Today's Entrepreneur: Krystie Dillingham

Kristin Karaoglu · September 30, 2011 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/1fad

No. 1 mistake: Not enough research

Vator’s community is the home to entrepreneurs who embrace their passion and follow their dreams. Our newly-designed profiles allow members to express themselves by sharing their interests, lessons learned, as well as bits and pieces of their roller-coaster journey.

These profiles give entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase themselves and tell their story. So if you are an entrepreneur, a serial entrepreneur, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

Today's Entrepreneur is Krystie Dillingham, CEO of StUdill.com. StUdill.com was one of the presenters at Splash SF - Sept 29, 2011.

According to her VEQ, Krystie is goot at fund raising, project development and technology design.

Companies I've founded or co-founded:

YouGeeks LLC (Studill.com), 87 PLAYS Foundation 501 (C)(3)

Companies I've invested in:

YouGeeks LLC (Studill.com)

Startups I worked for:

YouGeeks (StUdill.com)

If you are an entrepreneur, why?

I want to change the world.

My favorite startups:

Ushow, Blogic, Bump

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

Its interesting because the most frustrating aspects of Entrepreneurship are also the ones that are the most rewarding. In my personal experience one of the most frustrating things for me has been that I have come so close to having this website be in a position to just take off. Be it through investment money that was promised, or web development being completed etc. Its like i have been so close truly making this company successful but it seems as though every time we get close something that is out of our control happens and we take 10 steps back. However, even though I have faced numerous setbacks, I have raised money and I have launched and witnessed the excitement of the college students to sign up and those moments (Although they were short lived) are the moments that I hold on to and the ones that drive my motivation to continue to persevere through the challenges. As an Entrepreneur you need to be resilient and I have certainly proven to myself and others that I am strong enough to overcome those challenges. At the end of the day there are people you just want to live their life and people that want to experience it and as an entrepreneur you truly experience your life because when your low your low but when your high... its unlike anything else. The feeling of accomplishment you have to see something you have created is the most fulfilling experience you will ever have and I wouldn't give up any part of my journey as an entrepreneur thus far.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?

In my opinion that #1 mistake most entrepreneurs make is that they don't do their research. I have seen so many startups fail simply because the founders assumed that their idea was so original nothing else existed like it and they make steps to move forward but it all comes crashing down when they realize someone else is doing something similar.

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

1. Be Patient. (Funding is Hard)
2. Continue to Evolve ( Learn from your failures and make improvements to your business model)
3. Surround yourself with people that share your vision