From Wendy Boswell,
Your Guide to Web Search.
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If you've ever wanted to start your own search engine, than you need to read this interview with the creator of BigClique.com. Learn how it started, what goes on behind the scenes, and what might be in store for the future of BigClique.

Interview with Creator of BigClique.com

So, let's start with a bit about yourself.

Personal Stats:
• Name: Mr. Femi Olu
• Age: 34
• Just for the record :-) 1 Wife, 3 kids (9, 6 and 4 years old - all boys) all the loves of my life!!

How did you start BigClique?

BigClique was started at first as just a hobby for me and I NEVER imagined it would EVER grow so fast and have as many "diverse" supporters so quickly. This led me to at first be a niche search engine for the African American / Urban markets, BUT after 3 weeks of Eric Ward blasting out the first press release for me the then "tiny" BigClique became B I G Clique and I never EVER imagined that I would go in the direction of a major general search engine so fast.

What I did was ALWAYS listen to my users good points, bad points, "INSULTS" and constructive criticisms and implemented what they all saw and I did not or just overlooked. The reason I call myself a major search engine apart from having a very large index comparative to when I commenced is this: I remember when (let's use Google as an example) they started back in 1999 or so they never had what I had after just 3 months of starting. So,comparatively I am more advanced for the same time period.

This keeps me going and I never had the outside private funding of millions they or any other startup had. I initially started BigClique with just $90,000 (personal funds) and a very basic stripped-down version of Nutch/Creative Commons software which today has been totally transformed by my programmers, we have added over 90% custom components and scripts to the initial software. BigClique is entirely funded from my own funds and I have been an entrepreneur early on since 1994 and started building search engines/software since 1995.

How much time do you spend on it?

On average 20 hours per day and it is normal for me not to sleep for up to 3 days in a row, then take a wink for about 4 or 5 hours, then I am back at it again. I am very happy I had my 3 children with my Wife before I had the "crazy" idea to start BigClique! :-) I know I am in competition with other great search engine companies and they have several hundred employees each, so me working 8 hours per day with a 1 hour lunch break in between, taking two 20 minute coffee breaks, watching "American Idol" and taking the weekends off is not going to work for now. How I work, I know I am in control of the situation and this way works for me personally. This has led BigClique to be successful and grow quickly. Working from home has many benefits, one being that it keeps me in front and close to my wife and children and this is the most important thing for me.

Who else is involved?

Well, to help with the workload I outsource some of the backend programming to 2 other programmers. I also outsource my web graphics to a web designer and I outsource my call center. I travel alot for my business so my call center enables me to be reachable whereever I am in the world by phone if need be. The people that work with me are all workaholics like myself (LOL!) and believe in BigClique and always go the extra mile for me and without them BigClique could not have grown to what it is today. I have never seen my workers/partners and all contact is done via Email, ICQ and Skype, it has been this way for about 3 years (it if isn't broke, don't fix it!).

This interview is continued on page two.