Name: Jen Novak
Age: 24
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Education: Degrees in Modern History and Astrophysics from Harvard University
Job Title: CEO of FameGame.com
What She Does: Jen jumped on board the Fame Game about two years ago when the team hired her as CEO. The website is a user-generated “reference site” for fame, and a place for members to manage their public reputations. Using complicated algorithms, the site analyzes members’ social connections and media attention to identify the fastest-rising people and brands in the media. “People use it like they use Wikipedia—they add news mentions and career changes,” says Jen. Although Fame Game’s base is currently in New York, they expect to launch in Miami and Los Angeles by the end of 2009. On any given day, Jen can be found on the phone with investors, uploading photos, responding to user e-mails, tracking finances, following up on sales leads, and attending social events.
How She Got Her Gig: Jen went from a well-paying and secure corporate job to “a risky under-funded start-up with a bunch of friends,” as she describes it. Initially, she was working at a VC firm that invested in Internet companies, and Fame Game was looking for funding. Intrigued by the company’s concept, Jen became an adviser while still keeping her other job. “The more involved I got, I saw a company with so much potential.... They just needed someone to step in and take the reigns.” Eventually, working two jobs became “too crazy,” and she decided to make the full-time switch. “It’s a totally different world now. I work in Brooklyn, carry my backpack, and ride my bike to work,” she laughs.
All About the Brand: Since a large part of Jen’s job includes being out and about on the social scene, she’s got a built-in networking agenda. While she’s meeting all of the “interesting characters in the New York world,” her focus is on getting them more familiar with the Fame Game brand. “Most people think of us as a society site, but we want to really make sure we are known as a leading website that tracks all of the movers and shakers in the media scene. We track artists, charities, musicians, politicians, journalists, etc. We hope that by tracking and understanding the ‘media game’ we can help people promote themselves and the things that they care about.”
What’s in a Number: Jen admits that, at first, taking on the CEO role was intimidating. “I’m 24, and it can be hard to be taken seriously. I’m always nervous when meeting with big clients and investors. How are we going to sell to them when we’re all a bunch of kids?” she asks herself. A fellow Fame Game exec, Tatiana Platt, has acted as a mentor and helped to put things in perspective. “She told me, ‘Listen, you’re smart. No one cares how old you are.’ Everyone’s on an even playing field.”
Start-up Savvy: When launching a website, Jen recommends finding a lawyer from the get-go. “You will need to establish all the proper documentation: incorporated documents, patents, copyrights, etc. And it’s worth spending the money before you even have a project,” she says. Also, have a five-year financial plan in place. “How will your business make and return money to investors? Know this before you pitch investors. They’re not necessarily expecting you to hit all the numbers, but they just want to see feasibly how it could work.”
This Job’s for You if: You’re a risk taker. “My parents are totally risk-adverse—that’s why they thought I was totally crazy when I took this on,” says Jen. “But I think if you keep your head up and believe things are going to go well, they usually end up coming out okay. We always try to set a lofty goal—we never quite hit it, but we reach about 75%, which is still great.”
