This is the first of a series of posts about the entrepreneurial journey.

Ask anyone if money equals power and they will undoubtedly say, “Yes”. To break this down, we need to start with some simple definitions.

Distinction

In physics terms, Force equals Power x Time / Distance. But another way of defining Force is Mass times Acceleration. In entrepreneurial terms that second equation would look more like:

Force = Resources x Acceleration

Meaning the “amount of Resources you have” times “how fast or slow you are dedicating those Resources within a period of time” defines the Force at which you are attacking your problem.

Deriving from the above definition it follows that increases in Force imply increases in Power.

Like Jedi

So by achieving success with our startup and gaining more resources through money, mentorship, or what have you, we are becoming more empowered individuals.  Iteration after iteration, we are training ourselves to optimize our ability to quickly solve problems by strategically directing our Force. Like Jedi, we entrepreneurs learn to balance in-depth thinking and gut decisions in order to achieve the right mix of planning and time to market. We learn to move with the air our customers breathe and the weather our markets encounter by stretching out our understanding like blindfolded Luke had to do in order to deflect the lasers from stinging him.

Of course, any training day scenario and better decision making journey requires these same elements. But what qualifies entrepreneurs as more Jedi like than non-entrepreneurs is that there is an understanding, a mentality that every entrepreneur gets who had to pull themselves up by their bootstraps in order to escape the rat race grind. Their perspective is unique. Their abilities are unique. Therefore, coupled with their resources, they are uniquely positioned to effect positive change the world/universe they live.

Temptation

“But if you only knew the power of the dark side.” Some entrepreneurs choose to use their power to only change the world for themselves. Yet others want to use their power to change the world for the betterment of everyone in it. Often times, those entrepreneurs (the latter) start their journey with that same end in mind. The products they develop and services they deliver are to serve those same worldly beneficial goals. They want to make the world safer, smarter, faster, happier, and healthier. It’s those entrepreneurs we want to help fulfill their purpose by promoting them on one of the most awesome technology stages in the world.

Wielding the Force

If you’re out to use your Force to make life better, we want to talk to you. We want to promote you. We want to help Hatch your company out of its shell and empower you to achieve your mission.

We are inviting all early stage technology startups with new, disruptive products to apply for the 4th annual HATCH pitch at SXSW’s Startup Village.  Finalists will be selected to present 4-minute business plans to a panel of rock star judges in front of the SXSW audience on March 16th, 2015, in Austin, TX.

Application deadline is January 10, 2015, for those that would like to increase their chances at becoming a finalist by being able to resubmit their application after receiving feedback on their first application submission from HATCH pitch. Otherwise, the application deadline is January 20, 2015.