Today's Entrepreneur: Josh Bob

Nick Such · April 11, 2011 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/191c

No. 1 mistake: Overthinking things

Today's Entrepreneur, Josh Bob

Today’s entrepreneur is Josh Bob from Waltham, MA. He is the founder of Textaruant.

An avid sports fan, Josh lives by a slight variation of Nike’s slogan: JFDI.

This “doer” attitude has led him down a unique path, from marketing roles for startup and tech companies, to fundraising for non-profits, to regional management for the World Adult Kickball League.

Stemming from his personal frustration with the way people wait for restaurant tables, Josh founded Textaurant in 2009.

In addition to being an avid supporter of the Boston startup community, Josh uses his JFDI powers to help entrepreneurs around the world. After leading Startup Weekend events in multiple countries, he spearheaded the first annual Global Startup Battle in 2010.

Armed with such a diverse background, solid industry connections, an MBA, and that penchant for execution, will other opportunities lure him away from the startup world? According to Josh, “Now that I've been an entrepreneur, I can't imagine doing anything else. And hopefully, I'll never have to."

I am an: Entrepreneur

Name companies you've founded or co-founded: Textaurant

Name startups you worked for: KangoGift, 8minuteDating, WAKA Kickball

If you are an entrepreneur, why? I want to invent something cool.

List your favorite startups: Twilio, StarStreet, BuyWithMe, MailChimp

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation? Most frustrating is explaining to people every day what I do. But that's also the most rewarding thing - I'm creating and reinventing my own job, every day of the week.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make? Overthinking things.

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1. Learn as much as you can, but do it while you're doing things.
2. Align yourself with the right people. It can make all the difference.
3. JFDI!

Nick Such

CEO at BuildingLayer. Past at GE/Toyota/KSTC. Used to race solar-powered cars. Got into Stanford MBA, but chose startup path. I love assembling teams of smart people to solve hard problems.

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Textaurant

Startup/Business

Joined Vator on December 20, 2009

Textaurant is changing the way patrons wait - and restaurants fill seats - by allowing customers to wait online, not in line. Patrons can see wait times from any computer or mobile smartphone and can join the queue from anywhere, and restaurant hosts use a web-based waiting list that allows them to contact patrons via text or voice message when their table is almost ready. Textaurant restaurants lose fewer patrons because of long waits, increasing overall revenue, and add dollars to the top line by offering a unique and convenient service.