Recent

Finding Health and Joy – 3 Years in SF

February 5, 2015 · 1 Comment 

This photo says it all. Let me share the story behind it. After spending 27 years growing up on the East Coast and becoming a hard-nosed workaholic entrepreneur, I never thought I’d be one of those hippies from San Francisco talking about wellness and mindfulness. I didn’t think wellness... [Read the full story]

And So The Journey Begins… Again

May 21, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

Today I finished my first year at Harvard Business School. I wrote the below post 10 years ago last week (on May 11, 2003)… at a similar point in life after finishing year one at UNC and just four weeks before starting Broadwick with Aaron, which became iContact. I didn’t quite do... [Read the full story]

Why We’re Building Connect.com (Plus We’re Hiring!)

March 21, 2013 · 3 Comments 

Below is the story of Connect.com. We’re currently hiring a full-time UI/UX Designer and a Front End Engineer to join our team in San Francisco as our 5th and 6th team members. If you have anyone to recommend or wish to apply, you can email me at ryan@connect.com. The Founding of Connect.com Since... [Read the full story]

Tech

Innovators Support President Obama on YouTube

October 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Back in August in San Francisco, I was interviewed by CNet Co-founder Shelby Bonnie on my thoughts on innovation in America and why I support President Obama in the 2012 election. The interview was part of the Technology for Obama Innovator Series and... [Read the full story]

What Harvard Business School is Teaching This Tech Entrepreneur

October 8, 2012 · 13 Comments 

Reflections on the Last Three Weeks at HBS: Over the weekend, I took some time to reflect on my last three weeks at HBS and the key lessons I’ve learned. This post is a follow-up to “What I Learned: Week 3 at HBS.” As an entrepreneur,... [Read the full story]

The Adventure Continues in San Francisco

June 15, 2012 · 2 Comments 

I’m drinking an Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout at my house in San Francisco. Our Chief of Staff candidate is for some reason awesomely dancing in the kitchen behind me. I’m looking out the window at a view of the Castro, Mission, Potrero... [Read the full story]

Entrepreneurship

Why We’re Building Connect.com (Plus We’re Hiring!)

March 21, 2013 · 3 Comments 

Below is the story of Connect.com. We’re currently hiring a full-time UI/UX Designer and a Front End Engineer to join our team in San Francisco as our 5th and 6th team members. If you have anyone to recommend or wish to apply, you can email... [Read the full story]

Innovators Support President Obama on YouTube

October 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Back in August in San Francisco, I was interviewed by CNet Co-founder Shelby Bonnie on my thoughts on innovation in America and why I support President Obama in the 2012 election. The interview was part of the Technology for Obama Innovator Series and... [Read the full story]

What Harvard Business School is Teaching This Tech Entrepreneur

October 8, 2012 · 13 Comments 

Reflections on the Last Three Weeks at HBS: Over the weekend, I took some time to reflect on my last three weeks at HBS and the key lessons I’ve learned. This post is a follow-up to “What I Learned: Week 3 at HBS.” As an entrepreneur,... [Read the full story]

Thoughts

Innovators Support President Obama on YouTube

October 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Back in August in San Francisco, I was interviewed by CNet Co-founder Shelby Bonnie on my thoughts on innovation in America and why I support President Obama in the 2012 election. The interview was part of the Technology for Obama Innovator Series and... [Read the full story]

What Harvard Business School is Teaching This Tech Entrepreneur

October 8, 2012 · 13 Comments 

Reflections on the Last Three Weeks at HBS: Over the weekend, I took some time to reflect on my last three weeks at HBS and the key lessons I’ve learned. This post is a follow-up to “What I Learned: Week 3 at HBS.” As an entrepreneur,... [Read the full story]

Slides: All I’ve Learned by 28

September 3, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Here is the download link to the PDF slides of the “All That I’ve Learned by 28″ project I did earlier this month to document what I have learned in the first 28 years of life and to back up my brain before heading to graduate school.... [Read the full story]

Journal

Why We’re Building Connect.com (Plus We’re Hiring!)

