- Startups - Angelo Sotira of DeviantArt- TWiST #299
Never miss an episode! Subscribe in iTunes: Audio (http://bit.ly/TwiStA) || Video (http://bit.ly/TwiStV)
Igloo is an intranet you'll actually want to use: Visit http://www.igloosoftware.com/thisweekin and sign up for a chance to win the new iPad mini!
With GoToMeeting, "meeting is believing". Visit http://www.gotomeeting.com and use the promo code START for your free 30 day trial.
Join our mailing list and be the first to learn about upcoming guests! (http://bit.ly/TwistMail)
==============
Angelo Sotira, Co-Founder and CEO of DeviantArt sits down to talk about his 12 year journey of building a 65 Million member community for artists. He shares his passion for the arts and his plans to fix its broken system.
00:30 Welcome Angelo Sotira founder of deviantART
3:45 Igloo: An intranet you will actually like, igloosoftware.com/thisweekin to enter for a free ipad mini
7:15 What exactly did Michael Robertson say about you on the episode last week?
7:40 When did you start deviantART and why?
9:15 Why were you fascinated with the internet and mp3s?
12:30 So you make the skins for winamp?
15:00 So your server bills were baffling at that time?
16:45 When was the last time you did a major UX redesign?
18:10 What's a deviation?
18:30 How does the giving work?
19:20 When did you put the point/giving system in?
19:45 What impact has it had in the system?
20:24 How many unique pieces are submitted daily?
20:39 How many can you upload at a time? Per day?
21:30 Why is the default display newest pieces not the most popular?
23:25 How do you curate the honest/constructive responses?
24:45 What percentage of users are non signed in vs signed in?
25:45 What is the business of the company?
27:25 Where is your funding at now?
27:45 Go To Meeting: gotomeeting.com click on try it free use the code "Start"
30:45 Tell us your view on funding.
33:50 Have you raised since 2007?
34:25 So you have remained in complete control?
35:00 How is strategic measure of success different from VC?
35:30 What strategy would have an interest in art?
35:45 Does commerce occur on the site?
36:10 What do you get for a premium membership?
37:00 What are the premium membership numbers?
37:25 Do I pay for the cost of the artwork, or the print, or both?
39:00 Can the artist set their own price?
39:20 Who has the most sales?
39:30 Can the artist make a living selling their art on your site?
41:00 Tell me about Odyssey 2?
42:00 And Clive picks what he likes best?
43:00 Is this where creatives come to find talent?
43:45 Can you tell me about "More Like This"?
44:14 How does this work?
47:00 So this is making it possible for anyone to become an artist?
50:20 Is this a life long journey for you?
52:15 You see the prequel to this as training people to become artists?
57:00 Discussion about the importance of design
60:00 The New Site: dreamup.com
61:00 What do you need a lanyard for?
61:30 Let's talk about Angelo's world tour
62:50 How many buyout offers per year?
65:15 Where do you see things that you find innovative/
68:00 Why don't you open a museum or a gallery?
71:40 Thanks for coming in Angelo. Go to dreamup.com type in ihaveadream
72:00 Thanks to Igloo Software and GoToMeeting
FOLLOW ON TWITTER
Jason: @jason
Angelo: @asotira
Igloo: @igloosoftware
GoToMeeting: @gotomeeting