I first met Scott when he came to Chicago to meet the crew at 37signals back in 2000. I remember getting a call from him asking if he could fly out to meet with us for a few hours. He didn’t really give a reason, and he didn’t come with an agenda. He just wanted to chat. And chat we did. And then a year or so later, we met up again at SxSW over some coffee. He told me about this idea he had called Meetup. And he asked us if we wanted to design it. After he washed away my natural skepticism, I agreed and we got started a few months later. We’ve since completed three projects for Meetup. I’ve always found that the best business relationships start by sitting around a table with no expectations or agendas. Just some friendly words, mutual respect, and a shared vision to do good work.

It’s been a real pleasure watching Meetup grow into a force that is changing America’s political landscape. Plus, who can’t get behind an idea that uses the internet to get people away from the internet? It’s so simple. The whole Meetup phenomenon is really fascinating.

Scott is a true visionary and a hell of a nice guy. I think his best strength is that he’s a great listener. And, now, at SvN, we get to listen to him. It’s a real pleasure to have him here. Take it away Scott.