A Google Docs interview with Richard Simms, co-founder of Tech Talent South

This is my first “Google Docs” interview, which means I conducted it entirely over Google Docs. I realized that I enjoy interviewing startup friends about their business, but sending them a bunch of questions and having them reply didn’t allow for me to react to their answers, and honestly, if I actually interviewed them over Skype or something I think about eight people would actually watch the video.

So when I wanted to interview my friend, Richard Simms, I decided to try it via Google Docs. I created a doc, sent Richard the link, and we went back and forth over a few days asking and answering questions. It was good fun.

Soon I’m going to share a really exciting “doing good” effort that Richard and I, along with several other people, have been working on for about three months. It is through that effort that I got to know Richard and I’m so glad that I did, because he’s an amazing guy with a terrific business. And here’s my Google Docs chat with him:

Richard-and-team

Richard (at the bottom) and some of his students at Tech Talent South

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Richard Simms and, I am a Cofounder of Tech Talent South. Our mission at TTS is to develop more tech talent in the South through beginner-focused programs teaching web development and computer programming. We host intensive programs for adults who want to “learn to code” and also do a lot of work with kids, helping provide earlier exposure to computer programming and getting them excited about the wild world of tech.

Right now, we run programs here in Atlanta (where we started the company) as well as in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville, NC. On October 20th, we will be launching our fifth 8-week Code Immersion Program for adults here in the Atlanta area as well as a new Intro to Website Design & Creation Class. We want to do our part to help put the South on the map as the next big tech hub and empower creative thinkers in the area with the skills they need to drive innovation.

Love it, and it seems to be a fairly hot industry right now. Did you grow up thinking you’d be an entrepreneur?

My dad ran his own company while I was growing up so, “working for yourself” always kind of seemed like the end all be all to me. Not sure I ever actually believed I’d get there, though! It’s been a wild ride.

Cool, so we have that in common, my dad also ran his own company. I didn’t ever think about starting a business until I actually started one, but I think having my father as an example made it an easy thing for me to be comfortable with.

When did you start TTS and what led you to do that?

My Cofounder, Betsy Idilbi, and I started working on TTS about a year and a half ago and have been going a million miles an hour since then. We actually met taking some web development classes in Chicago. Both Betsy and I come from entrepreneurial backgrounds before starting TTS. I was doing an early-stage startup in Chicago and Betsy was running a physical product development company in Charlotte that she’d recently sold.

My personal mission to learn to code grew from my desire to be able to more effectively communicate with the developers I was working with at my startup and also the desire to be able to build my own solutions and MVPs. Betsy loved helping people get their ideas off the ground but had grown tired of the tremendous upstart costs associated with building a physical product. So, the idea of helping people launch web-based tools more quickly and at a fraction of the cost was a big draw for her.

Betsy and I ended up being the only two Southerners in our class and bonded quickly over mutual interests. At that time, there were really no programs like ours in the Southeast. Once we saw what a big and positive impact they were having in other places, we decided it was high time similar opportunities were available back in our home towns in the South so, we started TTS.

Cool, similar to how Raj and I started our first company, Spunlogic. So Betsy is in Charlotte and you’re in Atlanta, correct?

Yep.

How has that worked so far, having a partner in a different city? Have their been challenges and do you think it will ever be something you have to change?

That’s a good question and, I guess it is a little bit of an unusual setup. It’s worked out pretty great for us, though, honestly. Betsy and I are both still very involved in each market we’re running in and, any important decisions or initiatives (regardless of which city) are still a total team effort.

We have a really strong partnership and, we’re in touch constantly so, being in different cities isn’t really too noticeable or troublesome for us. As dynamic as we can be when we’re together in the same location, we’ve also kind of embraced a divide and conquer mentality, which has been fun.

So that begs the question, what happens when you open up in a 3rd city?

Too late! We already have! Right now, we’re running sessions in Raleigh and Asheville, in addition to Charlotte and Atlanta. Plus, we’ll be growing into a couple of new markets soon. Betsy and I are on the road a good bit but more importantly, we’ve got great folks we’ve hired in each of these locations. Bringing on good people and having consistent boots on the ground in each city has been key.

Nice growth! So we got to know each other because we’re working on a non-profit opportunity and through that I’ve seen that you have a huge heart for “giving back”. Where did that part of your personality come from?

Haha, well, as much as I’d like to act like I’m a saint, I can’t take too much credit. That being said, TTS does really like to give back and, that’s been a part of our vision from day 1. You may not know this but when we first started, we bootstrapped the business by touring around the Southeast hosting kids coding camps. That’s still a big part of what we do, although most of our kids sessions are free to attend at this point.

For example, we host a free kids coding session every Monday from 4pm to 5:30pm at ATDC here in Atlanta. The exciting thing about “learning to code” is that it truly is an incredibly empowering thing. The main goal with kids is just getting them earlier exposure to programming, getting them exciting about it, and making this stuff more approachable. If you can get an 9 year old writing simple Ruby programs, launching websites, and generally understanding how technology can be used to solve problems, that’s a pretty exciting thing. I certainly wish someone had showed me at that age!

Awesome, I think I’ll bring my 9 year old to one of those classes! Last question: Long-term, what’s the goal for TTS?

To take over the world!!! Kidding Kidding. Long term, our goal is to have the biggest impact possible, which means getting as many people (every man, woman, and child) empowered with the skill of coding, building things, starting web-based businesses, and making the world a better place with technology. As our name implies, our main focus right now is helping to put the Southeast on the map as the next booming tech hub rivaling the Silicon Valleys and New York Cities of the world. A big part of that is making sure we’re growing talent and fostering entrepreneurship here locally.

Naturally, I know we’ll evolve as all companies do so, exactly what that will look like, time will tell. We’re already starting to and will continue to adapt our offerings, roll out more course options, and look to execute on our vision from a number of angles. It’s an exciting time to be in tech, particularly in the South so, we’re thrilled to play our part and be along for the ride.

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