While other entrepreneurs were waiting out the recession, Amos Winbush founded CyberSynchs, a New York-based technology company that specializes in universal data synchronization and transfer. At twenty-six years old, Amos stands at the head of his generation’s class of CEOs who view technology as an ecosystem that supports innovation and values disruptors. Through his leadership and careful study of what happened to promising companies of the past, Amos grew the company from a small business operating out of his studio apartment to a disruptive technology valued at $20 million.
Amos’ vision of a universal data synchronization service came about when his smart phone crashed resulting in thousands of essential files being lost. When he realized that no solution existed, he set out to design and build a universal wireless solution that allows users to back up, manage and retrieve their mobile content.
Seizing the rare opportunity to partner with a major technology company, Amos orchestrated CyberSynchs’ partnership with Sun Microsystems, enabling the company to develop on the JavaFX platform and access the Sun Cloud. SunMicrosystems distributes CyberSynchs within JavaFX. The Sun Agreement exponentially expanded CyberSynchs’ market penetration.
Today Amos leads his small executive team as they increase the CyberSynchs market share through additional agreements with mobile phone, smart phone and digital camera manufacturers. A noteworthy “under 30 CEO,” Amos has presented at the JAVAONE conference and a variety of technology and entrepreneurial conferences in New York’s Silicon Alley. He recently was recognized as Black Enterprise’s Innovator of the Year for 2010 and named to Inc. Magazine’s “30 under 30,” as well as in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “100 Brilliant Companies” for 2010.
What are you working on right now?
We are currently working on partnering with a company to release CyberSynchs TV Support, of which we are very excited about. We also are in the process of releasing the iPhone OS 3.1 and OS 4.0 versions of CyberSynchs to the market.
3 trends that excite you?
1. Traditional dummy devices are becoming smart. Traditional devices without Internet activity are becoming Internet-enabled. This allows us the ability to tap into these devices and either stream or sync content to and from.
2. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable on what they like and don’t like. It is really becoming a “norm” for an average person to have a fascination with technology. It wasn’t always this way. This allows us to reach more people, talk about solutions and have a more knowledgeable market that truly understands technology. This is an awesome trend.
3. A willingness from major corporations to look at the “small guy” and find value in partnering with small to medium size companies or start-ups. This brings an added value to customer base. Before, companies were about developing new technology and solutions to the marketplace without letting anyone else into the mix. Now, we find greater compliance from large technology companies or corporations to work with smaller ones.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Our team really does things the old-fashioned way with a whiteboard and dry-erase markers. We collaborate and discuss all ideas together. After this, we eye some key companies we may potentially partner with to make these ideas happen. For us, it’s all about companies who are either doing well or aren’t doing so well that can use a revenue streak. We select the company, schedule a meeting, sketch out what the relationship could look like and determine whether or not it will make for a great fit. If so, we start integrating our solutions into the backend. It is a very complicated process.
What is one mistake you’ve made that our readers can learn from?
We have been very careful and truthfully have not really made any mistakes. I can say that we did not bring in support fast enough, i.e. software engineers, so we can have sufficient support when we release things to the marketplace. We have found ourselves playing “catch-up” as a result. Support is key.
What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?
Book: Louise Hay’s “I Can Do It” — This affirmation book gave me the ability to think positively and really motivate myself and my team. I required all members of the CyberSynchs team to read it.
Tool: “Device Anywhere” — This company allows us to test our application across thousands of devices and cellular networks to find out exactly where bottlenecks exist, identifies system restraints, and notifies us of any special codes that we may need.
What is one idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Don’t try and do everything yourself. If you are a CTO, don’t try and be a CEO or vice versa. The company will fail. They require two different mindsets and two different sides of the brain both of which do not mix. Be sure to find great talent very early on that can lead to you implement your strategy. Find experts in their field that can implement the different sides of your company.
What motivates the company? How do you decide what markets or devices you are going to attack next?
CyberSynchs came from “there was an issue in the market and no solution.” We’re the only company that does exactly what we do. In a short amount of time, our amazing team of engineers developed a solution with the ability to support seven unique operating systems — one that might have taken another company hundreds of thousands of dollars and several years to create. The market need for CyberSynchs and our team have made us so successful. Our consumers and what they look for dictates what we go after next.
Does spirituality make you a bigger, better business person?
Yes, spirituality does make me a bigger, better business person. In dealing with business, everything isn’t as ethical as it should be. Spirituality gives us the foundation in which we can do business in a thought-provoking way. We should treat those in the ways in which we want to be treated. I rely on spirituality to assist me through easier day-to-day activities as well as more complex ones such as contract negations. It affects me in day in and day out business.
Connect:
Twitter: @CyberSynchs
Website: http://cybersynchs.com
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.