Ever since arriving here, Ben and I have been amazed by the type of things we see and learn from day to day. Having worked in several large cities before- Philadelphia, London, and Boston - San Francisco is like nowhere else I’ve ever experienced. The difference is in the thinking, foreign to these former centers of ‘innovation’, where big business and static products stamp out the new; radical ideas are fostered and encouraged here in Silicon Valley. The foresight of the people in this area has been driving the evolution of the internet for years now, and I am getting to see for the first time just how incredible it really is.

Having worked for a tech consultant firm in Boston, I was exposed to several different areas of tech – but this exposure was next to nothing like the inundation of technologies and startup ideas I have heard about in my month in San Francisco.  Outside of Philadelphia, working for a pharmaceutical marketing company was an entirely different experience, with barely a trip outside of my cubicle. No social events were on my agenda, no launch parties for new pharmaceutical companies or drug lines. The tech industry is filled with an energy that is simply not a part of any other industry. London was perhaps the most difficult, watching person after person walk by with their head down, uninspired and void of any gusto, almost like an army of clones marching around up and down Victoria Street.

The subway systems are also a good representation of their respective cities. Boston, clinging to an outdated and rickety system, is unreliable at best. On the Tube in London, perpetually late and over-crowded trains are bursting with people covered in blank stares, lacking any form of inspiration or zeal. The BART of San Francisco is the exact opposite – filled with all kinds of new and different energies no big city in the world can offer. The newest of gadgets, brainstorming of new ideas, eclectic mixes of people – all aboard each and every train. Efficient and on time, the BART is home to more than a few ideas that have changed the face of technology.

For over five years, I’ve read and used CNet forums. They are the most comprehensive site on the internet when it comes to product reviews and downloadable software, one of the first reliable user-generated content sites I can remember. Their office? A block away. Never in a million years did I think I would be working down the street from their office, just a few hundred feet away from people who existed to me only in cyberspace before. For the first time, it dawned on me how rooted the tech ‘movement’ is here, and how that affects the mindset of the people. Here, ideas are supported and followed through with until they are perfected. And then – the launch. An unpredictable, exciting and learning experience for everyone (speaking of which, I’m attended the Firefox 3 launch party last Friday).

The environment at Rapleaf, which seems more and more like a microcosm of the tech industry here, is drastically more diverse than the traditional places I mentioned. Everyone here has come from such a unique path that it’s hard to think that we’re all working towards the same goal. It only adds to the dynamic atmosphere that is San Francisco. Both the pace and the workload of Rapleaf far outstrip anything mature companies have to offer. I used to sit around on Friday afternoons and wait for 4:30PM to roll around. Now, working till 8PM on a Friday seems early. Long weeks are followed religiously by ‘networking’ events that can last well past 3AM. How entrepreneurial.

It is an exciting time to be working here in San Francisco – feelings of innovation seem to permeate every aspect of the city. And definitely inspirational to be around.

During my internship here at Rapleaf, I’ve discovered that it is crucial to have very high standards when recruiting.  Not only are you finding the best, but this is also a great way to retain employees from the start.  Our CEO Auren has written about our desire to hire only great candidates, not just good ones.  And recently he’s been stressing the value of actually underselling an offer to insure incoming employees are completely committed to the culture and direction of a company.

A Wall Street Journal article found that companies large and small are increasingly looking at employee retention as a measure of success.  They’re being reactive, in a sense, by linking executive bonuses to employee retention.  I don’t think startups can afford to do this.  One of my takeaways is that it’s important that any company, regardless of size or industry, be proactive and set expectations from the beginning and maintain expectations (see Auren’s advice in the links above).  By ensuring that your employees are committed to the culture and direction of a company, you don’t have to worry about retention quarter after quarter.

Despite being in a ‘revolving door’ industry for talent, as the tech industry can be, I’ve seen that we’ve been pretty fortunate to retain the best people, and I can vouch that a lot of it has to do with setting expectations from the start.

