This week’s AI project draws inspiration from Seattle EO Accelerator, an entrepreneurial coaching program that I am honored to chair. Every member in the Accelerator program gets a copy of the book Scaling Up by Verne Harnish, and I wanted to create an interactive tool that makes it easier for entrepreneurs to apply the information […]
Author: Craig Swanson
Weekly Startup 03 – The Wine Shop Advisor
This week’s prototype draws inspiration from my sister’s wine shop on Whidbey Island. Utilizing her existing wine inventory, prices, and information about the Greenbank Farm, I developed a wine recommendation tool linked to her store’s inventory and pricing. ➡️ wineshopadvisor.com Feel free to ask an open-ended question, like suggesting a pairing with an upcoming meal, […]
Weekly Startup 02 – AI “Flashlight Apps”
Each week I’m learning by launching a new AI-enabled web application, product, or startup. This week we start with three straightforward single-page apps that utilize OpenAI prompts: CocktailGenius.com — Let me mix you a drink. NextBookClub.com — Let me suggest your next read. MadameZephyra.com — Let me tell you your future. All three apps are […]
Weekly Startup 01 – Ideaizer
This week marks the kickoff for the Weekly AI Startup Sprint. For better or worse, I’m committing to launching a new AI app, product, or startup every week from here on out. What I’m witnessing today with AI is one of the most significant industry-impacting events I’ve seen in my career. I’m moving into “public […]
Old School Photoshop Techniques (circa 1995)
Who here remembers when dial-up internet connections, floppy disks, the first PostScript laser printers, and desktop publishing tools were the cutting edge innovations for modern graphic designers? Back in 1994, as a 24-year-old IT support person for graphic designers, I knew mastering the latest version of Adobe Photoshop 2.5 was essential for my career. I […]
Wyatt’s AquaSox Baseball Camp 30-second film
Podcast Co-Host Wanted
This is a selfie from 2015 with updated text in Photoshop. I was starting a new venture, and I turned my morning run around Green Lake into a micro-recruiting opportunity for future technical co-founders. It started off as a joke about the team we needed to attract for 2016 — and we decided to play […]
Mixergy – Startup Stories
Mastering Your Exit Strategy
In my first two decades as a small business owner, I couldn’t imagine selling my business. And I think, like a lot of small business owners, I felt a small touch of moral superiority over business owners who did sell. In this conversation with Christine Trumbull on her valuable Mastering Your Exit Strategy podcast I […]
Smashing the Plateau
I love talking about sales. I was fortunate to be exposed early in my career to what professional sales looks like. David Shriner-Cahn invited me to discuss my early days in selling IT services on his Smashing the Plateau podcast. “My view of sales was framed by professionals. I was trained with a group of […]