This past week Startup Monthly visited China. The purpose was both business and professional curiosity. What is the entrepreneurial climate like in China? What drives innovation? What are the barriers preventing ideas from US and China competing on the same market? But most importantly are the concepts of Startup Monthly and lean startup totally foreign to Chinese entrepreneurs? 

The answers were both surprising and revealing. First of all, Chinese economic boom is apparent. Not everywhere, not  for everyone but the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou reflect the wealth, stability and advancements the Chinese economic boom afforded them. Their relative separation from the Communist stronghold in Beijing is apparent. 

After seven days of driving from Waterloo, Canada I finally made it to California with my "Where in the world is Wall Drug?" bumper sticker (the mark of a true cross-country traveler), eager to explore what the infamous Bay Area had to offer and contribute in ways I didn’t yet know how to define.


As with any relocation, step one – find an apartment; step two – furnish it.


This led to Craigslist and the purchase of a mocha Scandinavian Design futon that seemed to be a snag of a deal. As it turns out, that futon is possibly the most rewarding investment I’ve done to date!  The seller was a founder of Startup Monthly, and within minutes of “small talk” I was hooked with the vision of defining a template for entrepreneurship and making it available to anyone with an idea willing to get that initial traction.


Entrepreneur or Engineer? Why not Entrepreneurial Engineer?!