Josh’s Thoughts On Relocating and Startupbootcamp Berlin
The Selection Event in Berlin is coming up this Friday and the best 20 Teams from more than 300 applicants are preparing themselves to come to Berlin and convince mentors, investors and the startupbootcamp team that they should be the ones entering the program in September. One of the teams is ItsPlatonic. Josh, co-founder of the social startup from Colorado, shares his thoughts on constantly relocating and his ambitions to move to Berlin.
ItsPlatonic is a vision inspired by relocation. I grew up in Denver, went to university in New Hampshire, interned in Washington D.C., studied in Rome, and then worked in Chicago. Each time I relocated, I found myself frustrated by having to begin anew socially.
More recently, I moved from Chicago back home to Denver. My original intent was to establish the world’s first truly platonic friendship site from the place I knew best. Returning also meant reconnecting with a previously established social network, one which I hoped would aid my development of what was then a vague idea for an internet startup. Notably, it reunited me with my best friend, tech ninja, and now business partner, Scott.
Conspicuously absent from this transition was the unease and quest to make new contacts that had accompanied previous moves. Instead, I found the familiarity of working with Scott instantly rewarding. Our unique blend of humor and daring opened my eyes to the greater global potential of ItsPlatonic. I became inspired by the idea of bringing the company to Europe, and Startupbootcamp Berlin provided the optimal setting through which to do so.
To some, it may seem ironic that to help make my new friendship site, ItsPlatonic.com, more successful I am relocating once again. But there is one thing I have learned through this seemingly nomadic lifestyle: If you are moving in order to improve your social network, the transition is worthwhile. That is exactly what will be realized if ItsPlatonic attends Startupbootcamp Berlin.
When I consider Berlin, it is apparent that the transition mirrors my transfer to Denver much more than the others. You see, relocating to Berlin will bring more opportunity and excitement into our lives. We will be moving to a place where we are comfortable; whether it be because I visited just 8 months ago, because Scott speaks German, or because Leni, a close friend and volunteer graphics consultant, lives there as well. It is easy to imagine settling in quickly to life in Germany’s capital city.
Most importantly, we look forward to joining the Startupbootcamp family in Berlin. Startupbootcamp provides a built in community of extremely high achievers, whether they be the mentors or our peers. The intensity of the experience combined with the sharing of office location will create a powerful yet familiar atmosphere. So even though we haven’t spent much time in Berlin, we anticipate a move like mine was to Colorado… a move home.
