Michael Issa is Co-founder and CEO of Quipu Applications, Inc., and is responsible for the overall strategy, operations, and financial management of the company.
Previously, Mr. Issa served as Vice President of Product Management at Quipu, responsible for all aspects of research and design of Quipu’s flagship product, BusinessModel. For the last fifteen years, Mr. Issa has held various positions in the data center and enterprise infrastructure industry for both software and hardware manufacturers. He holds an MS in Mathematics, Curriculum and BS in Finance and Marketing.
[quote style=”boxed”]I’ve learned that if you don’t ever put yourself out there with your absolute best, you probably won’t reach your goal.[/quote]
What are you working on right now?
Quipu Applications just launched incQubator –cloud-based instrumentation and collaboration tool which Office of Technology Transfer, Economic Development Centers, incubators and VC’s can use to monitor investment analysis and other key performance metrics in real-time. So we’re about to launch a campaign to reach University and College Tech Transfer Offices to use the incQubator to monitor their investments.
What does your typical day look like?
I live on the west coast and since we have offices in the east coast and in India, I’m usually up very early and on SKYPE talking to offices nationwide and internationally. It’s dealing with millions of emails, troubleshooting, talking to potential clients and investors and managing a team of software writers, business development, sales, PR, marketing and others.
I’m a single dad and balance homework, baseball practice, swim meets and sleep-over’s like any single parent.
3 trends that excite you?
The transition from stand-alone shrink wrap to socially enabled vertical market solutions in the enterprise….can you say $$billions in opportunity??
How do you bring ideas to life?
Music feel good music, in your soul…… makes your body want to rock and roll!
What inspires you?
My father first and foremost and my sons quite close behind.
Also large market opportunities in technology always seem to get me going.
What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?
I’ve learned that if you don’t ever put yourself out there with your absolute best, you probably won’t reach your goal.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
The one business idea I will give away is already free, you have to unleash it from within you. Everybody has a brilliant business or non profit in them, search yourself and believe.
What do you read every day, and why?
NY Times- it’s the best; TechCrunch, Mashable, Entrepreneur, Inc.com
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?
The Bourne Series.
What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?
Pandora.
Three people we should follow on Twitter, and why?
Eric Goodness, Jenn Houser, Andy Bechtolsheim, Steve Blank.
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
I would love to see Jerry Garcia interviewed on IdeaMench circa 1976. When the bizz wazz starting to boom.
When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it.
Today – a friend reminded me about an incredibly funny story about a college buddy.
What do you think of ongoing education?
Professionals, like all students, require reinforcement through modeling, training and re-entrenchment seminars, and practice.
What do you do for fun?
My children and I love to camp and wake board Lake Sonoma.
Connect :
I encourage your readers to follow Quipu Apps on all our social networking sites:
Twitter — !/QuipuApps
YouTube —
Linkedin —
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.