startups

What really drives tech entrepreneurs? What makes them tick? What drew the great disruptors to technology? Rackspace On Startups is a video series that explores insights from tech evangelists and founders – from Woz to Graham Weston.

This is a guest post written and contributed by Chris Thornham, Co-Founder of FLO Cycling, a Rackspace customer that makes awesome, high-performance carbon fiber bicycle wheels.

Conceived in Colorado Springs in 2006, before smart phones, iPads and other browser-based mobile devices were the norm, PetExec is a web-based system for dog daycare owners to manage their business operations. In addition to dog daycare, pet owners can access information on their pets, schedule appointments, access webcams and perform many other tasks from a secure login. PetExec is committed to providing dog daycare owners a one-stop resource for technology, marketing and consulting needs, as well as the very best customer experience.

April brings us April Fool’s Day on the first day of the month. The first iPad was sold in the United States this month in 2010. On World Health Day, April 7, 2013, the World Health Organization and partners will focus on the global problem of high blood pressure. Artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci was born this month in 1452. For Earth Day 2013 on the 22nd of April, the Earth Day Network will tell the world stories of people, animals and places affected by climate change – and of those stepping up to do something about it. And, in the words of William Shakespeare, “Men are April when they woo, December when they wed. Maids are May when they are maids, but the sky changes when they are wives.”

Do you love to shop, but don’t like the hassle of the traditional mall, strip center or brick and mortar shops? A couple of guys from Arkansas are changing the way you can shop online, making it social and fun with Shoplinkz.com. The site keeps track of all of your favorite products and stores all in one place. Shoplinkz.com lets you shop socially with your friends. It’s one wish list, one registry, coupons, promotions, last minute discounts and more.

Frederick “Suizo” Mendler is the COO and co-founder of TrueAbility™, a cloud-based technical assessment tool that allows system administrators to demonstrate their skills in a real environment. Spanning a 10-year career in the tech world, he honed his diverse problem solving skills, his ability to take ownership of a business, and building relationships while helping others along the way, and is ready to move to the next phase of his professional portfolio within his own startup, focusing on his passion for service and leadership.

Information and technology are disruptive. But data-driven disruption is what will ultimately break down the barriers of closed, inaccessible, unaccountable government. The OpenGov Foundation is a scrappy little tech non-profit working to open government and developing and deploying tools that help people participate in their government and hold it accountable.

During SXSW Interactive, thousands of technologists from across the globe come to Austin to find out about the next big things on the tech horizon, share their knowledge as technology thought leaders with others, network with like-minded geeks and reserve their nocturnal hours for some of the most stellar parties on the planet. Within this subset of technologists are the developers, who are creating and building the architecture, infrastructure and software that allows you to run things on the web today.

Tealet is a Rackspace-powered startup that connects independent tea farmers with tea lovers. The e-retailer works directly with close to 25 tea growers in nine different countries to sell their products directly to the market. Customers can purchase tea online in individual packets, or they can subscribe to a service that will send four different types of teas to their doorstep every other month.

Rackspace has gone top shelf this year during SXSW Interactive 2013, taking over Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant in the heart of festival activity. Events are taking place daily, and one must-see is the Rackspace Winner’s Circle. Inside the Winner’s Circle, the Rackspace Startup Program has assembled an eclectic group of startups to show off their businesses in a live setting. We are spotlighting startups that are using open cloud technologies to build their businesses. So take some time, head over to Champions, and step into the Winner’s Circle to visit with startups that are doing amazing things on the Rackspace Open Cloud!