Sarah Austin - Pop17 - Tech Cocktail Week: December 2013

Summary

In this interview, Sarah Austin, creator of Pop 17, shares insights into her platform that tracks and analyzes micro-celebrity trends within Silicon Valley startups. She discusses her involvement in the startup ecosystem, her unique perspective on urban renewal, and her authenticity in covering Silicon Valley's startup culture. Sarah emphasizes the importance of community involvement in development and highlights her work bridging local interests with large-scale projects. She reflects on her role in making the startup process more relatable and visible to the wider public, contributing to the ongoing conversation around the economy and innovation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sarah Austin is the creator of Pop 17, a video platform that tracks and analyzes micro-celebrities, with a focus on startup companies in Silicon Valley.
• 😀 Pop 17 allows anyone to become one of the most popular 17 people of the day, highlighting the influence of micro-celebrities in the startup world.
• 😀 The producers of the show approached Sarah Austin to join, and she agreed, realizing that people would be curious if she declined.
• 😀 Sarah believes that the show could track startups better, but acknowledges that it helps bring the startup process into popular culture, which benefits the economy.
• 😀 Some critics have said that Sarah's show, 'Startup Silicon Valley,' isn't authentic to the real startup process, but she believes she is authentically connected to Silicon Valley.
• 😀 Sarah has extensive experience with urban renewal projects, where she has worked from both the community side and with developers.
• 😀 Her father is a civil cost engineer for the government, working on large-scale billion-dollar construction projects.
• 😀 Sarah understands the balance between developers and the local community, emphasizing that it is not just about making money but also about caring for the community.
• 😀 Sarah sees a positive shift in downtown Las Vegas, where more progress has been made in the past year than in the previous decade, with government involvement helping local communities.
• 😀 Sarah's background and connections in Silicon Valley, along with her insights into urban development, inform her perspective on startup culture and community-building.

Q & A

Who is Sarah Austin and what is Pop 17?

Sarah Austin is the creator of Pop 17, a video platform that tracks and analyzes the influence of micro-celebrities, with a special focus on startup companies in Silicon Valley.

How did Sarah Austin become involved with the show?

The producers of the show, produced by Randy Zuckerberg, approached Sarah and asked her to join. She accepted, thinking that refusing would lead to questions about why she wasn’t on the show.

What is Sarah's perspective on the role of the show in popularizing the startup culture?

Sarah believes that the show helps bring the startup process into the mainstream, making it more visible to the general public and positively impacting the economy by promoting awareness of startups in America.

How does Sarah respond to criticism that her show, 'Startup Silicon Valley,' is not authentic?

Sarah acknowledges the criticism but maintains that she is authentically plugged into Silicon Valley. She has personal and professional experience that connects her to the community and the startup scene.

What kind of experience does Sarah have with urban renewal projects?

Sarah has worked on urban renewal projects, gaining insight from both the community side and the developer side. Her father, a civil cost engineer for the government, also worked on large-scale construction projects, which provided her with valuable perspectives.

What role does Sarah's father play in her understanding of urban development?

Sarah’s father is a civil cost engineer who works on massive billion-dollar construction projects for the government. His work has given Sarah exposure to the process of urban development and the interaction between developers and local communities.

How does Sarah view the balance between community and development in downtown Las Vegas?

Sarah believes that in downtown Las Vegas, there is a good balance between community concerns and development. The focus is not solely on making money but also on taking care of the local community, which she sees as a positive change.

What does Sarah think about the impact of local government efforts in downtown Las Vegas?

Sarah feels that the local government has made significant strides in the past year, achieving more for the community than it did in the previous ten years, especially in terms of development and community care.

What kind of work has Sarah done related to media and community development?

Sarah has been involved in creating media to advocate for community interests, especially in the context of urban development. She has worked on pushing back against large-scale building projects when necessary to protect the local community.

What does Sarah believe is the key to successful development projects in urban areas?

Sarah believes that successful development projects require balancing economic goals with community care. Both sides—developers and local residents—need to work together to ensure that progress benefits everyone.