Forecast is a fun and simple way for friends to share where they’re going. It’s like Foursquare for the future. A check-in tells your friends where you are now and a forecast tells your friends where you will be later. This simple shift from present tense to future tense is the difference between a serendipitous connection and a missed opportunity.
Do you think the education you’ve invested in helped you on the road to success?
I graduated with a BS in Radio/television/ film from the University of Texas at Austin. After working as a film director for 10 years I switched careers to design. I started an MFA in Design again at the University of Texas at Austin but dropped out after the first year to start Forecast. I think my education was helpful in both cases. I definitely learned a lot about each respective field however the biggest value I got were the connections I made while at university with other professionals.
Other team members: Eric Katerman (CTO) holds PHD in Math, AT Fouty (Technical co-founder) has Masters in Computer Science and Richard McClellan (Technical Co-founder) attained BS in Mechanical Engineering.
What was the “break point” or an AHA moment in your career that made you decide to build your own brand?
After directing and producing for 10 years I became very frustrated with how difficult it was to make a middle class living as an independent filmmaker. In 2008 I got hired by an internet startup company called On Networks to direct an internet tv-show. I had heard about startups but had never worked at one before. I was floored to discover how similar startup culture is to film culture. In both cases you are working with a relatively small team on a fast passed project. Both environments are high stress but also allow for a lot of creativity. The main difference between the two as near as I could tell was that with startups you had the very real possibility of making a lot of money. At the end of most film projects the best you can hope for is a modest film festival run with little hope of making any serious money. After my experience at On Networks I was hooked and decided to go back to school and switch careers.
As a young professional, what were some of the mistakes that you made and what did you learn?
Ah, I’ve made so many mistakes. I think the biggest mistake was being over ambitious. After running my company for about 14 months now I’ve learned to be very humble with what I try to achieve. Try to do something very simple very well.
How do you measure success?
If I look forward to coming into work every day.
What is one advice that you can offer to your readers?
Hire slow. Keep your team as small as it can be. Incorporate your users / customers into the design process as early and often as possible. Run lean.
What do you do for fun?
I watch lots of TV shows from the 90s. Totally dorky but I just finished rewatching all of the Star Trek: TNG and am now rewatching the X-Files. I also recently finished up Buffy the Vampire Slayer which was pretty difficult to get through for the first two seasons but after that it’s pretty awesome. Hasn’t it been long enough for these shows to be cool again? Right? Probably not. Oh well.
What is your favorite gadget(s), software(s), website(s) that makes your life easier and more productive? Are you Mac or PC?
I am a Mac
iPhone APPs I use: LocalMind, Instagram, and GroupMe.
Who would you like to see featured here and why?
LocalMind. They just raised $500k and are going to take over the world with their location based Q and A service.
Ways to Connect with you:
Website: http://foreca.st
E-mail: rene@foreca.st
From: http://ping.fm/3xYCb
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