Thought I would finally get around to starting a blog that
focuses on my passions (startups, technology, design, and
business), and what a better domain to do it on than
DanielRust.com. I don't think I have even written
this out before, so here is a little professional history of my
life before co-founding EVO Media Group / DevHub.
Pre-college
My dad got me hooked into computers at an early age (building
systems and gaming). But it wasn't until around age 16 that I first
got my hands on the web. From then on I started using the web to
teach myself the basics of web programming and graphic design.
In high school I met one of my current co-founders of DevHub,
Mark Michael. We worked together on a bunch of early ventures into
web startups and businesses. Namely, a travel search engine portal
and a client web design business.
College
While
attending Central
Washington University for a business degree, Mark and I
continued our ventures. While there, we founded Arestia
Design Studios, focusing on client web design, identity,
and print design; as well as development of web-based inventory
management, client management, and eCommerce systems for choice
clients.
We were able to hone our skills in search engine optimization
(SEO) and internet marketing to build a number of our client's
businesses from one-man-shops to million dollar companies.
Synapse Corporate Solutions
After college, Mark and I moved our
business to downtown Seattle, WA. There, we transitioned our
success with our clients into a new business focused on web
application development and rapid prototyping for startups, named
Synapse Corporate Solutions.
During the time we were managing client projects, we always
dedicated time to research and development of new technologies in
the mobile web, B2C products, and productivity tool spaces. These
R&D developments spun off a series of small ventures.
- SynapseCS CRM: Web-based customer management
system
- SynapseWine: Turn key wine inventory
management system
- SynapseLife (Acquired): Suite of consumer
productivity tools for use on the web or though mobile
devices.
- BuyersVine (Acquired): Drag/drop and touch
screen wine kiosk system for wine recommendations.
down2night: Your social nightlife
Another
one of these experimental projects was down2night, which initially
was a mobile web tool that allowed users to subscribe to event
calendars for their favorite bars, clubs, and nightlife
destinations. These subscriptions were setup to notify users via
SMS and email when their favorite spots had events.
Through a childhood friend, we met our third DevHub co-founder,
Geoffrey Nuval. He was meeting with some startups up in Seattle via
his involvement with Lehman Brothers' venture arm. In Seattle we
met up and planned a company around down2night, which became a
social networking and community focused on nightlife in 20 major
cities.
In October of 2007, all three of us came together to found EVO
Media Group / DevHub.
Check out DevHub here
