Today's Entrepreneur: Alvin Mullins

Kevin Hsu · August 3, 2011 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/1d5e

No. 1 mistake: Not networking in the startup community

Today's entrepreneur is Alvin Mullins, founder and CEO of Stagester, a live streaming platform to help live performance venues and artists make more money from their live performances and stay in closer constant contact with their fans.

Alvin is one of the tens of thousands of entrepreneurs on Vator, who embrace their passion and follow their dreams. Our entrepreneurs develop innovative ideas, products, and teams.

Their Vator profiles allow them to tell their stories and share their lessons and mistakes. For us, it's a great way to learn from them. 

Entrepreneur profiles are quick and easy to make. So if you are an entrepreneur, a serial entrepreneur, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

According to his VEQ test, Alvin is a thought leader, and is good at negotiation and networking. 
You are a(n):
Entrepreneur

Name companies you've founded or co-founded:
CatSound, The Sales Whisperer, VisualGC, Stagester

Name startups you worked for:
Expert Software

If you are an entrepreneur, why?
I want to change the world.

List your favorite startups:
Pandora, LookVook, Airbnb, EventsUnfold, Stagester
What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?
Things always cost twice as much and go twice as slow as you think they will.
What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?
Not networking in the startup community.
What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1. Don't be afraid to tell the world about your idea 
2. The importance of a great team 
3. Don't be so attached to your idea that you cannot change it for the better

How do you know you are on the right trail?
When you go to sleep thinking about it and you wake up thinking about it and it creeps into almost every conversation you have.
Full bio

Went to school - waste of time, quit. Became a chef, trained in France, worked in Miami & New Orleans. Went back to school, graduated - still a waste of time. Started CatSound - captured 70% club market in Houston - good exit. Got job in Korea for Dept. of Defense - hated working a government job. Left to work for luxury hotel chain - hated it.

Got job in only software company in Florida - started in tech support, upgraded to development (games), went over to the dark side - biz dev - loved it!

Got job at Canon to do M&A - absolutely loved it but Canon wants me to move to Long Island from SoCal - no way. Start up VisualGM - shut down in 1st year - lost CTO. Start up The Sales Whisperer - raising sales for business brokers - good exit. Putts around with a real estate idea - bad market - bad timing. Got accepted to Founder Institute, founded Stagester. Back looking for Tech Co-founder, ready to do local streaming tests (A/B quality vs. pricing). First big client signed soon.

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Kevin Hsu

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