It’s hard to believe that my internship here at Rapleaf is almost half complete - it somehow feels like I started yesterday…and I’ve been here forever.  This feeling can probably be attributed to the steep learning curve here.  On that note, I wanted to share some of the many lessons I’ve learned here from my Rapleaf colleagues.

Rallying the Troops

When I decided to write this post, I knew it had to start with our CEO Auren.  Auren is one of those rare individuals who have the ability to make everyone feel important.  Whether he’s talking to investors or ordering a sandwich, Auren knows how to engage others.  This ability to connect people, as well as Auren’s well-known generosity, has made him one of the most well respected entrepreneurs in the Valley.

Internally, Auren’s ability to motivate is unparalleled.  In my first meeting with Auren, I asked him his target number of employees as we grow from the current team of 15.  He immediately responded: “40,000.  Isn’t that what Google’s heading toward?”  Auren always sets the bar high, but that’s because he truly expects Rapleaf to do incredible things.

Managing Up (And What That Really Means)

One of the many things that stuck with me from my interview with Rapleaf co-founder Vivek was the chance and ability to manage up.  To be honest, I had no idea what he was talking about.  I told Vivek that I’m not shy and will tell others, superiors or not, what I think.  This is sort of what managing up is about, but there’s more.  Managing up is feeling responsible for not only your work but for the entire direction of the company.  Rather than waiting for your supervisor to give you another task, managing up entails predicting the next task, and then doing it without even being asked.

On a day-to-day basis, this manifests itself when Max and I schedule meetings with Vivek rather than the other way around.  It also arises in being honest with Vivek, and anyone else, about setting expectations and meeting them.  If Max or I are unable to get something done, we’re encouraged to be let our superiors know in advance.  This creates an open and dynamic work environment, and it’s an exciting part of working at Rapleaf.

Recruiting (When You’re Still in College Yourself)

It’s been a really cool experience to see recruiting from the other side.  At Yale we’re lucky enough to be exposed to companies of all sizes and all industries through our career services, but I had never thought about how those companies reached us until arriving at Rapleaf.  Then I immediately discovered that the process is a lot more complicated (and difficult) than it appears to students.  Small companies like Rapleaf employ a variety of methods to get the word out, from job sites and college career centers to more creative modes (but we’ll leave those out as trade secrets.).  The point I’ve learned is that small companies need to employ every tool possible to get the word out.

Changing business models

Finally, and I think most importantly for entrepreneurial students like Max and myself, I’ve learned that the days of a single business model are done.  Rapleaf, only two years old, has already undergone several incarnations – adaptation in order to survive.  It seems like every young company here is focused on developing a great product first and finding a revenue stream second.  This attitude is reflected in the investment environment, as venture capitalists are generally looking to invest in people and ideas rather than strict business plans.  In fact, several tech lawyers recently told me that they haven’t seen a traditional business plan in a decade.  The lesson here to young entrepreneurs is simple: stop writing and start building.

(Editor’s Note: Along the lines of Ben’s perspective and commentary on startups and startup culture, Rapleaf intern Max Owen gives us his perspective on entrepreneurship here at Rapleaf.)

After being at Rapleaf for just a few days, the difference and benefits of being at Rapleaf and its culture has over traditional companies, have become quite evident. Everything here moves at a pace that simply cannot be duplicated in big corporations. Having worked at some of the world’s largest multi-national corporations, I can’t imagine going back. Culture elsewhere has always translated into dry, boring meetings with someone you’ve never met or interacted with telling you what your role will be “for the duration of your time here.” Gee, thanks. Can I have that contract back that I just signed?

Everything here at Rapleaf is fresh, new, and done the smart way. For instance, we don’t have ‘HR’. We have Christina, who is more efficient than any company’s heavily resourced and personnel-heavy department I’ve ever dealt with. Direct deposit? Sure, at a corp., it will get done in 3 weeks. Here – 15 minutes. Done, anything else I can do for you? Awesome.

