Browse > Home / DC Tech, Local Focus / Local Focus: Ryan Spahn - Sleep.FM

Local Focus: Ryan Spahn - Sleep.FM

March 16, 2008 · Print This Article

One of the great things about the meetups we have are the new people that continue to join us and hearing about the new things they are working on.

Last week at our CXCC, I met with Ryan Spahn of Sleep.FM.  Ryan is a Baltimore resident who is working on pursuing bringing Sleep.FM to the masses.  Check out the featured video on the Home page here to see a bit about his project. Ryan reminded me a bit of myself, in the fact that we both had an idea and went about desiging it and finding people to help him build it.  We have talked here previously about one person startups and as I continue to meet people, I find that it is not as rare as one may think.

I thought Ryan would be a great addition to our Local Focus feature here at East Coast Blogging.  Here is his take on our questions.

1.  Whats is your name and line of business ?

Ryan Spahn
Internet entrepreneur

2.  Are you working on any startup venture ideas ?

Yes
Sleep.FM - The Social Alarm Clock
 
3.  Tell us a bit about your company or what you do ?

Sleep.FM - The Social Alarm Clock is a sleep and wake social network, where you send and receive wake up messages, save your wake up times and detail your sleeping habits with your inner circle.

In regards to how wake up messages are heard.  Wake up messages can either be the sound of your alarm clock or heard after a chosen buzzer, like one that announces the day & date!

Practical uses of social waking include reminders, motivation and sharing pertinent information (check your email ASAP/traffic is bad/meeting is canceled). Other uses would be on a personal manner - your kids waking you, wife, friends saying Happy Birthday, b/f or g/f Happy Valentines day, etc…  The possibilities are endless and unknown and we are excited to see how our users apply Sleep.FM into their lives!

Sleep.FM will be available through web browsers and mobile Internet devices.  Also, in the future we are looking to build Sleep.FM into Internet connected alarm clocks!

 
4.  How are you using social media tools for your job and/or business.
 
Sleep.FM, through attending tech events and posting on blogs, social networks and social media sites has been fortunate to garner worldwide attention.  We are honored by such and in November we learned that the French press picked us up and wrote some great articles!  This in turn led to more global attention and on December 12th we woke up to a flood of sign up requests due to an Engadget write up.  

It is truly amazing the power of social media and how fast word can spread! 

 
5.  Are you from the DC area ?  Why did you stay and/or move here ?
No.  I grew up in Towson, MD and currently reside in Bel Air, MD (which is 30 miles northeast of Baltimore).
 
6.  How have you found the local area with regards to support and technology adoption ?
Where I live there is no tech scene.  I was traveling to NYC and San Francisco to network and mingle with other entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts - though I did this infrequently!  I am thrilled to learn about the DC tech community and I have enjoyed meeting a lot of cool DC tech people!

My long time friends in Baltimore and elsewhere are not into tech, so I started up by myself.  I hired a programmer from India in November 2006 and we have been working since.  I am hopeful to find local support to join me with Sleep.FM's future development.  Also, just to have a local community for support and friendship is awesome - running a startup is a rollercoaster ride! 

 
7.  What are your thoughts and ideas to help grow and support the local tech community ?
I would suggest doing a monthly or quarterly DC tech startup show, like the event Scott Heifferman of meetup.com does each month in NYC ( NY Tech MeetUp ).

I hope everyone will stop by and check out sleep.FM and welcome Ryan to our little community here.

Anyone you think the Focus should be on ?  Let us know.

 

Written by jimmy · Filed Under DC Tech, Local Focus 
Tagged:

Comments

One Response to “Local Focus: Ryan Spahn - Sleep.FM”

  1. Ryan Spahn on March 16th, 2008 6:53 pm

    Thanks Jimmy for the post and support!

    My programmer and myself over the course of many months have formed a friendship and in turn a partnership. Up until November he was a contractor, but is now working as Sleep.FM’s CTO as a partner! He’s great!

    We have not met yet, but just a few weeks ago he moved to North Carolina from Chennai, India. We plan to meet in person soon!

    Again thank you and keep us abreast in regards to http://www.mydropbin.com.

    Cheers,
    Ryan

Got something to say?