Was it the nerve-wracking graduation waiting game at Granite Hills High School? Was it a seed from a plucky car wash business at Del Mar racetrack? Was it a U.S. Border Patrol chase of a shooter in Chula Vista?“The doctor that came in had USC scrubs on,” said Rob Connolly, a 38-year-old father of two. “I’m a big Notre Dame fan. I was joking with him about USC a little bit. I was super nervous, because that’s a surgery no man wants to do. He just asked me a question to get my mind off it.
The financial support, mentorship and networking from a $200-something-billion goliath surely will cause an idea with legs to start sprinting like Usain Bolt. Heady stuff for a start-up that began in a garage, a la Apple and Amazon.,” said Connolly, describing the scene with co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Vivek Parekh when they landed the spot. “We were just jumping up and down, we were so excited. The neighbors actually came over to see what was going on.
“I had an uncle drive in from Palm Springs and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, did he come all this way for nothing?’ ” That solidified his commitment to steer away from college and forge a different, entrepreneurial path. He started his own gig at Del Mar, washing cars for owners and trainers.“I said, ‘I can go hiking and ride ATVs and make six figures? That’s my job?’ ” Connolly said. “But it just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t happy. I wanted to start my own business.”