Ahh the ‘corporate’ culture of a start-up – a misnomer really. Nothing too corporate about it; it has more the feeling of a group of college students pouring all their brainpower and efforts into an excellent idea than a workplace. With engineers’ ideas and drawings littered all over the office, making your way around as a business intern can sometimes get you lost in the maze of code, not that unlike the Matrix. Maybe that’s why Vivek mentioned the red and blue pill on the first day…

My fellow business intern Ben and I have been exposed to some pretty awesome moments so far, such as schmoozing at the 5 Year Wordpress Anniversary Party, being thrown at the frontlines of customer service right away and getting to the root of the action, and meeting explicitly with the VP of Business Development and CEO here at Rapleaf to discuss the vision of the company and ideas around this vision (over the course of the summer, I’ll cover some other events that have occurred). Out of the office, we have been exposed to a smorgasbord of events San Francisco has to offer – Union Street Fair, Carnaval, Haight Street Fair, etc. And that’s just the start. In speaking for both Ben and I, from the minute we stepped off the airplane, we knew this was going to be a summer unlike any we had experienced before.

Max will be a senior at Babson College in which he is studying in their prestigious Entrepreneurship program. He is also a captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team as well as a Peer Mentor. Hailing from New Jersey, Max is often known to CWalk or Harlem Shake on request. Feel free to email Max: max[at]rapleaf[dot]com.

(Editor’s Note: This is the first of many postings from Rapleaf interns, who will be providing their perspective and regular commentary on startup life and culture here at Rapleaf.)

When our supervisor and Rapleaf co-founder Vivek Sodera asked fellow intern Max and myself to blog about our experiences working at Rapleaf, it seemed like a daunting task. Write a press release? No problem. Run some analytics? Easy. Meet with our CEO to discuss ideas? Sure. But try to explain everything that happens in working for a San Francisco tech startup in the form of a blog? Where to begin?

It’s difficult for me to digest all of the action and excitement that we go through on a daily basis. Working for a startup - especially one with Rapleaf’s trailblazing technology—requires one to iterate and adapt every day. No two days, in fact no two hours, are the same.

And you know you’re working at a startup when….

(Seven Telltale Signs You’re Working at a San Francisco Startup)
1) Your supervisor - barely your senior - picks you up at the airport and immediately suggests that we check out the San Francisco nightlife.
2) Your roommate, a foreign exchange student from India, makes Indian food for all of the interns one night after being out until 3 am.
3) You attend (and survive) not one nor two but three of San Francisco’s largest outdoor festivals -Carnaval, Union Street Fair, and Haight Street Fair - your first two weeks on the job.
4) Trash talk is heating up around a potential intraoffice basketball game.
5) Your supervisor refers to working at a startup as a ’lifestyle’ rather than work.
6) Part of your job is attending networking events with some of the most exciting entrepreneurs in the Bay Area.
7) There is beer in the fridge in the office kitchen.

While some of these things may come off as fun and games, I can vouch that we’re working exceptionally hard here in helping to solve difficult problems. And that’s what’s amazing: It’s work that doesn’t feel like work. With such an incredible team, you really want to hang out together, both inside and outside the office.

As the summer progresses, I will try and keep you apprised of Rapleaf’s happenings and my thoughts. In the meantime, feel free to comment!

Ben will be a senior at Yale, where he is simultaneously pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in East Asian Studies (China). His research focuses upon information flow and data privacy in new forms of communication, with interest in data privacy and data portability. When he’s not in the classroom or in the office, Ben likes to surf, play volleyball and basketball, and religiously follow the Lakers. You can email Ben at: ben [at] rapleaf [dot] com

It’s official! Nathan Marz has graduated from Stanford and will be joining the Rapleaf team fulltime. This is something all of us here have been anxiously waiting for and we’re beyond excited.

