
Tim Westergren at the Dutch Business Breakfast in Oakland.
With Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora Radio, as headliner for today’s DBB, we expected an audience that would stay on their seats till the bitter end. And, we were not disappointed!
After the opening remarks of Deborah Acosta (City of Oakland), raving about Oakland and the renovation, and Doug Engmann (excellent Dutch Honorary Consul), it truly became “Tim” time. Passionately he told us about the countless hours invested in the product, the long periods of time that there weren’t funds to pay the employees, and all the hurdles Pandora had to take to become today’s powerhouse.

Deborah Acosta (City of Oakland) and Doug Engmann giving opening remarks.
The Genome (manned by dozens of people) determines the DNA of all songs coming in and, hence, makes sure that the listener gets access to similar songs or artists. It is an ‘ear’ thing, meaning that the ‘Genome’ people judging those songs must be accomplished musicians in order to give the songs the proper ratings.
By now Pandora has all the tools to direct a band to an area where supposedly their audience is, just by interpreting all the measurements they can make while listeners key in the songs they want to hear. Pandora was already founded in 2000, but it took them hardship, creativity, human resilience, and, in the end of the day, also serious VC money to gain the maturity as demonstrated today.
Interaction with the audience was lively, and there wasn’t a question Tim wasn’t able to field. He casually informed us that over the last couple of years he did some 250 town halls, all over the country. The smallest crowd he got was a mere two people, but he also addressed more than 3,000 people crammed into a book store.
Nowadays Pandora Radio ‘THE Internet Radio’ comes built in with lots of electronic goodies, cars and numerous other applications.
It must be said that Tim Westergren, still looking youthful and eager, hit the nail when he started his project, almost ten years ago. And hail to his co-workers who stayed on the job while times were dire. Faith in the vision of its creator kept it all alive; surely a lesson, and encouragement, for many start ups.
To be informed about it all in depth, check www.pandora.com.















