Name: Ben Casnocha
Age: 17
Company: Comcate, Inc.
Industry: Software
Location: San Francisco
Year Established: 2001
Number of Employees: ~6
Website: www.comcate.com
Blogs: blog.comcate.com / ben.casnocha.com
Tell us a little about Comcate and the services you offer:
We deliver hosted software to local governments who are
looking to improve customer service and increase efficiency. For example, a
city government may purchase our software to manage all citizen requests and
inquires. A code enforcement department may purchase our Code Enforcement
software to manage all citations, deliver notices, and so forth.
What inspired you to start your own business:
I wanted to change things and have an impact. Starting a
business that solves problems in the world is one way to do this. Growing up in
the Valley during the dot-com boom certainly didn’t hurt, either. It’s never
been about money, though. It’s about starting something and changing lives.
What has been the greatest challenge in building Comcate:
Developing a scalable sales model. We are trying to blaze a
trail in how local governments procure technology by delivering our software
and services over the internet. By doing this, it keeps our costs low, keeps
our products affordable, and will allow us to scale our sales operation from a
few dozen customers to hundreds of customers.
What is the biggest mistake you’ve made while building
Comcate and what did you learn:
I’ve made too many mistakes to count. I wish I would have
better understood what it takes to do offshore software development right. The
first outsider we hired was a total disaster, and I played a big role in that
decision. I regret not focusing more on internet sales from the beginning. But
hey, we’re all going to make a ton of mistakes. It’s about how we respond to
them and mitigate their effects. That’s been a big lesson.
How was Comcate initially funded:
Friends and family round.
Are there any plans to raise venture capital:
Yes, assuming we hit certain milestones.
What do you believe are the key elements of a successful
entrepreneur:
There are thousands of different lists out there of key
attributes and how-to’s. There’s a top 10 for everything! The one thing I’ve
seen across all successful people in the world is that they have fire in the
belly. You can tell whether someone has this pretty early on. Do they wake up
excited to tackle the challenges of each day? Do they want to have an impact on
their friends, family, colleagues, and customers? Do they have that kind of
infectious energy and ceaseless curiosity for why things are one way and not
the other way?
Do you think it is easier or tougher building a company as a
young entrepreneur in Silicon Valley:
Silicon Valley is home to a lot of
hard working, experienced entrepreneurs, with a ton of intellectual capital in
Berkeley and Stanford. Since I founded a software company, it definitely was
easier. Starting something in any metro area helps since you are exposed to
such a wide range of people, ideas, and institutions.
Tell us a little about Comcate Foundation:
Give a little, get a lot back. I really believe that. I
believe getting passionate about some kind of social / philanthropic cause is,
again, an awesome way to have an impact. Marc Benioff pioneered a kind of
integrated corporate philanthropy in that his firm salesforce.com donates 1% of
their profits, equity, and employee time to the company foundation. I think
this makes a lot of sense from a business perspective, and of course from a
philanthropic perspective. Via the Comcate Foundation, I promote "life
entrepreneurship" to young people, which is essentially applying the
entrepreneurial mindset to everything. Thinking big, starting small. Asking
questions, not finding answers. Trying to change the world.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about
starting their own business:
My first advice would be to listen to someone who’s more
experienced and smarter than me. My second piece of advice would be to read,
and read, and read. There’s a book or article on everything imaginable. The
amount of information that’s accessible to someone starting something is
amazing. The resources are endless. You’ve gotta be a self-starter and find
those resources and acquire that knowledge. Then, surround yourself with people
more able than you, and go for it!
