Social media can be great, but it also can be a traffic jam.  Like highway billboards in the 1960s, all the choices and chatter make for a lot of clutter.  And that spells opportunity for entrepreneur Tyler Koblasa of Mingly, a next generation address book company that makes sure the important people in your life don’t slip through the cracks.

“We stay above the funnel,” Tyler states quietly but with strong confidence, “and keep you connected to the people who will help you reach your goals.”  Not only the people, but what they say as well.  “You really don’t care if someone tweets they’re having breakfast right now,” so Mingly also screens out extraneous data from the people you want to keep in your sights.

The company has thrived by focusing on customer development and lean processes, “Never skip it!” Tyler emphasizes.  And the founder has learned much about financing, having gone through the first couple of rounds of fund raising.  “Be clear about your agreement,” he cautions, “and get good counsel.”

But most interesting is Tyler’s inspiration, his father.  While living in then Communist-controlled eastern Europe, his father decided he wanted to make films in Hollywood.  Determined, he escaped to New York, worked his way across the US, started as a film cleaner in Hollywood and became a celebrated cinematographer.  Great DNA for any entrepreneur.

by Thubten Comerford and Michael Coates

This interview is sponsored by WePost Media