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Is Ben Keighran really leaving Bluepulse!?

20 November 2008

One of Australias most successful young innovators and entrepreneurs talks about his recent decision to leave Bluepulse and what comes next

Bluepulse and Ben Keighran parting ways?

For those who don’t know who Ben is, here is a snapshot.

Some quick facts:

• Ben built the largest mobile social messaging company in the world
• He raised $6mm from top tier US venture fund, Vantage Point Venture 
  Partners (Early investors in MySpace) in 2007
• Hired a world class team to execute on the vision - "Improve the world's communication"
• Ben created 10's of millions of dollars in shareholder value in 18months
• His company delighted millions of people around the world with a killer mobile messaging application called www.bluepulse.com
• Ben company is still working out of the original YouTube office, in Silicon Valley

When we heard news that Ben was moving on from his mobile social media venture, Bluepulse, we thought we better ask him what was going on.

TDP: So what's the story, you have a falling out with the founder or whart? We hear he can be hard work  ;- )

BK: Yah funny one, basically Bluepulse is now monetizing it's audience, so I decided to take some money off the table and appoint a new CEO to lead the business. At this stage of my life I want to build companies but not necessarily run them.

TDP: Has does Bluepulse look with you out of the business in an operational sense and how does the business look going forward.

BK: We hired a new CEO in 2008 - "Dr Christopher Nguyen". Chris won the founders award at Google last year, for achieving 100% growth in GMail. He has created over 1bn in shareholder value in the past decade working for Intel, Xerox, HP. He was a Professor at age 26, and has a PhD from Standford.

TDP: Fair to say it is in good hands then

BK: Well lets say I am happy to remain a major shareholder in the business  :- )

TDP: What are your three lessons in building a great business?
 
BK:  1. Solve a problem your passionate about solving & have felt
first-hand. This will be your northstar and guide you through the good
times and the bad times.

2. Listen to everyone and then go with your gut. Most entrepreneurs
block everyone out because they are so passionate about what they are
working on, that they forget to listen. I could not have done it
without great mentors and advisers.

3. One clear focus/objective for everyone. Your business needs laser focus on what the next objective is. Execution is key.

TDP: Why did you choose the USA as a launch point?

BK: A few things but the key factors I think were most decisive were access to a larger talent pool. Also the size of the Advertising market - Half the media spend in the world is in the USA. We also wanted to be close to the money and to partner with a Venture Partner that really understood our business & had prior experience with successful social media companies

TDP: What's next for you personally?

BK: Not sure? My only plan at the moment is to stay in the USA. I am considering investing in a few different start ups, advising start ups or maybe even joining a start up, that is really, really early stage. I am also considering driving my Porsche around America :-)

TDP: Can I invest in that?

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Written by: The Digital Pigeon

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