See, Nathan isn’t just a smart cookie (graduated with a Computer Science BS/MS simultaneously from Stanford). Nathan is also a fierce contender on the b-ball courts. So it’s only fitting to say that getting Nathan onboard here at Rapleaf is equivalent to securing the #1 draft pick. Now I’ll admit, Nathan can school anyone when it comes to all things computer science or engineering related, but when it comes to basketball, he still has alot to learn (especially from yours truly).

And when we picked Nathan from Stanford, we weren’t aware that he was a triple threat - he has hidden musical talents. Not only can he play the piano (since the age of 12), but he can also sing pretty well. If you’re not careful, he’ll rick-roll you into submission with his rendition of “Never Gonna Give You Up” during a karaoke session.

All in all, we’re excited to have Nathan on board. We’ll just have to contend with the intraoffice trash talking that will ensue (that is before the big ‘Vivek vs. Entire Rapleaf Team’ basketball game).

With the NBA Playoff season winding down and the 2008 Olympics right around the corner, it’s only appropriate we introduce not the US Dream Team, but our very own Dream Team.

Coming in from all four corners of the US, we’re proud to introduce our summer intern class of 2008. Comprised of all-stars in the fields of business development, marketing, privacy, entrepreneurship, web design, software engineering, Ruby, and just overall kicking butt, these guys are here on a mission to take Rapleaf to the next level (while having a great time this summer in San Francisco).

From left to right we have Ben Jacobs, Max Owen, Ashutosh Pande, Zack Coburn, Abhishek Jain, Piotr Kozikowski, and Kevin Ballard.

Some tidbits of information on each:

Ben Jacobs - Coming in from Yale where he’s focused on Privacy and Marketing here at Rapleaf. Will actually be heading to China later this summer to study privacy during the 2008 Olympic games (don’t worry, he speaks impeccable Mandarin). Also his favorite animal is the cougar.

Max Owen - Hails from Babson College, studying Entrepreneurship. Could be a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake but decided to dance circles around the competition and is pursuing an interest in business development. Carries around an SF tourist map at all times for safe measure.

Ashutosh Pande - From India to Georgia Tech and now here at Rapleaf. Worked on interesting projects in the past, including an XML Search Engine and Scalability in P2P Networks. This summer he’s working on improving his morning grooming time. Also claims to have no musical talents, but we know that is a bold-faced lie.

Zack Coburn - A hacker and entrepreneur from Olin. Is business partner’s with Rapleaf’s very own Dan Scudder on DormItem (which was acquired by Universal Advertising Inc.). When he’s not coding in Ruby, he likes to point out inefficiencies in Ruby apps.

Abhishek Jain - Worked on some cool projects at Georgia Tech such as Natural Language Understanding in Interactive Games. Has seen most of the fairs and festivals here in San Francisco (Bay-to-Breakers, Union Street Fair, Carnavale), and is loving every minute of it. Also known to cook late night Indian meals for his roommates.

Piotr Kozikowski - A coder in his own right. Worked on some interesting computer science topics at Georgia Tech, including Knowledge-based AI and Computer/Network Security. Speaks fluent Polish and Spanish. And aspires to be a rapping leaf for Halloween.

Kevin Ballard - An Apple fanatic that is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Apple 3G iPhone. Studying Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is involved in such projects as MacPorts, TextMate, Typo, Colloquy, Growl, etc. Can crush anyone in any game for any console and has a SecondLife avatar he calls “Fake Kevin Ballard.”

Watch, wait, and see. You’ve been warned…be on the lookout for these assassins!

We brought on another superb engineer…this time a CMU grad involved in every aspect of campus/student life (literally 14 campus organizations, ranging from a capella groups to student senate to campus advisory committees - oh vey!). Emily Leathers joins us from the East, or rather the Middle East I should say, where she spent a year at the CMU Qatar campus. In fact, when we brought Emily in for an in-house interview, she had the raw nerves of steel to not only sustain a full-day flight, but then undergo our rigorous interview process while on a disorienting 12 hour time change. Pretty amazing in our eyes.

