Today's Entrepreneur: Evan Tann

No. 1 mistake: Don't be trapped by an idea

Today's Entrepreneur is Evan Tann, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloudwear, Inc., a company that created an innovative security solution to prevent unauthorized access to health care data and online cloud accounts. Tann went to University of Southern California for his degree in Business Administration.

Cloudwear, Inc (currently in the top-15 semi-finalist) is competing in Vator Splash Health startup competition. The top six finalists will compete and present live on stage in front of several hundred tech influencers (CEOs, media and investors). 

Register early for the event here: vatorsplashhealth.com

Here's a little about Evan: 

I am a(n): Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded: Cloudwear, Inc.

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

My favorite startups: Tesla, Palantir, Github

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make? Don't be trapped by an idea.

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

1. Make people into heroes. Whether you're selling into a Fortune company, working with a programmer, or communicating with your investor, you want the people on the other side of the table to look brilliant to everyone around them. Find ways for the people around you to take the credit for good ideas, and help shield them from the bad. 
2. Learn to tell a story. Programmers often fall into this trap: you may have a better solution, but if you can't communicate it, you won't be able to sell it. People are emotional, and as often as they make purchase decisions on facts, they're even more likely to decide on a gut feeling.
3. Be incredibly humble and grateful. Thank people frequently. Pay it forward two fold. 

Full bio

Evan Tann is an American entrepreneur and computer scientist, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Cloudwear.

With more than 17 years of experience programming, Tann has invented several algorithms in the field of robotics and licensed software to a Fortune 200 company. He's worked with academics, building a secure, cloud-based document storage system for Harvard and MIT's professors and faculty. General Electric and OMD (the world's largest marketing agency) previously moved Tann to New York City to work independently on special projects out of their offices next to the CEO.

Tann is also experienced in sales, having earned contracts with Blue-Chip companies including CBS, Samsung, and Telefonica as well as startups in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.

Tann spoke recently at Founders Forum in London on the future of wearable devices. Other speakers and participants at the event included Google's Chairman Eric Schmidt, Prime Minister David Cameron, and Ben Horowitz. Tann's op-eds have been published in Fox News and The Huffington Post.

To be featured on Today's Entrepreneur: Contact Mitos Suson at mitos@vator.tv.