Work

It’s not often I get to give speeches. So I was pretty saddened to find out that there weren’t like academy awards for raising funding or something. Not that b5 would necessarily deserve an award (ahem, yet), but I had one all ready and rarin’ to go.

So, lucky readers, you’ll have to hear it instead ;-)

First, I want to thank my mother and father, without whom this wouldn’t have been possible. When I was born at a young age they…

Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Seriously, though, I do have a bunch of folk I want to thank and recognize for their efforts raising funding. Raising funding is like getting married, writing a book and having a baby all at once. And all in 3-4 months. It takes a big team to do it, and a truly special team to get all the way through it. It’s totally worth it, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!

First, my wife. Honestly. It’s been a long process and she’s been an absolute champion through all of it. Putting up with the ups and downs better than I did. Thanks babe :)

Next, to Rick Segal for putting me onto the idea of raising serious funding. I’m glad you stuck with us all the way Rick. It’s been a big learning experience, but I hope it’s been as worth it for you as it has for me.

Third, and in many ways most of all to Sean Wise. Bud, we wouldn’t have gotten into the Canadian Venture Forum without you, we wouldn’t have gotten “yes”s from the VC’s without you, and we wouldn’t have gotten through the process without you. I totally plan to write a great post on the main b5 blog later today or early tomorrow thanking you officially, but I wanted to personally tell you how much I appreciate your unique set of skills, contacts and patience with a young CEO like me.

I also want to thank the rest of the b5 founders. As I mentioned yesterday, it’s a real challenge going from a consensus-driven team to a slightly more structured one, but you guys were with me the whole way. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. It’s not always easy, but the mark of a great team isn’t that there aren’t bumps in the road, but in that we’ve gotten through them and that after each one we’ve gotten stronger. You guys rock.

Next, to all the folk who helped out practically during the funding. Some folk proofread docs, some dropped everything in the middle of the night to do research, others helped organize and some just listened while I bounced ideas around. It takes all sorts to get through a process like funding, and that we came out of it smiling is a testament to all those who contributed. I’m sure I’ll forget people, but in brief, thanks to Christina Jones, Aaron Brazell, Sean Walberg, Tris, Hsien, Rick Klau, Ingrid Diaz, Dave Ward, Marc Orchant, Mike Hillyer, Shel Israel, Stowe Boyd and many, many others.

Finally, thanks to our bloggers. It’s only been a year since b5 was founded, but we’ve accomplished so much in a year. I can’t wait to see what this next year holds as we stick together and see what we’re all made of (okay, that was cheesy, sorry).

I’ve been wanting to write this post for almost two weeks. So while I might be up on stage accepting this award, it’s thanks to all these people and all my fans that I’m up here at all…

;-)