Submission deadline is fast approaching, August 8^th to be exact. To help you understand what we’re all about, we turned to a former sprout and successful entrepreneur, James Kappan.

James is the founder of our fifth Sprout, Proposable. This subscription software makes creating, delivering and analyzing web-based sales proposals easy and efficient. Since his months in “the box,” James is successfully managing Proposable, and has a lot to say about how working with SproutBox has helped make his vision a reality.

What made you decide to work with SproutBox to launch Proposable?

Sproutbox offers to fund entrepreneurs based on the quality of the idea presented and the resourcefulness of the entrepreneur.

What was it like going through the application process and selection weekend?

The application process was surprisingly straightforward and fun. It helped me put some more “meat” around the idea I had been thinking about for so long. The weekend was cool, but sort of stressful as you are presenting your idea to a very top-notch group of investors and entrepreneurs. It was great meeting everyone and seeing that Bloomington is a cool town.

How do you feel SproutBox has helped your business in terms of development?

Sproutbox provided everything I needed to make Proposable a reality. From the intense planning sessions to the rapid code writing, the entire team did a stellar job of moving from the idea stage to the working site stage.

What was the atmosphere like in “the box?”

The best way I can describe the box is that it’s like your favorite uncle’s basement. Comfortable chairs, games, food and just enough distraction to make it feel like you’re not at “work”. It’s a great place for collaboration among the team.

How did the SproutBox team support you during the transition process?

They provided guidance and strategy right out of the gate. The transition process was the hardest part of the process, as you now have to actually make your idea make money. This was challenging at first, as the project needs time and development to become a stable platform.

What did you most benefit from working with SproutBox?

I think I benefited most from having so many minds to glean from. I tried to learn as much as I could from each person on the team. I realized the value in having others who think very differently from me.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working with SproutBox?

Really understand and communicate what pain your idea solves. If you can effectively communicate the pain that your ideas solves, then your idea will sell itself.

If you would like to apply to be our next Sprout, applications are due August 8^th.

Apply at http://www.sproutbox.com/apply

First of all, thanks to the 250+ people that made it from all over the Midwest (and beyond) to our grand opening event last Friday. We had a blast! There were a ton of people who I know really wanted to check out the space that couldn’t make the event. So I shot this quick video tour of The Box.

Each of the private offices was designed by their occupant. We are running a contest using DecideAlready to determine the favorite of the attendees. We’ll post the results here, so keep an eye out.

Kevin Makice was in attendance and wrote a great recap and snapped some awesome photos you should check out. He also put together this video which gives you a feel for what was going on here Friday night.

While you can get a general idea from the videos and photos– It’s not the same as seeing it. We’d love to give you a tour in person. Just let us know!

Ignite Bloomington was another great example of Bloomington’s tech scene coming together. It was a blast, and SproutBox was proud to be a sponsor. Brad and I also had fun participating as presenters. If you missed it, you can check out our presentations on the YouTubes. Thanks to Jay Steele for recording these. I grabbed mine and turned it into a Slidecast as well.

I talked a little bit about starting startups in the downturn.
YouTube version of mine here

Brad deconstructed graffiti, including a sneak peak at artwork in The Box:

You can also get another angle of Mike’s and Brad’s presentations from Kevin Makice’s vantage point.