The Billion dollar code, what I learned from the TV show
I've always dreamed of setting up my own business in tech. Quite frankly, still looking for the brightest idea to start with. But once I watched The Billion Dollar Code series, things don't appear to be the same anymore.
Why? I'll tell you a few things I have learned from this TV show and how it changed my mind.
The Billion Dollar Code, The TV show
The Billion Dollar Code is a TV show released by Netflix in 2021. Although I didn't watch it until 2023, which is a bit late 😔, but, captivating about tech and business.
The series follows two timelines. The first is about how two young Germans, Carsten Schülter and Juri Müller, founded Art+Com and developed a software to browser the world. And the second is about the trial against Google for using TerraVision to build Google Earth. (You can read more on Wikipedia, or definitely watch the show 😊.)
I watched it, not to find out who was right or wrong between Google and Art+Com, but rather to follow the journey of the two hackers, from the genesis of the project to the creation of their company. And that journey started in 1993.
7 things that I have learned from the show
Start your project in what you're most passionate about
Carsten did love art and Juri, code. When they started the project, it was not for money, they came to think about how to make cash with it when they were in Silicon Valley, but each one was passionate about what he was doing. If that's not the case, you'll get discouraged fast enough and stop the whole thing, even if it was the best idea of the century.
Team with the right people
Either with your cofounder(s) or with your employee(s), your team is the best asset you have. Everybody was doing his job well: Juri in everything regarding algorithms and coding, Carsten, a good marketer and leader. They had a good accountant,geeks and designers, everybody was devoted to the project. It's true that there were ups and downs, but that's what a team is for: fight together.
Don't worry about when you start your project
They started in 1993, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Internet was not available to everyone, high-performance computers, a rare gem. They didn't have the tech to make their idea come to life, and it should take some time before things start moving in Germany, but they've accepted the challenge. And they did it.
Your location does not matter
If we all had to live in Silicon Valley to break into tech, we wouldn't be developing anything. For example, in my hometown, Bukavu, it's common to hear "What you're doing cannot be done here. It can't work in this country. It's just a dream. Go in Rwanda or elsewhere and there, maybe, you'll make it work."
It was almost the same thing for the two Germans. Create something as innovative as TerraVision in that Germany was just a miracle.
Talk to people, tell them about your ideas and projects
People are willing to help you only if they know what you're doing and how they can help you. They can't imagine what you need to achieve something. Also, you need to market your idea to sell it. You may have the brightest idea, but if no one never heard about it, it's nothing. You can't know if it's something worth it. You can't find someone to help you bring it to life. Furthermore, you can't improve it.
Sometimes we're afraid someone will steal our idea. But the fact is that you might miss the opportunity to find someone thinking or working on something similar to yours.
Surely, Art+Com went to trial against Google because they pitched their vision to Brian Anderson. You may be afraid of finding yourself in the same situation until you keep your idea to yourself, but you'll be missing great opportunities.
Trust you, they'll trust you
Carsten and Juri weren't certain that they could make it in less than one year before Kyoto. But they were confident. Deutsche Telekom has become confident. Even if they had a problem, they never stopped looking for a solution. They never stopped trusting each other, trusting everybody in the team.
If you're not convinced of what you're doing, no one will be. If you don't have enough willpower to get to the end of the road, the people you lead won't have it.
Work hard, harder and harder
But don't push yourself too hard until you get sick, like Juri, or you die before you enjoy the fruit of your labor. The team was working hard every day, pushing their limit. They managed to do it in time.
Wrap up
The Billion Dollar Code was an interesting TV show. I learned a lot from it and I'm happy I shared it with you. Maybe you were in the same case. All I can wish you to do is to take a resolution and make the first step. Whether you're starting programming or have a tiny idea in your brain, let it become true.
As for me, I'll be challenging and working on a micro-saas. Hope I'll have enough time to document the whole process, from the ideation to finding customers. You can join in the journey via Twitter @ligantoine02.
Also, please share in the comments, a TV show that inspired you in tech and business.