Ben Arnon: A Foursquare Graduation: Jeremy Arnon's Interview with Tristan Walker

caterpillarcowboy:

Jeremy Arnon is one of our angel investors (as is his twin brother Ben). This is his interview with Tristan Walker, Foursquare’s VP of Business Development, as published in the Huffington Post.

So, I e-mailed Dennis (Crowley). I e-mailed him about ten times before he responded. He finally got back to me, said he was happy to chat and asked if I was ever going to be in NY. Of course I said yes, went and bought my ticket that night, flew out to NY and we hit it off. Pushed some of my ideas, he dug it, and a month later I was helping to run Business Development for the company.

I have to admit, articles like these get me fired up. I love it. You’ve got to make your own opportunities. You can’t sit back and wait for things to fall on your lap. You’ve got to hustle and scrap. I love the determination Tristan has. Here are some excerpts of awesomeness from Tristan about joining Twitter and Foursquare:

After that initial e-mail, I reached out to about 20 different VC’s that I thought might have an in with the company (Twitter). Number 21 happened to be David Hornik who is now a great friend and mentor of mine.
So, I e-mailed Dennis (Crowley). I e-mailed him about ten times before he responded. He finally got back to me, said he was happy to chat and asked if I was ever going to be in NY.

Like I tell people I know, and especially the students I mentor at the UW Business School — “You got to make moves, son!”.

caterpillarcowboy