Moderator Heather Wilde (Unicorn Whisperer/CTO at ROCeteer) led a panel that included Jimmy Jacobson, cofounder & CTO of online polling tool Wedgies, Andre Angel, Founder & CEO of restaurant app TangoTab and Hartej Singh, CEO & Co-Founder of electronic payment system Zuldi. Wilde describes partnerships as a “marriage” and asked the panel about what makes a partnership work for a new startup. While Jacobson’s Wedgies recently kicked off a new partnership with Reddit and Medium, he first talked about an early partnership that the company started with Twilio for emoticons, that later blossomed into a more formal partnership. Angel is a huge proponent of partnerships, though he warns that entrepreneurs should do their research – and understand their company’s own value – when evaluating the benefits of a potential partnership. Working in financial tech requires a measured and tactical approach to partnerships, said Singh. Working with large financial companies may require a demand of time and resources that a fledgling startup may not be able to afford. “People throw around the word partnership a lot and it can be very appealing for a young entrepreneur,” said Singh. “If you are spending too much time with a strategic partner, screw the money [and focus on yourself.]” On October 4-6, Tech Cocktail Celebrate Conference is gathering hundreds of attendees, industry leaders, and inspiring speakers in downtown Vegas to meet the hottest startups and investors from around the country, learn and collaborate with others turning their communities into startup cities, and enjoy music, parties, and llama spotting. Check out more Tech Cocktail Celebrate Conference coverage here.
