Name: Alan Tripp

Title: Founder and CEO

Company: InsideTrack sells executive-style coaching for college students.

FY 2005 revenue: $3.9. On track for $8.5 in FY 2006

Number of employees: 118

Year founded: 2000

Source of startup capital: We funded the company and then brought in private investors. Now we're venture backed.

Background: Stanford University, Economics and International Relations, 1985. Worked for Wall Street Journal in Europe as a reporter and copy editor. Worked at Hambrecht & Quist. Stanford Business School, 1989. Worked two years at BCG, Boston Consulting Group. Started Score! Education Centers with Kai Drekmeier in 1992. Grew it into a national business and sold it to the Washington Post Co. from 1996-1999. Score! has nearly 200 centers around the country serving up to 80,000 students.

Age: 43

Residence: San Francisco

Web Site: www.insidetrack.com

Reason for starting business:
After I sold Score! I went back to Stanford Business School, where I began teaching part time. Being back on a college campus and thinking about the lessons we learned at Score! about how to motivate students, I started thinking of how to apply them to college students. College students don't get much feedback or guidance. You're pretty much on your own as a student.

Most difficult part of decision: When I started Score! I kind of mulled the idea over for a while. It had a chance to evolve in my head. It worked very well. I think that's very uncommon for a new concept. I guess I did have to think twice about starting another business because I had been successful.

Biggest plus of ownership: Both these companies are vehicles for changing the world. The best part is being able to work towards a vision of making the world a better place.

Biggest drawback: Managing the uncertainty. If everything goes well, you gradually peel away the levels of uncertainty.

Biggest misconception about ownership: A lot of people think that owning your own business gives you more control over your life. That's true in some limited sense, but a great business owner and CEO has to be more of a servant than a master. If you want to be of service, it's a good job for you.

Biggest business strength: My ability to quickly assess a situation and make a good decision.

Biggest business weakness: Extreme optimism.

Biggest risk: Starting both Score! and InsideTrack.

Biggest mistake: Selling Score! too early.

Smartest move: Hiring good people. It's a cliché but true.

Biggest worry: Ensuring that our people perform at a high level.

Top source of inspiration: My Boy Scout scoutmaster, Tom Emery. He really, really taught me about management and leadership.

Most challenging task: Managing all the competing No. 1 priorities.

Favorite task: Checking in with my colleagues and other people who work at InsideTrack.

Least favorite task: Administrative tasks related to legal contracts.

Biggest frustration: When travel takes me away from my family.

Source of support in a business crisis: I'm a member of YPO, Young Presidents' Organization. It is a great network of support.

Key goal yet to achieve: We're at 17,000 students right now, and there are 16 million college students in the country. We would like to directly impact millions of students.

First move with capital windfall: I would increase investment in program development, training and pro bono efforts.

Five-year plan: We'd like to get to the point where we're serving 100,000 students a year.

Inducement to sell: We're going to continue as an independent company.

First choice for new career or venture: I'm attracted to teaching and I'm also attracted to policymaking.

Most admired entrepreneur: Bill Hewlett. He was an investor in Score! and was an important mentor for me.

Most interested in meeting: Gavin Newsom.

Stress reducers: I exercise every day before work. I just ran the San Francisco Marathon.

Favorite pastimes: Family time. I love travel. I speak French and Dutch.

Favorite book: "Look Homeward, Angel." by Thomas Wolfe.

Favorite film: "Apollo 13."

Favorite restaurant: Michael Mina.

Favorite destination: Paris.

Automobile: Dodge Durango.

Name: Alan Tripp

Title: Founder and CEO

Company: InsideTrack sells executive-style coaching for college students.

FY 2005 revenue: $3.9. On track for $8.5 in FY 2006

Number of employees: 118

Year founded: 2000

Source of startup capital: We funded the company and then brought in private investors. Now we're venture backed.

Background: Stanford University, Economics and International Relations, 1985. Worked for Wall Street Journal in Europe as a reporter and copy editor. Worked at Hambrecht & Quist. Stanford Business School, 1989. Worked two years at BCG, Boston Consulting Group. Started Score! Education Centers with Kai Drekmeier in 1992. Grew it into a national business and sold it to the Washington Post Co. from 1996-1999. Score! has nearly 200 centers around the country serving up to 80,000 students.

Age: 43

Residence: San Francisco

Web Site: www.insidetrack.com

Reason for starting business:
After I sold Score! I went back to Stanford Business School, where I began teaching part time. Being back on a college campus and thinking about the lessons we learned at Score! about how to motivate students, I started thinking of how to apply them to college students. College students don't get much feedback or guidance. You're pretty much on your own as a student.

Most difficult part of decision: When I started Score! I kind of mulled the idea over for a while. It had a chance to evolve in my head. It worked very well. I think that's very uncommon for a new concept. I guess I did have to think twice about starting another business because I had been successful.

Biggest plus of ownership: Both these companies are vehicles for changing the world. The best part is being able to work towards a vision of making the world a better place.

Biggest drawback: Managing the uncertainty. If everything goes well, you gradually peel away the levels of uncertainty.

Biggest misconception about ownership: A lot of people think that owning your own business gives you more control over your life. That's true in some limited sense, but a great business owner and CEO has to be more of a servant than a master. If you want to be of service, it's a good job for you.

Biggest business strength: My ability to quickly assess a situation and make a good decision.

Biggest business weakness: Extreme optimism.

Biggest risk: Starting both Score! and InsideTrack.

Biggest mistake: Selling Score! too early.

Smartest move: Hiring good people. It's a cliché but true.

Biggest worry: Ensuring that our people perform at a high level.

Top source of inspiration: My Boy Scout scoutmaster, Tom Emery. He really, really taught me about management and leadership.

Most challenging task: Managing all the competing No. 1 priorities.

Favorite task: Checking in with my colleagues and other people who work at InsideTrack.

Least favorite task: Administrative tasks related to legal contracts.

Biggest frustration: When travel takes me away from my family.

Source of support in a business crisis: I'm a member of YPO, Young Presidents' Organization. It is a great network of support.

Key goal yet to achieve: We're at 17,000 students right now, and there are 16 million college students in the country. We would like to directly impact millions of students.

First move with capital windfall: I would increase investment in program development, training and pro bono efforts.

Five-year plan: We'd like to get to the point where we're serving 100,000 students a year.

Inducement to sell: We're going to continue as an independent company.

First choice for new career or venture: I'm attracted to teaching and I'm also attracted to policymaking.

Most admired entrepreneur: Bill Hewlett. He was an investor in Score! and was an important mentor for me.

Most interested in meeting: Gavin Newsom.

Stress reducers: I exercise every day before work. I just ran the San Francisco Marathon.

Favorite pastimes: Family time. I love travel. I speak French and Dutch.

Favorite book: "Look Homeward, Angel." by Thomas Wolfe.

Favorite film: "Apollo 13."

Favorite restaurant: Michael Mina.

Favorite destination: Paris.

Automobile: Dodge Durango.