What I’m Doing, and Where I’ve Been

Home > What I’m Doing, and Where I’ve Been

In short, I’m a serial entrepreneur, a tech-geek, a husband, and a dad. The rest is just window-dressing, but in case you’re curious …

I am currently cranking away at MFG.com. MFG.com is the largest global online marketplace for manufacturers looking to source custom parts, standard components, assemblies and textiles. MFG.com has revolutionized the way parts get sourced, bringing tremendous efficiencies to its users that they could have never imagined before. Since 2000, billions in sourcing opportunities have been enabled by MFG.com.

I spent a little over 3 years as the Chief Operating Officer at StarPound Technologies, an open-source software company that provides a platform for call centers, PBXs, and other voice applications. We launched new products, scored our first customers (including a Global Fortune 50 company), and had a ton of fun along the way.

I also co-founded StartupLounge.com, which provides a focus on entrepreneurship and venture capital in the southeast. We publish a professionally-produced podcast which gets far more listens than we ever imagined it would. We also do a boatload of free events for entrepreneurs and investors, including our thrice-yearly CapitalLounge event (which draw hundreds of fast-growth entrepreneurs and investors) and PitchCamp, which is a free interactive workshop session aimed at helping entrepreneurs refine their elevator pitch. You can read about my partner-in-crime Mike Blake here.

Mike and I are involved in all sorts of exciting things here in Georgia, such as:

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Prior to StarPound, I was the interim-CEO, and later CEO/Chairman of PlayMotion, Inc. I took over a company that had lost money for the first four years of its existence, and we turned it around. We crossed the $1M revenue line for the first time, and were profitable on revenues of $1.5M. We grew the business by 86% in 6 months. We expanded the pipeline from $200K to nearly $10M, lowered the cost of sales by 17% and rolled out a new product line. It was cool. We had a nice business portfolio with Walt Disney, Cartoon Network, NASCAR, Bravo TV, Sanofi Aventis, SEGA, and AMC Theaters. We also earned a Top 10 Innovative Company award from the Technology Association of Georgia.

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Before diving into PlayMotion, I founded Incursio, which was a technology incubator/IP farm. We did 12 deals, sold 6 – so we batted .500 by the end of the run. Meh.

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I also started the “Gang of 5″ concept, a unique entrepreneurial advisory network. Now defunct, but I may resurrect it one day.

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Before starting Incursio, I was VP of Technology & Development for MetalMaker, Inc., a venture-backed startup B2B exchange on the supply side of the steel industry. We raised a boatload of money from Lehman Ventures, then ran into the dot com wall at 100 miles an hour. Shit happens.

I started my professional career in a big company, although our logo wasn’t as cool at the time:

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I realized that big companies were not for me. Entrepreneurial-minded people typically don’t do well working inside of a box. So, I moved downstream and got into the consulting game. It was marginally more fun telling other big companies what they should be doing.

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Then, I got into startups, and lived happily ever after.

I used to do a fair amount of writing, and I do my fair share of speaking. It’s fun – I love meeting new people who are swinging for the fences.

Oh, yeah, I used to be in the Army, too. Good stuff. I was stationed in cold-war era Germany back in the 1980s – 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), 1st Brigade, 3d Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment. Rock of the Marne, baby. A shout out to all my old buddies who did their time at Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt.

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I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major in Computer Information Systems from Thomas A. Edison State College.

I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my wife and two daughters. We collect art, are patrons of Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, and we’re involved in a number of charities, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society.

21 Comments

  1. Lisa Lowe · December 8, 2006 at 7:14 pm

    Stumbled upon your site – very visually appealing; easy to navigate read. Appreciate your perspective, editorials and sense of humor. I’ll visit again, if permitted. ; )

  2. Scott Burkett · December 8, 2006 at 9:46 pm

    Thanks for the kind words, Lisa. I’m glad you’ve found my ramblings to be of some value.

    I look forward to seeing you comment!

    Cheers.
    Scott

  3. danielle posa · December 29, 2006 at 3:03 am

    I’m currently a college student and I’m in the process of starting a website company centered around networking… and your site has been very clear and helpful…. especially with insight on building an advisory board. Thanks

  4. Christopher J. Swift · June 1, 2007 at 3:40 pm

    Great site.

    What unit in the 3rd ID where you with?

  5. Scott Burkett · June 1, 2007 at 6:13 pm

    Hi there, Chris. I was 3/64 Armor, 1st Brigade, 3d ID, Schweinfurt, Germany.

    Cheers.
    Scott

  7. Elena Lipson · December 25, 2007 at 1:20 am

    Hi Scott,
    This is my second year running my on-line boutique. I am taking some of your tips and utilizing them to help me as my business grows. Thanks for being a great resource. I’m about to launch my site related blog. I am hoping it will become a forum for my customers to share organic tips, advice and resources….any advice on things to not do??

  8. Scott Burkett · February 28, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    Hi Elena … didn’t even see your post – sorry for the late reply!

