REPEAT is a special interview series underwritten by CliftonLarsonAllen where we take a deep dive inside the minds of Minnesota’s rare repeat technology entrepreneurs. Repeat means to start a tech company, exit said company, and return start another one.
We kick it off today with Scott Litman and Dan Mallin, presently pursuing Equals 3 after decades of documented business success. Together and in parallel they also founded the Minnesota Cup in 2005; Litman & Mallin are among our guests of honor at the upcoming Founders Respect and Recognition event on April 5th.
What was the first exposure you had to technology and work, business or money?
Litman: As a kid, growing up in St. Louis Park, I really got swept up by Apple and Microsoft, as they were both in their prime. I remember reading everything about Woz, Jobs, and Gates since they were like the tech idols of the time…creating products, cultures and companies.
I got my Apple ][ when I was 13 from my grandmother and that timing was kind of my awakening, though I think entrepreneurship has always been in my DNA. I witnessed my uncle firsthand, as he scraped together a few dollars and ultimately became very successful.
I started with a paper route in high school, which really felt at the time like was running my own small business. It was a hustle to be sure.
Mallin: I also had an Apple ][ – ours was a family computer – and I learned desktop publishing using markup language. Building off that, in high school, I created a video production company (and sold it) while still in school. I too had a paper route and did lots of shoveling while growing up which taught me about hard work and earning money. Read rest of the interview....
