We really need your help with this one.

Here at Urbintra, Company Culture is everything. Do you think that we should have a dress code? Before I tell you what I think, I would love to hear from you on this one. Please post your comments below and let’s release the cracking!

The momentum is high as we have come through another amazing landmark in the entertainment industry. It was the Oscars , the most spectacular event in Hollywood. “This is where they start their walk on the red carpet,” she said. Yes, I had the most gracious opportunity to experience the making of a historical event. The Red Carpet, the press, the dressing rooms, and rehearsal were all apart of a wonderful Friday afternoon, all before the world could witness it. Honestly, I thought I was just going to the scene for lunch. Then on top of all that I met Morgan Freeman at an Oscar Party. What an incredible King?

So last week I told you about another investment group that is vetting our Company. I spoke with them on Friday, and I can tell you that it was a great conference call. When you are starting a business one of the most important to-do’s is the financials. Make sure they are not pie-in-the-sky, investors hate that. Be conservative and over deliver. I am not saying dumb down the business, but just make it valuable enough to be a “real opportunity, with a real return” on the investment. They are crunching the numbers and will give us an answer this week. You will be the first to know. Tomorrow, there’s more. Stay tuned for more.

Sometimes when you live in a place of bountiful and abundant resources it is very difficult to understand, see or feel the true impact of an economic downturn. Certainly, here in America that is true. Most of the people that I know are still going on vacation, still shopping at the same grocery store, and still eating out at nice restaurants. From where I stand, there is a famine in the land.

I started this Company during the best-worst time in history. We are talking about a true “Blue Ocean” strategy, and certainly a business model that is at the “Tipping Point”. You should read those books if you haven’t. Almost every branding and marketing book that touched the shelves confirmed everything about our products.  But right in the middle of setting a strong foundation for the Company, our country was rocked with the greatest financial shift in my lifetime, and maybe even the history of the world.

We had one investor scheduled to arrive in our California office on Monday morning right before “that time”. This was an easy 500k-1m dollar investment. Four days prior to his arrival we all woke up to the collapse of Wall Street. The rest is not worth repeating.

Be very clear. It may have delayed our departure, but we will fly. Urbintra will launch and when we do the most turbulent times will be far behind us. Don’t let the appearance of famine stop you from building or chasing your vision. If the major investment companies don’t want to give you money, find an Angel Investor. Find a group of people that really believe in your plan. True story. I presented to a group of investors in Salt Lake City, Utah 1 year and 2 months ago. The Company went away due to issues around reorganization. This coming Friday, there is a great possibility that the same investment firm will make a commitment to complete the funding requirements to get us on the runway.

Things are getting better out there. Let me be the first one to tell you. We have stood through much adversity, but I promise you this one thing; Urbintra will launch strong. There are so many people that are joining our team to bring this vision to pass. If you are reading this blog, you will be way ahead of the book. There is so much to tell, but we want all of you to grow with us, as we prepare to meet the world. Stay tuned, more to come.

Rob Lewis is a celebrity to the celebrities. He is probably the most talented musician in Los Angeles. Obviously, Diddy believed it too. You saw him on “Making His Band”, as the main “Chief” to help Diddy choose the people that will tour with him on his upcoming album, “Last Train to Paris”. We asked Rob to interview with us, as we are testing some of our “Ice Breaking” programs. This program is all about showing the world that no matter what our status is that we are all the same; “Like You, Like Me.”

This is unedited, raw footage from that interview. As we said in the beginning: This blog is about us living out the building of this brand right in front of you. You are going to see the ups and downs and flaws right now. In the end, a polished diamond. We are working so hard for that.

Here at Urbintra, we are preparing to hold the longest conversation on the Internet. We truly want to spark conversations that are unique and about the issues you want to participate in. We hope you like it. Let us know what you think.

The Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills was packed for morning meetings and of course, tea. We had a follow-up meeting with Mr. Duane McKnight from Syncom and another prominent CEO that believes in Urbintra. Syncom is a venture capital firm that has invested in several start-up companies with national and international acclaim, including Radio One and Black Entertainment Network. Presenting to investors in this market is tough, but surely promising for a good idea; a money idea. There are still a lot of investments being made, so don’t be discouraged, just keep pushing forward.

As we promised, each of you will have the opportunity to see behind the scenes as we build this Company. Stay tuned and enjoy the video.

It’s midnight and I am having one of those moments. If you have been following this blog then you know we are living out the building of this company right in front of you. It has been a journey, and I want all of you to experience the emotions and the growth that we have.

