From Hotdogs to Startups: Embracing the Quirky Side of Innovation
On finding Inspiration in the unlikeliest of sources.
Hey there, 👋
Recently, I was binge-watching for the nth time (don’t judge me, it is such an iconic show), the “Silicon Valley” TV show. There was a scene where the characters were discussing some of the ideas they had for their new app. And Jian Yang, one of the geekiest characters I have ever seen in a show, suggested building a “Not Hotdog App.” The feature of the app was quite simple. It would see a picture and tell whether or not the object in the image is a hotdog.
Hotdog. Not hotdog.
Sounds ridiculous, right?😂😂😂
I had a good laugh over it for days, weeks even. This scene became a quirky scene that was referred to many times in the show and amongst lovers of the show.
But then, while wondering and thinking back on this scene, I couldn’t help but marvel at how this scene exemplifies the entrepreneurial and problem-solving mindset that tech enthusiasts often have, even if the solutions seem a bit outlandish at first glance.
Most successful businesses often start from ideas that seem “simple” and probably a bit absurd at inception. Most of the big companies today actually started with quirky and probably not well-cooked ideas. Take a look at Netflix before it grew into the giant it is now.
Netflix started out selling DVDs by mail at a time when people walked into stores to rent the "latest" movies. But Netflix couldn't break the bank and was feared to fail like many Internet-based businesses during the time. But it was their focus on the business model, sticking to the base idea, that kept them going. It forced them to seek ways to make money on each DVD to offset the costs of the DVD and the mail service, which led them to start movie recommendations and a "watch queue" (as I would describe it). This focus allowed more than one, and even older, movies to be on a DVD and helped the business stay afloat. Years later, they progressed to the Internet movie subscription service that services millions of households around the world. You can read more about this story here.
The point of the story is us giving you a sign to take a step today and explore the boundaries of your creativity. Take that “absurd” idea, fine-tune it, and don’t be scared to take a huge risk. The idea might fail, but it’s not the end of the world. You will sleep better at night knowing you tried and failed than not trying at all. And who knows? It might actually grow into something.
WHAT’S GOING ON AT ECX…
For our Unilag subscribers, welcome to the new session. We hope you're ready for a year filled with knowledge, growth, and adventures. Stay tuned for engaging events and insightful resources that ECX has prepared for you.
Now, let's dive into the latest buzz:
ECX TRAINING
We successfully started our training program on the 21st of October, 2023. If you had signed up for this, we do hope that you have taken the necessary steps to make yourself available for classes, prepared your mind to learn, and plan on staying consistent.
We can’t wait to see you explore the realms of tech, interact with your peers, and build long-lasting connections. There are a lot of activities and networking opportunities lined up for you.
We’re also using the medium to celebrate the incredible team that put together everything to make this training program possible.
Enjoying this so far?
ECX’s WEBSITE
In with the new, out with the old. 😅
ECX’s website is getting a new look💃. Our hardworking team of developers and designers is currently working to deliver a sleek, user-friendly interface just for you. Navigation will be easier, and you’ll have direct access to updates from ECX via the website.
Whether you're looking for resources or ways to get involved, our upcoming website will be your one-stop hub for all things related to ECX. Stay tuned for the grand unveiling, and get ready to experience our community in a whole new way.
Opportunity Knocks—Who's Hiring?
If you’re looking for where to send that resume you spent all weekend polishing and shining, we’ve got you!
Here’s a short list of who’s hiring:
Big Cabal Media is hiring a Senior Product Manager
Turing is hiring a Web Front-End Developer
Salient is hiring a Senior Consultant - Data & Statistics
Prembly is hiring a Frontend Developer: React.js (Internship)
Scout4job is hiring a Product Manager
Kuda is hiring a Graphics Designer
Upcoming Tech Events in November
Techies, assemble! November is a busy month to meet, connect, and network.
Mark your calendars for this upcoming tech events:
Global Tech Africa Conference 2023 is a 2-day event starting on the 17th of November. The conference focuses on fostering partnerships and investments in tech infrastructure and talent. Register here.
Africa Startup Festival is an annual event that celebrates and supports entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa. This year it’ll be on the 11th of November. Register here.
DevFest Lagos 2023 is a 2-day event starting on the 24th of November. It is an annual technology conference that brings together developers, technology enthusiasts, and industry experts from Lagos and beyond. Register here.
Hackathon: Build on FVM - 3 Hours of Innovation. Join Filecoin on the 4th of November to unleash your coding skills and imagination as you build groundbreaking applications and projects on the Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM). Register here.
So, I’ll leave you here today with a very interesting fact:
Only a quarter of households in the US presently have a worker working hybrid or remotely at present.
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Here’s a little bit of programming humor before you go;
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Xoxo,
ECX 4.0 💙💛❤️