March 21, 2013 · 3 Comments 

Below is the story of Connect.com. We’re currently hiring a full-time UI/UX Designer and a Front End Engineer to join our team in San Francisco as our 5th and 6th team members. If you have anyone to recommend or wish to apply, you can email... [Read the full story]

A Letter to the HBS MBA Class of 2015

December 23, 2012 · 5 Comments 

The admissions department at Harvard Business School asked me to write a reflection on my first semester in the MBA program for the Class of 2015 pre-matriculation blog. Here’s what I sent in. I hope it gives an insight into what I’ve... [Read the full story]

What Harvard Business School is Teaching This Tech Entrepreneur

October 8, 2012 · 13 Comments 

Reflections on the Last Three Weeks at HBS: Over the weekend, I took some time to reflect on my last three weeks at HBS and the key lessons I’ve learned. This post is a follow-up to “What I Learned: Week 3 at HBS.” As an entrepreneur,... [Read the full story]

Social Entrepreneurship

My TEDx Presentation – “Creating a Better World”

January 20, 2012 · 1 Comment 

On December 10th, 2011 I gave a TEDx presentation in Raleigh on “Creating a Better World.” Here is the video. And here are the slides from the presentation: TEDx Ryan Allis – Optimism for the Next 40 Years of Human History  Read More →

Visit to the Akilah Institute for Women Rwanda

January 4, 2011 · 2 Comments 

Muraho from Kigali! Today I’m working from The Akilah Institute for Women in Kigali, Rwanda. Akilah is a non-profit school that teaches hospitality, leadership, and entrepreneurship to women 18-25 here in Rwanda. Akilah was started in 2009 by Elizabeth... [Read the full story]

You’re Invited: A Metropolitan Safari for Rwanda at iContact

November 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

I wanted to invite Dare Mighty Things readers to a special event coming up at iContact. We are hosting a “Metropolitan Safari” on Monday November 8th at 6:30pm at our new offices in Morrisville. We will have as guests... [Read the full story]

Travel

Today’s Fuel Explosion in Nairobi

September 12, 2011 · 3 Comments 

I’ve got a special place in my heart for East Africa, having visited there three times and with investments in Pengo Loans and Think Impact, both with operations in Kenya. After visiting the Kibera slum in Nairobi in 2009 to see the work of Carolina... [Read the full story]

My Message to Egyptian Entrepreneurs

July 4, 2011 · 3 Comments 

On Thursday at the Smart Village Egypt outside of Cairo, I had the opportunity to give a keynote speech during the NexGen IT Entrepreneur Bootcamp award ceremony. The winning teams were Bey2ollak, Inkezny, Supermama, and Crowdit. The team from Bey2ollak... [Read the full story]

Egypt: From Political Revolution to Entrepreneurial Evolution

June 30, 2011 · 1 Comment 

I came to Cairo five days ago not knowing what to expect. I leave knowing there are world-class tech entrepreneurs here in Egypt. In April, I learned I had been selected as one of six American entrepreneurs who would be mentors for a USAID/State Department... [Read the full story]

Life Lessons

Finding Health and Joy – 3 Years in SF

This photo says it all. Let me share the story behind it. After spending 27 years growing up on the East Coast and becoming a hard-nosed workaholic entrepreneur, I never thought I’d be one of those hippies from San Francisco talking about wellness and mindfulness. I didn’t think wellness had anything to do with being an impactful entrepreneur. Seven years ago at age 23, I was 212 pounds. I was often anxious and stressed out. I had a ‘racing mind’ that would keep me up past 2am. I had chronic neck pain from a car crash in Florida when I was 16 that doctors said would require surgery. I ate a terrible diet of processed foods (lots of nachos, frozen dinners, Bagel Bites,... [Read more]


Essays

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