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by ArtRichards 1185 days ago
I think around 2011, they offered the first UT Longhorns Startup course, it was cool and hip and new, and they'd flown in mentors from SV and other places, so I figured, why not?

So, after applying, I had shown up at a hotel near campus. While waiting in the lobby, playing with their unsecured wifi, a rather distinguished looking gentleman came up to me, and asked, Hey are you here for the Startup Course interviews?

Yeah...

Well, why are you here in the lobby?

Well, I was told to wait here, and its been a half hour nobody called me.

He gave me a look, direct in the eyes, and said, oh, really? And you're just going to sit here and wait?

I was dumbfounded. Of course, it made sense, but it felt.. I didn't want to piss off the organizers, right?'

"Go in there, and get it!" as he clawed the air like a tiger. Damn, he was right.

So i ambled in, looked around, found a seat near the guy organizing (Josh Baer, another awesome guy) introduced myself and sat at a table by myself, just waiting for an in...

Then the gentleman from the lobby came in and sat in front of me, with a big grin.

Hi?

Hi.

You're a part of this?

Yes, my name's Bob Metcalfe.

Cool, thanks for the pep talk. So, whats your story?

Well, I founded 3Com, and helped come up with Ethernet.

Oh... damn.. cool..

...And my life has never been the same since!

If you read this, thanks Bob.