what?

I currently own an iPhone, but I miss a lot of features of my former Android phone, so let’s call it a tie.

Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or what?

While there is no substitute for a phone call or a lunch with a friend, I do think Facebook currently provides the best way to keep in contact with your networks. I try to keep my personal information on there to a minimum, but I do use it to keep in touch with people and eavesdrop on their lives. It is getting a little too all-inclusive for my taste, though.

Who are the hottest startups outside the KAYWEB Angels group right now and why?

I think Square and Bitcasa are two very interesting startups that are both disruptive in their respective areas. Square has the potential to completely transform small business and peer to peer transactions. Bitcasa is an amazing concept with its infinite cloud storage and de-duplication algorithms, but it is yet to be seen whether they can deliver all they promise. If they can, watch out.

What areas / opportunities are ripe for startups to tackle?

Healthcare and education are both broken systems in this country. There is a vast opportunity for disruption in both areas, and the startups that can improve these two areas will not only succeed in improving society as a whole, but also make lots of money in doing so.

Have you done any previous startups? What did you do previously?

No.

Before entering the startup scene I worked at many health-related companies such as Novartis Pharmaceuticals and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as conducted biomedical research at many universities. I hope to one day combine my love of startups with my work experience in creating a startup or two to improve healthcare.

Outside of your startup what are you passionate about?

I am passionate about innovations that improve the quality of life for the world at large, specifically in the biomedical realm. I think the advancements that are being made to prolong lifespan and cure and treat diseases that have long been problematic for mankind are amazing. The progress made in the last 50 years is astounding, and to think where we will be in another 50 years is just impossible to imagine. I am also an extremely competitive person who is very passionate about sports and enjoy playing basketball and watching the NFL (Go Steelers!).

Who has been or currently is an inspiration to you?

I come from entrepreneurs on both sides of my family, but father is the biggest inspiration. He started his own business, Key Software Inc., which provides IT database solutions for healthcare providers.  I have learned from him the true amount of dedication it takes to run a company; if a network goes down at 4am, no one else is going to fix the problem except you. I inherited the desire to create something where there was nothing from him.

You are currently in stealth so don't tell us what you are doing but give us a hint of the problem you are addressing?

The problem is that there is a complete lack of a viable poker site for professionals and amateurs alike to make decent money and keep it secure. This is a void that current US players are actively looking to fill as we have seen on countless poker forums.  Hang on, guys!

What led you to this right now instead of anything else?

The existence of a vast problem and limited competition for a huge and passionate user base combined with an intense desire to create something tangible, rather than working at a big company where your own ideas get lost in red tape.

What is your current biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge is going to be raising awareness about the site and having users signed up prior to launch. People want to see what they are signing up for before they make any sort of decision, but we hope we can convince enough people that the wait is almost over for a reliable and potentially lucrative (depending on your poker skills) poker site.

How can our readers help you get to your next step?

If you play, or know anyone else who plays poker, let them know about our site and follow us on T or F. Maybe you can work out something with them to earn a commission off their winnings. We will be doing some great promotions as we get closer to launch, so next time you have a home poker game, spread the word!

Let's play a prediction game. Let's say we are 12 months from now, and you are about to present to your board. How would you describe your progress?

Twelve months from now our goal is to have a constant level of at least 3000 users on the site at all times. We would like to grow our employee number to around 10 people. We will assess the funding situations as we go, but we would like to keep outside funding to a minimum by reinvesting our profits back into the company if needed.

Now let’s play the reflection game. Think about who you were five years ago. What advice would you give the former you (any topic)?

Don’t just do what you are told and expected to do with your life, even if you realize that you are already headed down one path. It is never too late to branch off into another direction. Just make sure you plan ahead and don’t change before you are ready.