    My biggest piece of advice to community builders is to “engage”, “empower”, and “listen”. Failing to do those things will almost certainly result in failure.

    Cheers.
    Scott

  9. Janet Whitehead · March 4, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    Hello Scott, how are you? I just wanted to write and say I am enjoying seeing the developments on your blog and website…very nice! Hope all is well, you and I know each other from the very first StartupLounge meeting…netInteractive is the company name. I have met so many people during the 2006 – 2008 timeframe here in the ATL.
    Good luck and until the next event,
    Janet

  10. Ed · March 27, 2009 at 12:45 am

    “Rampage!”

    Scott! I’m an old D Co. 3/64 AR Tanker who was on Conn when you were. Stop by my forum and see “Nubbs.” He knows you from Conn…

  11. Sharon Strandberg · May 28, 2009 at 9:26 am

    Found you while researching Kettering. I liked your comments on the Dillusion of Trust. Re: Bio, I’m familar with Edison State University– worked for VP Community Affairs Alumni fundraising & enjoyed walking around a small exhibit on campus with guests. InfoBahn – clever name!

  12. Richard D. Welsh · June 2, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    I was stationed at Conn Brks from Jul. 1961 til Jan. 1964. I was RA and was extended for the duration of my enlistment because of the Berlin wall going up at the time. I would love to get hold of some old buddies but don/t know how? I was in A btry 3rd Msl Bn 7th Arty 7th army. We had inf. and tankers at Conn Brks back then and they didn’t care too much for us.

  13. William England · June 3, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    Scott was Your dad in the Army also, and did you growup in lawton OK? If so I think i might have known you since we were kids in Gmund.

  14. Scott Burkett · June 3, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    Hey William – sorry, no. I grew up not far from Atlanta. My dad wasn’t in the Army, but one of my grandfathers was, and the other grandfather served in the Navy, as did his son (my uncle).

    Cheers.
    Scott

  15. les sayles · July 2, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Rock of the Marne, We pierce…. medic with 3/64 form 71 to 72…. good days at Conn, had a battalion surgeon who took a great interest in us. taught us so much, that I became a respiratory therapist and have been one for 25 years. wish I had followed the good dr’s advise and done it as soon as I got discharged. Could hardly believe how much I remembered about what he taught us.

  16. Jim Smith · September 24, 2009 at 10:20 am

    I served at Conn. I was in Charlie 3/64 83-85. Left the cold and went to Hood. Give me a shout sometime..

  17. David Moline · October 18, 2009 at 11:33 pm

    Specialist Burkett,… I remember you being a driver for one of the company commanders but can remember whom? Cpt Ryan in Charlie? Lt Cluff as S1? I was 3rd Plt Ldr there in in ’87 and XO in Bravo during ’88. Love the picture on your website in front of HQ1.

    Time has treated you well.

  18. Scott Burkett · October 19, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Hey David … er…. Lt. Moline :) I remember your name as well.

    I drove a lot of people and vehicles for 3/64 back in the day. Off the top of my head, I drove for Lieutenant’s Rey, Acevedo, Knutson, and Cluff, Captain Miller (S4) from time to time, and some others, for Delta Co., and S1/S3/S4 in HHC.

    Rampage – We Pierce! :)

    Cheers.
    Scott

  19. Shawn Taylor · October 20, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Scott – Just thought I’d say Hi. Its funny, I teach Business Technology Applications at Russell County High School and was telling my class about “this guy that new more about computers than our teacher back then”, so I googled you. I hope all is well. Take care.

  20. Amanda · April 2, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Hi Scott,
    I just wanted to be able to say a proper farewell to you after you left WetCanvas. I have no idea when that was but I joined back in March 1999 and only this week have returned to be more involved again. I was looking around the site to see where the founding members were and discovered you weren’t there any more. So, this is a very very late thank you for starting the site and a farewell too. Looks like you are enjoying what you are currently doing.
    Thanks again!
    Amanda (from Australia)

  21. Howard Hough · December 11, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Comment from Scott Burkett
    Time: June 1, 2007, 6:13 pm

    Hi there, Chris. I was 3/64 Armor, 1st Brigade, 3d ID, Schweinfurt, Germany.

    Cheers.
    Scott

    Comment from Scott Burkett
    Time: October 19, 2009, 2:44 pm

    Hey David … er…. Lt. Moline I remember your name as well.

    I drove a lot of people and vehicles for 3/64 back in the day. Off the top of my head, I drove for Lieutenant’s Rey, Acevedo, Knutson, and Cluff, Captain Miller (S4) from time to time, and some others, for Delta Co., and S1/S3/S4 in HHC.

    Rampage – We Pierce!

    These are your quotes. was Dco 3/64 AR Jan.’88 – Jun ’90, were can I find photos and more persons from that time frame. How about PVT Lee also a driver for BN (taller skinny Asian)

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