I have to go back to the first day that I got the vision to start this Company. There are some people that truly touched my life and laid some building blocks for this Company to build on. It is because of these men and women that I am still here continuing to build what they believed would one day be a global success story. One day you will hear the whole story, but we have built this company with great patience. So the little people still own this company, and it came with love and sacrifice for the vision. Thank you to all of you for your support. For each of the men, accept the “tie” and for the ladies, “the candy and roses”.

These people opened their homes, got on planes, wrote on walls, transfered money, stayed up all night on business plans, drove fifteen hours, went on retreats, went grocery shopping, and all with the most love and kindness.

Thank you Robert Walker, Greg Dowell, Betty Saunders, Andrew Seay, Raymond Nadeau, Robert Dowell, Blake Buettner and family, Elgin and Gena Watkins, Laura Schwartz, Milan Sanders, Pierre Redding, Nate Rimmel, Wyndy Lottering, Michelle Uchiyama and Marco Hansell. All of these people made a way for me to be here. A public thank you is in order.

We find so much time to pass on negativity when we hear it. Do me a favor. Just in case I don’t personally talk to anyone of these people, tell them I said, “Thank You”.

Photo cred: JM Abania

Is it true that the Social Web is driven by fame only? Do you get on the Internet just to find out what famous people are doing and saying? Certainly it is true with Aston Kutcher and Twitter. I think he has like 5 million Tweet followers.

Do you get depressed when people don’t comment on your status updates? Let’s tell the truth about this. David Spinks, another fellow blogger brought up a good point, and I hope it is not true. I will admit that I have put up some quotes on Facebook in hopes that people would comment, and they didn’t. Honestly, I kinda got bummed out. Seriously, did I just tell you that! What in the world is going on here. I am not that shallow, and neither are you. But seriously, with all of my FaceBook friends, I do wonder why sometimes I only get like two people to respond. Am I using my FaceBook page to get popular? Are you?

What are you looking for in your Social Web experience? We really want to know. What can we do to make things more exciting? Help us create the ultimate web experience. Join in the conversation.

I haven’t even spoken to the guy on the phone one time and I wake up to his crushing email. Listen, starting a business is not easy. Sometimes you get good news and sometimes you hear the worse possible thing.  And frankly, there is the FW: email that you read that maybe wasn’t meant for you. I don’t think George was suppose to show me that email.

So the lawyer dude, whom I don’t know said a few things that for a moment could steal the drive. These are his words: “The acid test is always whether I would invest real money into it myself? And the answer here is no! Why? It is too big. Way too big–it looks like they are trying to start CBS or NBC!  So for me, it loses credibility from the get go! I am looking for simple, straight shot deals–for example, a guy has an invention to patent, or he has written an app for iphone that does something cool, or he has a music catalog with value that he wants to use as collateral for a loan, or even a finished book, movie or TV show—things that are part tangible, part whimsical, as opposed to all whimsical, if you get my meaning.  And I have a really hard time with the “numbers game.”  Subscription based deals just don’t work for me.  If every person in China buys a (insert here)………….
But keep trawling, eventually you will catch something worth eating!

George thought he knew someone that might want to invest in the Company. I really did not feel comfortable with someone looking through the company presentation without a conversation with them first. I should have followed my mind. My advice to all of you. Follow those instincts. That man doesn’t know anything about Social Media and where its going. Be careful who you let behind the scenes of your business. They can knock the wind out of you for no reason at all.

Lupe Fiasco

We will not compromise (who) we are to be accepted by the crowd

We want substance in the place of popularity

We want to think our own thoughts

We want love not lies

We want knowledge, understanding, and peace

We will not lose, because we are not losers

We are lasers

This is a poem by the great Lupe Fiasco. The first blog started with this poem, because I didn’t want to reinvent the language. He said exactly what I feel everyday, as we are building this company. What do you feel about those words? Do you share in this idea or thought. We are building a global community online for millions of people are the world that feel the same way.

Today, I want to hear what you think. Tell me how you feel about this. Lazers (click to listen)

I have heard it over and over again. “They aren’t interested in good. They want it “dumbed down” and raunchy. Don’t you understand that they are lost! This generation doesn’t want to learn, and I am scared for the future of our country, and the whole world. “How will they lead?”

Welcome to the biggest misunderstanding in history. This is what people think about youth and young adults in the country. Do you agree?

Let me tell you what I see: Hungry individuals that don’t want tradition, but truth. You want to change the world for everyone, including those that are different than you are. I see you. You are tired of music that doesn’t breathe life into you. I see over 100 million youth and young adults that want to serve in every capacity. You will give your heart and soul if you know it will bring results. You will not settle for less. I see you. We are creating this whole company for you. This company is for the future.

Every meeting this week, the phone calls, the sacrifice is all with the hopes that we all can have a home online. A place to make good connections, hear a good song, learn and see something good. Do you want it? Is this what you want? Join in the conversation!