What's it like Spending 3 Crazy Months in the Microsoft + TechStars Accelerator?

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/2/c/4/event_208738052.jpegEvery Startup knows that being a part of an incubator could be the difference between being big or being BIG. What's it like to spend every waking moment working on your app or product for 3 months, without family, friends and even your dog?

Come and listen to two much-beloved data nerds from San Diego who have made us all proud; Al Bsharah and Bryan Hall of Embarke who recently graduated from TechStars (http://www.techstars.com/) Seattle and the Microsoft Azure Acclerator (http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/accelerator/).

Al and Bryan will let us know how they came up with the concept of Embarke, how they got into TechStars and the Microsoft Azure Acclerator, how they dealt with leaving fahttp://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/4/2/2/event_200317922.jpegmily behind, what they learned and offer priceless first-hand accounts and tips for any burgeoning entrepreneurs looking to get on the innovative tech train and experience the rush of startup fever.

About Embarke:

Embarke (http://www.embarke.com/) is next-generation analytics for messaging. We increase engagement and revenue for marketers with 15 minutes of integration and a simple click of a button. We automatically deliver messages when each individual user is most likely to engage, and with content they actually care about.

Bios:

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/1/3/8/event_200321272.jpegAl Bsharah is the CEO and Co-Founder of Embarke. Embarke increases engagement and revenue for marketers by automatically delivering messages when each individual user is most likely to engage, and with content they are most likely to engage with.

Al's founded and run an e-commerce company, grown communities to 1 million page views per month, managed a $24 million network infrastructure upgrade, and was the 2nd employee and equity owner at a 24x7 network managed services company that was acquired in 2008.

Al started as a tech guy with a BS in Electrical Engineering and a heavy development background, but through his career has grown into a business strategist and leader.

He's graduated two intensive incubator/accelerator programs:
Microsoft's Accelerator (powered by TechStars), and the Founder Institute.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/f/e/6/event_207233222.jpegBryan Hall is the CTO and Co-Founder of Embarke. Embarke increases engagement and revenue for marketers by automatically delivering messages when each individual user is most likely to engage, and with content they are most likely to engage with.

Bryan wrote the first certified Bluetooth stack for Windows and Mobile in 2002, which was later acquired by Broadcom. He founded his own Bluetooth wireless company and has written code that’s been shipped in more than 100 -million devices worldwide (his code might be in your pocket!)

He’s a tech guy through-and-through and has built highly reliable and scalable systems.

He’s got a degree in Cognitive Sciences, and has graduated from both the Founder Institute and the Microsoft + TechStars Accelerator.