One of the great things about Emily is that she likes to cook and bake…and we like to eat, so it’s a perfect combination. She’s also a fan of the arts and crafts, so hopefully her craftwork will make our office more festive and flavorful (beyond our coveted pirate flag). In summary, Emily is pretty cool, and we’re happy to have her on board!

BitStrips is a new site that just launched at SXSW. Think of it as a YouTube for comic strips. Anyone can go on, create comics using their super simple comic strip creator, and also be part of the community and create member profiles. It’s free, really easy to use, and an excellent distraction from work .

And what would an online community be without the ability to invite and find your friends? Using our Address Book API, BitStrips built a nifty friend invite feature that allows users to find contacts already on the site, or send invites to friends from Gmail, AOL, Hotmail, and Yahoo contact lists. As the BitStrips’ userbase grows and grows, they’re developing a sweet catalog of comics.

We’re happy to help them out with our free and easy to use API. BitStrips even took time out of their busy beta launch to create a comic for us Rapleaf folks!

So checkout BitStrips and create some comics with characters that look less desperate than that guy on the left!

We brought Dan in as an intern, and boy was that a steal. He set the bar for all future interns. Customer service…check. Recruiting…check. Product…check. Marketing…check. But what blew us away was his tenacity and ability to adapt and pick up business development…which wasn’t even part of his internship. He knew what he wanted and he went after it. As an intern, he not only sourced but helped closed some pretty decent sized deals - a rainmaker in the making. And now we’re blessed to have him on our business development team as a full-time member and early employee of Rapleaf. We were fortunate enough to manage Dan (or rather he managed us) and we are all blessed to have him on our team. Congratulations Dan. Hurry up and graduate and help us blaze this trail!

Rapleaf Address Book API users benefit from the easy to use functionality of our API. It’s a simple API call to integrate into any site, and since Rapleaf maintains an up-to-date code on the importer, you don’t need to spend time building your own importers or doing code maintenance.

Mimi Sun has built a PHP Client Library for the API, making the Address Book API even easier to integrate into your site.  You can see a demo, sample code, and download the full kit here.

The Address Book API allows for a user to import their email contact list (from Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and Hotmail) into any site. Our API is used on dozens of sites and applications, and is a way for users to invite friends to a site, share content with people in their address book, and import their social relationships.    

Thanks to Mimi for helping make this available. If there are any questions about working with this client library, please email developer@rapleaf.com.

One of the exciting parts about our APIs at Rapleaf is seeing what creative tools and applications other developers are building with them.

Daniel Thomas has taken the initiative to build Rapleaf 4 Thunderbird - a simple plugin using our Person API. It allows you to learn more about the people in your inbox (via their online memberships). Thunderbird is a desktop email client and in using our API, the plugin displays links to a person’s online profiles in your incoming email.

It’s free to download and install. Once installed, you will need to register for a Rapleaf API key and input that into your plugin preferences. From there, you’re off and running. Daniel has posted full instructions on his site.

To download the beta version of Rapleaf 4 Thunderbird, you may go to the following link:

http://www.networklighthouse.com/attachments/045_rap4tb-0.4a.xpi

Thanks Daniel for building this!

Rapleaf hosted the first Bay Area Meetup for the DataPortability Workgroup at our offices yesterday. As the kickoff meeting, representatives of companies and organizations involved in the DataPortability movement not only laid the foundation and framework for future discussions, but they also were able to discuss technical, policy, evangelistic, and implementation efforts and implications of dataportability. Full detail eddescription and feedback on the event will be provided by our very own Manish Shah. Pictures of the event below.

We were glad to host such an exciting and fruitful event and we look forward to hosting future Dataportability discussions. And special thanks to Manish for representing Rapleaf, the ever-entertaining Marc Canter for scribing, J. Trent Adams for taking meticulous notes, and to Daniela Barbosa and Chris Saad for streaming and setting up the event!