4.7.2000Although it has received little media attention, the Seattle Online Network (SON) is the place to see, and be seen, if you’re launching an online biz or looking to hire/get hired. SON now has close to 500 members, most of them corporate. To put that in perspective, the Society for Internet Advancement in San Francisco (SAISF), a similar non-profit org, has up to 600 members. What’s more amazing is that SON is less than a year old and doesn’t have an office. It’s run by three marketing wunderkids in their spare time: Tim Reha, Dan Sundgren and Kristine Asin. Below, we caught up with Kristine right before she left to spend four days in Sun Valley (in a yurt, four miles from nowhere). Who says Internet people have no lives?–SJ
Seattle24x7: Kristine, what is the Seattle Online Network (SON)?
Asin: We want to be THE place in Seattle where people come every month for great panel discussions and to network with some of the top local Internet companies and startups. Our main focus is on networking, which involves throwing good parties, serving drinks, and limiting the formal panel discussions to an hour or so.
Seattle24x7: Any examples of SON’s life-enhacing potential?
Asin: The most recent astonishing thing is Cool.com, which was co-founded by the guy who handles memberships for SON, Greg Olsby. Thanks in part to SON events, Cool.com has been attracting major media attention and traffic. I also know software people who’ve come to our events and made the switch to a dot.com, and they can’t believe they didn’t do it sooner. Dan, Tim and I get job offers all the time. We know what’s out there and what’s going on, and if we get to know you, we can mention things to the right people to get the ball rolling.
Seattle24x7: What do you guys do for day jobs?
Asin: Actually, this past Monday, Dan and I both started working full-time for InstantCourier.com, which does secure data transmission. So we’re now experiencing Internet startup madness from the inside. Before, I was an independent graphic designer and Dan was a media rep for WinStar [branding/marketing firm]. Tim Reha, aka Techno Tim, now does consulting for Enfect.com [dynamic online marketing] and is heavily involved with Investment Forum [local syndicate of angel-investor groups].
SON was the brainchild of Dan, whom I was dating at the time [they’re now living together]. I’m the event planner because my parents owned restaurants, so I got to plan and cater parties all the time.
Seattle24x7: Each of SON’s monthly events is at a different place, and we’ve heard some grumbling about having to find a new address each month.
Asin: Varying the venues introduces our members to different parts of Seattle. Actually, people driving around looking for Studio 7000 last month was good because not everybody showed up at once.
Seattle24x7: What’s coming up?
Asin: We come up with the ideas for the panels with member input, and we seek out the panelists ourselves. From now on, we’re going to physically separate the panel discussion from the networking, so people can talk/drink in a separate area during the formal discussion. Also, we’re working on rolling out the Portland version of SON in the next year.
Seattle24x7: What are the Zurbies about?
Asin: On July 18, we’ll host the first Seattle Internet Awards, known as the Zurbies, named after our cat [and a popular downhill skier]. At the awards, we’ll announce six SON founding members, which will get prominent billing on the SON website and all our events for the coming year. We’ve already signed up two, one of which is a big law firm that deals with high-tech clients.
Seattle24x7: What does it take to sponsor a SON event?
Asin: We actually have a sponsor waiting list now. And the fees are rising. Our March social at Studio 7000, for example, cost around $14,000 and included an open bar because the venue would not allow us to sell drinks.
Seattle24x7: How do you think the Seattle Internet scene compares with San Francisco?
Asin: Our scene is more grass roots, casual and friendly. We also have a heavy focus on software. SON is loosely based on the Society for Internet Advancement in San Francisco (SAISF), but that group targets only online media, whereas we cover all the Internet. And I think that’s one of our strengths. Also, our events aren’t as lavish. The SAISF holiday party at the end of 1999 cost about $150,000.
Seattle24x7: But Seattle seems to be catching up. We wouldn’t be surprised if Loudeye’s IPO bash cost less than $200,000.
Asin: Yes, there are more local Internet events, although some of them are pretty ho-hum.
Seattle24x7: What other local networking events would you recommend?
Asin: For funding, Demo Club (democlub.org) and Investment Forum (investmentforum.org). For jobs, the Seattle Direct Marketing Association.
Seattle24x7: What are some of your favorite Seattle Internet companies?
Asin: We really like consumer-services companies, like MyLackey.com, which we’ve used to run errands for SON, and the local Kozmo.com. Anything B2B should also do well, if it has a solid revenue source.
Seattle24x7: Finally, Kristine, how is SON doing financially?
Asin: As we sign up founding members, we’ll be able to get reimbursed for our expenses, draw salaries and perhaps hire an assistant and an intern. Also, we’ll be getting a regular office soon.
Soula Jones is Content Chief at Seattle24x7.com
Here Comes the SONSeattle Online Network
Website: seattlenetwork.com
Site design: Kristine Asin
Site maintenance: SwiftTech.net
E-mail marketing: Brand X Online
Annual membership: $300 corporate/$75 individual
Anti-spam guarantee: “Nobody sees our member list”
Monthly Events: Third Tuesday of Each Month 6 pm to 9 pm ($15 for non-members)
Corporate sponsorships: Dan Sundgren
Event planning: Kristine Asin
