Geekdom ’ s 150 supporting mentors . Members engage in events like content clinics , mixer nights , “ Fermented Fridays ” beer bashes , and even the occasional yoga class . There are also more intensive special events that take place , like Geekdom Mentor Week , Start-Up Weekend , and a Students + Start-Ups college internship program . Start-Up Weekend is a 54-hour event held in collaboration with Techstars , which brings together designers , entrepreneurs , and other experts to grow and nurture their ideas .
Interestingly , the Weston Centre , which first housed Geekdom , has a long and illustrious history . First , as Rackspace ’ s original home , and later as the birthplace of a small company you may have heard of called YouTube , which famously called one night during our early days , asking for overnight installation of ten new servers for its fledgling business .
I also participate in organized philanthropy through my other area of focus : the 80 / 20 Foundation , which is helping our city develop into the type of livable city that most young entrepreneurs tend to gravitate toward . The foundation name draws from the Pareto Principle — or 80 / 20 rule — wherein we try to identify and invest in the 20 percent of nonprofits that will drive 80 percent of San Antonio ’ s transformation into the next hub of entrepreneurship . The tools we use to drive toward our goal are mentoring , support services , networking , and financial and human capital .
My purpose here is not to boast of my accomplishments but to pave the way for other successful entrepreneurs to build structures that will allow us , as a nation , to grow the next generation of leaders that can help us solve problems and move technology forward . By giving back in such a direct and meaningful way , not only have I found self-fulfillment but I have also enjoyed immersing myself in an ultracreative environment day-in and dayout . Whether you are a budding entrepreneur , seasoned leader , or just a creative thinker , take stock of how you can contribute to today ’ s sharing economy and join the party .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Graham Weston is a prominent figure in San Antonio business and real estate circles . He is owner of Weston Properties , with its flagship Weston Centre the premier office space in San Antonio since 1992 .
He is perhaps best known for his role providing seed capital and later management expertise to the startup tech company , Rackspace , where he was chief executive officer until 2006 , when he became chairman . As a managed hosting company , it grew rapidly in the early 2000s , and under his guidance , went public in 2008 , trading on the New York Stock Exchange before going private in 2016 , when Apollo Global Management purchased the company .
Rackspace ’ s success brought with it a number of initiatives designed to attract more technology investment and job opportunities in San Antonio . Graham Weston established Geekdom in 2011 to accelerate the tech startup community in San Antonio and provided much needed workspace and a collaborative environment for young entrepreneurs . Today it has 1,500 members .
Graham Weston has been broadly recognized for his contributions to the business community in San Antonio as well as for his role in city planning endeavors as a tri-chair on Mayor Castro ’ s SA2020 committee . He was inducted into the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame in 2011 and has been recognized several times as a distinguished entrepreneur by various organizations .
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