Matt Van Horn, vice president of business at Path and self-proclaimed “Apple nerd”, will be speaking at SXSW Interactive in March about the importance of “adding value as a non-technical no talent ass clown”.In other words, how can business-minded people encourage and appreciate the creative minds that they work with?
“If you are not an engineer or a product designer, you need to have the respect and understanding of what it takes to create an insanely great product,” Van Horn said. “There are a lot of business people who put themselves on a pedestal.”
His appreciation for “insanely great products” and technology has helped him get to where he is today as one of the first employees at a successful start-up in California, Path. The company features a mobile app for people to share videos and photos with their closest friends and family. The company, which has been in existence for about a year, has just acquired one million users. The company goal is to be a personal smart journal that people cannot live without.
“Facebook is for people you like. Path is for people you care about,” Van Horn said.
Van Horn has been interested in technology since he was a teenager. He clearly remembers the introduction of the Ipod in 1999 and buying one that same day. He has been an Apple fan since he was a young boy and he went on to work for the company during his college years. While studying entrepreneurship and marketing at the University of Arizona, he also started the company Zimride with his best friend. The company continues to thrive under the leadership of his friend.
Before joining Path, Van Horn persistently applied to the company Digg. He started out as a marketing assistant and worked his way up, starting the Digg publisher program. When he started receiving job offers, he consulted his former boss at Apple, who persuaded him to join his venture, Path.
With all of this success, why does Van Horn call himself a “non-technical ass clown”? This is a term that Van Horn laughingly calls himself, referring to being on the business side of things rather than the creative side.
He will share more of his humor, passion for technology, and advice relating to his panel topic at the popular SXSW Interactive festival. Vanhorn said he hopes that his audience at SXSW will walk away with more of an appreciation and regard for the "creative geniuses". This year’s SXSW Interactive is divided into themes. Vanhorn’s panel is featured in the Future Of Work category, which is at slated to be held at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown. For information and updates on the panels, visit the SXSW panel website.
Below is a video that demonstrates what Path is about, documenting special moments for your loved ones:
Path - Share Life from Path on Vimeo.
Before joining Path, Van Horn persistently applied to the company Digg. He started out as a marketing assistant and worked his way up, starting the Digg publisher program. When he started receiving job offers, he consulted his former boss at Apple, who persuaded him to join his venture, Path.
With all of this success, why does Van Horn call himself a “non-technical ass clown”? This is a term that Van Horn laughingly calls himself, referring to being on the business side of things rather than the creative side.
He will share more of his humor, passion for technology, and advice relating to his panel topic at the popular SXSW Interactive festival. Vanhorn said he hopes that his audience at SXSW will walk away with more of an appreciation and regard for the "creative geniuses". This year’s SXSW Interactive is divided into themes. Vanhorn’s panel is featured in the Future Of Work category, which is at slated to be held at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown. For information and updates on the panels, visit the SXSW panel website.
Below is a video that demonstrates what Path is about, documenting special moments for your loved ones:
Path - Share Life from Path on Vimeo.
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